Disclaimer : Do we need to do this now that we know James Cameron shamelessly stole somebody else's idea and claimed it for his own?..okay fine, just in case I get sued – DA & Alec ain't mine – a fact I lament everyday of my life.
A/N : I can't decide on a specific timeline so no point asking me, let's just say that everything is fair game. And THANK YOU to my betas, Mel & Susan for helping me out with the major bumps in this story. Love ya!
REVELATIONS
Chapter 1
The prone figure sprawled at the foot of the armchair twitched a little as a pair of hazel-green flecked eyes pressed to open.
Realizing the source of his discomfort: sunlight shining through the holes in the curtain, Alec quickly turned his head.
He groaned and slowly got up. *God, did I just spend the night on the hard floor? Man, that was some crazy dream* Alec frowned as images of squirrels in wooden clogs doing Irish jigs flashed briefly in his mind.
His feline DNA was evident as he slowly and lazily stretched his sorely abused muscles one by one. The muscles in his chest stretched the material of his tight-fitting tee invitingly as he slowly brought his two arms from the front to the back; pulling back as far as his arms would allow without popping out of its sockets.
He turned his head to the digital clock and did a double take as he realized the time. *Oh Shit!! I'm gonna be late!! Max is gonna kill me* he thought. He blurred as only a transgenic can with a hangover measuring a 9.5 on the Richter scale.
As he stood in front of the mirror adjusting his bowtie, his hair still wet, the memories of yesterday came rushing back. His fingers paused.
*Well, this is it. Gonna have the 'pleasure' of giving Max away to Wonder Boy. Why did I say yes? Oh yeah, coz I can't say no to Maxie." Alec sighed and his whole body shrank, *but somebody's gotta do it. Suck it up soldier boy* He gave his reflection a determined smile. *You're gonna live through the ceremony, and none will be the wiser. 494, this is THE mission of all mother-fucking missions. Failure is definitely not an option*
He patted his bow in satisfaction and surveyed his image critically in the mirror. Bright and clear hazel-green flecked eyes looked back steadily. One would never have guessed that he spent last night on a drinking binge. Ah, the wonders of transgenic healing...
Broad shoulders filled the tux just right. Not too tight, not too loose. The tailor told him that he had the perfect physique to carry off the tux without extra embellishment.
He smirked thinking of the tailor. Max had to practically twist his ear to get him there.
Flashback
"Do it or I'll tell Normal you have that gladiator suit stashed in your closet. What d'ya think he'd do to you, Pretty Boy, once he gets wind of that??" Max smirked.
"Ask me if I have a sword to go with it? Owwwww!! Owww!! Maxxx!!?" Alec whined as Max retaliated by twisting his right ear.
Alec reluctantly accompanied Roller Boy to the Cales official tailor. You could even see the spotlights and cameras going off on the word 'The Cales' the way Logan said it. He made it sound like it was a secret club where entry is allowed if you know the super-duper-secret Cale handshake.
The minute the first sentence left Logan's mouth; he automatically tuned him out. It wasn't easy but he wasn't the best Manticore ever produced for nothing.
But occasionally, Logan's croaking managed to penetrate his subconscious. "His family has been tailoring for the Cales for generations…blah, blah. Don't know why Max was so insistent you come with me. Of course I'll pay for it. I'm only -"
At the last part, Alec snapped back to reality, "Oh no, I can pay for it." He continued with the tone of a smug child with a candy-bar, "My 'pocket-money' got increased last week." Seeing Logan's un-amused face he said seriously, "I can pay my own way. You don't have to worry about me."
Logan was effectively silenced by his statement, by the cutting undertone of his voice. "Of course not Alec, I'm not doubting your ability to look after yourself…" but Logan's tone obviously disagreed. "But this tailor is 'exclusive'.." he began patronizingly.
"Yeah, the atmosphere here just screams 'EXCLUSIVE'. I said I'm good for it and I am. Put Max's bill on my tab too." he turned away and gave the tailor his most charming smile, summarily dismissing the now sputtering Logan.
The tailor took one look at Alec's smiling face and clutched his heart, "Oh My..." he murmured all aflutter. Every chance he had, he ran his hands reverently over Alec's body. He was starting to feel really, really suspicious over the tailor's overt concern of his body and it was finally confirmed when Alec had to stop the man's hand from 'feeling up' his 'family jewels' in the guise of measuring the crotch area.
"Ah...that will do, my good man." catching the man's wandering hands. "You might wanna work on the groom over there. After all, we wouldn't want to humiliate him with an ill-fitting suit on his big day, now would we." The image of Logan and a permanent wedgie made all this torture a little bearable.
