"You think we should what?" Came the stern but slightly bemused reply, complete with the disbelieving look that he had come to expect.
Grinning recklessly, Alec replied, "I think we should create some sort of Superhero Transgenic Justice League and all go into gymnastics, with this messed up DNA, we'd make a killing. Plus, we could invite all the other transgenics wandering, lost without a mission." Even he was amazed at the straight face he managed.
Have to give him credit for actually pulling off that speech and not laughing, Max grudgingly admitted to herself, fighting to keep her own grin away because it was too ludicrous of an idea to grace with any sort of smile that could be taken as encouragement. "Alec," she began slowly, whether to keep herself serious or to make him be serious, she wasn't sure, "are you actually, seriously, suggesting this?"
Nodding, Alec continued to elaborate on his plan, "Just think about it, we've got the speed, agility, balance… everything, we would win all the medals and-"
Cutting him off smoothly, Max inquired, "Do they even still have medals? I thought all that stuff was over."
This statement and question actually stopped Alec's excited train of thought for more than a moment, as he vaguely tried to recall whether there was still such a thing as gymnastics that involved the winning of prizes. "I suppose not, must have been watching too much pre-post TV. We could restart it though, ooh better yet, Olympics!"
Shaking off the unnerving feeling caused by him suggesting the same concept of being good in gymnastics as her mother had, Max queried, "And what exactly brought on this burst of creative, although insane, ideas?"
Enthusiasm leveled off into an almost embarrassed answer, that was, if Alec got embarrassed, which he felt no reason to ever do. "Uh, my mom, she said we were like superheroes, and it made me think of all those old superhero shows, and then I thought about gymnastics."
The look of lost and almost childlike awe that crossed Alec's face at the words 'my mom,' was not lost on Max. She felt like she was seeing her own feelings reflected, from the slight pause before and after saying the words to the emotions that she could see in Alec's eyes and feel in her heart. "Yeah, my mom, uh, she said we'd be good at gymnastics." She paused, trying to steady her somehow shaky voice, "You two must think alike."
Alec laughed anyway despite the fact that Max's normally flawless sense of humor was off today; he appreciated the icebreaker and the chance to relax again. He'd noticed the look Max wore when she spoke of her mother also, and he was glad that she was calming down enough to show her emotions. According to Original Cindy, she used to be much more open than he'd ever previously seen her, although he was catching glimpses now. "Amazing, huh, and here I thought you and I thought alike, aside from the hitting and miscommunication and… no wait, that sounds right."
The smack that he received was not unexpected, but it was lighter than usual. Max had to lean over to deal this harmless blow, and suddenly they were face to face, closer than they had been since that… Accidental brush, that's what it was, the leaning and the… that's so… not… going… to… happen…
Both transgenics tensed when they leaned in again, neither sure why, how, or what it meant that this had happened, again, but then, slowly, experimentally, they leaned in a little closer. Their lips met more decisively, and opened just… just slightly.
Not daring to open her eyes, Max shifted a little bit closer so that she was now leaning, almost falling off of the coffee table she had been previously occupying. Alec cautiously raised his hands to her hips and pulled slightly, muffling a laugh in her lips when her slightly startled gasp reached his ears as she landed on top of him.
The kiss was timid, yes, but not uncertain, and slowly it gained confidence, Max tangling her hands in Alec's hair, his hands sliding up her back and then down again. The feeling was… different… it was tender, but hinting at something greater, a barely-there tingle that threatened to become a full-blown fire.
The dazed type of stopped-time ended when the need for air presented itself, which was almost an eternity in and of itself; both being able to hold their breath for quite some time. Max's eyelids fluttered open first, watching as Alec's did a likewise motion. She made a half giggling, half snorting sound, "You just did the dazed fluttery thing."
Raising an eyebrow without missing a beat, Alec brushed a hair from Max's face and tucked it behind her ear, watching her eyelids half close and then open again. Smiling slightly, he replied, "And you didn't?"
Laughing, Max stuck her tongue out at Alec in the quickest retort she could think of. Before she could retract said tongue, he'd leaned forward and captured it quickly, more passionately than before, but then he leaned back again, still smiling. He let go of her with his other hand to place both up in as innocent of a gesture as he could manage, "You better watch that tongue."
Swatting at his hands to knock them down from such a ridiculous position, Max gave him a look that clearly said that he had known exactly what he was doing, and she knew it. Glancing down for only a split second was enough to remind Max that she was still lounging on Alec's lap. She almost blushed, feeling awkward but not finding any of that remorse she knew was buried somewhere. Not while she was still here. "So… that was new…"
Alec noted the change in her emotions immediately, only because it was at the same time that it occurred to him that he had no idea how this had happened, or what it changed, what it did, what happened now. And, suddenly feeling the awkwardness. Never one to let some emotion like that stop him, Alec caught Max's gaze in his own and managed to look as serious as he dared. "So, does this mean I can't tease you about spanking me anymore?"