Ripples:Splinters
Disclaimer: Anything you could sue me for isn't mine
This is an AU story
Looking back it had been a shock to the system, a big one. Max was usually the last to get into a fight and the first one to finish it, effortlessly, but that had ended a week ago. They had gone to see Lydecker, Max's chief demon, But upon their arrival it appeared a coup for that position had taken place, and Max got her ass handed to her by a short guy with an old before schools existed version of spoken English.
Not the best way to start the day.
Max had just been man handled by this mystery opponent, whom was still wet with the blood of her maker, and Logan had only just managed to get her out safely, at the lose of his own shinbone's structural integrity. Good Job he couldn't feel it, and the exo kept most of the pressure off as he carried her to his car and burned off to Sam, the only shot he had at keeping her safe and keeping her alive. It wasn't something that was usually done, running away from a hospital needing urgent medical attention.
He managed to get Sam on his phone, who made his way to Logan's penthouse as fast as he could, he had been out and it would have been quicker than to get back to his surgery. All in all Max had valiantly struggled through, Logan's leg was plastered up and set, and Logan remembered how sick he felt until she woke up about 3 hours after escaping the hospital.
Neither of them had left his penthouse for days, knowing that he was out there looking for them, but after that time Logan had sent Bling out for food and medical supplies whilst the two tried to decide what to do about this big new in both their lives, and also the Rumandello situation.
"Hey" Logan almost whispered as he entered the spare room, seeing that Max was sat on the side of the bed she had made her own as of late. She looked a bit absent minded, like she was in deep thought. He bet he knew what about, but he had no idea how she was processing it all. Her creator/ own personal Satan had been dismembered and she had to see the remains, but not only that she had been ground into the floor by a short man with a creepy voice, the kind of guy she used to beat on hen they touched her. Logan would be glad for her that Lydecker was out of the picture, but he wasn't sure which if she was thinking what he was beginning too, better the devil you know.
"Hey" she said softly turning to see him take a seat next to her, "What's up?"
He smiled; she looked at him like consideration was unusual. "Nothing, I just wanted to see how you are, being stuck up in here with me for a long period I would imagine not to be thrilling you." His self deprecating humour seemed lost on her in this mood, it was like a numb honesty, she felt open, like her tough girl image had been crushed when she lost a fight.
"I couldn't ask for anybody better to be hiding with" She smirked at the idea of hiding, it was so un-manticore like it was sickening, the solider breeding she guessed.
"What are you thinking?" she heard him ask, and she wasn't sure how to answer, her mind was foggy with fears and hopes, memories swirled, blurred together. "I, I don't want to seem ungrateful Logan, but I'm not used to this, being trapped that is. I mean don't get me wrong, I… you're the one guy I would want to spend time with, but I hate being here." She turned her head to Logan, and he could see the faint traits of healed bruising around her face, she healed fast, and this view of a sullen Max he wasn't experienced with almost scared him. She looked fragile, he didn't want to break her, not like the robust girl he was crazy about, the one who had so much fire.
"Your frustrated. I know the feeling" He said looking at her in a way she knew indicated his disability, the lack of control, when something you have taken fore granted is suddenly taken from you, anger, tension, its infuriatingly constricting.
"I just, I know you must think I'm ungrateful, I mean you must think I'm a selfish bitch" She wasn't sure why she felt she had to ask him this, but if she didn't it would prey upon her fragile mind until she did.
"Max, I know your used to doing things your own way, your used to the move, your trained for it. I don't think your selfish for wanting to go, I respect you for being like you are, calm and considerate. I am just scared that guy is still out there looking for you, after a few days he dropped from the radar, none of my contacts seem to be able to find him. I just couldn't handle you going and not coming back." He had said it, and he felt his mind clear of the anxiety he had been feeling having that fear caged in. He couldn't lose her now, it had almost happened the first time she met that freak at the hospital, and Logan had promised never to let her face him alone again.
"I'm not used to being caged up" She said simply, as if processing what he had just said as she talked. "But since I am, I'm glad it's with you." These simple confessions, the admittance of finding each other's company pleasurable was a huge step, and they could both feel the air change in the room.
"Hungry?" Max asked him, playing with the question he often asked her to break the silence.
"Is that a hint?" he laughed, that chuckle she loved, the one that warmed her when she felt cold. She smiled genuinely at him, and suddenly her hand on her leg felt foreign to her, especially when it seemingly belonged on Logan. Before she could experiment with its position Bling opened the door carrying a large brown paper bag.
"Grubs up troops!" He laughed, looking quizzically at Logan and his proximity to Max, especially on her bed.
"At least this cage has five stars" He laughed, Max punched him lightly in the arm and they advanced on the kitchen, the gloom of the penthouse lifted for the first time in days, and both Max and Logan recognised that their friendship was fast becoming something more, but neither was happy knowing that there was something out there, something which was eager to kill the only person left they loved.
