Disclaimer: We don't own any of the concept or characters of Dark Angel, bla bla bla....
Authors'note:
Here we go. This is what crawled out of our heads on those long and sleepless nights. It is set in Season 1, shortly after 'Cape Haven'.
We wrote most of the dialogues together in chat, each of us taking over one character. Some of the in-between parts were written by just one of us and we put everything together later.
We have written quite a bit in advance, so we'll try to post new chapters on a regular basis-depending on how much feedback we get. (hint, hint) Anyway, thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy our little experiment.
*******************************************************************************
New Horizons
1. Mind your own business
***
"Hellooo!? Somebody here?" Max called out as she entered the penthouse.
"Hey Max!" Logan yelled back but kept on typing into the keyboard.
Max rounded the corner only to find Logan sitting at his usual place in front of his computer. "Hey, you busy?!" Max leaned against the side of the desk. " 'This gonna take long?"
"I can't believe that the mayor doesn't want to see his politicians letting all that money disappear! It's about time somebody stopped them! He still didn't look up.
Max frowned , but refused to reply to what Logan had just spilled. "There's this hot new band playing at Crash tonight...Thought you might wanna come... . Guys gotta have fun sometimes, you know..."
"Ahm," Logan leaned back and finally turned his head to face her. "I think I gotta take a rain check. Got work to do, as you can see. Blah Blah Woof Woof, you know."
He didn't look into her eyes.
"Ahh, come on! Can take care of that later. One day more or less won't make a difference. Besides, I already told everybody you would come, " she added with a cocky smile.
"Max, this really is more important than listening to some music." He halted his speech to concentrate on the numbers on the screen. "Besides, I didn't ask you to tell your friends I'll be there!" He added and ferociously pushed his wheels to spin around and headed towards the kitchen.
He didn't quite know why he suddenly was so angry with Max. Hadn't he always wanted to go with her? This was his chance and now he was sitting here, refusing, acting like a total geek.
Max pushed off the desk and rushed after him towards the kitchen. "Oh yeah...I'm SORRY ! How could I be so....childish as to think that Mr. Eyes Only would let himself down to going out to a club ...oh and on a week-day.....Cause he's gotta save the world." She stared at his back that was turned towards her while he was fumbling with something on the counter.
"Why can't you get it, Max, that there are people who care about what the world comes to- and not just mind their own business." He hadn't wanted to say all that, but now he couldn't take it back.
He threw the towel he'd tried to fold back on the counter and turned around to look at her.
Max stood there, mouth open, stunned by what he had just thrown at her. How could he think she was only caring about herself when she was here trying to convince him to get his ass out there and have some fun, instead of sitting here all alone, probably falling into the next depression. When she found her words again, they were as cold and bitter as his had been. "Well, if that's what you think of me... I'm sorry to have bothered you. ...Don't worry. I'll find my way out.." She turned on her heels and went straight to the door.
"Max...!" He followed her. "I didn't mean to...it's just that..." He didn't know how to explain himself, and even if he knew, he didn't really want to.
"Forget it," Max shook her head and reached for the doorknob. Though she didn't like to admit it, she felt like he had just turned a knife in her heart. She just needed to get out of there. She wasn't going to take any more of his shit.
Logan had closed his eyes and now heard the door open. He took a deep breath." I just don't like people making plans for me! If I want to go out, I'd like to decide for myself! Besides, I don't feel like hanging out there with a bunch of screwed up people getting drunk and...."
Max let go of the door and spun around. "Oh, so now you're saying that my people are screwed. Maybe I am then , too, "she said sarcastically.
"Just thought you could maybe get your ass out of this apartment and relax a little instead of working like....."
"I didn't mean to say that, and you know it." Logan interrupted her." But if you think that much of me, maybe you should go!" He looked up, realising only now what she'd added. "I don't need a baby-sitter, Max! I am capable of deciding for myself when and where I want to go!" He shot her a deadly look.
Max sighed and rolled her eyes. "I was not intending to baby-sit you. I was just trying to be nice and ask you to come have some fun. But if that's a problem for you, maybe I should send a request first next time something as BIG as this comes to my mind. ...So you can prepare, mentally," she added. She was really angry now. How could he be going this direction again!!!!
"Why can't you just accept a simple no as an answer?" He didn't want to go into the details of his reasons, not even in his mind. It sounded OK to have the location and the people as his reason. But deep down he knew that wasn't true. This was all about him, about his issues.
" I just don't feel like going out today. That's all," he said angrily.
"Today, huh? For a change!" She let out a sarcastic laugh. "What a surprise! You always say that! I think that's a lame excuse!"
"You think?" Logan shouted at her." What the hell do you know?"
"I know that you've been locking yourself up here with your work, refusing to go out and have fun ever since....." Max shouted.
