Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters do not belong to me, but the plot is mine. This fan-fiction had been written purely for entertainment purposes. No infringement was intended and no profit had been made out of this.
A/N: -Been trying to upload this like for the last three days. Success, finally:Hugs everyone: Thank you so much for all your reviews. I love each and every one of them. Here's the next chapter. Hope that you'll enjoy it!
Reunited Or Not - Chapter 3
(by elle6778)
Alec debated the sanity of what he was about to do as he stepped into the lift. The second the door shut in front of him, doubts began to assail him. What the hell was he doing?
What if she did not want to see him?
What if she told him to leave?
What if Zack had told her that he had been practically stalking her for months?
What if…what if… The questions kept on rushing at him mercilessly.
His eyes followed the illuminated number over the lift door as he tried not to fidget. He knew where she would be. During one of his 'visits', he had seen her through the window of the penthouse. At first, he had thought that something was going on between her and the bespectacled Ordinary who resided there, until he saw the Ordinary walking out with a slim blonde hanging on his arms. At that time, he did not want to analyse why he had felt so relieved at that scene.
He knew so much about where she hung out, but at the same time, knew nothing about what she did at those places. It was like watching television with the volume muted.
A soft bell sounded, informing him that the lift had arrived at the penthouse level. This is it, he thought, taking a deep breath, steeling himself.
When the lift door opened, and there was Max right in front of him. He watched as a surprised gasp escaped her lips and her eyes rounded in disbelief.
He could almost read her thoughts, they were so clearly written on her face. It sounded something like; she must be dreaming or something. Because it could not possibly be him standing there right in front of her, right?
As she continued to gape, he walked out of the lift hesitantly, unsure of her reaction to his presence. After the shock had worn off, would she yell at him? Or run to him?
This was the closest he had been to her in almost a year. At this range, he could see what he had missed seeing from the distance. She was thinner than he remembered, and her eyes were shadowed. She looked tired and miserable. The same as how he himself was feeling. Far from being happy like he had initially thought.
Alec wondered about the choice he had made that first time he had seen her outside Jampony. Looking at her, it was obvious now that she was not as happy as he thought she had been. It was ironic, the way he had walked away thinking that the absence of his presence would not jeopardise her happiness.
If what he had concluded was correct, all he had done was to make both of them miserable.
Maybe it was not too late to fix it. Maybe they still have a chance.
They stood there, both rooted in the same spot as they continued to stare at each other. The long drawn out silence was almost painful. And he could not stand it any longer.
"Max." It came out as a low growl, but the sound made Max snap her eyes up to meet his hazel ones.
"Alec," she breathed out softly, almost as if she did not realise that she had said his name. Her eyes flickered over his face, to convince herself that it was really him.
Clearing his throat, he attempted to lighten the situation. "Never thought that I'd get to see you speechless," he said with a wry smile.
She blinked blankly. Then, before he could comprehend her actions, her fist snapped out, nailing him in the chest.
"Hey!" he recoiled in surprise, staring at her with a baffled expression.
The action was involuntary. She had not intended to hit him, she just was not thinking. It was suddenly too much, seeing him right in front of her eyes after such a long time of fruitless searching. Her adrenaline was pumping and her breath coming and going in short bursts. Why? How? There were so many questions in her head but she was finding it hard to voice even one.
"Where have you been all this time?" she snapped, her eyes flashing.
"Damn it, Max! We haven't seen each other for months and this is all the greeting I get?" he said, rubbing his chest gingerly. He was watching her warily now, a small frown on his face.
She could not help it. Her lips twitched. "You deserved it," she said blithely.
The lump in her chest was melting, and she felt more relaxed than she had ever been for months. As she stared at him, her eyes noted that he looked paler and wearier than he had looked when she had last seen him. Was he missing her as much as she was missing him?
"Alec…" she began, unsure what else to say.
He grabbed her hand, pulling her towards him. She did not resist. Their bodies met, molded together for the first time after almost a year of separation. Max breathed in his unique, comforting scent, feeling herself grow warm.
In a low, husky voice, he asked, "Is it too much for me to ask for a kiss?" His breath fanned her cheeks.
A kiss, Max's overloaded brain registered. He wants a kiss, she repeated numbly in her mind.
Almost tentatively, she tilted her face up and their eyes locked. The first brush of his lips against hers was hesitant, as if he was remembering how she felt, how she tasted. But that first soft contact was enough to send shivers up her spine.
Then their lips were engaged in a passionate battle, both greedy for more. Max gasped as his hand dropped to the base of her spine to pull her tighter against him.
Suddenly it was not enough. She needed more. She needed to feel more of him. Not just his lips, but everywhere. Skin to skin.
Frantic, impatient hands came up to his shoulders, yanking his leather jacket down past his arms. Arms which immediately came back to retaliate by slipping under her tight jumper, seeking out the warm flesh underneath.
