Taking confident steps, White made his way to the barrier of Terminal City. The Familiars left behind after the battle had guaranteed that every transgenic lay decaying on the filthy streets. Despite what that archaic prophecy had predicted, the Familiars won.
White smirked. The weak shall inherit the earth my ass. The strong and pure prevailed, just the way it should be. And now the transgenic's home had been demolished.
So why did White swear he heard noise coming from inside the walls surrounding the desolate city?
He shrugged his shoulders blaming it on an overactive imagination.
His steps finally took him to the barrier of Terminal city. Carelessly, he tore a board away from the haphazard barrier and threw it to the side. He squeezed in the opening sideways.
Before he had completely entered the city, the butt of a gun connected with the back of his head. Momentarily dazed, he whirled around. A fist met his face with a loud crunch. The force of the punch caused his head to snap back giving his attacker the chance to deliver a kick directly to his stomach.
White grunted and swung for his attacker narrowly missing. The aggressor grabbed White's wrist and twisted his arm behind his back far harder than would be necessary for a norm. White glared at the blonde X5.
"Well what have we here?" Rift smirked. "It must be the theme of the week. Sneak into Terminal City and get your ass kicked."
Rift saw Thikit jogging towards them. The green skinned transgenic nodded to Rift and grabbed Whit's free arm. He grinned at Rift baring his brown teeth. "You found yourself another intruder," Rift said with his unnaturally think voice. "Let's take him to see Alec and Max. Then maybe later we can have some fun."
Rift smiled. "A little ass kicking always puts a smile on my face."
Instead of taking White into a secluded room, Alec thought it a better idea for the interrogation to be public. Okay, so maybe he thought it would be more humiliating.
Alec regarded White thoughtfully. "You missed me, didn't you, Ames?"
White glanced around the transgenics surrounding him. "From the looks of things, my job to eradicate you vermin is still in effect. I'd be delighted to enlist your help again, 494," White sneered.
Alec chuckled. "But, Ames, you did eradicate us all. Well, most of us anyway." Alec looked to a transgenic behind him and beckoned her foreword. "Ames, I'd like you to meet Bell," he gestured to a dark skinned transgenic with shoulder length hair. Her chocolate eyes sparkled with amusement and her face had an ever constant smile.
"She's a little different than most of us," Alec continued. "Instead of giving her super strength or lightning reflexes, Manticore made her different."
"Am I supposed to care?" White asked impatiently.
Alec shrugged. "Doesn't matter if you do or not. Bell has the ability to make you tell us the truth, whether you want to or not. Her specialty is telecoercion."
Bell smiled at Alec. "Whenever your ready, Chief."
A smile touched his lips. "Chief. I like it. So, Ames," Alec turned to White. "What are the Familiars planning now?"
Bell's eyes bore into White who seemed transfixed. "There are no plans. We thought you were all dead."
Alec shook his head. "Not for us. What are your plans for the norms?"
White looked away from Bell, ignoring Alec's question.
"Ames," Bell's silky voice drew his attention back to her. "I know you really want to tell Alec, don't you?"
Ames nodded. "We're going to infect them with the snake blood."
"You mean like you tried to do to Max?" Alec questioned.
The Familiar nodded again. "Normal humans can't withstand the pathogen contained in the blood."
Alec leaned down to eye level with White even though White continued to stare at Bell. "What happens to normal humans when they're infected?"
White's permanent fixation on Bell ceased and he turned to Alec. Instead of the normal fire and hatred that burned in White's cold eyes, they were blank. But Alec could see complete certainty lingering around the edges.
"They die," White stated simply.
Straightening, Alec pulled back. "Bell, make him forget," Alec ordered without taking his eyes off White. "Mole," finally looking away from White he regarded the lizard. "When she's done, I want him gone."
Mole nodded. "Got it, Chief."
The group surrounding White broke up with each transgenic going they're separate way. But, like always, Max had to stay behind and question him.
"What are you planning on doing?" she asked Alec urgently.
He grabbed some papers off the nearby table and sifted through. "Is this the entire
supply list?" he asked.
"Alec!" she spoke harshly and gripped his arm. "What are you going to do about the Familiars?"
"Nothing," he replied sternly.
Eyebrows shooting up in disbelief, Max's temper raged to a dangerous level. "Nothing?! Alec, we have to do something! They're going to kill-"
"Max." His voice halted her instantly. She'd never heard him so stringent. "We're not going to do anything yet," he said more softly. "They think we're dead. Right now is our best chance to build ourselves strong and to figure out where their central command is. We'll research and send people out on reconnaissance, but right now, we need to regroup and gather more supplies."
