Chapter 5 - Just One Chance
The next night Alec had perfectly planned everything. Joshua had offered to make the food and not wanting to hurt his feelings Alec allowed him to make the dinner knowing with sinking certainty it would end up being Mac and cheese. Alec prepared a table in an abandoned part of Terminal City and after checking everything was set he raced off to go get Raven.
Meanwhile in her room Raven was standing in front of a cracked mirror checking her reflection intently. She was wearing a borrowed dress from Dove; it was flowing and white reaching her calves. Raven felt a little uncomfortable, she absolutely hated wearing anything feminine, it made her feel vulnerable and that was exactly what she didn't want to feel on tonight of all nights. Dove, Hawk and Talon were standing around her primping her outfit every few seconds showering her with compliments.
"You look fine," Hawk assured her seeing Raven frown at her reflection.
"Gorgeous, truly," Talon continued nodding to reaffirm her sisters statement and Falcon snorted from where she was lying on a bed, her nose buried in a book.
"Narcissism was based on the Roman God Narcisst, who loved himself way too much," Falcon commented laughing at Raven's expense and Raven picked up the closest pillow and chucked it at Falcon hitting her right on the head. Falcon flung her book down standing up and just as she was about to advance threateningly on Raven someone knocked on the door and thanking God for giving her an escape Raven rushed to the door and as quick as she could shut the door behind her.
"You're eager," Alec commented slyly and Raven merely smiled as she heard Falcon cursing her from inside their room and she chuckled to herself.
"You have no idea," she said and Alec held out a crooked arm to Raven which she took staring up at him wondering why his eyes were shining s brightly when there was barely any light in the hallway. Alec himself was having similar thoughts wondering how on Earth his date had managed to look like a complete angel. Just the sight of her in the dress threw him for a second.
The two ate dinner with Joshua hovering close by to refill drinks and food, for there was an endless supply of Mac and cheese, as it happened Logan knew the manufacturers of the Mac and cheese company and pulled a few strings for the transgenic cause. Over the dinner Alec was perfectly hospitable, the perfect gentleman, because he had been taught to be by Manticore, he knew exactly how to treat a lady, what to say and how to act. Raven herself, as another perfect creation from Manticore responded to all his questions as any normal young woman would. In a way it was like both of them were playing a pretend game, where they imagined that they were a normal couple at a fine restaurant eating the finest meal, instead of the dingy room they were in eating Mac and cheese with an anomaly as a waiter. When the dinner finished Alec turned to Joshua and pointed to the door indicating Joshua's services were no longer needed and he looked eagerly from Raven to Alec.
"Alec and Raven get busy, like Max and Logan after virus bitch going down?" Joshua asked and Raven looked questioningly at Alec who laughed to cover his embarrassment.
"Oh Joshua, who taught you that.crude term, was it Mole because Mole." as Alec continued rambling he turned to Joshua who was standing in the doorway looking justly confused by Alec's words and just when Alec thought Joshua understood Joshua grinned.
"You taught me Alec, remember?" Joshua asked and Alec dropped his head into his hands as Raven tried to hide her giggles behind her serviette but didn't do that successfully.
"Goodnight Joshua," Alec said forcefully and Joshua waved goodbye and left the room while Alec turned to Raven apologetically.
"Nice try," she complimented him and Alec shrugged getting up and pressing play on an old tape recorder and a slow song started to play. Alec stood up and held out a hand obviously asking her to dance but Raven was taken aback. She raised an eyebrow at him sceptically and he looked at her innocently.
"Have you been raiding Logan's music collection?" Raven asked him and Alec looked sheepish as she accepted his hand and he pulled her to a spare spot in the room.
"Yeah, how'd you guess?" Alec asked pulling her close to him and Raven tilted her head to look up at him.
"Well your not interested in my brains," she said pouting and Alec chuckled slowly looking down at her his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"I'm interested in all of you," he assured her and Raven blushed looking away from him wanting to lighten the serious mood. How had it become so serious between them? One moment they were talking and laughing over dinner and the next they were dancing romantically together, locked in each other's arms. Raven tried to bring herself back to reality and decided to make light of the situation.
