- That Cale, an Odd Flavor -
Alec had just finished the world's shortest, and most humiliating - primarily for his opponent, and secondarily for himself, as he witnessed the desecration of the sport at his partner's hands - game of pool, handing Sketchy his ass on the proverbial platter yet again. It was at that point that a strange tingling at the back of his neck alerted him to the fact that something was amiss. Regretfully, it wasn't a newly acquired spidey-sense, or anything so glamorous that was responsible for the feeling. It was merely the sensation of someone standing so close behind him that their warm, stale breath was bringing the miniscule hairs located there to an erect state. He briefly indulged in the thought that it had better be a really tall - and hot, that part being a given and not necessarily requiring restatement - chick, before he turned to face this invader of personal space.
For a brief moment, he was staring point blank into two iridescent blue eyes, gleaming with a maniacal and entirely unholy light.
Alec screamed and jumped back a foot, until his ass collided with the pool table behind him, shaking its sturdy frame and disrupting the new game that was now underway.
"Woah, man," Sketchy commented adeptly, turning just in time to see the look of sheer terror on his friend's face fade away into surprised discomfort. Deciding the other man needed a moment to collect himself, he turned toward the game's participants and apologized for his buddy's momentary lapse in manliness. All were understanding and quite forgiving. After all, it wasn't every day that the great playa himself squealed like a little school girl in the midst of a crowded bar full of most eligible, and quite accommodating, females.
Alec, on the other hand, paid no mind to the attention he'd garnered through his uncharacteristic behavior. He was too busy staring in relief at Logan's now very normal eyes, as he attempted to return his thundering heart rate to its usual pace.
No maniacal gleam… not even a hint of anything amiss. It must have been the glare from the Crash's lighting playing off the lens of Logan's glasses. Just some trick of the eye.
Nothing to worry about.
Nothing at all.
"Hello Alec," Logan said, flashing him a large smile.
"Uh… hey Logan," Alec managed, easing away from the pool table - sideways, of course, having no desire to close those precious few inches between him and other man - and sought out a refuge in the packed room.
"I'll go get us some beers," Sketchy offered, eyeing the bar. He was gone before Alec could protest, leaving the transgenic to find an unoccupied table on his own. Well, except for Logan, who trailed behind him without invitation.
Unfortunately, it was a busy night at the Crash, and most of the tables were already taken. Alec finally settled for one secluded table situated in a particularly poorly lit area of the establishment. Usually, it wouldn't have bothered him where he sat, but tonight… tonight, for some reason, he wished he could have snagged a seat somewhere more out in the open, closer to the crowd. Strange, since he usually tried to avoid exactly that sort of thing, being a hunted man and all.
"I don't think Max is coming by tonight," he said after an awkward silence, realizing that Logan would probably only come to a place like this if he planned to meet up - or run into - someone.
Logan blinked at him, owl-like, his gaze vaguely distracted. "Hmm…? Oh, I'm not here to see Max."
Alec didn't bother to hide his surprise. "You're not?"
Almost immediately, something clicked in his head, and he bit back the comical 'O' his lips twitched to form.
Right. Max and Logan were no longer "like that". Wait… they were "not like that" to begin with; so that meant now they were "like that". Or was that not "not like that"? No, hold on… double negatives cancel each other out, so that would actually mean that they were "like that". Which they weren't. So they were not "not like that", and definitely not "like that", which left only "that".
What?! That didn't even make any sense!
Goddamnit, why the hell did Max always have to make things so confusing?
"Alec?"
He was brought out of his thoughts quite suddenly as he looked up to meet Logan's concerned gaze.
"What?"
Logan frowned. "You've been zoned out for like the last five minutes. I would've left you to your thoughts, but you looked like you were going to start cryin' or something." He shrugged.
Alec stared back at him incredulously, replying quite indignantly, "I am a highly disciplined soldier and a trained assassin. I do not cry."
"What about that time at Josh's, when we watched 'Titanic'?"
Alec slumped down in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared at the tabletop. "Well, I'm not made of stone, man," he shot back, unhappy at the reminder. Then he muttered under his breath, "I can't believe she threw the necklace away…."
A moment later, he suddenly shot upright and ran a hand through his messy hair, not taking notice of the way Logan's eyes fluttered halfway shut as he followed the movement closely. "Anyway, about Max…" he began.
He knew he'd told Max he'd go along with this little charade of hers, and he'd already had his talk with Logan… but with every day that passed, he couldn't help but feel that he was being pulled further and further apart by this little tug-o-war of theirs. It'd be so much easier if everyone would just be honest and upfront, and say what was on their minds!
"Look, Alec," Logan interrupted, his voice calm and soothing, in harsh contrast to Alec's current state. "You don't need to talk about this. I told you already, I've come to terms with it. You and Max are together now, and I just want you both to be" - a muscle twitched in his cheek - "happy."
Alec suppressed a sigh. Despite the generous words, it was painfully obvious that the other man was anything but happy about the idea of Alec becoming involved with his ex- … whatever the hell she was to him.
"Logan, there's something I really think you should know about me and Max - " he forged on, preparing himself for the unpleasant task of divulging the truth.
"Alec," Logan's hands shot out across the table, grasping one of Alec's in his own. The action was enough to startle the younger man into silence. "Please," he said quietly, "you don't have to explain to me; I understand."
When Logan's thumb began to gently stroke his palm, Alec used all the strength his enhanced genetics allowed him to snatch the appendage away. He stared at the older man, who watched him intently, seeming not at all bothered by the brusqueness of his withdrawal.
"You know what man," Alec said, suddenly standing. "I'm goin' to the bar to check out what's takin' Sketch so long with the beer. You," he glanced over his shoulder to watch his step as he backed away, "stay here and, um… save the table."
"Whatever makes you happy," Logan smiled.
"Yeaah…"
It took all of Alec's self-restraint not to run as he bee-lined toward the bar, missing many flirtatious smiles and "come-hither" looks of all the available - and some not so available, but readily willing to remedy the fact if given reason to do so - female patrons in the meantime.
Finally, he reached his oasis, all but slamming into the bar as he came to an abrupt halt. "Scotch, straight up," he croaked out to the bartender.
"Oh, hey Alec," a familiar voice greeted shyly from his left.
He glanced to the side. "Hey Asha," he returned, his drink arriving just in time for him to punctuate the salutation by slamming back the amber liquid.
"Hard day?" Asha inquired, watching curiously as he signaled for a refill.
He shook his head. "Strange, just… strange." Asha nodded sympathetically… though he doubted she had any clue what he was talking about. "Hey," he said grinning with relief as an idea struck him. "Logan's over there; why don't you drop by and say hi?"
She smiled brightly, but shook her head. "I already ran into him."
"You did?" he muttered disappointedly, shoulder sagging minutely.
"Mmm-hmm. He asked me out."
"He did?"
Alec pondered this revelation with a slight frown. He looked back at Asha and leaned forward conspiratorially. "You didn't notice anything… odd, about the way he was acting, did you?"
The blonde's nose wrinkled up in brief consideration. "No… he seemed perfectly normal to me."
Alec nodded, his lush lips still bowed downward, eyes darkened to a shade of forest green, and the cute little puckering between his eyebrows indicating that he was deep in thought.
A little further down the bar, a loud thud was heard - the sound of flesh meeting wood. "Oh my god! Lady, are you alright?"
The pair glanced over briefly to see the source of the commotion. A woman had apparently fainted in her seat. Strange.
I think I weirded myself out with that one.
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