Calmed slightly by his words, Max crossed her arms.
"We won't let them kill anyone, well, besides all of us. And they really didn't do a good job of that."
The corner of her mouth twitched beginning a smile. "That sounds good."
"That a girl." Alec reached over to Max and ruffled her like someone would a child.
Punching him quickly in the stomach, Max walked away.
Frowning, Alec rubbed his stomach. "Why are women always so violent?" he asked no one.
Peddling leisurely, Alec cycled down the streets of Seattle, weaving in between people and cars. As usual, the sky shone gray and dull. Had Alec been 100% human, the chilly mid-day air would have bothered him.
Six months had passed since he became the leader of his people. Six months since he led them to their deaths and subsequent revival.
Alec laughed to himself. As hard as it was to believe, things had been so much simpler then. Back then, they had only been hiding in Terminal City trying to fight some cult worshipping Familiars and fretting over some ancient prophecy.
Now, they fought a whole new battle. Alec, Max, Logan and a few others had campaigned to Seattle's leftover government. When that had proven fruitless, they moved onto the national government.
Surprisingly to all involved, the government had listened. Even more, the government implemented laws concerning transgenics. At the time, Alec had been unsure whether or not they had gotten anywhere. He understood now just what they had accomplished.
Every transgenic was required to live in Terminal City. No big change there. All human transgenics, X4s, X5s and so on, were allowed to work and move about freely without fear of being attacked by a mob and beaten to death. Thumbs up to the government on making civil rights laws.
Every human transgenic, however, was restricted from certain buildings and areas segregating them from the normal populace. History always repeats itself.
The transhuman transgenics however, had been restricted to Terminal City permenantly. If one was caught outside the city's walls, they'd be jailed and most likely hauled off somewhere to be examined and dissected.
Alec continued on his way, ignoring the loathing glares he got from people on the streets. They knew what he was; the red band he wore around his forearm over his cream colored jacket labeled him. The band was the government's final touch on their ruling for the transgenic population. If one was caught without it, they too would end up in jail.
Rolling his eyes, Alec laughed. Like the government could detect them anymore, not since their barcodes had disappeared.
But, despite that fact, Alec wore his and made sure everyone else wore theirs. After all, he was their leader and someone had to set an example. He figured the more they cooperated with the government, the easier it would make things.
In relative quickness, Alec pulled up to the address. He pulled the package out of his bag with his clipboard in the other hand. Shifting the package to join the clipboard in his left hand, he knocked on the cracking wooden door of the building in front of him.
A few seconds later, an overweight, and in desperate need of a shower, bald man answered the door.
The man squinted his eyes at Alec noticing the red band on Alec's arm. "What do you want, tranie?"
"I'm just here to deliver this package," he responded shoving the package at the man.
Raising his chubby, dirty hand, the man pushed the package back. "I don't want anything from tranie filth."
Annoyed, Alec sighed. "Look, it's my job, okay? Just take the package and sign for it so I can leave."
The man snatched the package out of Alec's hand and shut the door in Alec's face.
Stifling the compulsion to break something, preferably that guy's skull, Alec got on his bike and rode back to JamPony.
Striding into JamPony, Alec went to the counter and dropped the clipboard on it.
Normal glanced at him. "Hey there, rockstar. What've you got for me?"
"Not a signature. Guy slammed the door in my face."
"Again? That's the third time today," Normal declared astonished.
Alec just nodded his head. "I know."
Normal slapped Alec on his arm. "Don't worry about. You'll get it next time, right?"
"Yeah." Alec looked around JamPony seeing many well-known faces. "Thanks again, Normal, for hiring us back."
Normal smiled. "Anything for my Golden Boy. And besides, when your slacker friends get off their lazy rear-ends, they get a lot done."
Alec chuckled. "We try."
"Hey, why don't you call it a day, huh? I bet that girlfriend of yours misses you."
Alec smirked. "How could she not?" Alec began walking out.
"You better not be late tomorrow, though, or it'll be your hind end," Normal shouted to him.
"Yeah, yeah. You got it boss," Alec called back without turning around.
Leaving JamPony, he straddled his motorcycle and went home.
Alec entered their apartment and tossed his jacket on a nearby chair. The lighting of the room cast an amber glow throughout their small but livable apartment.
