The Gift of Darkness, part 7
by pari106
pari106@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/pari106/damain.html
Disclaimer: found in Chapter One
Rating: PG-13 for language, maybe.
A/N: Thanks for the feedback! I've decided to do a sexy/steamy M/L chapter, followed by one that's more
sweet and sappy (if you skip over the first, the other will still make sense). Those are in the works. Right
now I'll take up where I left off in Chapter 6. And, don't worry, Logan's situation will be explained
eventually! (But not right now! ;)
A/A/N: Oh, and to aegean: I liked your suggestion! I don't know if I can do it justice, but I'll try it out
soon. Thanks!
Gift of Darkness, part 7
by pari106
Later that night Logan found himself sitting at a table at Crash. Pre-Pulse music was blaring in the
background; The Nelly Furtado remix of Missy Elliot's "Get Your Freak On" to be exact. Bling had been
there earlier, but had left for home somewhere around the second round of drinks.
They were now on their fourth.
His friend had really hit it off with Original and Herbal. And Sketchy. Logan smiled when he thought
about earlier that evening when he'd introduced the two. Bling hadn't known quite how to react to
Sketchy's…unique perspective on things. Just like Logan.
Logan sighed. He wished he could express how much he appreciated the other man. He'd never had such
an honest and loyal friend. He'd never had such a friend, period. Even when Bling had left Crash, it had
only been when Logan had sworn he'd be okay without him.
Like Max, Bling had become a part of Logan's foundation. He didn't know how he could have rebuilt his
life after the shooting without Bling. Which was one of the reasons why he'd felt so guilty for Bling
getting shot. Was why he still felt guilty, even after their discussion on the topic. But Logan forced that
feeling away. Bling had been right. Logan smiled – 'Bling is always right.' Beating himself up, while
there were plenty of bad guys out there who'd love to do the job for him, was counterproductive. So Logan
didn't linger on such thoughts.
Besides, he thought, knowing Bling's uncanny sense of him, he'd sense Logan's mood and come back to
Crash and kick his ass.
Then Logan spotted Original Cindy from across the room. She and Max had gone to get refills on their
drinks, but now Original was turning and heading back for their table early.
'Good,' Logan thought. 'Maybe they changed their minds about the beers.'
Then he pushed that thought away, too. The three rounds of drinks they'd just consumed wasn't sitting
well with him. But it was just beer they were drinking, and both Max and Original looked fine. And four
beers would hardly put Logan under the table. Besides, he didn't feel drunk, really. He didn't feel bad, he
just…didn't feel real good. Logan shook his head. He couldn't really pinpoint what was wrong, exactly.
But he shrugged. 'No matter.' And he tried recapturing his good mood of that morning. He'd been having
a good time ever since Max had returned. And he'd be damned if he'd let a few beers ruin the evening.
He'd just have to pass on any more alcohol and concentrate on his company.
'Little problem there,' he thought then, his eyes returning to Max as she wove towards the bar.
Trying to make good on that unspoken promise of his, Logan had pulled out all the stops with Max tonight.
All the impulses he would usually have ignored – like the sudden urge to reach out and take her hand, or
kiss her on the cheek…he suddenly stopped ignoring those. And if he got caught staring at her, a look on
his face he knew had to be transparent, he didn't look away. They talked and laughed just like before. But
now all the playful banter and subtle innuendo they exchanged had suddenly become a lot less subtle.
Actually, Logan was a little surprised at himself. At how easy all the inhibitions fell away.
'Maybe I really am drunk,' he thought, grinning.
Or maybe he was in love.
Logan grinned wider. Maybe he was head-over-heels, madly in love.
Then he thought, 'Nah.'
There was no maybe about it. He was head-over-heels, madly in love with an X5 named Max.
Imagine that.
Logan was still grinning like an idiot when Original reached the table. She plopped down in the seat across
from him and gave him a look.
"Damn, boy," she said. "What's got you lookin' all like the cat that ate the canary?" As if she didn't
know.
"Oh…nothing," he replied, still smiling. As if she'd believe that.
"Uh-huh," Original Cindy drolled, but she couldn't quite keep her own smile some surfacing. She'd
pegged Logan for the skittish type – like Max. The type that changed clothes six times in one night and
then swore up and down that she did *not* have a date. Like Max. And he was. But when he finally got
over that and let go…it was enough to make Original Cindy's pretty little head spin.
"Okay, okay," she said finally. "I got it. Look, Original Cindy ain't blind, 'k? And she'd have to be not to
see the sparks you and my boo be lightin' up in here.
"I mean, don't get me wrong. I think it's cute…in its own, sugary sweet, heterosexual kinda way…"
"Original…"
"Uh, uh, uh," she interrupted, waving a finger in his face. "And don't you even go spouting that 'we ain't
like that' bullshit, because if I have to listen to that one more time…"
Logan laughed. And sighed. And mentally shrugged.
