A/N: Response to challenge posted by Dazedizzy.
Said challenge: Alec sees Sam and Max together, and realizes that despite being outwardly identical, he'd recognize which one was Max in a heartbeat...why? Because, there's only one...I know, cute and fluffy, but I can't help it. Logan didn't know the difference between the two...but Alec would. Right?
This is v.2. Again, reviews welcome!
Only One v.2
"Seems a good kid," Alec remarked as the little boy went to his father.
"Yeah," the brunette replied, watching him go.
"You gonna say goodbye?" Alec asked.
She turned to him.
"Why?"
"Why not?"
She laughed but it lacked conviction.
"Just gotta pick up a few more things and - "
"And what? You'll be on your way?" Alec interrupted lightly.
She looked at him sharply.
"Why do you care?"
"Because that's what people here do," was his simple reply.
She turned her attention to the four by four, waiting to drive away, out of Seattle and far from this Freak Nation.
"Am I supposed to say thanks?" she said without looking at him.
"No, you're supposed to say goodbye."
She returned her fiery gaze to him.
"Goodbye," before turning on her heels.
"You got family here," Alec reminded her, barely raising his voice despite her distance from him.
She stopped in her tracks.
"Do I?" she asked quietly, not turning around.
"Like I said, people here, they care."
"I don't need people to care," was her cold reply.
Alec regarded her.
"No, you just needed to be needed," he said, waiting for her reaction.
"You don't know me, so don't pretend to," she shot back, spinning around angrily to face him.
"Fine, I won't. But don't you owe this life you have with those two, to Max?"
"How do you figure? If it weren't for the traitorous bitch I'd still be living the simple life. No having a 9-5 job bullshit."
Alec laughed.
"If Max saw this, me giving this little speech…you reckon she'd finally cut me some slack?"
"Seems to me she'd cut you some more verbal abuse," she replied disdainfully.
"And yet I keep coming back for more, right? I mean, how whipped am I?" Alec questioned, shaking his head at himself with a grin.
"Why do you?" she asked, at last some semblance of sincerity in her voice.
"Guess I miss the authority figure," he joked.
"For real," she said, her tone unimpressed.
Alec shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"She needs me to need her," he said finally, looking up and meeting her piercing gaze.
She frowned.
"You need her to shoot you down and stomp on you?" she queried, the hint of incredulity barely noticeable.
"No, I need her to care."
She cocked an eyebrow, clearly not believing him.
"Somehow I don't think you're the touchy feely type either," Alec informed her, almost accusingly, but not.
"You sure it's not just a figment of your imagination? Manticore did some whack things back in the day," she remarked, crossing her arms.
Alec chuckled.
"Maybe, maybe. But I'll take my chances."
"Why?"
Alec looked at her, his hazel green eyes warm and alive.
"Because she taught me to believe in myself."
She regarded him with a veiled expression, her eyes not giving any secrets away.
"You taught me to believe in myself Max. So the least you can do is say goodbye."
Her eyes widened in shock and Alec grinned inwardly at the minute movement in her shoulders that indicated to him her surprise and shock.
"How did you know I wasn't Sam?" she asked with a frown.
"I didn't know. But I didn't believe you could be anyone else."