"I notice your taking a few leaves out of Logan's book, the dinner, the wine and the music, Alec, are you trying to seduce me?" Raven asked cutely in a joking voice and Alec bent his head to whisper in her ear.
"Maybe, would you want me to?" he said softly and Raven nearly automatically said yes but she stopped herself and froze. This was wrong. She couldn't be feeling like this about Alec. She pulled away from him not looking at him.
"I.I have to go," Raven said walking towards the door and Alec was struck dumb for a few moments but he recovered just in time to grab hold f Raven's arm to stop her from leaving.
"Raven, where are you going? We were having a good time, you don't have to leave," Alec asked not wanting her to go and Raven looked him straight in the eyes.
"I don't trust myself when I am with you Alec, you make me want to trust in everything you say," Raven said and Alec looked confused. Why was that such a bad thing?
"Then why don't you," Alec asked in exasperation and Raven shook her head.
"It's complicated," she said dismissively and Alec pulled Raven closer towards him forcefully and Raven didn't resist even though she knew that she should.
"I want to be with you," Alec whispered to her surprising even himself and Raven looked up at him with surprise.
"You do? But we only just met; this is stupid," Raven said trying to convince herself and Alec shook his head adamantly.
"Stupid is not giving us a chance Raven," Alec turned his pleading eyes on her and Raven couldn't look away and Alec asked her seriously, "Be with me, be my first girlfriend."
"I told you I couldn't love you Alec, I can't love anyone," Raven tried desperately for a way out of the situation, where she wouldn't have to confess she felt the same way about him that he did about her.
"And I told you before, I'm not asking you to love me, just give us a chance," Alec told her and Raven considered his clear green eyes thoughtfully then she smiled.
"All right, I'll try," she said and Alec grinned with relief. For a second there he thought he had lost his chance with the one girl other than Rachel who had started a fire burning deep inside him. Overjoyed her moved in to kiss her and Raven pulled away abruptly looking at her watch.
"I have to go, its late," she said and throwing him a loving smile Raven blew him an air kiss and left a confused Alec behind her.
In a foul mood Alec stormed through Terminal City and in the control room he came upon Max who was checking the surveillance for any signs of disruption.
"Can I ask you a serious question Max?" Alec asked and looking a little apprehensive Max turned to give him her full attention.
"Sure, what's up?" Max asked and Alec bit his lower lip before replying.
"Am I kissable?" he asked and Max rolled her eyes.
"Alec," she said exasperatedly turning back to the computers and Alec turned her around to face him.
"No I'm serious, am I kissable?" Alec asked his question again and seeing he was serious Max considered his question looking him over affectionately.
"Well yeah I guess, in a dangerously sexy kind of way, why do you ask?" Max wanted to know sensing there was more to this question and Alec shrugged.
"No reason," he said trying not to let anything slip but Max already knew and she grinned.
"Not getting any love from the Ice Queen?" she asked teasingly and Alec turned furious eyes to her.
"Don't call her that!" his voice raised at her and Max took a step back never having seen Alec so passionate about anything.
"My God, you care about her, a lot," Max, said slowly and Alec looked away, disturbed by her words. He was Alec, Monty Cora, Golden Boy, 494; he did not care about anyone.
"I do not," he denied and Max laughed at him. It was obvious. She knew the signs having been through it all herself.
"Yes you do, you're practically in love," Max taunted him more and Alec felt her getting too close to the truth and his immediate reaction was to deny.
"No way," he assured her and Max just smiled knowingly in a way that annoyed Alec. It was like her smile was saying she knew more than he did.
"Deny it all you want, I know the truth," Max called to him as he was leaving and Alec turned to give her a finger that she happily returned.
"Night Alec, sweet dreams," Max called out seductively him and Alec continued walking not wanting to talk anymore.
