Title: "One"
Author: Dusty
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: All your Dark Angel characters are belong to us! Well, in an alternate universe I do, in fact, own these characters. In this universe, not so much.
Summary: Oh dear Gods. Another Max POV. Kind of her take on the events of "In A Room Without A Door."
Author's Note: I had no intention of doing a fourth chapter (hell, I didn't even intend to do a second one!), but it seems my Muse will not leave me alone until I either completely screw up this story or run out of lyrics to "Shameless."
A/N: The Next Generation: To Vee017: Sorry for the confusion! The kiss Alec talked about in the last chapter referred to the first chapter where Max put the moves on him. Logan found out when...well, just read on.
A million bazillion thanks to all the wonderful people who have read and reviewed. You're all so sweet!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Just please don't name this
Please don't explain this
Just blame it all on me
Just say I was shameless
Say I couldn't slow it down
Let alone stop it
And say you just hung around
Cuz you couldn't top it"
-- Ani DiFranco, "Shameless"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two in the afternoon. The clock ticked over the same slow way it always does, but it changed the feeling I've had slightly. Changed it from the feeling that something major was going to happen today into the feeling that the countdown has officially begun. Well, it's two in the afternoon, so that's ten hours left in the day.
10.
My eyes trail down from the clock behind Normal's desk to Alec, who's standing there waiting for his next delivery. He turns his head to the side and catches me staring at him for the third time today. He gives me a cocky grin. I give him the finger. His grin widens and he strides across the room toward me. I turn and start digging around in my locker. The trick is to look disinterested.
"Now now, Maxie. None of that. It's not work place appropriate," he says as he leans against the locker next to mine. He's totally invading my personal space. Ask me if I care.
"Oh, and dating your coworker is?" I shoot back at him.
"'Dating?' Is that what we're doing?" he asks, his tone still amused.
"Does it matter what we call it?" I shrug. He doesn't answer, but leans over and kisses me. He kisses me the same intense way he always does, but it changed the belief I've had slightly. Changed it from the belief that defining our relationship is unimportant into the belief that defining our relationship is important to him. All that because of a nine second kiss.
9.
"Doesn't matter to me as long as I'm getting laid," he lies. His hand trails down from the back of my neck to the top of my jeans. I shove him away before he can unbutton them.
"Now who's being work place inappropriate?" I snap. The trick is to look annoyed. But ask me if I care. No really, ask me.
"Alec!" Normal bellows out as he comes wandering back to his desk, packages in hand. "Rush delivery to 1407 Cedar. Wave bye bye to Max and get a move on!" Alec waves at me. I roll my eyes at him. "And as for you, missy miss," Normal continues at top volume, "these six right here are headed to Sector Eight. Now bip!"
Normal loaded us down with packages and chased us out the same annoying way he always does, but it changed the belief I'd had slightly. Changed it from the belief that Alec was Normal's Golden Boy into the belief that maybe Alec was starting to fall from grace. After all, we were both standing right there, yet Alec got the rush delivery way the hell over in Sector Twelve. In the rain. And I only have to go as far as Sector Eight.
8.
Though in the cold Seattle rain, Sector Eight sure feels like a long way to go. Even if I am totally preoccupied. What exactly is my relationship with Alec? A two-member Manticore survivors support group, plus sex? 'Cold' isn't exactly the word I'm looking for, but it'll do. Friends with benefits? 'Trite' isn't exactly the term I'd use, but it's the first one that comes to mind. Lovers? 'Something more' isn't quite the phrase I want, but it's close enough. I stop my bike so fast I almost flip over my handlebars. I'd been so deep in thought I had completely passed the house for my first delivery and nearly rode right out into traffic. On Seventh Avenue.
7.
Last delivery. I walk up the path to the house, thanking my lucky stars I'm almost done. Twice I've almost been hit by cars, once I crashed into a gate and once I rode four blocks beyond the target house. All because one little kiss sent my head spinning. I wonder if he knows what he does to me. Does he know how he can send shivers down my spine with his casual caresses? Does he know how he can turn my bad moods around with his smiles? Does he know how he can block out the rest of the world with his kisses? He probably does. He probably does it on purpose. But ask me if I care. Somehow I manage to pull my attention back to the task at hand. A smile and a signature and delivery number six is done.
6.
