Disclaimer: The story is mine. Max, Alec and anyone else recognisable are not.

Authors Note: This is a possible series but I'll see how its reviewed. Set before Exposure. But after Berrisford Agenda. Max/Alec of course, what else is there? Angst and darkness to come, I promise, just wanted a little levity to start cause Dark Terror wiped me out.

FLINT AND FIRE

Chapter 1 - Sparks

The punch came clear out of nowhere and knocked Alec on his ass. One hand automatically rubbing his jaw he looked up from his position on the ground outside Jam Pony to see the familiar sight of Max's angry countenance. It's a wonder I recognise her when I'm standing up since she spends her whole time knocking me down. Alec thought sardonically.

"Hey Max, how ya been?" He managed a small sarcastic grin as he squinted against the rare sunlight that had managed to struggle past the grey clouds that generally hung over the decaying city of Seattle. Alec pushed himself to his feet and gave a quick wave to a few curious bystanders. "I'm fine folks, nothing to see here." He lifted his shoulders in a quick shrug muttering under his breath. "Just an innocent man getting beat up by a PMSing transgenic."

"What did you just say!" Max hissed at the object of her ire, one hand shoving him back a step.

Tiring faster than usual of their interplay as he had no idea what the hell Max was so pissed off about this time, Alec grabbed her hand before she had a chance to push him again. "Cut it out Maxie." He stepped forward a serious look in the usually light hearted hazel eyes. "Or do you want to get us arrested by sector police? I'm sure that will do wonders to minimise the risk of exposure of our kind." He spoke quietly but intently.

Max wrenched her small hand out of Alec's. Perversely Alec found he missed the sensation of the delicate appendage in his own hand. "Yeah, I'm sure exposure of all of us was just what you were thinking of when you decided to rip off that jewellery store last night!"

The accusation blind sided Alec as deftly as the punch had and Alec looked down at the small woman who was fairly radiating with hostile disgust. "What the hell are you talking about?" He asked with genuine confusion.

Max snorted in disbelief. "Please, spare me the act. Logan just called me, he got the while inside report from a contact in the police department. You stole half a million's worth of jewellery Alec, did you think no one would notice?"

Angry at the baseless accusation Alec took hold of Max by her upper arm and dragged her over to a relatively secluded corner. "Oh and of course no human has ever stolen something in Seattle!" Alec retorted as he released her.

"The perp jumped out a 4 story window and landed on his feet. Know any humans that can do that?" Max asked sarcastically. Alec's jaw clenched in response. "Now you should thank god that Logan was able to get the video footage which a hover drone shot from across the street. No thanks to you the news wont be hitting every television station and tabloid in the city!"

Alec's face screwed up in a feigning of look of contemplation. "And, just out of interest, why do you assume it was me and not one of the other hundred or so transgenic's you let out when you burnt down our only home?"

"Logan's seen the footage and told me it was you. And because only you would be dumb enough to pull a scam like this here and now and risk us all!" Max jabbed her finger into his chest as she uttered her words with obvious venom.

Alec knocked her hand away from him once again and tried to pretend the hurt that bloomed inside of him at her harsh words was really amusement or anger or anything other than what it was. He stepped back, his features carefully schooled into an expression of nothing. "Think what you like Max." Alec turned to go, but for some reason found himself turning around even as he stepped backwards. "But for the record - I didn't do it." Alec raised his hands in a gesture of innocence, his face blank, but the slight catch in his voice caused Max to hesitate from saying the instant insult that had sprung to mind.

He just sounded so…Innocent.

The small doubt that had entered Max's mind didn't disappear as Alec did, entering Jam Pony to carry on his work day. She got back onto her bike, picking up her back pack and tried to forget the niggling creep of her conscience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Uh" The half groan, half sigh escaped Max's lips as she watched the footage of the robbery on Logan's computer. Even through the poor lighting and awkward angle of the shot it was obvious to her that it wasn't Alec.