Max gasped, breaking their kiss, as the back of his fingers brushed against the curve of her breast. His touch was familiar, and yet strange. In some ways, this was the first time he was touching her like this. Because the last time he had done so, she was not Max. This time it was more intense, because it was real.
She arched her back, pushing closer to him as her hands slipped inside the back of his jeans, seeking his firm flesh. Her fingers pressed onto his ass reflexively as he slid one hand round to her back, pulling her tight against him. Another hand came up to her hair, threading his fingers in the soft tresses, tugging her head to one side to expose the graceful line of her neck. Groaning, he lowered his head and sucked hard at the soft skin behind her ears, making her shudder in pleasure.
Her hands went under his t-shirt, touching his warm, muscular back. He groaned and pushed against her, allowing her to feel his hardness.
"We can't do this here," Alec whispered roughly against her neck.
"Hmm," she mumbled just before she twisted around to capture his lips in a kiss. He was like a drug, his taste was addictive and his touches even more so.
He pulled back, breathing heavily. His pupils were dilated in passion, she noted as she stared into his eyes. Gently, she lifted a hand and pressed it to his cheek.
His hand came up to envelop her small one in his. Max could see his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. "Max, much as I like to, we can't do this in front of your friend's door," he repeated, the corner of his lips lifting.
She grinned. "Funny. I didn't think that you'd be the type to care."
"You don't know a lot of things about me, Max."
His tone made her pause in thought. It sounded like he had something to tell her, but he did not want to. "Why don't you tell me?" she finally said.
He gathered her in his arms and sighed. "Later," he said softly.
She was about to push him for an answer, but then decided that she should enjoy the moment.
Alec held her close, rubbing his cheeks against her hair.
She had been glad to see him, he smiled at the realisation. And she missed him. Really missed him.
There was no doubt about it now.
He had been wrong to walk away like that. He should have gone up to her, but now it was too late to regret it. How would she feel if he told her the truth? Would the light in her eyes dim? She would no doubt demand to know why. And now, finally knowing the facts, he was not sure he could even explain what he had felt back then.
Maybe it would be alright if they just stayed like this.
She did not need to know.
Right?
A soft sound from her made him look down. When he saw the questioning look in her warm brown eyes, he forced himself to remain relaxed. But he had known that the moment would arrive sooner or later. He was surprised that it was not sooner.
"Where have you been all this time?" she asked curiously.
He waggled his eyebrows, trying to distract her. "Missed me?"
She rolled her eyes. "No. Just miss having an ass to kick, that's all."
He laughed out loud, suddenly feeling freer than he had ever felt. Yeah, she might not admit that she missed him, but he missed her alright. "Flattering as it is, your obsession with my ass worries me."
Snorting, she retorted, "As if. I've better things to think about than your ass. So, are you going to tell me sometime today?"
"What?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Where have you been?"
Alec inhaled slowly and then explained, "When we got out, things were a mess. No one knew where to go and to make it worse, someone's after us. I spent a lot of time gathering the rest together. We needed to stay together to survive. It's too dangerous to be alone out here."
Her face twisted in confusion. "You mean you've been with the rest of them? I've spent months looking around but can't even find one single transgenic. How did you do it?"
Alec smirked. "We've got our own 5-star hideout," he said, pulling her to her feet. "Come on, I'll show you."
Alec wrapped an arm around her as they left Fogle Towers, his gesture making her smile. It seemed so unreal. She could hardly believe that he was there, right next to her. A small part of her wondered if this was what it could be like between them right from the start if she had met him outside, without going through the Breeding Programme.
Her smile slipped off her face.
She glanced up at him out of the corner of her eyes, noting his carefree expression.
He had not asked her yet, and she wondered why.
Surely it was obvious. She looked down at her flat stomach and then frowned. Or was it not?
If she had not miscarried, she would have had their child by now. The kid would already be two months old. Maybe Alec thought that their child was safe, somewhere at home.
The sudden heat in her eyes made her blink rapidly. No, don't start now, Max, she admonished herself sternly. She inhaled, her breath a little ragged.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked, looking concerned.
She nodded, forcing a smiled onto her lips. "Yeah. Something got into my eyes, that's all."
She remembered his reaction when he had found out about the baby. He had looked so wistful when he touched her belly when he had found out that she was pregnant. Thinking back, she now realised that he had wanted the kid.
But would he still want her when he found out what she had done? Would he still hang around when he realised that their baby was never born because of her own recklessness and desperation to escape?
But he did not ask about the baby, a small voice in her head repeated.
Shaking the depressing thoughts away, she took a deep breath to calm herself. One step at a time. She would deal with it when he asked. If he asked.
They had been walking in silence, both seemed deep in thought, Max noticed. She wondered what he was thinking about.
"So, where are we going?" she asked, breaking the silence.
He looked down at her with a small smile. "Thought I told you. It's a surprise."