I drag my soaking wet ass back into Jam Pony right in the middle of an argument. Sketchy is yelling something about his watch saying it is two minutes past seven and Normal is yelling back at him about how only the clock on the wall counts. Original Cindy fills me in on the details as everyone else except Alec, and of course Normal and Sketchy who are still fighting, scurry out the door. Someone called for a late pick up and Normal wants Sketchy to go get it. Sketchy wants to go get drunk at Crash. OC wants to go meet her new girl at Crash. From the looks Alec keeps shooting me, he wants to go have sex. Not necessarily at Crash. Me? I want to go relax a bit at Crash first. Finally Normal gives in, mumbles something about us all being lazy little brats and how if he had any sense he'd fire us, and the five of us leave.
5.
At Crash, the booze is cheap, the music is bad, but you can't beat the company. The four of us claim our table and we send Sketchy to forage for beer. This is just what I need. Laughing with Sketchy as he tells us the latest dirty joke he's picked up and scanning the crowd for OC's girl, I can almost forget about my preoccupation with Alec. Can almost forget, until he presses his knee against mine under the table. Can almost forget until his hand brushes my arm as he reaches for the pitcher. Can almost forget until his soft sigh hits my ear. I pointedly ignore him. The trick is to look unaffected.
But I am affected. And before I can stop myself, I say I'm going to the bathroom and shoot Alec a Look that tells him to follow me. And for the next ten minutes, in the back hallway of Crash, the rest of the world is forgotten and all that exists is our four lips.
4.
But eventually we had to rejoin our friends. Original Cindy wasn't fooled by our excuses, but Sketchy was too drunk to catch on by this point. Eventually, OC's girl shows up and drags her away from our table for a game of pool. Then, to my surprise, Logan and Asha show up. Asha drags Sketchy up from the table and over to the bar to buy yet another pitcher of beer, as if he needs more to drink. Alec claims he has enough beer, so he stays at the table.
Logan tells me he has something to show me and asks if I'll stop by later. He asks me in the same calm way he always does, but it changed the feeling I've had slightly. Changed it from the feeling that he only wants me to come over because of Eyes Only business because it's too painful to see me into the feeling that he wants me to come over for strictly personal reasons. I tell him I'll come by after we're done here.
Alec's finger trails down the side of his glass into the little ring of moisture underneath it on the table. He raises one eyebrow at me. I raise both of mine at him. The three of us sit in silence.
3.
After a few more beers, Asha and Logan split. A few more beers after that, Sketchy passes out. Original Cindy and her girl are long gone. Alec sets his empty glass down with a loud thunk and looks expectantly at me. I nod and we head out to my motorcycle. We're still several blocks from Fogle Towers when I feel Alec's hand leave my hip. Does he know how he can turn me on just by trailing his fingers down my inner thigh? I know he does. I know he's doing it on purpose.
Finally we get to Fogle Towers. The entire elevator ride up to the penthouse is torture. Alec is tracing circles on my lower back and his breath is tickling my ear. He knows what he's doing to me. But my mood immediately shifts to tense as soon as we walk in Logan's door. Something's up. I can tell the countdown is almost over. Logan looks over my shoulder, and I can tell he's not happy to see Alec here. At this point, ask me if I care.
The cure. For the virus. Logan has it. I'm staring at him as he explains how he's been in contact with some ex-Manticore doctors. I'm staring at him as he explains how he didn't tell me because he didn't want to get my hopes up. I'm staring at him as the countdown stalls at two.
Two men. Two possible choices. Two futures. Two sets of two eyes on me.
2.
But then I look at Alec. I look at him and the countdown gets kick started again. One man. I know which one. Does he know? But then his lips part slightly and his eyes turn disbelieving and I know he does. We both look back to Logan.
"Max?" Logan asks, confused and slightly apprehensive.
He's staring at me while I explain that I'll take the cure so I can work with him and hang out with him without being afraid of killing him. He's staring at me while I explain that I'll take the cure, but I can't be with him. He's staring at me while I explain that I've got...something...with Alec.
"What? You've got what with Alec? Are you...dating?" he asks, trying to stay calm. Yeah, I guess we are.
"Yeah," I say, looking over at Alec again. "We're dating." Alec gives me a little smile. I give him one back.
We stay at Logan's only long enough to inject the cure and be sure that it works. Then we leave before the tension in that room makes our heads explode. I'm sorry Logan's hurt. I'm sorry this is going to make a friendship with him difficult. But I'm not sorry about the way this has all played out. Alec climbs on my motorcycle behind me and works his hand up under my shirt. Presses his palm flat against my bare stomach and I know he knows what he does to me. I smile and rev the engine. One choice. One man. One future.
1.
Blastoff.
End.
A/N: Whew! I survived another Max POV (and a pretty long one, too! Well, long for me, anyway). Well? What do you think?