"Max?" Logan leaned forward in concern at the sound, a typically anxious expression on his face. "You alright?"

Max rubbed a hand over her face tiredly resenting the guilt blooming inside her and the unwanted irritation at Logan for making such a big mistake. "Yeah. Um why exactly did you tell me it was Alec that robbed the place?"

Confusion creased Logan's features as he gestured towards the screen. "It looks like him Max. Granted you cant make out his features but the colouring and height is about right…" Logan trailed off as he squinted at the screen closer. "Didn't you see the way he was moving, just like him."

Max bit her lip as she reminded herself that Logan was a civilian and had no training in this type of thing. "Logan aside from the fact this guy is at least 10 pounds heavier than Alec didn't you notice anything odd about his hand?" Logan frowned at Max apparently not getting it.

Max sighed heavily. "This guy has a metal hand Logan. It looks cybernetic."

Logan's eyes widened and he spun in his chair back to the computer. "What are you talking about? I cant even make out his hand from this video."

Of course. Max closed her eyes briefly as she realised she had used her enhanced sight on the stilled frame without even realising it. Logan obviously hadn't seen it cause his eyes weren't even good by human standards let alone transgenic. Logan was meanwhile enhancing the picture using his software.

"Ahh." He said in comprehension as the clarity of the hand increased. "Oh." He added as he realised he had jumped to the wrong conclusion in accusing Alec. "Well its obviously not Zack." Logan said

"No." Max replied shortly preoccupied by the guilt of having attacked Alec earlier. Logan peered at Max earnestly over his spectacles.

"Max its not your fault we thought it was Alec. I mean the guy is always running around causing trouble, what are we supposed to think when something like this happens." Logan gave her a small smile of comfort. "Its not like he's not done this sort of thing before, is it."

Max stared blankly at Logan for a minute. "So have I." She muttered. Logan looked away discomforted by the reminder.

"Yeah well you don't do it anymore. You've learned that stealing is wrong."

Max flinched as Logan casually laid out her 'conversion' of ethics on the subject of theft, but her expression softened at the love that was so clear in his blue eyes. "Yeah." She whispered, then she cleared her throat. "So. I guess this guy was probably in the same programme as Zack?" It was half a statement and half a question.

Logan shrugged turning back to his computer. "Looks like. Maybe he was physically or mentally defective for some reason and Manticore decided to use him for experimental procedures."

"So I guess I'll have to find him and stop this then." Max sighed at the thought of tracking one of her own and putting a stop on his activities. "We really cant afford this kind of exposure right now, if the public finds out about us…"

"Hmm yes, it would cause a real panic. Hey why don't you ask Alec for a hand finding this guy. I mean he would know where this sort would proberly be staying or hanging out wouldn't he?"

Max shifted uncomfortably. "Uh I think I'll just handle this one on my own." She shrugged. "I don't think Alec will feel much like helping on this case." Not after this morning anyway. Max winced to herself.

"Max." Logan looked mildly reprovingly at her. "Whatever differences you and Alec have you'll both have to work through in order to achieve the greater good." Logan considered the situation and concluded. "But your right, you can probably cope on your own. And you know you have me to back you up." He smiled at Max as he tapped his cell phone.

Max stood up and started for the door. "Yeah, I'll keep in touch, let me know if you get anything additional from your contacts." Max opened the door and was about to leave when Logan's voice stopped her.

"Oh and Max? If you can retrieve that jewellery that would be great. There were some very important historical pieces in that collection, it would be such a shame if they were just sold out of the country to who knows who."

"Right." Max nodded, her expression blank. "I'll see what I can do after I find the guy, persuade him to stop and put a lid on White and any other transgenic problems going on in the world."

Logan frowned to himself as Max exited his apartment. Was Max being sarcastic about the theft of important jewlery? No she couldent be.

TBC.

A/N: Opps sorry any Logan lovers out there, that bashing just slipped in all by itself. Although it wasent really bashing, more… well…tapping.