Title: Fair Play
Disclaimer: I don't own it.
A/N: written in response to Pai's challenge at NWP.
Maybe it was because he had never been dumped before. Or maybe it was because this was Max. The one person he thought he could ever care about for longer than one night. But now, as he watched her and Logan holding each other as the flag was raised atop of Terminal City, emotions he had never experienced before all came flooding to the surface.
He had gone along with her little plan because he knew that he could never refuse anything she asked of him. Over the past couple of months he had grown more and more attached to Max. He knew it was dangerous, but there wasn't much he could do about it. Especially not now. He couldn't abandon a group of people who were going to be depending on him for their survival.
She had been the one who had started this whole charade for Logan's sake. And now, it hurt him to say that his pride had been somewhat damaged. Terminal City had been aware of her relationship with Alec. The happy couple had made sure to play along in front of everyone for her sake. The occasional holding of hands when someone entered the room, and a simple, chaste kiss as one of the two left one. The less everyone knew, the less Logan knew. It was better for everyone this way. But now, everyone could see the two consoling each other as Joshua declared 'freedom for freaks' with a single flag. Now everyone would think he had been dumped…for a human.
If there was one thing he hated more than anything, it was losing. Even if he hadn't had anything to lose in the first place, just the word itself sent shivers up his spine. Where did she get off thinking that he wouldn't be hurt by any of this. Well, he knew the answer to that. As far as she was concerned, he didn't have feelings, so why not use him as a pawn in her sick little love affair with Logan. But this had hurt, in fact, it had done more than that. She had caused him to feel things he had never felt before. Now between all the looks he was sure to get from his fellow mutants and all this emotional crap, he was pissed. There was only one thing that would help now. Revenge.
~~~~~~~~~~~
He had set up this apartment in TC as a save haven from the disaster of a life he had lead on the outside world. Between the problems with Ben and oh, everything else, he had decided it would be a safe bet to have a place far away from everything. Of course, originally Max had existed among those things, but when the two of them had become 'a thing' he had suggested that she stay with him. He could tell that she was not exactly thrilled about the idea of living with him, but after much persistence on his part , she had agreed. He had made sure to remind her that it would probably arouse too much suspicion if two adults never spent time alone together.
Now, as he laid on the bed she had been using, he awaited her return to their apartment. He wasn't exactly sure what his plan of attack was. This was the fist time in his life he had been unsure of what to do with himself around someone. But he knew that he couldn't let her get away with this. Falling back onto the pillows, he let his nose fill with her scent. Ever since she had moved into his place, he had noticed how aware of her he had become. Whenever she entered a room he knew where she was before he saw her, and it almost felt as if he could sense her moods. It was ridiculous, but it was almost as if their imposed closeness had done this to him. It was the weirdest feeling in the world, but something in his nature appreciated it, almost craving it. Hearing a key in the lock turn, he shook his mind free of the thoughts that had possessed him.
When she entered the room, she could tell he had been lost in thought. He always got this far away look in his eyes when he was thinking about something important. When she had become able to gauge his emotions was beyond her, but she had. As soon as he caught her looking at him she saw the walls go up. If there was one thing she understood about Alec, it was that he didn't like being caught. At anything. He saw it as a kind of weakness, and she understood that about him. She felt the same way especially when it concerned her thoughts and feelings. No way in hell she would ever let anyone inside her mind.
"So, how's Logan?"
"What?" Logan's name coming from Alec's mouth always managed to snap her out of a reverie faster than you could say Manticore.
"C'mon Max, I saw you guys. I thought you were going to leave him alone because it was safer that way. I mean, don't tell me you made me look like a jerk just for a week of peace from the guy?"
"I thought you didn't want to be a part of this Alec!? Since when the hell do you care what Logan and I do. I thought you'd be happier if you didn't have to pretend for my sake anymore."
"I would've been happy if you had never concocted this half-assed plan in the first place Max. Now I got a reputation to defend. I don't get dumped for Logan Max. He's…Logan! The man has less sex appeal than dry toast!"
"For the fiftieth time Alec, me and Logan are NONE of your business. So why don't you drop it and move on. I never would've come up with this idea if you hadn't told me it was wrong for the two of us to be together. You started all of this Alec. Don't put this all on me."
"Since when do you listen to anything I say. That's a cop-out if I ever heard one. This is a bunch of bull shit Max, and I'm sick and tired of you using me as your personal punching bag. You think I don't have feelings? Well I do, and I think it sucks that you treat me like this." Setting his voice an octave higher, he imitated Max as best as he could. "My day sucked. I know! Where's Alec, I'll hit him and feel better. Logan and I can't touch. Hey Alec was at Manticore when they gave me the virus, I'll blame him. I don't like my job. Alec doesn't seem to mind doing his. What an ass." And with that eh threw himself down on the couch next to which they had been standing for the duration of the argument. "I'm sick and tired of it Max, and I'm just not going to play along anymore."
"Alec, I'm sor-"
"Forget it." Getting up he crossed the room to the door. "If you don't want to play fair, than neither will I."
"What the hell does that mean?" Alec's eyes suddenly seemed to gleam with mischief, frightening Max to no end.
"You'll see. It's time to fight fire with fire I say." And with that he left.
A/N: What do you think? Worth a review? Please?