Title: Everyone's Got Secrets
Author: Izabelevans
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Show: Dark Angel
Genre: Romance/Angst
Type: WiP
Summary: A/U—Okay, We're going to pretend that certain things didn't happen. First of all, Max has not yet told Alec that she told Logan she and Alec were together. Second, Biggs did NOT die. And Third, like the majority of stories I've read like to point out, that latex-glove-handholding-thing at the end of FN did NOT happen.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything involved with Dark Angel, I just wish that I did.
A/N—This is the first fic I am posting. I've read a million D/A stories and thought it was about time I contributed. Feedback Appreciated.
Chapter One
"Perfect. Rainy and windy. It's gonna be a great day." Max said aloud even though she thought she was alone.
"Don't worry, Maxie. It won't be all bad. You have me to keep you company." A familiar voice greeted her from behind.
"Huh?"
"Normal paired us up today, so even though the weather sucks, you'll be entertained."
"Oh lucky me. Cold, wet rainy, and I'm being punished. Come on, Alec let's get this over with." She gave him a half smile and tugged on his jacket as she tore herself from the back window of JamPony. She took a deep breath and resigned herself to the fact that as nuch as she wanted to go home and soak in a hot bath, her workday was NOT going to just go away. And although she wouldn't want to admit it, having Alec with her would make the day go faster. Not only would they be able get the runs done fast thanks to their scientist-given genetic abilities, they would have the entire day to work out the details of getting things set up in Terminal City. Now that Joshua was there full-time and more and more Manticore Alumni were arriving daily, they were really starting to feel like a community. It was starting to feel like something that they could be proud of. A place where they could be accepted and be around their own kind.
The morning was relatively uneventful. They pedaled their bikes, they got rained on, they stopped for hot coffee and they actually got along. It wasn't until the afternoon that Alec fucked it all up.
"Hey Max, we're near Joshua's old place, do you wanna stop in and see Logan?"
Her easy posture tightened and through gritted teeth she ground out, "No Alec I don't. Back off!!"
"Hey, easy tiger," he held his hands up in a gesture of surrender, "I was just pointing out that we were close, and maybe we should stop by and see if the guy needs anything."
"Yeah, well don't 'help'!! Logan is my business. Er-- was my business. We're not like that anymore. I mean, not that we ever were, but we're definitely not now…"
"Max! Chill out. I understand if you don't want to go. I can go by myself later."
"No! You can't!!! I mean, I will see that someone handles it."
"What is your deal? Just because you and Logan are "on a break" doesn't mean I can't stop by and talk to the guy. He's helped me out a few times too. If I can help the guy out with some computer equipment I won't feel so bad about calling in more favors later. Think about it Max. The guy is seriously connected. Anything we need for terminal City, Logan can either get it directly or point us in the right direction. It's bad business to cut off your best contact. And Logan is our best contact."
"You're right Alec. You're absolutely right. But it doesn't have to be you. Anyone could do it."
"Max, you're being ridiculous. Wait, did you just agree with me?"
"No. I mean, yes."
"Whatever. I'm gonna go see Logan. If you don't want to go, don't go. I'll catch up with you later." Alec turned and started heading toward Logan's new place. He was mentally counting down to when Max would begin to chase him. Three. Two. One…
"Alec!! Wait!!" Max yelled as she tried to catch him.
Alec had a good thirty foot lead on her, but he knew the second she was following him. He also knew why she didn't want him to go see Logan.
Did she really think he wouldn't find out that she had used Alec as an excuse to push him away? It's not even that he minded. Pretending to be Max's boyfriend definitely had some potential for some serious fun, but she could've asked. Or at least clued him in. How believable would it be if Logan saw Alec out with another girl? Max was trained better than that. "Rookie mistake," he muttered as he heard Max on her bike behind him, closing the gap between them.
"Alec! Stop!"
Trying his best to look casual about it, he came to a stop and allowed her to catch him. "Yes? Is there some reason you don't want me and Logan to be alone together? Is there some reason you don't want me talking to Logan?" He gave her his trademark smirk as the realization started to dawn on her.
"You know!!??" She asked him, completely shocked.
"Know what?" He wasn't going to make this easy.
Max took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself for what was to come. She didn't like having to ask for help, and she really didn't like taking help, and when you put those two unpleasant things together and tag them with Alec's name, Max really didn't like it.
"Alec," she began calmly, "I may have let Logan believe that you and I were sort of a couple…" She whispered that part and was looking intently at the bottom of her bike tire.
"Max?" He tilted her chin up with his index finger. "I already knew. I overheard you telling O.C. Transgenically enhanced hearing, remember? But I didn't say anything because it's not a bad plan. It might just be enough to get him to stop pining for you for about, oh, thirty seconds." He gave her a sarcastic look to make his point. "He's never going to believe it just because you told him."
"I didn't tell him. He asked me. He saw you leaving my place the morning after that whole Ben thing and he assumed."
"Wow."
"I know"
"No, I mean I'm amazed that I didn't even notice him as I left. I must be going soft." He smirked, she hit him in the shoulder. It was their system and it worked. It was their way to communicate when things got weird and they didn't know how to handle it. "Come on, Maxie. Let's pay a friendly visit to the guy now that there's nothing to hide."
"Fine. Ladies first." She gestured for him to go ahead of her.
"Hey!! I said I might be going soft!! Not turning into a chick." But he laughed and then the two X-5's picked up their bikes and walked the remaining half a block to Logan's new place (Joshua's old place).
Logan was sitting at a checkpoint across town. He had a meeting with an informant about a potential cure for the virus. He had spent half of the morning trying to convince himself to give up hope and not go, but even if they weren't going to be together, they still had to be around each other, and eliminating the potential threat of death was a nice idea. But it hurt.
He had seen how happy and comfortable Alec and Max had been that morning in front of her apartment. Max looked actually happy. He hadn't seen her face light up like that in a long time. In fact, most of his memories of Max since her escape involved watching her fighting back tears and dealing with pain. He truly loved her with all of his heart, and he would do anything to see her happy. Even if it meant letting her go completely. Even if it meant supporting her decision to be with Alec.
He sighed loudly. "I need a drink," he muttered as he was waived thru the checkpoint.
Alec finished writing the note to Logan (can't let the guy think Max came around looking for him on her own-don't want to get the guy's hopes up) and stuck it to the monitor of his computer. "No chance he'll miss that huh Maxie? I mean the guy is practically married to that thi.." Alec was cut off by a quick slap to the back of his head. "Fine, Fine. Let's go." And they headed out.
A normal visitor would've left the note on the front door, but for two people who have never once knocked before entering any of Logan's doors, it was pointless to pretend that they had not barged in like they owned the place. Which, if you think about it they kind of actually own the place. Well, technically, it's Joshua's, but they we're family right?
The two transgenics headed away from Logan's and towards Terminal City.
"Come on Alec. Let's get Biggs and the boys and then you can do the boyfriend thing and buy me some drinks." She kidded, relieved that her secret was out.
"Not a bad idea." He said sincerely and they headed off.