Open Space

Chapter 4

Logan stands transfixed at the entrance of Jam Pony.

Wanting to confront Max further on what he saw outside her apartment. Max and Alec. He came here.

Having not heard a single denial of his accusation...all his dreams faltered in their creation. His Dark angle taking flight.

He spent the entire night thinking he should go to Max and apologize for his accusations, thinking it will make her realize he is the better person, the more compassionate one.

But what he sees make him falter in his quest to gain Max back.

He watched as Max drew closer to Alec, touching his forearm to get his attention and saying something he could not hear due to the noise made by JP messengers coming in and out around him.

And he saw Alec blink and mumbles something back to Max.

He saw Max smile slightly and put her right hand over his heart, endearing.

He watched further as Alec draws her close in his arms, tucking her head under his chin; his left arm encircling her waist while the other holds the back of her head, soothing. Calming.

And they stayed there unmindful of the noise or some of their friends looking at them with shock, or of him with despair.

Looking at both of them now, he knows he had been too late.

The joining is more real this time having to witness it a few feet instead of the safety of his car in a dark street. A peace never felt from both was radiating around them...within them.

They looked real. He gazed at them longer, envy and despair battling to shape his facial features, thinking if he and Max ever looked that real...that connected.

And suddenly Alec turns to look directly at him. Sensing his presence or more likely smelled his scent; his despair. And he sees the possessiveness. The anger. The need. And the promise to hurt him if he so as much walks closer.

With a rueful smile, hoping Alec understands his action as conceding to him; he turns his back.

She was never mine anyway. I was an old fool thinking I can clip her wings and keep her. Her kind had more hold on her than I did. Even when she came to save my life more often than I could count. Her siblings were her life. She bled for them because of me.

Although she never blamed me, for which I am thankful or I'd have been pulp by now, I knew deep down, she could have if she wanted to. But in everything she blamed herself. Her strength was no match for me. Ever. And her compassion, complete. My normality or being human fades into nothing compared to her soul. I guess that's what drew me to her. I wanted her life, her strength and her soul.

And in my ineptness I put them all in a jar to keep, until she was hardly the dark angel who stormed into his life and stolen his breath away.

And looking at them now...Alec can match her strength anytime. And they are sharing that strength now.

I guess I have to let go, even if I want to or not, I have to.

I know Alec won't have any mercy in him for me. He sees more than Max ever did. And he won't hesitate this time, knowing Max would let her guards down for him.

The perfect soldier. The perfect mate. Self preservation, I will not come between them anymore.

I will not come between her and her happiness ever again. It is enough.

And so in a busy JP, two cats are in the middle of the platform, holding each other. OC and Stretchy watch with amusement at the two but never making a move to disturb them.

Not even Normal was loath to disturb the peace they seem to be sharing.

Owari

Seerborn

October 3, 2004

1:34 pm