The next night Alec had perfectly planned everything. Joshua had offered to make the food and not wanting to hurt his feelings Alec allowed him to make the dinner knowing with sinking certainty it would end up being Mac and cheese. Alec prepared a table in an abandoned part of Terminal City and after checking everything was set he raced off to go get Raven.
Meanwhile in her room Raven was standing in front of a cracked mirror checking her reflection intently. She was wearing a borrowed dress from Dove; it was flowing and white reaching her calves. Raven felt a little uncomfortable, she absolutely hated wearing anything feminine, it made her feel vulnerable and that was exactly what she didn't want to feel on tonight of all nights. Dove, Hawk and Talon were standing around her primping her outfit every few seconds showering her with compliments.
"You look fine," Hawk assured her seeing Raven frown at her reflection.
"Gorgeous, truly," Talon continued nodding to reaffirm her sisters statement and Falcon snorted from where she was lying on a bed, her nose buried in a book.
"Narcissism was based on the Roman God Narcisst, who loved himself way too much," Falcon commented laughing at Raven's expense and Raven picked up the closest pillow and chucked it at Falcon hitting her right on the head. Falcon flung her book down standing up and just as she was about to advance threateningly on Raven someone knocked on the door and thanking God for giving her an escape Raven rushed to the door and as quick as she could shut the door behind her.
"You're eager," Alec commented slyly and Raven merely smiled as she heard Falcon cursing her from inside their room and she chuckled to herself.
"You have no idea," she said and Alec held out a crooked arm to Raven which she took staring up at him wondering why his eyes were shining s brightly when there was barely any light in the hallway. Alec himself was having similar thoughts wondering how on Earth his date had managed to look like a complete angel. Just the sight of her in the dress threw him for a second.
The two ate dinner with Joshua hovering close by to refill drinks and food, for there was an endless supply of Mac and cheese, as it happened Logan knew the manufacturers of the Mac and cheese company and pulled a few strings for the transgenic cause. Over the dinner Alec was perfectly hospitable, the perfect gentleman, because he had been taught to be by Manticore, he knew exactly how to treat a lady, what to say and how to act. Raven herself, as another perfect creation from Manticore responded to all his questions as any normal young woman would. In a way it was like both of them were playing a pretend game, where they imagined that they were a normal couple at a fine restaurant eating the finest meal, instead of the dingy room they were in eating Mac and cheese with an anomaly as a waiter. When the dinner finished Alec turned to Joshua and pointed to the door indicating Joshua's services were no longer needed and he looked eagerly from Raven to Alec.
"Alec and Raven get busy, like Max and Logan after virus bitch going down?" Joshua asked and Raven looked questioningly at Alec who laughed to cover his embarrassment.
"Oh Joshua, who taught you that.crude term, was it Mole because Mole." as Alec continued rambling he turned to Joshua who was standing in the doorway looking justly confused by Alec's words and just when Alec thought Joshua understood Joshua grinned.
"You taught me Alec, remember?" Joshua asked and Alec dropped his head into his hands as Raven tried to hide her giggles behind her serviette but didn't do that successfully.
"Goodnight Joshua," Alec said forcefully and Joshua waved goodbye and left the room while Alec turned to Raven apologetically.
"Nice try," she complimented him and Alec shrugged getting up and pressing play on an old tape recorder and a slow song started to play. Alec stood up and held out a hand obviously asking her to dance but Raven was taken aback. She raised an eyebrow at him sceptically and he looked at her innocently.
"Have you been raiding Logan's music collection?" Raven asked him and Alec looked sheepish as she accepted his hand and he pulled her to a spare spot in the room.
"Yeah, how'd you guess?" Alec asked pulling her close to him and Raven tilted her head to look up at him.
"Well your not interested in my brains," she said pouting and Alec chuckled slowly looking down at her his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"I'm interested in all of you," he assured her and Raven blushed looking away from him wanting to lighten the serious mood. How had it become so serious between them? One moment they were talking and laughing over dinner and the next they were dancing romantically together, locked in each other's arms. Raven tried to bring herself back to reality and decided to make light of the situation.