"Come on, Alec. It's not like you're not going to bring me there," she prodded. "Where are we going?"
"Terminal City. The place's toxic to Ordinaries, so no one knows we're there."
Frowning, Max pulled away from his arm as she turned to face him fully. "That's not far from here. Another ten minutes, at the most."
"Yeah," he agreed, running his hands through his hair casually. But he did not elaborate.
"Strange that we haven't bumped into each other before this," she said, looking thoughtful. Terminal City was within the city limits. They were practically neighbours.
"Been laying low, so maybe that's why. We normally only come out for supply runs," he explained.
She gave him a curious look. "How did you find me?"
He grinned. "Terminal City can get a little oppressive sometimes. I needed some air so I decided to go for a quick stroll. I thought I saw you today on your bicycle. And then I decided to follow you, just to make sure it's you and not some look-alike," he said with a sheepish grin. "Quite a coincidence, huh?"
"Yeah," she replied absently.
She thought back to his reaction outside Logan's door. He seemed almost as eager as she was. But that could just be a physical thing. And that was definitely something she was sure about in their relationship. Their physical compatibility. But now that they were no longer Breeding Partners, was it just going to be sex? Or something more?
He did not say that he missed her. Not that she had expected him to, knowing him. He would probably rather take a blow to the gut than to admit something like that to her. But if he had missed her, why did he not bother to search for her?
He was so close by. They were right next to each other all this time, and yet, she had spent close to a year looking for him without any results. And Zack was right. She had been in plain sight all this while. So why had he taken almost a year to find her?
Unless he was not looking for her in the first place.
Her heart sank.
Alec chose that moment to stop suddenly.
Surprised, she asked, "What's wrong?"
He scanned the surroundings. She did the same, noting that the area were clear apart from the two of them. Then he whistled softly.
A few seconds later, the metal fence near them flipped open. Max's eyes widened as she spotted a transhuman and an X6s inside by the fence.
Alec grabbed her arm. "Let's go," he said animatedly, leading her through the door and into an alley between two abandoned buildings.
As she followed him in, she glanced at him quickly, noticing that he appeared more relaxed now.
"Hey, Alec, another new one?" a transhuman with a cigar hanging out of the corner of his mouth asked, tilting his head at her.
Alec grinned. "Look closely."
Max rested her hands on her hips as she returned the lizard-like transhuman's stare.
Then the lizard snorted. "All of you X5s look the same to me," he declared in a disgusted tone.
Alec rolled his eyes. "This is 452. Better known as Max."
The X6, who had been silent up to now, said, "452? Max?" His eyes lighted up in excitement. "Joshua told us that you unlocked the cells."
"Yeah, forget all about my part, will you?" Alec grumbled under his breath.
Max's face broke into a bright smile. "Joshua's here?" she asked. Everything was happening fast suddenly. Alec. Terminal City. Joshua.
The X6 nodded eagerly. "Come on, I'll bring you to him," he said quickly. "Name's Rex, by the way."
Alec interrupted, "Whoa! Take a step back, kiddo. She comes with me first."
"Oh," Rex said sheepishly, stilling his movements. "Sorry, Boss."
"Boss?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow. Alec was the boss here?
The lizard-man thumped Alec's back hard, making him wince. "Yeah, pretty-boy here thinks he runs the place."
Rex rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to him, Max. Mole's just sore that he's not the CO."
Mole gave him a menacing look. "What did you say, Squirt?" he growled threateningly, but Rex just ignored him. He was obviously used to Mole's threats.
Max grinned. She liked this X6. "So Alec's the CO, huh?" she said, looking at Alec assessingly.
Obviously uncomfortable with the topic, Alec just shrugged. "Someone has to do it," he said lightly.
"So, what is it that you wanted to show me?" she asked, changing the topic.
"I was just going to show you around. You know, give you the grand tour. I-"
"Alec!" someone called out. "I've been looking all over for you."
Max turned around to find an attractive blonde X5 jogging towards them. When the X5 saw her, she halted in her tracks, her eyes widening in surprise. Max frowned at her reaction. She did not remember ever seeing this girl, so she did not comprehend her odd reaction.
Then, Max watched curiously as the girl recomposed herself and walked at a more sedate pace towards them.
When the girl reached them, Alec turned and said, "Max, this is Dee."
Adding to Max's puzzlement, Dee gave her a strained smile. "Hi," she said.
Max nodded at her. Suddenly there was this tension in the air that she could not quite put her finger on. It had all started when Dee walked up to them.
Dee said something to Alec, but all Max could see was the way the blonde girl was looking at Alec while she was talking. It was an intimate look. The type of look that one did not normally give friends. Or COs.
The sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach returned.
Now she had her answer.
Now she knew why Alec did not bother to come looking for her.
t.b.c.
A/N: No cliffie this time. Hope you like how it's progressing so far. Please review and let me know what you think, okay?