"Right." He stared right back at her, his face a stony mask. "It's just not that easy, Max. Do you think you have the slightest idea what I'm going through?" He swallowed hard. He hadn't meant for that to slip, but now he couldn't take it back.
Max stood there, shocked by his sudden revelation. She hadn't wanted to dig into it, but now she wouldn't let him get away that easily.
"No, to be honest I don't. How could I?! You shut everyone out!.... Tell me, maybe I can understand then!"
Logan lowered his gaze and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture." Just go, Max. You wanted to have fun, go ahead. I don't want to be in your way." His voice lacked all emotions and sounded tired and defeated.
Max felt her anger well up inside of her again. She really had to get out of there or she was going to slap him or something. How could he be so stubborn.
"Okay", she finally said. "I think you've made your point clear. But don't you think I'll ever even think about asking you out again."
"Just go ahead and do whatever you have to do. I'm outta here." If he didn't want to talk to her she wouldn't press him. He had hurt her too much. She couldn't quite forgive him now. If he wanted to stay home, bath in self-pity, then she wouldn't stop him. She wasn't going into a discussion again. Without another word, she walked out the door and slammed it shut behind her.
Logan sat there, motionless. He berated himself for the way he had acted, but why couldn't she just accept the fact that he wasn't like her carefree friends. He remembered a time when he had been, but that was over now. Maybe he was jealous of Max. She lived her life to the fullest, had fun. And he, he was drowning in his self-pity. But he couldn't help it. He just hated to be in that chair and he hated everything that came with it. He couldn't just go out and have fun pretending he was fine, when he wasn't. He hated this situation and he felt bad about how he had treated Max, cursing himself for who he had become, but he didn't know how to change it either. Angrily he shook his head and then wheeled himself back to his office. He could as well get some more work done.
***
When Max entered Crash twenty minutes later, she was still boiling with anger. How could Logan be so stubborn?
"Hey boo, what's up? Where is your date?" Cindy came towards her, a pitcher in her hand.
"He is not my date, and besides, do you see him anywhere?" Max said with an edge to her voice.
"Whoa, that ain't good. Trouble in paradise?"
Cindy grabbed her arm and pulled her to a rather quiet corner of the crowded bar.
"You can talk about anything to Original Cindy, so spill it."
Max shook her head, but finally gave in. She had to get her anger out, and maybe talking would help. "I asked him to come join us but he refused. Said he has work to do..."She rolled her eyes.
"If he says so..."
"Yeah, right!"
"You don't believe him?"
"He is working his ass off all day long, everybody deserves a break every now and then. Just for a couple of hours!"
"And why do you think he would..."
"Because he is drowning in his own self-pity already again! He seems to think that damn chair is controlling his entire life."
"And you told him it's not?"
"I told him A MILLION TIMES, the chair doesn't matter to me!"
Cindy took a sip of her beer and let her gaze wander over to Sketchy and Herbal playing pool, trying to impress some girls who were crouching at the bar. Still watching the guys she said. "Maybe this is not about you, Max. Maybe that's all about him. He is a guy, and guys usually are pretty self-involved."
She waved her head at their two friends.
"That's crap, he has always been so sure of himself, ever since I met him. I know he hates that chair, but this is just why he needs to get out and see what is still possible. I mean, he can get in here and have a good time, there are not even stairs at the back entrance."
"Original Cindy is not an expert when it comes to your man, but maybe he feels insecure..."
"Why?"
"Boo! Because of the chair of course!"
"But I told him he doesn't have to, I don't..."
"Max! That's what I'm trying to break to you! It ain't about you, it's all about himself!" She put her chin in her right hand which was resting on the round table. "Do you think it's easy for him to accept everything that comes with the chair? I don't know your rich guy, but I saw him when he was still walking, and he seemed pretty spoiled and self-confident. People looked at him because he was hot- and he knew it. People still look, but because of the chair, because he is different, cuz he is no longer hot boy. That must bother him a lot."
Max suddenly didn't have an answer. She'd never thought about that. She knew Logan was having a hard time, but he had always made it seem like it was due to his reduced mobility, due to the fact that he couldn't do his own legwork. He had never let on that it might be due to the way people reacted when seeing him- a guy in a wheelchair.
She took a deep breath, the anger she'd felt a few minutes early had subsided. But right now there was nothing she could do about Logan, so she decided she still was gonna have a good time tonight.
"Whatever, he still yelled at me, and acted like an idiot. We're gonna have a blast tonight, and he can bath in his self-pity..." She said, her voice cracking ever so slightly. "He is the one who needs to say he's sorry. I only tried to be nice."
With that she stood up and fought her way to the pool table where Sketchy just prepared to break again.
"Whatever you say, Boo. Whatever you say." Cindy followed her, shaking her head. This couldn't work out as long as both of the lovebirds were that stubborn.