"I notice your taking a few leaves out of Logan's book, the dinner, the wine and the music, Alec, are you trying to seduce me?" Raven asked cutely in a joking voice and Alec bent his head to whisper in her ear.
"Maybe, would you want me to?" he said softly and Raven nearly automatically said yes but she stopped herself and froze. This was wrong. She couldn't be feeling like this about Alec. She pulled away from him not looking at him.
"I.I have to go," Raven said walking towards the door and Alec was struck dumb for a few moments but he recovered just in time to grab hold f Raven's arm to stop her from leaving.
"Raven, where are you going? We were having a good time, you don't have to leave," Alec asked not wanting her to go and Raven looked him straight in the eyes.
"I don't trust myself when I am with you Alec, you make me want to trust in everything you say," Raven said and Alec looked confused. Why was that such a bad thing?
"Then why don't you," Alec asked in exasperation and Raven shook her head.
"It's complicated," she said dismissively and Alec pulled Raven closer towards him forcefully and Raven didn't resist even though she knew that she should.
"I want to be with you," Alec whispered to her surprising even himself and Raven looked up at him with surprise.
"You do? But we only just met; this is stupid," Raven said trying to convince herself and Alec shook his head adamantly.
"Stupid is not giving us a chance Raven," Alec turned his pleading eyes on her and Raven couldn't look away and Alec asked her seriously, "Be with me, be my first girlfriend."
"I told you I couldn't love you Alec, I can't love anyone," Raven tried desperately for a way out of the situation, where she wouldn't have to confess she felt the same way about him that he did about her.
"And I told you before, I'm not asking you to love me, just give us a chance," Alec told her and Raven considered his clear green eyes thoughtfully then she smiled.
"All right, I'll try," she said and Alec grinned with relief. For a second there he thought he had lost his chance with the one girl other than Rachel who had started a fire burning deep inside him. Overjoyed her moved in to kiss her and Raven pulled away abruptly looking at her watch.
"I have to go, its late," she said and throwing him a loving smile Raven blew him an air kiss and left a confused Alec behind her.
In a foul mood Alec stormed through Terminal City and in the control room he came upon Max who was checking the surveillance for any signs of disruption.
"Can I ask you a serious question Max?" Alec asked and looking a little apprehensive Max turned to give him her full attention.
"Sure, what's up?" Max asked and Alec bit his lower lip before replying.
"Am I kissable?" he asked and Max rolled her eyes.
"Alec," she said exasperatedly turning back to the computers and Alec turned her around to face him.
"No I'm serious, am I kissable?" Alec asked his question again and seeing he was serious Max considered his question looking him over affectionately.
"Well yeah I guess, in a dangerously sexy kind of way, why do you ask?" Max wanted to know sensing there was more to this question and Alec shrugged.
"No reason," he said trying not to let anything slip but Max already knew and she grinned.
"Not getting any love from the Ice Queen?" she asked teasingly and Alec turned furious eyes to her.
"Don't call her that!" his voice raised at her and Max took a step back never having seen Alec so passionate about anything.
"My God, you care about her, a lot," Max, said slowly and Alec looked away, disturbed by her words. He was Alec, Monty Cora, Golden Boy, 494; he did not care about anyone.
"I do not," he denied and Max laughed at him. It was obvious. She knew the signs having been through it all herself.
"Yes you do, you're practically in love," Max taunted him more and Alec felt her getting too close to the truth and his immediate reaction was to deny.
"No way," he assured her and Max just smiled knowingly in a way that annoyed Alec. It was like her smile was saying she knew more than he did.
"Deny it all you want, I know the truth," Max called to him as he was leaving and Alec turned to give her a finger that she happily returned.
"Night Alec, sweet dreams," Max called out seductively him and Alec continued walking not wanting to talk anymore.