The tailor gave him a huffy look as he reluctantly shuffled over to Logan. The tailor snapped at him to lift his hands up so he could measure the length of his arms, "Mr. Cale, we will have to insert shoulder pads, your shoulders are too droopy. Stand up straight" He poked his needle into Logan's flabby tummy, "And suck in your stomach!"
"How come he doesn't have to?" Logan whined petulantly. The tailor drew himself up to his full 5'3" and sneered up at Logan, "He doesn't need them for he is perfect in every way, his looks, his regal bearing, his shoulders...those muscles" the tailor drifted off and then came back to earth moments later, "Suffice to say Mr. Cale, I know best. You need something to tuck in your waistline. It is absolutely disgraceful that a man your age lets himself go like this." Throwing his hands up in the air, "You need a lot of work to look half as decent as him," jerking his head towards Alec. "But even then, just barely."
End Flashback
Finally satisfied that he looked presentable, Alec left the house. He had to get a head start otherwise he'd never make it to the church on time, being stuck in long queues at sector checkpoints.
That would give Max another excuse to call him a screw-up, especially on her big day too. He really didn't want to get into another round of questions with Max. She was a PMSing roaring barbarian on a normal day, which was bad enough, but a highly stressed PMSing roaring barbarian on her wedding day was really not something he thought he'd be able to handle.
Alec hadn't seen Max in a week, not since their last big argument, but he kept in touch with the gang in TC and got unofficial updates on the ups and downs of a certain transgenic living in Seattle.
In the car, the stereo was blaring with pre-Pulse music as his mind cast back to their last big argument.
Flashback
"So Maxie, where's the wedding gonna be?" Alex said crashing onto Logan's expensive sofa. Logan sniffed in dislike at Alec, but then he's always acted and looked as if he smelt something bad. Logan was not happy that Max wanted Alec to give her away, or maybe it was the fact that Alec was living and breathing all over his expensive Italian sofa, leaving scuffmarks all over it.
2 Weeks before
"But Max, my uncle could give you away. Don't you think people will talk if he gives you away? Why Alec?"
"Gee, I dunno. Maybe it's because my big brother is now milking cows on a farm in the middle of nowhere! Not mentioning the fact that he doesn't even remember me!!! That about cover it?" Max looked at Logan incredulously. "Or the fact that 'father Sandman' is nowhere to be found!" Max shook her head and breathed deeply, trying to calm herself.
"Look Logan, I know you mean well, but.... I want Alec to do it coz he's my family." Max lowered her voice after her accidental outburst seeing that Logan was upset. "My only family here in Seattle." Her eyes pleaded with Logan to go along with her decision for once instead of arguing with her over it. "I need this, I really want this, Logan."
The air was silent and thick with tension while Logan sulked. "Fine, Max, but don't say I didn't warn you if he doesn't turn up or if he ruins the most beautiful experience of your life. He always screws things up."
"Logan!! Alec won't ruin it! He's not...like that." She ended miserably, turning away feeling inexplicably upset and angry at Logan. *Why is Logan being so difficult over this? Can't he just not argue for once? Does everything have to be about him? I may have resented Alec at first - the representation of all that is Manticore, but he's not like that anymore. He's...family - not like Ben or my other lost siblings, but still family. Josh, him and me. A family*
At Max's lack of reaction, Logan turned to face her.
"Max? You okay?"
Max turned around with that bland blank Manticore mask and plastered a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Umm, I gotta blaze. Still have some runs to make."
"So Max, where's the big day gonna be? Listen, if you still haven't decided on the location, well, big guy and the others were talking about spiffing up the abandoned church in TC just before I left." Alec scratched his head with his cell phone in that endearing way of his. "History in the making and all. I know that they'd be really glad if you have it there. Its not every day one of us marries an Ordinary." Turning to Logan, shrugging his shoulder, "No offence. I mean, you did say it was going to be a small intimate one with family and friends, didn't you Max?"
Max felt uncomfortable when she heard what Alec had said about the others in TC. "Alec-"
"I'm sorry Alec. But the others won't be able to attend our wedding," Logan cut in before Max could explain further. "Max and I have decided against holding the wedding in TC partly due to the location factor and also the fact that my family somehow found out about the wedding and invited their own guests. People- who have no idea yet on the real existence of the transgenic community in Seattle. There's too much at risk here"
Alec stood still and quietly asked Max, "Is that true, Maxie?" He looked at Logan and then back to Max with eyes burning with cold rage.
