Seattle Ain't What it Used to Be
Disclaimer-Nothing that has to do with Dark Angel or Dark Angel books belongs to me. Only the parts of the story that I make up are mine.
Summary-Sequel to Reliving Manticore. After escaping, Max and the other transgenics find refuge in Seattle. More people from Max's past start showing up, the humans start finding out about transgenics, a heat experience changes Max and Alec's life, and it doesn't help that White is back in the picture.
Pairings-Max/Alec and Syl/Krit. More people will be paired off as the story goes on.
Chapter Three-This Isn't Happening...
Joshua's House...
Max walked over to the sleeping form of Blake and covered him with a blanket. She smiled slightly at the mirage of dancing flames from the fireplace that were framing his face. She turned back to Joshua.
"Thanks for letting him stay here," she said, giving him a grateful look. "He's had a rough week. I don't know where he's gonna live...maybe Zack can spare a room...or at least a bed." Alec gave her comforting kiss on top of her head.
"I'm sure he will, Maxie. He wasn't commanding officer for nothing," he assured. Max wrapped her arm around his waist and inhaled his scent, smiling.
"Thanks," she said simply. Joshua was sitting in an arm chair across the room, staring at the ground.
"Killing us all..." he muttered. Alec and Max gave him a questioning look. He raised his eyes to meet theirs. "White. Wanted to kill us all. That was the plan." A small growl played in his throat. Max nodded and sighed.
"Still is. We just got lucky this time," she replied softly.
"Don't worry Max. Lady Luck is a well-known friend of mine," Alec commented. Max rolled her eyes but didn't respond. Alec walked over to Joshua and gave him a clap on the back. "Well, we better get going buddy. Let us know when ol' Blakey here wakes up." Joshua nodded.
"Take care big fella," Max added, giving him a hug.
"You too, little fella. Lay low," he used her familiar phrase. She smiled slightly before stepping back.
"Lay low," she repeated before leaving with Alec.
Max walked into the living room of their apartment. She dropped her keys on the counter and took off her jacket. She grasped the front of her shirt and moved it back and forth in a fanning motion.
"Is it just me or is it hot in here?" she asked. Alec just shrugged and headed for the refrigerator. She let go of her shirt and took off her shoes.
"Want a beer?" Alec asked, holding one up. Max shook her head.
"I kind of feel dehydrated already..." she grumbled. Alec gave her a concerned look.
"You alright?" Max took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," she replied before yawning. Alec gave her another look.
"Since when are you that tired?" he asked. Max just shrugged and got up from her seat on the couch.
"Dunno. But I think I'm just gonna head to bed...'Night," she walked towards the bedroom, taking her shirt off as she went, leaving her in a flimsy red tanktop. Alec took a sip of his beer and watched her before she closed the door. He felt an oddly familiar feeling go through his body, but he couldn't define it.
Max exchanged her pants for a pair of shorts that reached mid-thigh and crawled under the covers of the bed. About a minute later she threw the covers off her, grunting in annoyance.
"Why the hell can't I get comfortable?" she muttered aloud before turning on her side.
And is it just me or did Alec look more hot than usual on the way home? She thought as she closed her eyes. Well, it's not like it'd make a big difference...it's Alec after all...She felt herself drift off to sleep.
A knock on the door woke her up.
"What?" she called, voice muffled by her pillow.
"It's me," Alec called back. Max raised her head and gave the door a questioning look.
"Then why aren't you coming in? This is your room too, ya know. You don't have to knock," she said.
"Yeah I know. I just wanted to make sure you were decent." Max smiled coyly as Alec opened the door and walked in.
"Who said I am?" she countered as she crawled to the end of the bed, sitting on her knees. Alec walked closer to her and she wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled his neck, inhaling his scent.
"You feeling okay Maxie?" he questioned. Max responded by flipping him onto the bed. He bounced slightly and just watched her as she straddled his waist. "I'll take that as a 'yes'." Max smiled and leaned over him, trailing kisses up his neck until she reached his lips, kissing him deeply. He moaned softly before pulling away and staring into Max's eyes. "Manticore makes you go 'meow' three times a year." Max gave him a confused look.
"What?" she asked. Alec just extended his fingers in a claw-like way and grinned.
"Three times a year. Females go meow."
"How much drinks did you have?" Max questioned, slowly climbing off him. He gave her a serious look.
"You do know what's going on right? Max, you're in..."
Max snapped up in bed, sweat beginning to glisten on her skin. "Heat," she finished, gasping. "Oh my god...this isn't happening...I'm in heat..."
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She stared at it, afraid to answer.
"Max?" OC's voice rang out. Max sighed in relief and went to open the door. OC, Alec, Krit, and Syl stood on the other side. Max's eyes widened but she stood frozen to the spot. She felt her body relax as she looked Alec up and down, grinning seductively. She moved to go past OC to him but Syl immediately reached out and shoved her back into the room. Max flew backwards and Syl felt herself pushed off balance as Alec moved to go in after her. Krit grabbed him around the waist and flung him the other way.
