First of, and this is directed to A L L that read this story, I want to say that I'm glad that there's so much people out there that care so much about Dark Angel, and are willing to protect Max to that extent, it's really great to see. Loyal and such passionate fans are always a pleasure to see!
This fic seems to have created different effects from different readers- some were irritated, frustrated, and some loved what I wrote. I'm actually extremely happy to see that I've raised so many opinions, and you should all know that no matter what they are, they're all valid to me, so thanks for reviewing!
One reason why I wrote this fic, what probably ticked me off enough to begin to write something I'd planned for a time, was the Crossover fics with Wolverine in them that I found here on ff.net. In them all, in which Max occurred, she always seemed to have the upper hand in everything when it came down to comparing the characters- and knowing them both as well as I do I couldn't keep away from the keyboard for much longer...
So I sat down, wrote From the Inside (am still doing actually) in a way, just not for this reason, to show people that when it comes down to the fighting, Wolverine's the better one. I'm not to defend him in thousands of responds anymore. I know it, and if you would've put those characters in a fight together, as Wolverine is in his comic book world and Max in her own usual ass kicking self, then he would win.
Hate me. Agree with me. Just know that my opinion stays valid, and stays true to my cause. If you don't like it, don't read- it's as simple as that!
BUT, for all of you who loves Max- as do I- her good qualities will be lifted out as well. Like I've said before, Max is one of my 3 favorite femme fatales in my whole character world, and that'll never change. I just want to put things to an order, here... Wolverine isn't the center of the story, but neither is Max.
A note on the PAIRING: This chapter may seem a bit M/L, but I want you all to know what I'm just trying to portray every character and their feelings. There's no certain pairing yet, that's still to decide... Please, tell me if you prefer M/A or M/L!
Now, I'll stop the rambling and let those of you who still want to, read... :)
Williow98002- Thanks for the kind things you said, I just wish that more people could relate the way you do!
Chapter 2
There was only one place she could go.
This late, this beaten up, there was only one person who she knew could help her, without asking the wrong questions.
She just hoped she wasn't bloodying down his elevator.
She looked at her watch as she entered the apartment, having picked the lock to get in. It was past twelve a.m, which meant Logan was most definitely still up, fighting his crusade. She wanted to find him without having to shout out his name, so she searched his computer room, kitchen, living room- but found nothing.
She staggered on to his bedroom, thinking that there actually was a small chance he actually was sleeping, he'd confessed to her about being tired the day before and perhaps he was catching up. And for one of her guesses that night, she was right.
As she peeked into his bedroom she saw him lying there on his bed, sprawled out between all those blankets. The dim moonlight illuminated his face, and she couldn't help but smile at seeing him so peaceful. They had been through a lot together, and the time's she had seen him this relaxed were few, too few for his own sake.
She decided she would have to take care of herself alone, so she went into his bathroom, rummaging through his closet there to find some first aid, or something to clean her wounds with. She didn't find much, but it would have to be enough.
She stood up before the mirror, to check herself.
She looked like a mess.
Her whole left cheek was scraped, and bruised just at the side of the eye. She didn't worry much about that, it would most likely be gone in a day, perhaps two at most.
Her hair was all grey and dirty, and looked like a birds nest. Her jacket was more or less also scraped to in-recognition, her jeans as well and her goddamn hand just wouldn't stop hurting! As she looked at it, and felt about it with the other hand she could decide it to be a broken index and middle finger, and probably a crushed knuckle as well.
As she started to clean her scraped knee, removing small parts of bricks from it, she thought about the man who had just given her the beating of her life. He couldn't be completely human, not with that strength and speed. And his fighting techniques were a mix of everything she'd ever seen. It seemed to be heavenly influenced from the ninja movies she'd watched many years ago back in L.A, but there was at the same time this animal bruteness to all of it. The guy knew what he was doing, anyways.
When she'd fought him she had pondered if he was a government soldier, but with the things he did and the fighting he used, she knew he wasn't. He just didn't seem enough much of government to her.
And what was up with his hand?! It truly had been like hitting concrete steel, a wall that couldn't be broken through. She'd fought other strong X5's, but none compared to that. Could he be one of Manticore's new projects? But then his mission would have been to capture her, which he didn't do... It just didn't make sense.
She would have to tell Logan about it in the morning, hearing what he'd have to say about it. He didn't know any more about Manticore than she, but perhaps he would be able to dig up some info. Not that there was much to go on, really, but perhaps something.. Perhaps a hover drone had caught him speeding away, she thought as she finished cleaning her face.
" Max?" She turned around, to find a newly awake Logan standing in the door opening. He was still dazed with sleep, and had just pulled on a pair of soft pants and still wore the t-shirt she'd seen him sleep in. If possible, his hair was even spikier than usual, and his clear blue eyes were still thick with sleep.
" Hey. I just thought I could borrow some of you first aid, and I didn't want to wake you up, so..." He yawned, apparently what she was saying didn't hit home just yet. " I keep my first aid out in the exercise room, here's just moderate things... Max, wait, what do you need first aid for?"
It was then he truly awakened, and opened his eyes and actually saw with them. He was horrified by the sight before him, he could never remember her to be this beaten up!
" God, Max, what's happened?" He rushed to her side, willing to help her but she was reluctant to get any. She could do this herself.
" I ran into this guy... Tried to steal my bike, I tried to defend it, I lost, end of story... Could I please borrow some of your first aid?" He looked at her from top 'til toe, and saw her hand, which she held out of view from him, probably on purpose. " Sure, if you let me see your hand first..." She pulled back, replying that she was fine, but Logan was persistent.
He reached out and grabbed her hand and looked at it, determing the same as she had minutes ago. He let it go, but looked at her, before she exited the bathroom, not being able to take the close proximity between them. Logan followed her to his exercise room, where he quickly grabbed the first aid. He packed up some things for her knee and hand, then turned to her.
" Max... Who exactly was this guy?" Max shrugged. " I asked the same thing, " she said as she removed her jacket, " but he told me he was nobody." Logan approached her, starting to fix her up. " Doesn't seem like no one to me, to be able to beat you like this... was he Manticore?"
Max shook her head, finding that her neck hurt severely while she did so. Logan saw this, but said nothing. " I don't think so... He didn't seem to work for anyone, all I know is he kicked the crap out of me..." He reached for the adhesive tape, then her hand to tape her fingers together, and she didn't stop him. He affection ally patched her whole hand up under silence, not sure he wanted to press the matter further.
Half an hour later, all he wounds were attended to, and he'd heated some food and given her, which she'd swallowed down rather quickly. He finished putting away the dishes when he told her: " You're welcome to use the guest room, you know." When he returned to where she'd sat to eat, she wasn't there. Not in the bathroom, nor the quest room. He even peeked inside his own bedroom, but they all were empty.
He wandered into the living room, and there he found her, sleeping on the sofa. She seemed at peace and fast asleep, and he knew she needed the rest. When she actually fell asleep, it was always proving that she really was tired. He smiled at her, and went over to pull the sheet over her petite form.
Thinking she really had to be tired and in some pain- although she tried to hide it behind the tough-ass attitude of hers- he let his fingers stroke her healthy cheek, then exited the room, leaving her to her dreams, smiling as he did so.
A/N: A note on the PAIRING: This chapter may seem a bit M/L, but I want you all to know what I'm just trying to portray every character and their feelings. There's no certain pairing yet, that's still to decide... Please, tell me if you prefer M/A or M/L! And don't forget the review, kay? ;)