"Wil?" he called out, his voice ringing through their home.
She appeared out of an adjacent room with a smile on her face. "Hey," she walked up to him giving him a short kiss. "How was work?"
Alec groaned. "Three people refused a signature."
She took his hand. "I'm sorry, Alec."
He rubbed a hand over his face trying to wipe away the stress. "Yeah. It'll get better some day, right?"
She gave him a hopeful smile. "It has to. We've been through so much; it's about damn time we get some good news."
"How'd your day go?" Alec asked as Wil sat on the wooden stool next to the counter.
She laughed. "The guys are still amazed that such a small package can lift such heavy concrete. Construction workers are the most accepting people I've met, if you can believe that."
Lowering himself onto the stool next to her, Alec pulled a large lock of her hair in front of her. His fingers trailed to the ends of her hair and he ran his thumb against them.
Her gaze traveled to his fingers playing with her hair. She smiled. "I know. I need a hair cut." When Wil first arrived at Terminal City, her hair had laid a few inches past her shoulder. Now it fell half way down her back.
Alec shook his head. "Leave it. It makes you look … free."
Her hand went to his hair. "Yours, on the other hand, is shaggy and makes you look homeless."
He swatted her hand away. "I'm telling you, the shaggy look is in. Chicks dig it."
"This chick certainly does." She went to kiss him, but stopped an inch away. "Oh, I almost forgot! I've got a surprise for you."
Alec quirked an eyebrow. "Does it involve chocolate syrup?"
She punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You wish. Come on." She stood grabbing both of his hands. "It's in the other room."
Almost dragging him, she led him to the nearest room. She stopped before he could see into the room.
"What's this for anyway?" Alec asked bewildered.
"Well, kinda like our six month anniversary or the anniversary of Rift and I getting here. I know technically it would have been days ago but it took a while to get it ready."
"Well, let's see it." He went for the door but her hand connecting gently with his chest stopped him.
She looked up at him nervously. "Alec, I'm not sure you'll like it."
He smiled. "I'm sure I will, and if I don't, you can always make up for it with sexual favors."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm serious. I asked Joshua what I should get you and this is what he suggested. It sounded good at the time but now I'm not so sure."
"Wil," he said firmly. "I'm sure I'll love it."
Unconsciously, her teeth captured her bottom lip in a show of uneasiness. Eventually, she nodded. "Okay, close your eyes."
Alec complied and Wil pulled him into the room. She placed him right in front of his present.
"Alright, open them."
His eyes flipped open.
Directly in front of him sat an upright piano. The wood the piano was made with and been sanded and varnished making it look beautiful and new.
Alec forced himself to breathe trying with everything to keep the memories at bay.
"A piano." Alec's voice came out so quiet, if Wil hadn't been standing next to him staring at him intently, she wouldn't have heard him.
"Joshua said you played the one in Sandeman's house sometimes. He helped me sand it and fix it up." Her face visibly saddened. "This was a bad idea." She picked up an old sheet off the floor and started covering it. "I shouldn't have gotten it for you. I'm sorry. I'll get Joshua to help me get rid of it."
Moving fast, Alec clamped a hand around her wrist effectively stopping her. "No, don't get rid of it. It's just … unexpected." He removed the sheet discarding it on the floor next to him. His hand traveled over the smooth wood. "You guys did a nice job," he said quietly.
"Alec." Wil placed her hand on top of his. "We can get rid of it. I know that playing the piano has a special meaning for you and it's probably painful."
He looked at her, sadness lingering in his colorful eyes. "No. You went to a lot of work. I want to keep it."
"Okay," she said softly. "We'll keep it."
Sitting down on the piano bench cautiously, Alec's fingertips grazed the cool white keys. His fingers pressed a few keys. The tones went straight through him reminding him of things he'd rather forget. He felt Wil rest her hands on his shoulders.
"Hey, let's go get something to eat," she tried to pull him out of the sadness, distract him if only for a moment.
He nodded slowly. "Okay."
Lying in bed, Alec couldn't help but let his mind wander to the piano that sat in the next room. He still wasn't sure if he was fine with it or not. He knew Wil had only meant well and wanted to do something for him, but it hurt. He hadn't touched a piano since he found out what really happened with Rachel. The memories were just too hard to deal with.
Wil entered the room dressed in a tank top and rather short shorts. But Alec hadn't noticed. His mind continued to wander through the pain and memories. Wil smiled sadly; then her face lit up with an idea. Taking a running start, Wil leapt gracefully onto the bed not disturbing its stillness and landed on her knees straddling him. She bent over and took his shocked lips with her own in a lengthy kiss.