***************************************************************************
TBC. ...
Authors'note:
Here we go. This is what crawled out of our heads on those long and sleepless nights. It is set in Season 1, shortly after 'Cape Haven'.
We wrote most of the dialogues together in chat, each of us taking over one character. Some of the in-between parts were written by just one of us and we put everything together later.
We have written quite a bit in advance, so we'll try to post new chapters on a regular basis-depending on how much feedback we get. (hint, hint) Anyway, thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy our little experiment.
*******************************************************************************
New Horizons
1. Mind your own business
***
"Hellooo!? Somebody here?" Max called out as she entered the penthouse.
"Hey Max!" Logan yelled back but kept on typing into the keyboard.
Max rounded the corner only to find Logan sitting at his usual place in front of his computer. "Hey, you busy?!" Max leaned against the side of the desk. " 'This gonna take long?"
"I can't believe that the mayor doesn't want to see his politicians letting all that money disappear! It's about time somebody stopped them! He still didn't look up.
Max frowned , but refused to reply to what Logan had just spilled. "There's this hot new band playing at Crash tonight...Thought you might wanna come... . Guys gotta have fun sometimes, you know..."
"Ahm," Logan leaned back and finally turned his head to face her. "I think I gotta take a rain check. Got work to do, as you can see. Blah Blah Woof Woof, you know."
He didn't look into her eyes.
"Ahh, come on! Can take care of that later. One day more or less won't make a difference. Besides, I already told everybody you would come, " she added with a cocky smile.
"Max, this really is more important than listening to some music." He halted his speech to concentrate on the numbers on the screen. "Besides, I didn't ask you to tell your friends I'll be there!" He added and ferociously pushed his wheels to spin around and headed towards the kitchen.
He didn't quite know why he suddenly was so angry with Max. Hadn't he always wanted to go with her? This was his chance and now he was sitting here, refusing, acting like a total geek.
Max pushed off the desk and rushed after him towards the kitchen. "Oh yeah...I'm SORRY ! How could I be so....childish as to think that Mr. Eyes Only would let himself down to going out to a club ...oh and on a week-day.....Cause he's gotta save the world." She stared at his back that was turned towards her while he was fumbling with something on the counter.
"Why can't you get it, Max, that there are people who care about what the world comes to- and not just mind their own business." He hadn't wanted to say all that, but now he couldn't take it back.
He threw the towel he'd tried to fold back on the counter and turned around to look at her.
Max stood there, mouth open, stunned by what he had just thrown at her. How could he think she was only caring about herself when she was here trying to convince him to get his ass out there and have some fun, instead of sitting here all alone, probably falling into the next depression. When she found her words again, they were as cold and bitter as his had been. "Well, if that's what you think of me... I'm sorry to have bothered you. ...Don't worry. I'll find my way out.." She turned on her heels and went straight to the door.
"Max...!" He followed her. "I didn't mean to...it's just that..." He didn't know how to explain himself, and even if he knew, he didn't really want to.
"Forget it," Max shook her head and reached for the doorknob. Though she didn't like to admit it, she felt like he had just turned a knife in her heart. She just needed to get out of there. She wasn't going to take any more of his shit.
Logan had closed his eyes and now heard the door open. He took a deep breath." I just don't like people making plans for me! If I want to go out, I'd like to decide for myself! Besides, I don't feel like hanging out there with a bunch of screwed up people getting drunk and...."
Max let go of the door and spun around. "Oh, so now you're saying that my people are screwed. Maybe I am then , too, "she said sarcastically.
"Just thought you could maybe get your ass out of this apartment and relax a little instead of working like....."
"I didn't mean to say that, and you know it." Logan interrupted her." But if you think that much of me, maybe you should go!" He looked up, realising only now what she'd added. "I don't need a baby-sitter, Max! I am capable of deciding for myself when and where I want to go!" He shot her a deadly look.
Max sighed and rolled her eyes. "I was not intending to baby-sit you. I was just trying to be nice and ask you to come have some fun. But if that's a problem for you, maybe I should send a request first next time something as BIG as this comes to my mind. ...So you can prepare, mentally," she added. She was really angry now. How could he be going this direction again!!!!
"Why can't you just accept a simple no as an answer?" He didn't want to go into the details of his reasons, not even in his mind. It sounded OK to have the location and the people as his reason. But deep down he knew that wasn't true. This was all about him, about his issues.
" I just don't feel like going out today. That's all," he said angrily.
"Today, huh? For a change!" She let out a sarcastic laugh. "What a surprise! You always say that! I think that's a lame excuse!"
"You think?" Logan shouted at her." What the hell do you know?"
"I know that you've been locking yourself up here with your work, refusing to go out and have fun ever since....." Max shouted.
