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*Between Love and Hate*
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Spoilers: This is the fifth story in my series – if you haven't read any of my work before, you'd be best off going back to read and understand. The first story was Shattered Trusts and Whispered Confessions. The second is Remembering to Forget, the third is Events That Lead To Greatness. The most recent is the fourth story called the Longest Day (which was basically just a wrap up of some confusing things I had to sort out from previous works). This series is set after Hello Goodbye but does reveal spoilers from the rest of the season, as I incorporate it into the story.
Disclaimer: Ideas are mine based on the brilliant work of the Dark Angel team – so don't sue me! I wish I owned Alec, but I don't. So I have to settle for writing fiction about him.
Authors Note: Just a general shout out thanks to all the great readers who have been reviewing my work and totally keeping me motivated. If it weren't for you guys I wouldn't be writing this stuff. I am trying out a new style of writing in this one; let me know what you guys think.
Have fun and remember to review!
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CHAPTER NINE
Alec gasped as an all too familiar face entered his office, a cocky smile in place, though disturbed by anxiously uncertain eyes. Max looked down at her rumpled appearance, quickly buttoning up her top before sneaking a peak at Alec, who was still standing with his undone belt and his naked torso. She looked back at their interrupter, her face breaking into a nervous, yet somewhat welcoming smile, overridden by her shock to see the person,
"Hey Ben."
"Hey guys. Err... do you guys want me to leave you be for a while – I can come back later."
"You know what, I was just leaving."
Alec looked over at her in surprise, his hand dropping her wrist,
"You were?"
"I think we're done."
"You do?"
"We'll talk later okay?"
Max rushed out quickly and he gestured for his brother to take a seat on the couch, closing the door,
"What are you doing here Ben?"
His face was one of unexpected shock at Alec's serious tone, his eyes dropping down,
"I had nowhere else to go."
"Lydecker send you?"
"No. I escaped. They tried to make me... make me an assassin."
"Like that would've been a problem for you."
"You know it would've been. You and I have more in common than you think. I know that you used to feel regret when you killed. But you did it. But there was no way you would ever kill someone you love. You'd rather die first than see that happen."
"So who did they try to get you to kill?"
"Our mother."
Alec stared coolly at him, slowly sinking into his desk chair, his head dropping into his hands momentarily, before he composed himself,
"Our mother?"
"What I said."
"You know our mother?"
"No, I chose not to know. She isn't really our mother Alec, she was just a surrogate."
"Then why don't you want to kill her?"
"There's still some emotional attachment to her none the less."
"I want to know who she is."
"Well that's going to be hard seeing as I've cut off contact with Manticore!"
Ben shuddered involuntarily as he made his way to sit on the couch, his breathing ragged. Alec watched him thoughtfully before speaking,
"What are you doing here?",
He calmly repeated to his seemingly dazed twin. Blinking, Ben managed to spit out an answer,
"I told you."
"No. Why are you HERE?"
"Oh... TC is renown as a transgenic sanctuary. Thousands of soldiers living in their own city."
"So you thought you'd come and be a contributing member of society?"
Ben could hear the doubt in his brother's voice. Squaring his shoulders, he looked Alec directly in the eye,
"I left Manticore out of my own free will. I belong here with my family. I can be of use to you guys...let me stay – please?"
"Fine. Fine... Whatever. Go out and get Mole to assign you an apartment. These days, most buildings are full so there are lots of shared homes. But in the X5 area, there's plenty of spare places, so you're lucky."
"Great. I'll do that… err, who's Mole?"
"Follow the fragrant scent of cigar and you'll find Mole. Be careful, he bites. Make sure you introduce yourself to him as Ben, not 493. And make sure he knows you're fresh out of Manticore. He'll set you up with a place to stay and send you to Luke for detailed interrogation."
"Interrogation?"
"We need all your details on file."
"Okay... sure thing. Thanks… bro."
"Yeah."
Ben stood, turning to leave, before cautiously looking back,
"I know you don't trust me, but I'm for real. The truth. I hope one day you'll believe me when I say I'm on your side."
Alec watched after him until the door clicked softly shut, his voice even softer,
"For your sake, I hope you are... brother."
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Seattle; Terminal City; August 20th 2023
1500 hours
She slammed the door viciously in his face as Alec stood at her apartment doorway, an apologetic look on his face. He grabbed the doorknob, letting himself in as he heard her stomping around away from the door,
"Max? Talk to me!"
Alec pleaded whiningly as she stared, pouting at the ground.
"What's there to say Alec? I just don't understand anymore."
"Understand what?"
"What's going on? I know that when we got back together again, it was for the sex only. No emotional attachments – right?"
"Err... yeah."
"But I think I need a change. I know I need a change."
"You're dumping me?"
"Alec..."
"No Max, message received. Loud and clear. Its no big."
"Its not?"
Her face fell, crestfallen and she looked away, missing Alec's face crumple as though his heart were being ripped in two. He turned so his back was to her, speaking quietly to the ground, the hurt disguised in his voice,
"You told me you were happy."
"I was."
"But you're not now."
"Alec, I need a change, you just..."
"No, its okay. I've been thinking the same thing lately."
"You have?"
"Yeah. This whole you and me thing, it's not healthy. We're not healthy. I think I need some space coz in all honesty keeping this up has been killing me."
Max shuddered as she let out a whoosh of air, tears welling in her eyes,
*Don't cry. You knew he didn't love you, what made you think that if you asked for a change he'd jump and say well lets get married. You know he doesn't want commitment.*
*She broke up with me. SHE broke up with ME! Who am I kidding, if I were her, I would've done it long ago. But I love her, and I was going to tell her tonight. Three words, they maybe could've changed what just happened. Is it too late for me to blurt it out now?*
"Alec... I..."
"Max... I..."
"You first."
"No you."
"Please. Just..."
"Stop! Now you speak."
She composed herself before eying him carefully, her mahogany orbs floating into vast green pools.
"What were you going to say Max?"
"What? Oh… I…"
She lost her nerve, quickly biting down the words, which threatened to spill out, instead replacing them with a rushed question,
"Err… Why's Ben here?"
Alec felt like all the air had been knocked out of him, his legs swaying slightly as his body deflated,
"He ran away from home."
Max winced and he ducked his head,
"I hate it when you call Manticore home."
"Call it 20 years of tradition. Bad habits die hard."
"That's old habits."
"Same thing in this case."
"Look Alec..."
"Yeah?"
He lifted his head hopefully, praying inwardly that she would jump into his arms and tell him what a mistake it all had been. But really, what were the chances,
"What were you going to say?"
"I... Be careful tomorrow."
"Sure."
Alec crossed the room, to pull her into a comforting hug. Max smiled against his hard chest, his strong arms wrapped around her protectively.
It felt so right.
She looked up at him, her finger tracing his jaw,
"Why do I feel like this is goodbye?"
"I don't know. But it feels like that to me too."
"I'm not leaving till tomorrow morning."
"I know."
"So what are we going to do till then?"
"I thought there was no we."
"One last time."
Max stood up on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against his urgently, seeking a comfort that she knew she could only receive from him. He returned the kiss, eventually pulling away to catch her eye,
"Are you sure you want this?"
"I need this."
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To be continued...
Author's Note:
Well another chapter down and I dedicate it to the wonderful Lost Penguin site, which has produced the saddest Alec video (kudos!) and it is excellent. I haven't really had many reviews to this, but I think that's because it is R rated and so I'm trying not to feel too down (its not working – boohoo)...