When they broke apart, Alec smiled a lopsided smile up at her. "Nice landing."
She winked at him. "Thanks." Dismounting him, she crawled under the covers next to him and rested her head on his chest. She wrapped her arm around his stomach and drew him closer.
Alec's arm fell naturally to her back and his finger tips began drawing lazy patterns on her. "I think you should do that every time you get into bed."
"Hey, I'm sure it's all fun for you but what do I get out of it?" she pouted.
"This." Alec ducked his head and connected his lips to hers. Deepening the kiss, his hand traveled up under her shirt to message the heated skin underneath. His lips curved into a smile while still engaged in the kiss when he felt her gasp into his mouth.
Reluctantly, Alec pulled back and chuckled at her astonished expression and rapid blinking.
"Oh," she breathed, then glanced up at him and smiled slyly. "Good enough for me." She settled back against him letting a comfortable silence grow.
After minutes of quietness, a thought appeared to Alec. "Wil, why don't you ever ask about Rachel?" he asked softly.
She looked up at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
"It's just that, she was my first love. I just would assume you'd want to know about her," he elaborated.
"There's no point. If I were to ask about her, it would only make me jealous of the fact that, even though you knew me first, you loved her first. That thought hurts. And I know that if I was hurt, you would feel guilty about it when you shouldn't. You shouldn't feel bad about loving her. If I started asking questions about her, it wouldn't be fair to you or me or even Rachel." Her eyes drifted down from his face. "I'm just happy to be here with you and I don't want to think about who you loved before."
"But you still acknowledge it," he responded.
She nodded still not meeting his gaze. "I have to. That's the way it is. End of story."
Alec stared at her not believing his own ears. "How can you just accept things so easily, Wil?"
"Well, what else am I supposed to do?" she looked up at him confused. "Nothing will change the fact that you loved her before me. I can't fight that."
"Yeah, but doesn't it make you angry or hurt?" he asked passionately.
"Of course it does. It makes me want to scream," she answered truthfully.
"Then why don't you? Why don't you ever get in touch with those feelings?" he questioned pointedly.
"Why don't you?" she countered. "Why don't you ever get in touch with the pain that Rachel's death causes you?"
The only answer she received was the clenching of his jaw.
"Oh right," she drew the words out, her voice painted with sarcasm. "We don't talk about that. We don't talk about Alec's past. We only expect Wil to deal with the past." Wil pulled herself away from him creating distance between them. "We can talk about everything that happened to Wil but nothing that happened to Alec."
"It's not something I want to talk about," he responded tersely.
Getting out the bed, she faced him angrily. "What do you want to talk about then, Alec? Since we can't talk about your little dead girlfriend, why don't we talk about how 598 raped me or how you loved someone else before me." Her voice rose with infecting anger. "We both grew up at the same place, Alec. We both were taught to hide everything. I'm trying so hard to get rid of that mentality but you won't. You won't tell me about anything!"
"What do you want to hear?" he asked heatedly, his anger nourished by her comment about Rachel. "That I killed her. That I'm a murderer." Feeling his anger grow, Alec turned in the bed to face away from her. "What a pair we make. I'm a killer and you'll lie down and take anything." The moment those words escaped his mouth, he regretted them. He could feel her devastation from the other side of the room.
The room froze as she withdrew back into herself just like Manticore had taught them. "I may lie down and take anything but I'm not going to stand here and take this." Her voice was empty and alien to Alec's ears. She quickly left the room slamming the door behind her with a finalizing bang.
Certain she would leave, Alec slapped himself. How could he have said that? That wasn't how he felt at all.
But Alec heard her stop at the end of the hallway, her back hitting the wall. He heard the fabric of her shirt slide down the wall, then her body connecting with the floor. The next noise to follow overwhelmed him with grief.
She was crying.
As much as she had tried to shut off her emotions, she couldn't and at that moment, Alec wished he could be like her. He wished he could cry. He wished he could face those painful emotions.
In the back of his mind though, he knew she was crying because of him. He caused those painful sobs that assaulted his ears. What he wouldn't give to take it all back, tell her he didn't mean it, that he loved her.
Instead, he pictured her sitting against the wall with her knees drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped around them. He saw the tears he caused cascading down her pretty cheeks and he cried too.