Author: Dusty
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: All your Dark Angel characters are belong to us! Well, in an alternate universe I do, in fact, own these characters. In this universe, not so much.
Summary: Oh dear Gods. Another Max POV. Kind of her take on the events of "In A Room Without A Door."
Author's Note: I had no intention of doing a fourth chapter (hell, I didn't even intend to do a second one!), but it seems my Muse will not leave me alone until I either completely screw up this story or run out of lyrics to "Shameless."
A/N: The Next Generation: To Vee017: Sorry for the confusion! The kiss Alec talked about in the last chapter referred to the first chapter where Max put the moves on him. Logan found out when...well, just read on.
A million bazillion thanks to all the wonderful people who have read and reviewed. You're all so sweet!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Just please don't name this
Please don't explain this
Just blame it all on me
Just say I was shameless
Say I couldn't slow it down
Let alone stop it
And say you just hung around
Cuz you couldn't top it"
-- Ani DiFranco, "Shameless"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two in the afternoon. The clock ticked over the same slow way it always does, but it changed the feeling I've had slightly. Changed it from the feeling that something major was going to happen today into the feeling that the countdown has officially begun. Well, it's two in the afternoon, so that's ten hours left in the day.
10.
My eyes trail down from the clock behind Normal's desk to Alec, who's standing there waiting for his next delivery. He turns his head to the side and catches me staring at him for the third time today. He gives me a cocky grin. I give him the finger. His grin widens and he strides across the room toward me. I turn and start digging around in my locker. The trick is to look disinterested.
"Now now, Maxie. None of that. It's not work place appropriate," he says as he leans against the locker next to mine. He's totally invading my personal space. Ask me if I care.
"Oh, and dating your coworker is?" I shoot back at him.
"'Dating?' Is that what we're doing?" he asks, his tone still amused.
"Does it matter what we call it?" I shrug. He doesn't answer, but leans over and kisses me. He kisses me the same intense way he always does, but it changed the belief I've had slightly. Changed it from the belief that defining our relationship is unimportant into the belief that defining our relationship is important to him. All that because of a nine second kiss.
9.
"Doesn't matter to me as long as I'm getting laid," he lies. His hand trails down from the back of my neck to the top of my jeans. I shove him away before he can unbutton them.
"Now who's being work place inappropriate?" I snap. The trick is to look annoyed. But ask me if I care. No really, ask me.
"Alec!" Normal bellows out as he comes wandering back to his desk, packages in hand. "Rush delivery to 1407 Cedar. Wave bye bye to Max and get a move on!" Alec waves at me. I roll my eyes at him. "And as for you, missy miss," Normal continues at top volume, "these six right here are headed to Sector Eight. Now bip!"
Normal loaded us down with packages and chased us out the same annoying way he always does, but it changed the belief I'd had slightly. Changed it from the belief that Alec was Normal's Golden Boy into the belief that maybe Alec was starting to fall from grace. After all, we were both standing right there, yet Alec got the rush delivery way the hell over in Sector Twelve. In the rain. And I only have to go as far as Sector Eight.
8.
Though in the cold Seattle rain, Sector Eight sure feels like a long way to go. Even if I am totally preoccupied. What exactly is my relationship with Alec? A two-member Manticore survivors support group, plus sex? 'Cold' isn't exactly the word I'm looking for, but it'll do. Friends with benefits? 'Trite' isn't exactly the term I'd use, but it's the first one that comes to mind. Lovers? 'Something more' isn't quite the phrase I want, but it's close enough. I stop my bike so fast I almost flip over my handlebars. I'd been so deep in thought I had completely passed the house for my first delivery and nearly rode right out into traffic. On Seventh Avenue.
7.
Last delivery. I walk up the path to the house, thanking my lucky stars I'm almost done. Twice I've almost been hit by cars, once I crashed into a gate and once I rode four blocks beyond the target house. All because one little kiss sent my head spinning. I wonder if he knows what he does to me. Does he know how he can send shivers down my spine with his casual caresses? Does he know how he can turn my bad moods around with his smiles? Does he know how he can block out the rest of the world with his kisses? He probably does. He probably does it on purpose. But ask me if I care. Somehow I manage to pull my attention back to the task at hand. A smile and a signature and delivery number six is done.
6.