"Uh...what's going on?" OC asked.
"Heat," Syl said. Krit nodded. "No way would Max look at Alec in that way unless she was in heat. She loves him yeah, but that was more animal-like than usual." OC nodded in understanding.
"So she's still got that whole cat thing going?" she asked. The others nodded. Alec rubbed his head as he stood up and Syl quickly shut the door to where Max was.
"It's alright Syl. I'm fine," Alec said. Syl and Krit exchanged looks.
"Um, OC, why don't you go with Alec to work now. Tell Normal Max won't be coming in today...or tomorrow probably. And she'll have a note from her doctor, just to prove it," Syl replied. OC gave them a questioning look.
"Why does just Alec have to go?" she asked. There was suddenly a loud bang and Syl gripped the doorknob tighter. "Krit is a guy too, Max could jump his bones too couldn't she?" Krit winced.
"Uh...not exactly," he said. "I mean...yeah, Max could jump my bones, but the fact that we're brother and sister really kills that idea, thankfully." He shuddered.
"And Alec's the only other guy in the room...and Max's pheromones are affecting him. So he's gotta go. It's worse for transgenics than regular guys...heightened senses and all," Syl explained. OC finally nodded after another loud bang shook the door. Syl's grip tightened even more. "Get Alec out, now." OC and Krit took Alec by the arm and dragged him out of the room, ignoring his whimpering.
"It's not like she's not my girlfriend," he was complaining. Krit dropped him once they were outside the apartment.
"Are you ready to have a kid?" he asked suddenly. OC gave him a look. Alec glanced up at him before he stood.
"I don't know..." he said softly, turning to look back at the building. "I'd have to talk to Max..." Krit's eyes widened in surprise. He cleared his throat.
"Well...Max isn't exactly in a right state of mind...so it'll have to wait," he replied. OC held up her hand and waved it slightly.
"Uh...what was that about possibly impregnating my boo?" she asked.
"Females are more fertile when they're in heat," Krit explained. OC nodded in understanding but had a weird look on her face.
"Man...what they did to you in Manticore...I can barely even begin to make sense of it all..." she said softly. Krit and Alec didn't respond. "Guess I better be taking Mr. Hot-For-My-Boo boy to work...I take I'll have to make up excuses for you and Syl, too?" Krit nodded and walked back into the apartment building while OC and Alec headed off to Jam Pony.
Syl had let Max out of her bedroom and Max was sitting on the couch, hugging her knees and rocking back and forth.
"This isn't happening...this isn't happening...this isn't happening..." she continued to mumble. Syl sympathetically rubbed her shoulder.
"It'll be okay, Maxie," she assured. Max gave her a look.
"How is this gonna be okay? How? How is just being another little Manticore experiment for three days...how is that okay?" she asked angrily.
"Because after the three days, you'll be fine," Syl replied. Max shook her head.
"But what if I do something? What if..." she trailed off in horror.
"What if you go bone someone who isn't Alec?" Syl finished. Max buried her face in her hands.
"God...the last time this happened...it was almost two years ago...when I thought I loved Logan, and I went and slept with that guy Rafer...I hate this..." Max gripped a pillow and threw it across the room. Krit caught it as he walked in. Max's eyes widened and she scooted to the back of the couch so she was leaning against the window. Krit just looked at her and Max's expression changed to one of confusion. "Wait...I'm not..." Realization dawned on her. "Oh thank god...at least Manticore didn't make it so I was attracted to my own brother..." Krit smiled and nodded.
"They did something right, huh?" he joked. Max shook her head slowly.
"Why did they make us have to be in heat?" she asked Syl. "And why is it happening now? I thought I was cured..." Krit and Syl gave her questioning looks.
"What do you mean?" Syl asked.
"I already said it...my last heat experience was a little less than two years ago. And then I was captured by Manticore. And this is the first since then...Is something wrong with me?" Max asked in a timid voice, not at all like her usual tone. Syl sighed and gave her a hug.
"Nothing's wrong with you..." she assured. Max turned her head to the side and looked down through the window to the street. A man with tan skin and dark brown hair was approaching the building. Max moaned softly and then hastily turned away.
"Then why do I really wanna go jump that guy," she replied. Syl turned to the window and squinted. Her eyes widened and she turned to Krit.
"Uh...maybe you should go make sure Bl...that guy down there doesn't come up here," she gave Krit a pointed look. He walked slowly backward to the door. Max narrowed her eyes and then turned back to the window. The man looked up at the same time she looked down. He waved and Max immediately recognized him. She moaned again as she placed her hand on the glass, smiling seductively.
"It's Blake..." she said softly. Syl turned back to tell Krit to hurry but he was already gone. "I'll have to give him a nice, welcoming greeting." Max got up and headed to the door. Syl grabbed her arm and pushed her back onto the couch. She grabbed her shoulders and looked straight into her eyes.
"Max, listen to me. You love Alec. And you are not going to go jump on the first guy you see," she said firmly. Max gave her body a shake and nodded.
"Okay," she agreed. Syl glanced back to the street and was thankful that Krit was talking to Blake, stopping him from going in.