So what do you guys think? Good, bad or ugly? Okay, I know, the ugly thing was lame. Sorry. This was just a little transition. It's going to get a whole lot better, believe me. :-)
White smirked. The weak shall inherit the earth my ass. The strong and pure prevailed, just the way it should be. And now the transgenic's home had been demolished.
So why did White swear he heard noise coming from inside the walls surrounding the desolate city?
He shrugged his shoulders blaming it on an overactive imagination.
His steps finally took him to the barrier of Terminal city. Carelessly, he tore a board away from the haphazard barrier and threw it to the side. He squeezed in the opening sideways.
Before he had completely entered the city, the butt of a gun connected with the back of his head. Momentarily dazed, he whirled around. A fist met his face with a loud crunch. The force of the punch caused his head to snap back giving his attacker the chance to deliver a kick directly to his stomach.
White grunted and swung for his attacker narrowly missing. The aggressor grabbed White's wrist and twisted his arm behind his back far harder than would be necessary for a norm. White glared at the blonde X5.
"Well what have we here?" Rift smirked. "It must be the theme of the week. Sneak into Terminal City and get your ass kicked."
Rift saw Thikit jogging towards them. The green skinned transgenic nodded to Rift and grabbed Whit's free arm. He grinned at Rift baring his brown teeth. "You found yourself another intruder," Rift said with his unnaturally think voice. "Let's take him to see Alec and Max. Then maybe later we can have some fun."
Rift smiled. "A little ass kicking always puts a smile on my face."
Instead of taking White into a secluded room, Alec thought it a better idea for the interrogation to be public. Okay, so maybe he thought it would be more humiliating.
Alec regarded White thoughtfully. "You missed me, didn't you, Ames?"
White glanced around the transgenics surrounding him. "From the looks of things, my job to eradicate you vermin is still in effect. I'd be delighted to enlist your help again, 494," White sneered.
Alec chuckled. "But, Ames, you did eradicate us all. Well, most of us anyway." Alec looked to a transgenic behind him and beckoned her foreword. "Ames, I'd like you to meet Bell," he gestured to a dark skinned transgenic with shoulder length hair. Her chocolate eyes sparkled with amusement and her face had an ever constant smile.
"She's a little different than most of us," Alec continued. "Instead of giving her super strength or lightning reflexes, Manticore made her different."
"Am I supposed to care?" White asked impatiently.
Alec shrugged. "Doesn't matter if you do or not. Bell has the ability to make you tell us the truth, whether you want to or not. Her specialty is telecoercion."
Bell smiled at Alec. "Whenever your ready, Chief."
A smile touched his lips. "Chief. I like it. So, Ames," Alec turned to White. "What are the Familiars planning now?"
Bell's eyes bore into White who seemed transfixed. "There are no plans. We thought you were all dead."
Alec shook his head. "Not for us. What are your plans for the norms?"
White looked away from Bell, ignoring Alec's question.
"Ames," Bell's silky voice drew his attention back to her. "I know you really want to tell Alec, don't you?"
Ames nodded. "We're going to infect them with the snake blood."
"You mean like you tried to do to Max?" Alec questioned.
The Familiar nodded again. "Normal humans can't withstand the pathogen contained in the blood."
Alec leaned down to eye level with White even though White continued to stare at Bell. "What happens to normal humans when they're infected?"
White's permanent fixation on Bell ceased and he turned to Alec. Instead of the normal fire and hatred that burned in White's cold eyes, they were blank. But Alec could see complete certainty lingering around the edges.
"They die," White stated simply.
Straightening, Alec pulled back. "Bell, make him forget," Alec ordered without taking his eyes off White. "Mole," finally looking away from White he regarded the lizard. "When she's done, I want him gone."
Mole nodded. "Got it, Chief."
The group surrounding White broke up with each transgenic going they're separate way. But, like always, Max had to stay behind and question him.
"What are you planning on doing?" she asked Alec urgently.
He grabbed some papers off the nearby table and sifted through. "Is this the entire
supply list?" he asked.
"Alec!" she spoke harshly and gripped his arm. "What are you going to do about the Familiars?"
"Nothing," he replied sternly.
Eyebrows shooting up in disbelief, Max's temper raged to a dangerous level. "Nothing?! Alec, we have to do something! They're going to kill-"
"Max." His voice halted her instantly. She'd never heard him so stringent. "We're not going to do anything yet," he said more softly. "They think we're dead. Right now is our best chance to build ourselves strong and to figure out where their central command is. We'll research and send people out on reconnaissance, but right now, we need to regroup and gather more supplies."