I drag my soaking wet ass back into Jam Pony right in the middle of an argument. Sketchy is yelling something about his watch saying it is two minutes past seven and Normal is yelling back at him about how only the clock on the wall counts. Original Cindy fills me in on the details as everyone else except Alec, and of course Normal and Sketchy who are still fighting, scurry out the door. Someone called for a late pick up and Normal wants Sketchy to go get it. Sketchy wants to go get drunk at Crash. OC wants to go meet her new girl at Crash. From the looks Alec keeps shooting me, he wants to go have sex. Not necessarily at Crash. Me? I want to go relax a bit at Crash first. Finally Normal gives in, mumbles something about us all being lazy little brats and how if he had any sense he'd fire us, and the five of us leave.
5.
At Crash, the booze is cheap, the music is bad, but you can't beat the company. The four of us claim our table and we send Sketchy to forage for beer. This is just what I need. Laughing with Sketchy as he tells us the latest dirty joke he's picked up and scanning the crowd for OC's girl, I can almost forget about my preoccupation with Alec. Can almost forget, until he presses his knee against mine under the table. Can almost forget until his hand brushes my arm as he reaches for the pitcher. Can almost forget until his soft sigh hits my ear. I pointedly ignore him. The trick is to look unaffected.
But I am affected. And before I can stop myself, I say I'm going to the bathroom and shoot Alec a Look that tells him to follow me. And for the next ten minutes, in the back hallway of Crash, the rest of the world is forgotten and all that exists is our four lips.
4.
But eventually we had to rejoin our friends. Original Cindy wasn't fooled by our excuses, but Sketchy was too drunk to catch on by this point. Eventually, OC's girl shows up and drags her away from our table for a game of pool. Then, to my surprise, Logan and Asha show up. Asha drags Sketchy up from the table and over to the bar to buy yet another pitcher of beer, as if he needs more to drink. Alec claims he has enough beer, so he stays at the table.
Logan tells me he has something to show me and asks if I'll stop by later. He asks me in the same calm way he always does, but it changed the feeling I've had slightly. Changed it from the feeling that he only wants me to come over because of Eyes Only business because it's too painful to see me into the feeling that he wants me to come over for strictly personal reasons. I tell him I'll come by after we're done here.
Alec's finger trails down the side of his glass into the little ring of moisture underneath it on the table. He raises one eyebrow at me. I raise both of mine at him. The three of us sit in silence.
3.
After a few more beers, Asha and Logan split. A few more beers after that, Sketchy passes out. Original Cindy and her girl are long gone. Alec sets his empty glass down with a loud thunk and looks expectantly at me. I nod and we head out to my motorcycle. We're still several blocks from Fogle Towers when I feel Alec's hand leave my hip. Does he know how he can turn me on just by trailing his fingers down my inner thigh? I know he does. I know he's doing it on purpose.
Finally we get to Fogle Towers. The entire elevator ride up to the penthouse is torture. Alec is tracing circles on my lower back and his breath is tickling my ear. He knows what he's doing to me. But my mood immediately shifts to tense as soon as we walk in Logan's door. Something's up. I can tell the countdown is almost over. Logan looks over my shoulder, and I can tell he's not happy to see Alec here. At this point, ask me if I care.
The cure. For the virus. Logan has it. I'm staring at him as he explains how he's been in contact with some ex-Manticore doctors. I'm staring at him as he explains how he didn't tell me because he didn't want to get my hopes up. I'm staring at him as the countdown stalls at two.
Two men. Two possible choices. Two futures. Two sets of two eyes on me.
2.
But then I look at Alec. I look at him and the countdown gets kick started again. One man. I know which one. Does he know? But then his lips part slightly and his eyes turn disbelieving and I know he does. We both look back to Logan.
"Max?" Logan asks, confused and slightly apprehensive.
He's staring at me while I explain that I'll take the cure so I can work with him and hang out with him without being afraid of killing him. He's staring at me while I explain that I'll take the cure, but I can't be with him. He's staring at me while I explain that I've got...something...with Alec.
"What? You've got what with Alec? Are you...dating?" he asks, trying to stay calm. Yeah, I guess we are.
"Yeah," I say, looking over at Alec again. "We're dating." Alec gives me a little smile. I give him one back.
We stay at Logan's only long enough to inject the cure and be sure that it works. Then we leave before the tension in that room makes our heads explode. I'm sorry Logan's hurt. I'm sorry this is going to make a friendship with him difficult. But I'm not sorry about the way this has all played out. Alec climbs on my motorcycle behind me and works his hand up under my shirt. Presses his palm flat against my bare stomach and I know he knows what he does to me. I smile and rev the engine. One choice. One man. One future.
1.
Blastoff.
End.
A/N: Whew! I survived another Max POV (and a pretty long one, too! Well, long for me, anyway). Well? What do you think?