Oh, what the hell. 'All the stops, remember, Logan?'
"We're like that," he told her.
And slowly Original began to smile.
"Well, aiight then."
Logan smiled back.
"It's about time you and boo step up to the real. But look, Logan…the reason I came back here to talk to
you…
"I like you. Aiight? For a guy…you're okay."
Logan laughed, and the compliment wasn't exactly glowing, but he took it seriously. This was Max's best
friend, after all; she was to Max what Bling was to Logan. And Logan felt like he owed her the world for
that. Max had never had a friend like her. Original was very important to Max. And if for no other reason
than that, she was important to Logan, too.
"And my boo needs you," she continued. "And I can tell you need her, too."
Logan nodded, serious. "I do."
Original nodded back. She meant it – she liked Logan. Owed the boy her life, she was sure, she didn't
know how many times over. If for no other reason than he made Max smile, made her crazy. All those
things Max did too rarely when he wasn't around.
"I just gotta say this, though…" Original said. Then she looked Logan straight in the eye, keeping her
voice low so it couldn't be overheard. "You hurt my girl…and Original Cindy gonna lay a smackdown on
your cute, little, genetically engineered ass like you ain't never seen before."
Then she smiled as if she hadn't said anything of the sort.
Logan laughed. She most certainly *was* to Max, what Bling was to Logan.
Then Logan shook his head. "Don't worry," he told her. "If I ever hurt Max, you'd have plenty of help."
Then the topic of their conversation was back at the table, setting down their drinks.
"Hey, what you guys talking about?" she asked.
Logan and Original just looked at each other.
"Oh, you know…stuff," Original said, jumping out of her chair before Max could react. "Mostly 'bout
how tired Original be gettin'. Time for me to head home, get a little beauty sleep…"
"But…"
Original blinked at Logan when Max wasn't looking, yawned when she was, and Logan rolled his eyes. As
she left, Original yelled over her shoulder:
"Bye, boo!"
…and then she was gone.
Max just sat down, raising an eyebrow.
"What was that…"
She began to ask, but then something in the way Logan was looking at her stopped her.
"I think it was about…this," he told her.
And then he pulled her into a kiss.
**** ****
A/N: Okay…this was written kind of sloppily, so it probably sucks. And I am so not good at writing
Original Cindy :/ Forgive me! Better stuff is till to come ( I hope! )
by pari106
pari106@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/pari106/damain.html
Disclaimer: found in Chapter One
Rating: PG-13 for language, maybe.
A/N: Thanks for the feedback! I've decided to do a sexy/steamy M/L chapter, followed by one that's more
sweet and sappy (if you skip over the first, the other will still make sense). Those are in the works. Right
now I'll take up where I left off in Chapter 6. And, don't worry, Logan's situation will be explained
eventually! (But not right now! ;)
A/A/N: Oh, and to aegean: I liked your suggestion! I don't know if I can do it justice, but I'll try it out
soon. Thanks!
Gift of Darkness, part 7
by pari106
Later that night Logan found himself sitting at a table at Crash. Pre-Pulse music was blaring in the
background; The Nelly Furtado remix of Missy Elliot's "Get Your Freak On" to be exact. Bling had been
there earlier, but had left for home somewhere around the second round of drinks.
They were now on their fourth.
His friend had really hit it off with Original and Herbal. And Sketchy. Logan smiled when he thought
about earlier that evening when he'd introduced the two. Bling hadn't known quite how to react to
Sketchy's…unique perspective on things. Just like Logan.
Logan sighed. He wished he could express how much he appreciated the other man. He'd never had such
an honest and loyal friend. He'd never had such a friend, period. Even when Bling had left Crash, it had
only been when Logan had sworn he'd be okay without him.
Like Max, Bling had become a part of Logan's foundation. He didn't know how he could have rebuilt his
life after the shooting without Bling. Which was one of the reasons why he'd felt so guilty for Bling
getting shot. Was why he still felt guilty, even after their discussion on the topic. But Logan forced that
feeling away. Bling had been right. Logan smiled – 'Bling is always right.' Beating himself up, while
there were plenty of bad guys out there who'd love to do the job for him, was counterproductive. So Logan
didn't linger on such thoughts.
Besides, he thought, knowing Bling's uncanny sense of him, he'd sense Logan's mood and come back to
Crash and kick his ass.
Then Logan spotted Original Cindy from across the room. She and Max had gone to get refills on their
drinks, but now Original was turning and heading back for their table early.
'Good,' Logan thought. 'Maybe they changed their minds about the beers.'