Pangs of guilt echoed in Max's body and she felt tears rising as she felt like she was betraying her family. Max really wanted everyone to see her get married- to show that a normal life is possible. She only agreed because Logan accepted that Alec could give her away - albeit very reluctantly. Max couldn't speak let alone even look at Alec.
To Alec, Max's silence was all he needed to hear.
"Alec, I fail to see what the others have to do – with my wedding? Besides, you yourself know there's no way they can attend the wedding. What do you think my guests would do if they ever caught sight of Joshua, Dix or Mole? They'd run screaming and call the National Guard." Logan interjected again feeling that it was his duty to be the voice of righteousness. "The human looking ones could probably come, but only if they dress and act appropriately and-"
"Woah, back up there - human-looking ones? Sure, us 'mutants' don't all look the same, appearance-wise, but deep down we are one and the same. We all came from Manticore. Max is one of us, no doubt. And you're marrying her, aren't you? You marry her; we become your in-laws. Your family." He added, watching Logan flinch slightly at the idea. "So what are you trying to say?"
"You can't compare Max with Joshua or Mole or for that matter the rest of you. She's not like the rest of you."
"Not like the rest of us?! Let's see, mum called Pyrex, dad called Sandeman, check. Animal DNA, check. Superior hearing, check. Superior night vision, check. A childhood spent playing with real guns with real bullets, check. Oh, and don't forget the whole 'killing a man with your bare hands thing' that we did as anklebiters. According to my transgenic checklist, she's one of us. I think you've spent too much time in front of the computer. All that radiation must be affecting you."
"No-"
"Let's see what Max wants." Alec cut in, not wanting to hear Logan's lame excuses. Alec turned his head and pinned Logan with his cold-eyes. Max's silence turned Alec's sight to her. "Max, look at me. Is this what you want?"
"Look Alec, it's not about what she wants. It's what must be done if we are ever going to integrate the transgenic community successfully with the rest of the world. We need to introduce, erm..," Logan paused trying to think of a more politically correct way of saying 'freak' "the more interesting personalities of Manticore bit by bit. "You can't just drop a bomb like that and expect no repercussions." Logan looked to Max for help.
Max shrugged her shoulders and looked away guiltily, trying to stay neutral. She hated watching them fight. It was one of the most painful things she had had to see; the two most important men in her life, fighting like wounded animals. She looked from one to the other, knowing maybe she should step in and dismiss the argument, but her conflicting emotions wouldn't allow her to.
"If we don't do this right, those frightened people out there will turn mob and lynch us for sure. That is NOT what we've been striving for!" Logan yelled, turning slightly red-faced trying to get Alec to agree with his way of thinking.
Logan couldn't help a slight twinge of selfishness of wanting to keep Max away from rest of the Manticoreians, especially Alec. Deep down, Logan was worried that Max might decide that being normal was highly over-rated and that Alec might be the better choice due to their similar experiences. Logan needed Max to be 'normal.' For him and for E.O. He worried that if she hung around the Manticore alumni long enough, she'd realise the truth: that she never really needed him in the first place. Where would he be then without Max and Eyes Only?
"This wedding isn't just about you or trying to prove a point to those people out there. It's about Max and indirectly, about us!" Alec shot back, emotions clouding his rationality. "You just don't get it do you?? Max is not normal!! She's not one of you - no matter how hard you try to tell her otherwise. She's one of us!! You can't just change something like that!"
"That's just it! She's not like any of you! She's more human than all of you put together. Why do you think she escaped Manticore?! Because she's not a cold-blooded killer. All she ever wanted was to be a normal girl. With a normal life, doing normal things like getting married, having a family"
Alec just shook his head at Logan's naiveté.
"And what about when you need 'your wife' to do your E.O I-must-save-the-world missions?! See, last time I checked it's not considered normal to ask your wife to risk her life without regard to her safety!!" Alec's voice changed from an angry yell to a cold and factual tone. "Right from the beginning, it was always about what you could gain from Max-the-transgenic. It's only about being normal when it's convenient for you. Anything you wanna add to that, Cale?"
Logan, for once in his life, learned the wisdom of silence.
"Cat got your tongue? Max is not a poster child for transgen-human integration thingy you've got up in your head. We're never going to fit in with them. We're unwanted, hunted and killed! Your dream of being Captain America is noble but, in this case, misguided"
They were so involved in their argument that they had quite forgotten that Max was still there, alternating between a deep sense of shame and anger with both men.
"Stop it both of you!! I'm still here you know! Alec, I agreed with Logan's decision-"
"Max, you don't have to explain anything to him," Logan cut in.