Calmed slightly by his words, Max crossed her arms.
"We won't let them kill anyone, well, besides all of us. And they really didn't do a good job of that."
The corner of her mouth twitched beginning a smile. "That sounds good."
"That a girl." Alec reached over to Max and ruffled her like someone would a child.
Punching him quickly in the stomach, Max walked away.
Frowning, Alec rubbed his stomach. "Why are women always so violent?" he asked no one.
Peddling leisurely, Alec cycled down the streets of Seattle, weaving in between people and cars. As usual, the sky shone gray and dull. Had Alec been 100% human, the chilly mid-day air would have bothered him.
Six months had passed since he became the leader of his people. Six months since he led them to their deaths and subsequent revival.
Alec laughed to himself. As hard as it was to believe, things had been so much simpler then. Back then, they had only been hiding in Terminal City trying to fight some cult worshipping Familiars and fretting over some ancient prophecy.
Now, they fought a whole new battle. Alec, Max, Logan and a few others had campaigned to Seattle's leftover government. When that had proven fruitless, they moved onto the national government.
Surprisingly to all involved, the government had listened. Even more, the government implemented laws concerning transgenics. At the time, Alec had been unsure whether or not they had gotten anywhere. He understood now just what they had accomplished.
Every transgenic was required to live in Terminal City. No big change there. All human transgenics, X4s, X5s and so on, were allowed to work and move about freely without fear of being attacked by a mob and beaten to death. Thumbs up to the government on making civil rights laws.
Every human transgenic, however, was restricted from certain buildings and areas segregating them from the normal populace. History always repeats itself.
The transhuman transgenics however, had been restricted to Terminal City permenantly. If one was caught outside the city's walls, they'd be jailed and most likely hauled off somewhere to be examined and dissected.
Alec continued on his way, ignoring the loathing glares he got from people on the streets. They knew what he was; the red band he wore around his forearm over his cream colored jacket labeled him. The band was the government's final touch on their ruling for the transgenic population. If one was caught without it, they too would end up in jail.
Rolling his eyes, Alec laughed. Like the government could detect them anymore, not since their barcodes had disappeared.
But, despite that fact, Alec wore his and made sure everyone else wore theirs. After all, he was their leader and someone had to set an example. He figured the more they cooperated with the government, the easier it would make things.
In relative quickness, Alec pulled up to the address. He pulled the package out of his bag with his clipboard in the other hand. Shifting the package to join the clipboard in his left hand, he knocked on the cracking wooden door of the building in front of him.
A few seconds later, an overweight, and in desperate need of a shower, bald man answered the door.
The man squinted his eyes at Alec noticing the red band on Alec's arm. "What do you want, tranie?"
"I'm just here to deliver this package," he responded shoving the package at the man.
Raising his chubby, dirty hand, the man pushed the package back. "I don't want anything from tranie filth."
Annoyed, Alec sighed. "Look, it's my job, okay? Just take the package and sign for it so I can leave."
The man snatched the package out of Alec's hand and shut the door in Alec's face.
Stifling the compulsion to break something, preferably that guy's skull, Alec got on his bike and rode back to JamPony.
Striding into JamPony, Alec went to the counter and dropped the clipboard on it.
Normal glanced at him. "Hey there, rockstar. What've you got for me?"
"Not a signature. Guy slammed the door in my face."
"Again? That's the third time today," Normal declared astonished.
Alec just nodded his head. "I know."
Normal slapped Alec on his arm. "Don't worry about. You'll get it next time, right?"
"Yeah." Alec looked around JamPony seeing many well-known faces. "Thanks again, Normal, for hiring us back."
Normal smiled. "Anything for my Golden Boy. And besides, when your slacker friends get off their lazy rear-ends, they get a lot done."
Alec chuckled. "We try."
"Hey, why don't you call it a day, huh? I bet that girlfriend of yours misses you."
Alec smirked. "How could she not?" Alec began walking out.
"You better not be late tomorrow, though, or it'll be your hind end," Normal shouted to him.
"Yeah, yeah. You got it boss," Alec called back without turning around.
Leaving JamPony, he straddled his motorcycle and went home.
Alec entered their apartment and tossed his jacket on a nearby chair. The lighting of the room cast an amber glow throughout their small but livable apartment.
"Wil?" he called out, his voice ringing through their home.
She appeared out of an adjacent room with a smile on her face. "Hey," she walked up to him giving him a short kiss. "How was work?"