"Right." He stared right back at her, his face a stony mask. "It's just not that easy, Max. Do you think you have the slightest idea what I'm going through?" He swallowed hard. He hadn't meant for that to slip, but now he couldn't take it back.
Max stood there, shocked by his sudden revelation. She hadn't wanted to dig into it, but now she wouldn't let him get away that easily.
"No, to be honest I don't. How could I?! You shut everyone out!.... Tell me, maybe I can understand then!"
Logan lowered his gaze and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture." Just go, Max. You wanted to have fun, go ahead. I don't want to be in your way." His voice lacked all emotions and sounded tired and defeated.
Max felt her anger well up inside of her again. She really had to get out of there or she was going to slap him or something. How could he be so stubborn.
"Okay", she finally said. "I think you've made your point clear. But don't you think I'll ever even think about asking you out again."
"Just go ahead and do whatever you have to do. I'm outta here." If he didn't want to talk to her she wouldn't press him. He had hurt her too much. She couldn't quite forgive him now. If he wanted to stay home, bath in self-pity, then she wouldn't stop him. She wasn't going into a discussion again. Without another word, she walked out the door and slammed it shut behind her.
Logan sat there, motionless. He berated himself for the way he had acted, but why couldn't she just accept the fact that he wasn't like her carefree friends. He remembered a time when he had been, but that was over now. Maybe he was jealous of Max. She lived her life to the fullest, had fun. And he, he was drowning in his self-pity. But he couldn't help it. He just hated to be in that chair and he hated everything that came with it. He couldn't just go out and have fun pretending he was fine, when he wasn't. He hated this situation and he felt bad about how he had treated Max, cursing himself for who he had become, but he didn't know how to change it either. Angrily he shook his head and then wheeled himself back to his office. He could as well get some more work done.
***
When Max entered Crash twenty minutes later, she was still boiling with anger. How could Logan be so stubborn?
"Hey boo, what's up? Where is your date?" Cindy came towards her, a pitcher in her hand.
"He is not my date, and besides, do you see him anywhere?" Max said with an edge to her voice.
"Whoa, that ain't good. Trouble in paradise?"
Cindy grabbed her arm and pulled her to a rather quiet corner of the crowded bar.
"You can talk about anything to Original Cindy, so spill it."
Max shook her head, but finally gave in. She had to get her anger out, and maybe talking would help. "I asked him to come join us but he refused. Said he has work to do..."She rolled her eyes.
"If he says so..."
"Yeah, right!"
"You don't believe him?"
"He is working his ass off all day long, everybody deserves a break every now and then. Just for a couple of hours!"
"And why do you think he would..."
"Because he is drowning in his own self-pity already again! He seems to think that damn chair is controlling his entire life."
"And you told him it's not?"
"I told him A MILLION TIMES, the chair doesn't matter to me!"
Cindy took a sip of her beer and let her gaze wander over to Sketchy and Herbal playing pool, trying to impress some girls who were crouching at the bar. Still watching the guys she said. "Maybe this is not about you, Max. Maybe that's all about him. He is a guy, and guys usually are pretty self-involved."
She waved her head at their two friends.
"That's crap, he has always been so sure of himself, ever since I met him. I know he hates that chair, but this is just why he needs to get out and see what is still possible. I mean, he can get in here and have a good time, there are not even stairs at the back entrance."
"Original Cindy is not an expert when it comes to your man, but maybe he feels insecure..."
"Why?"
"Boo! Because of the chair of course!"
"But I told him he doesn't have to, I don't..."
"Max! That's what I'm trying to break to you! It ain't about you, it's all about himself!" She put her chin in her right hand which was resting on the round table. "Do you think it's easy for him to accept everything that comes with the chair? I don't know your rich guy, but I saw him when he was still walking, and he seemed pretty spoiled and self-confident. People looked at him because he was hot- and he knew it. People still look, but because of the chair, because he is different, cuz he is no longer hot boy. That must bother him a lot."
Max suddenly didn't have an answer. She'd never thought about that. She knew Logan was having a hard time, but he had always made it seem like it was due to his reduced mobility, due to the fact that he couldn't do his own legwork. He had never let on that it might be due to the way people reacted when seeing him- a guy in a wheelchair.
She took a deep breath, the anger she'd felt a few minutes early had subsided. But right now there was nothing she could do about Logan, so she decided she still was gonna have a good time tonight.
"Whatever, he still yelled at me, and acted like an idiot. We're gonna have a blast tonight, and he can bath in his self-pity..." She said, her voice cracking ever so slightly. "He is the one who needs to say he's sorry. I only tried to be nice."
With that she stood up and fought her way to the pool table where Sketchy just prepared to break again.
"Whatever you say, Boo. Whatever you say." Cindy followed her, shaking her head. This couldn't work out as long as both of the lovebirds were that stubborn.
***************************************************************************
TBC. ...