Holding a hand up to stop Logan, she continued, "Because it's what I want. I've dreamt of this, wanted this for so long." she said wearily, turning away from both men.
"Logan and I have been through so much shit. What with Lydecker after me and the Manticore virus. I think I deserve a NORMAL wedding. So don't fuck things up for me."
After all, it was the only thing to say, she couldn't just blurt out "Well, gee, since Logan 'graciously' agreed that you could give me away, I decided I should play fair with him."
"If you don't like it then," Max paused slightly, uncertainty creeping up on her. She whacked it over the head and turned back to Alec, a blank mask covering up her emotions. "Then you can pack your bags and get the hell out of town. I don't need any of you hassling me, messing things up. And I sure as hell don't need you around," Max continued ruthlessly, forcing the proverbial dagger deeper. Max felt like dying. She knew she was being a total bitch as she watched each word put out the bright spark in Alec's eyes.
Max knew what she was saying wasn't true, but it was easier to just agree with Logan than it was to deal with her 'betrayal' of Alec. It was easier to 'run away' from Alec. At least it should have been...
Did you ever love somebody?
So much that the earth moved
Did you ever love somebody?
Even though it hurt to.
"Okay Max, I'll get out of your way." He said, picking up his jacket and starting to walk away. Turning back around, as though just remembering something. "Have you told Josh, yet?" Alec said coldly, knowing how much this would hurt Max.
"I-" Max stopped unable to continue.
"When were you going to tell him? The morning after? He has the right to know, Max. The right to know why his beloved Lil' Fella is so ashamed of who she is that she denies anything remotely transgenic in her," he said angrily.
He looked into her eyes, penetrating her mask. Max stared back, trying to make believe she wasn't intimidated by the passionate look in his eyes.
"Max, we're all happy you're getting married. We want you to be happy - but not if you keep denying your true-self, pretending Manticore never happened. Accept it. Then you can move on. It's a part of who we are. You're making yourself more miserable trying to fit in. Don't do this to yourself, Max." Alec's voice lowered and his eyes softened.
Max didn't want to tear away from this moment because the window to Alec was wide open and she could see herself in it.
Having said his peace, Alec turned and walked away.
Just before closing the door, he spoke over his shoulder, "I won't be around for a while. Got something I need to do. I'll see you then. Good bye, Max."
Did you ever love somebody?
Nothing else your heart could do
Did you ever love somebody?
Who never knew...
Max wanted to cry out to stop him from leaving, but her stubborn pride wouldn't let her. Realizing too late what she had done and couldn't undo it. Max didn't know what she felt for Alec, but right now, she felt like she was losing her best friend. Max knew she couldn't look too much into what she felt for Alec. She and Logan have been through so much and Logan had sacrificed so much for her. Turning away from the door, she smiled for Logan's benefit.
"Oh man! Look at the time. Normal's gonna can my ass for sure this time. I gotta blaze." Max was out the door before Logan could answer.
That night, Alec packed his bags and left Seattle. Before he left, he stopped by TC and told everyone the news. Most of them weren't too surprised over the news; they knew that Logan wasn't really into the transgenic cause, he only pretended, to please Max.
But Joshua was gutted by the news. He had been really looking forward to seeing his Lil' Fella get married.
He quietly slipped out of the meeting room and headed towards the fire escape door that led to the rooftop.
The news really shook him. He had naively assumed that as family they would be together like always, that nothing would change even after Max married Logan. Perhaps even happier with the addition of a new family member. Joshua knew that they were different from the upstairs people but he thought that Logan had accepted them. Didn't Logan show acceptance during the dinner party not so long ago? What changed? Was he wrong about Logan? He sniffled a little; his big brown eyes welled with tears.
Alec followed the big lumbering shadow going up the stairs from a discreet distance.
Alec wondered if he should leave the big guy alone; on the other hand, company might be good for Joshua right now. He didn't want to leave Joshua alone in confusion. Josh was family after all. The bond between them begun the very moment Joshua looked to Alec in mute agony and pleaded with Alec to stand in for Joshua so that Annie could 'remember' Joshua the way Joshua wanted her to.
Pushing the door to the rooftop slowly, Alec watched for a moment, the sight of Joshua staring up at dark, starless sky. Once again, Alec felt the surge of anger with Logan and Max for putting Joshua in this position. For all of Joshua's insights into their psyches, Joshua was still innocent in some ways. Alec didn't want that simple innocence tainted by the grim, dark world beyond TC.
"Hey, Josh," he said, trying to sound a little cheerful. He stuck both his hands in his leather jacket pocket standing beside the big guy looking at everything and anything but Joshua.