Alec groaned. "Three people refused a signature."
She took his hand. "I'm sorry, Alec."
He rubbed a hand over his face trying to wipe away the stress. "Yeah. It'll get better some day, right?"
She gave him a hopeful smile. "It has to. We've been through so much; it's about damn time we get some good news."
"How'd your day go?" Alec asked as Wil sat on the wooden stool next to the counter.
She laughed. "The guys are still amazed that such a small package can lift such heavy concrete. Construction workers are the most accepting people I've met, if you can believe that."
Lowering himself onto the stool next to her, Alec pulled a large lock of her hair in front of her. His fingers trailed to the ends of her hair and he ran his thumb against them.
Her gaze traveled to his fingers playing with her hair. She smiled. "I know. I need a hair cut." When Wil first arrived at Terminal City, her hair had laid a few inches past her shoulder. Now it fell half way down her back.
Alec shook his head. "Leave it. It makes you look … free."
Her hand went to his hair. "Yours, on the other hand, is shaggy and makes you look homeless."
He swatted her hand away. "I'm telling you, the shaggy look is in. Chicks dig it."
"This chick certainly does." She went to kiss him, but stopped an inch away. "Oh, I almost forgot! I've got a surprise for you."
Alec quirked an eyebrow. "Does it involve chocolate syrup?"
She punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You wish. Come on." She stood grabbing both of his hands. "It's in the other room."
Almost dragging him, she led him to the nearest room. She stopped before he could see into the room.
"What's this for anyway?" Alec asked bewildered.
"Well, kinda like our six month anniversary or the anniversary of Rift and I getting here. I know technically it would have been days ago but it took a while to get it ready."
"Well, let's see it." He went for the door but her hand connecting gently with his chest stopped him.
She looked up at him nervously. "Alec, I'm not sure you'll like it."
He smiled. "I'm sure I will, and if I don't, you can always make up for it with sexual favors."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm serious. I asked Joshua what I should get you and this is what he suggested. It sounded good at the time but now I'm not so sure."
"Wil," he said firmly. "I'm sure I'll love it."
Unconsciously, her teeth captured her bottom lip in a show of uneasiness. Eventually, she nodded. "Okay, close your eyes."
Alec complied and Wil pulled him into the room. She placed him right in front of his present.
"Alright, open them."
His eyes flipped open.
Directly in front of him sat an upright piano. The wood the piano was made with and been sanded and varnished making it look beautiful and new.
Alec forced himself to breathe trying with everything to keep the memories at bay.
"A piano." Alec's voice came out so quiet, if Wil hadn't been standing next to him staring at him intently, she wouldn't have heard him.
"Joshua said you played the one in Sandeman's house sometimes. He helped me sand it and fix it up." Her face visibly saddened. "This was a bad idea." She picked up an old sheet off the floor and started covering it. "I shouldn't have gotten it for you. I'm sorry. I'll get Joshua to help me get rid of it."
Moving fast, Alec clamped a hand around her wrist effectively stopping her. "No, don't get rid of it. It's just … unexpected." He removed the sheet discarding it on the floor next to him. His hand traveled over the smooth wood. "You guys did a nice job," he said quietly.
"Alec." Wil placed her hand on top of his. "We can get rid of it. I know that playing the piano has a special meaning for you and it's probably painful."
He looked at her, sadness lingering in his colorful eyes. "No. You went to a lot of work. I want to keep it."
"Okay," she said softly. "We'll keep it."
Sitting down on the piano bench cautiously, Alec's fingertips grazed the cool white keys. His fingers pressed a few keys. The tones went straight through him reminding him of things he'd rather forget. He felt Wil rest her hands on his shoulders.
"Hey, let's go get something to eat," she tried to pull him out of the sadness, distract him if only for a moment.
He nodded slowly. "Okay."
Lying in bed, Alec couldn't help but let his mind wander to the piano that sat in the next room. He still wasn't sure if he was fine with it or not. He knew Wil had only meant well and wanted to do something for him, but it hurt. He hadn't touched a piano since he found out what really happened with Rachel. The memories were just too hard to deal with.
Wil entered the room dressed in a tank top and rather short shorts. But Alec hadn't noticed. His mind continued to wander through the pain and memories. Wil smiled sadly; then her face lit up with an idea. Taking a running start, Wil leapt gracefully onto the bed not disturbing its stillness and landed on her knees straddling him. She bent over and took his shocked lips with her own in a lengthy kiss.