"Come on. We need to keep you busy," Syl said. Max nodded. "Got any games here or something?" Max went to a cupboard and pulled a few out.
"We can play anything but Scrabble," she explained. Then she frowned. "Or Pictionary." Syl just raised her eyebrows.
"Fair enough..."
Few Hours Later...
Max slumped back in her chair, her foot bouncing up and down on the floor. Krit and Syl gave her sympathetic looks.
"This isn't working..." Max complained. "All I can think about is Alec. And his hot, muscular body...piercing green eyes...deep, sexy voice...and his..." She growled in frustration. "In about an hour or so he'll be home...can't I just..."
"No," Syl and Krit interrupted. Max made a pitiful whining noise and pouted.
"Why not?" she asked.
"You know why," Syl answered. Max growled. "Don't be growling at me. Unless you think you can handle the consequences...I don't think you should be considering having sex with your boyfriend right now."
"My god...I'm 21 years old, not some 16 year old girly girl. I should be able to sleep with my boyfriend if I want..." Max complained.
"I already asked Alec this but...are you ready to have a kid?" Krit asked. Max opened her mouth to argue, but then paused. "You're more fertile in this state. Do you really think..."
"I don't know," Max interrupted, fiddling with one of the Sorry game pieces. "I just...my heat goes away after I..." She sighed. "I just want it to be over."
"Don't think that's the best solution," Syl said. Max whimpered. "I know you're uncomfortable, but this isn't..." Max suddenly looked up at Krit.
"What did Alec say?" she asked. Krit looked caught off guard for a second.
"What did he say about what?" he countered. Max just gave him a look. "Oh...that...he said he'd want to talk to you about it." Max's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?" a grin began to form on her face. "He was considering having a baby?" Syl and Krit exchanged looks.
"Um...I think you guys should wait until your heat cycle is over. Just so you know if you really want a kid or not. And it won't be the pheromones doing the talking," Syl replied.
"It won't be," Max said firmly, her expression now one of determination. "Call him."
"Max..." Krit began.
"I know what I'm doing..." Max interrupted. "Call him." Syl got up and walked over to the phone.
"He's got his cell phone, right?" she asked, her voice in complete monotone. Max just nodded.
"Hello?" Max could hear Alec's voice through the receiver and she moaned again. Krit gave her an uncomfortable look, which she ignored.
"Alec? It's Syl."
"Hey. Is Max alright?"
"Yeah, she's fine...um...she..."
"She what?"
"She wants you here."
"Well...that's not really a surprise. She's in heat, remember?"
"I know all too well. But...she's..."
"Syl, spit it out."
"She says she's ready." There was complete silence on the other end. "Alec?" Max's breath caught in her throat as she waited for his response.
"But...Krit said it wouldn't matter. She's not in her right state of mind..." his voice was soft, obviously not believing what he was saying.
"It's not like my brain went dead. I know what I'm doing and I know what I want," Max growled.
"Was that her?" Alec asked.
"Yeah..." Syl answered. "She says she knows what she wants. She just needs to know if you're ready to..."
"I'll be there in about 15 minutes," Alec said quickly before hanging up. Syl sighed and hung up as well.
"You heard that right?" she asked Max. Max nodded happily. "Krit, we better clear out. We'll make sure OC knows not to barge in..."
"I have to go take a quick shower..." Max interrupted before hurrying into the bathroom.
"I think she's more like 16 year old girly girl than she thinks..." Krit muttered as he and Syl left.
15 minutes later...
Max was sitting on the couch, biting her nails as her feet bounced up and down on the floor. She had changed out of her pajamas and into another pair of shorts and a blue t-shirt. She glanced nervously at the clock just as the door opened. She turned her head to look at him. His green eyes were clouded with desire. Max slowly stood up.
"Shut the door," she said softly. Alec complied and took a few steps toward her. "Scared?" She grinned seductively as she, too, walked closer.
"Petrified," Alec answered, his voice slightly husky. They finally reached each other but neither made a move of touching the other, even though they were both fidgeting to do so.
"Don't be," Max replied before flinging her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. Alec quickly wrapped his arms around her and began to walk her to the bedroom, not breaking contact with her lips. Max moved her hands as they reached the doorway and took off his jacket. He crossed his arms and pulled his shirt off his head, having to part from her lips. She made a little whimpering noise at the disconnection and he smirked before kissing her again. He got rid of his other clothes while she did the same. When their lips fused again, together they fell to the bed.
A/N-I can't be any more descriptive than that as I am only 14 and this is a PG-13 story...I hope it was still good enough. Review please!
angelofdarkness78-Thanks again ;o)
hphotshot-I'm not exactly sure when...Probably not for several chapters, but we'll just have to wait and see ;o)
willow98002-Glad you liked it ;o)
Lozz422-I hope you're all up to date now ;o)
Angel Of Darkness231- Thanks a lot. I'll do my best ;o)
XxInsanityxX-Lol. I'd never kill off main characters in only the second chapter. I'm glad you're enjoying the story ;o)