Then he pushed that thought away, too. The three rounds of drinks they'd just consumed wasn't sitting
well with him. But it was just beer they were drinking, and both Max and Original looked fine. And four
beers would hardly put Logan under the table. Besides, he didn't feel drunk, really. He didn't feel bad, he
just…didn't feel real good. Logan shook his head. He couldn't really pinpoint what was wrong, exactly.
But he shrugged. 'No matter.' And he tried recapturing his good mood of that morning. He'd been having
a good time ever since Max had returned. And he'd be damned if he'd let a few beers ruin the evening.
He'd just have to pass on any more alcohol and concentrate on his company.
'Little problem there,' he thought then, his eyes returning to Max as she wove towards the bar.
Trying to make good on that unspoken promise of his, Logan had pulled out all the stops with Max tonight.
All the impulses he would usually have ignored – like the sudden urge to reach out and take her hand, or
kiss her on the cheek…he suddenly stopped ignoring those. And if he got caught staring at her, a look on
his face he knew had to be transparent, he didn't look away. They talked and laughed just like before. But
now all the playful banter and subtle innuendo they exchanged had suddenly become a lot less subtle.
Actually, Logan was a little surprised at himself. At how easy all the inhibitions fell away.
'Maybe I really am drunk,' he thought, grinning.
Or maybe he was in love.
Logan grinned wider. Maybe he was head-over-heels, madly in love.
Then he thought, 'Nah.'
There was no maybe about it. He was head-over-heels, madly in love with an X5 named Max.
Imagine that.
Logan was still grinning like an idiot when Original reached the table. She plopped down in the seat across
from him and gave him a look.
"Damn, boy," she said. "What's got you lookin' all like the cat that ate the canary?" As if she didn't
know.
"Oh…nothing," he replied, still smiling. As if she'd believe that.
"Uh-huh," Original Cindy drolled, but she couldn't quite keep her own smile some surfacing. She'd
pegged Logan for the skittish type – like Max. The type that changed clothes six times in one night and
then swore up and down that she did *not* have a date. Like Max. And he was. But when he finally got
over that and let go…it was enough to make Original Cindy's pretty little head spin.
"Okay, okay," she said finally. "I got it. Look, Original Cindy ain't blind, 'k? And she'd have to be not to
see the sparks you and my boo be lightin' up in here.
"I mean, don't get me wrong. I think it's cute…in its own, sugary sweet, heterosexual kinda way…"
"Original…"
"Uh, uh, uh," she interrupted, waving a finger in his face. "And don't you even go spouting that 'we ain't
like that' bullshit, because if I have to listen to that one more time…"
Logan laughed. And sighed. And mentally shrugged.
Oh, what the hell. 'All the stops, remember, Logan?'
"We're like that," he told her.
And slowly Original began to smile.
"Well, aiight then."
Logan smiled back.
"It's about time you and boo step up to the real. But look, Logan…the reason I came back here to talk to
you…
"I like you. Aiight? For a guy…you're okay."
Logan laughed, and the compliment wasn't exactly glowing, but he took it seriously. This was Max's best
friend, after all; she was to Max what Bling was to Logan. And Logan felt like he owed her the world for
that. Max had never had a friend like her. Original was very important to Max. And if for no other reason
than that, she was important to Logan, too.
"And my boo needs you," she continued. "And I can tell you need her, too."
Logan nodded, serious. "I do."
Original nodded back. She meant it – she liked Logan. Owed the boy her life, she was sure, she didn't
know how many times over. If for no other reason than he made Max smile, made her crazy. All those
things Max did too rarely when he wasn't around.
"I just gotta say this, though…" Original said. Then she looked Logan straight in the eye, keeping her
voice low so it couldn't be overheard. "You hurt my girl…and Original Cindy gonna lay a smackdown on
your cute, little, genetically engineered ass like you ain't never seen before."
Then she smiled as if she hadn't said anything of the sort.
Logan laughed. She most certainly *was* to Max, what Bling was to Logan.
Then Logan shook his head. "Don't worry," he told her. "If I ever hurt Max, you'd have plenty of help."
Then the topic of their conversation was back at the table, setting down their drinks.
"Hey, what you guys talking about?" she asked.
Logan and Original just looked at each other.
"Oh, you know…stuff," Original said, jumping out of her chair before Max could react. "Mostly 'bout
how tired Original be gettin'. Time for me to head home, get a little beauty sleep…"
"But…"
Original blinked at Logan when Max wasn't looking, yawned when she was, and Logan rolled his eyes. As
she left, Original yelled over her shoulder:
"Bye, boo!"
…and then she was gone.
Max just sat down, raising an eyebrow.
"What was that…"
She began to ask, but then something in the way Logan was looking at her stopped her.
"I think it was about…this," he told her.
And then he pulled her into a kiss.
**** ****
A/N: Okay…this was written kind of sloppily, so it probably sucks. And I am so not good at writing
Original Cindy :/ Forgive me! Better stuff is till to come ( I hope! )