When they broke apart, Alec smiled a lopsided smile up at her. "Nice landing."
She winked at him. "Thanks." Dismounting him, she crawled under the covers next to him and rested her head on his chest. She wrapped her arm around his stomach and drew him closer.
Alec's arm fell naturally to her back and his finger tips began drawing lazy patterns on her. "I think you should do that every time you get into bed."
"Hey, I'm sure it's all fun for you but what do I get out of it?" she pouted.
"This." Alec ducked his head and connected his lips to hers. Deepening the kiss, his hand traveled up under her shirt to message the heated skin underneath. His lips curved into a smile while still engaged in the kiss when he felt her gasp into his mouth.
Reluctantly, Alec pulled back and chuckled at her astonished expression and rapid blinking.
"Oh," she breathed, then glanced up at him and smiled slyly. "Good enough for me." She settled back against him letting a comfortable silence grow.
After minutes of quietness, a thought appeared to Alec. "Wil, why don't you ever ask about Rachel?" he asked softly.
She looked up at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
"It's just that, she was my first love. I just would assume you'd want to know about her," he elaborated.
"There's no point. If I were to ask about her, it would only make me jealous of the fact that, even though you knew me first, you loved her first. That thought hurts. And I know that if I was hurt, you would feel guilty about it when you shouldn't. You shouldn't feel bad about loving her. If I started asking questions about her, it wouldn't be fair to you or me or even Rachel." Her eyes drifted down from his face. "I'm just happy to be here with you and I don't want to think about who you loved before."
"But you still acknowledge it," he responded.
She nodded still not meeting his gaze. "I have to. That's the way it is. End of story."
Alec stared at her not believing his own ears. "How can you just accept things so easily, Wil?"
"Well, what else am I supposed to do?" she looked up at him confused. "Nothing will change the fact that you loved her before me. I can't fight that."
"Yeah, but doesn't it make you angry or hurt?" he asked passionately.
"Of course it does. It makes me want to scream," she answered truthfully.
"Then why don't you? Why don't you ever get in touch with those feelings?" he questioned pointedly.
"Why don't you?" she countered. "Why don't you ever get in touch with the pain that Rachel's death causes you?"
The only answer she received was the clenching of his jaw.
"Oh right," she drew the words out, her voice painted with sarcasm. "We don't talk about that. We don't talk about Alec's past. We only expect Wil to deal with the past." Wil pulled herself away from him creating distance between them. "We can talk about everything that happened to Wil but nothing that happened to Alec."
"It's not something I want to talk about," he responded tersely.
Getting out the bed, she faced him angrily. "What do you want to talk about then, Alec? Since we can't talk about your little dead girlfriend, why don't we talk about how 598 raped me or how you loved someone else before me." Her voice rose with infecting anger. "We both grew up at the same place, Alec. We both were taught to hide everything. I'm trying so hard to get rid of that mentality but you won't. You won't tell me about anything!"
"What do you want to hear?" he asked heatedly, his anger nourished by her comment about Rachel. "That I killed her. That I'm a murderer." Feeling his anger grow, Alec turned in the bed to face away from her. "What a pair we make. I'm a killer and you'll lie down and take anything." The moment those words escaped his mouth, he regretted them. He could feel her devastation from the other side of the room.
The room froze as she withdrew back into herself just like Manticore had taught them. "I may lie down and take anything but I'm not going to stand here and take this." Her voice was empty and alien to Alec's ears. She quickly left the room slamming the door behind her with a finalizing bang.
Certain she would leave, Alec slapped himself. How could he have said that? That wasn't how he felt at all.
But Alec heard her stop at the end of the hallway, her back hitting the wall. He heard the fabric of her shirt slide down the wall, then her body connecting with the floor. The next noise to follow overwhelmed him with grief.
She was crying.
As much as she had tried to shut off her emotions, she couldn't and at that moment, Alec wished he could be like her. He wished he could cry. He wished he could face those painful emotions.
In the back of his mind though, he knew she was crying because of him. He caused those painful sobs that assaulted his ears. What he wouldn't give to take it all back, tell her he didn't mean it, that he loved her.
Instead, he pictured her sitting against the wall with her knees drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped around them. He saw the tears he caused cascading down her pretty cheeks and he cried too.
So what do you guys think? Good, bad or ugly? Okay, I know, the ugly thing was lame. Sorry. This was just a little transition. It's going to get a whole lot better, believe me. :-)