"Hey..." Joshua looked away from Alec and wiped his tears away.
"You okay big guy?"
"I will be."
"Good." Nodding his head several times awkwardly. *This male bonding thing looked so easy on TV*
Both of them lapsed into companionable silence just looking at the view of the whole of TC and Seattle. It would've been a breathtaking view if you ignored the smog that continuously blanketed Seattle, day and night.
"Alec?" came the sudden questioning voice, causing Alec to look at Joshua in surprise.
"Yeah?"
"Does Logan hate us?" Joshua turning to look at Alec with the painful vulnerability of a lost child.
Alec gulped and thought of how to explain it to Josh when he spoke up again.
"What does it feel like?"
"What does what feel like?" Alec frowning in puzzlement at Josh's question.
Joshua tilted his head to one side and shrugged one shoulder, "What does is it feel like, being upstairs people? Is it better to be upstairs people? Joshua would like to be like that too so Joshua can hang with family."
Josh's words were like a fist to the gut for Alec. Conflicting emotions warred in Alec's heart. He wanted to cheer Josh up but he didn't want to delude him.
Recovering from the initial shock, Alec bit his lower lip thoughtfully, trying to find the right words to describe how he felt. *What DID it feel like anyways?* He wasn't sure if he had the answer to that.
"I don't...I don't know what it feels like being one of them." Alec tried explaining while gesturing with his hand. "Maybe it's because I've never felt like I was one of them. It's like, I may be a part of them but at the same time I'm set apart from them." Alec shook his head helplessly, trying to make sense his thoughts. "I don't think they'll ever understand what it was like for us. They weren't there. I feel like I have to protect them or something, keep them safe. Even from us. We're a danger to them."
"Manticore." Joshua stated simply knowing that no further explanation was needed.
Alec nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, Manticore."
This time, the silence they lapsed into was a comfortable one, both content with just mulling over their respective thoughts.
"Max, confused." Joshua spoke up again.
"About what?"
"Max confused about Manticore and upstairs people. Max want to be like upstairs people. But she's not one of them. Not really. Like what Alec said. Father made her, Father made us. She hates Father and Manticore."
Alec patted Joshua's back in comfort. "Yeah... I guess so."
Joshua shrugged Alec's hand off and walked to the edge.
"Uh, hey, Josh, you might wanna move away from there."
"Max think she can forget Manticore. Logan and Max together. Normal. That was the plan. Max always hiding in the dark. Afraid for Logan."
Frowning a little, Alec asked "What do you mean, big guy?"
"Alec remember hunting exercise in Manticore?"
An involuntary shiver ran the length of Alec's body at the memories that question evoked. "Yeah," he answered, the gruffness in his voice covering up his emotions. "What about it?"
"Joshua was in Father's room, and Joshua saw X5s come back - blood everywhere. Joshua smell death on X5s. But… can also smell excitement." Joshua nodded several times while pointing to his nose. "More animal than human. Instincts to kill- like predator. Max want to hide instinct from Logan. Protect him from deep dark secret. Must never see the light."
Alec's face cleared in understanding, remembering one of the deep dark secrets Max had revealed to him not so long ago – Ben. It was one of the most defining moments of his life – the beginning of a friendship between him and Max. Giving him hope for something more, before Wonder Boy suddenly announced that he found the cure after sulking for about two weeks thinking that Max and Alec had been together, 'like that'.
Alec clapped Joshua's back several times indicating that he understood exactly what Joshua had been trying to convey.
"Listen, I'm leaving town for a while so you won't be seeing me around...call me on my cell if you need me okay?"
Joshua sniffled a little thinking of another of his family leaving, "Alec need to blaze? Need time to forget Lil' Fella"
It was uncanny how Joshua can sense other people's feeling. Alec wondered if Father added a bit of psychic DNA in Joshua's cocktail.
"Ahh...yeah, whatever you say, big guy...See ya."
End Flashback
Present
Leaving Seattle wasn't easy but it gave Alec space to think about where he was headed and what he was going to do now that he had no reason to remain in Seattle. Oh, he'd thought about leaving many times, but each time he managed to convince himself that he was wanted, needed. But now, his decision was made for him.
Alec would do what he was supposed to do. Wish Max well and then leave because he didn't think he'd be able to stay strong by being around her, knowing that she belonged to someone else.
It's what she thought she always wanted. A new life. With Logan. Without him, Alec, 494. Guess she got her Disney ending after all.
To be continued...
A/N : Does she or does she not..*wiggle eyebrows* mwahahahhahahaha
A review would be much appreciated *hint*hint*