Chapter Twenty Four: Storytime

MAX'S POV

If Iggy truly knew me then he'd find me soaring in the air. So, that's why, at nine in the morning, I am cruising high above the rest of the world.

Oh how much I've missed this.

In the three goddamn years I've been away from the Flock, in the School and recovering at the hospital, I hadn't once opened my wings to soar. The first time was escaping the hospital but at that moment, I couldn't enjoy it. I was too busy getting far, far away from the Admiral.

Now, though, I smile, closing my eyes and soaking up the wind and sun. This is where I am happy, allowing myself a chance to be free of all that has weighed me down these last few years. Where the screams of poor, helpless mutants can't reach me or the crying of that woman's two daughters.

Up here, my mind is clear and it's whole. It's stable and able to concentrate. I open my eyes, getting down to business. Iggy will no doubt be looking for me so I need to keep an eye out.

I scan the area, looking for a large bird kid soaring through the air. After several minutes of aimlessly flying, I spot him up ahead, going the opposite direction. Meaning, he's coming straight towards me.

Momentarily panicking, I freeze where I am, only flapping my wings to make sure I don't plummet to my death while my brain decides what to do next. My eyes widen as he draws closer but my brain seems to have decided that not moving was the right thing to do.

"Iggy!" I shout as he comes nearer, not having realized another presence since he appears to be in deep thought, his wings flapping on habit. He realizes moments too late, crashing into me. Both of us fall a few feet before we regain our balance, flapping our wings.

I huff, rubbing my side where his wing bone rammed into my ribs. "Good lord, Iggy. You're the most perceptive out of all us and you couldn't sense me right in front of you? Have you gone soft in your years of freedom and peace?"

My side hurts like a motherfucker but I can't help but smile. He is rubbing his head where my wing had hit him but he's also smiling.

Slighting blushing, he chuckles. "Sorry, Max." Then he frowns, slightly worried. "You think I've gone soft?"

I laugh, flapping my wings a little harder, rising higher. "Wouldn't be surprised. Come, we need to talk."

I turn north, flying towards a set of palm trees on a cliff. Iggy follows, ears perked, having learned his lesson. We land softly on the leaves, moving around to find a comfortable position that won't cause us to fall off.

I sit cross-legged in front of Iggy, taking in his older self. He's grown a lot like I noticed at the dinner but now, taking a closer look, I notice how his eyes, despite being tired, are more alive than they have been in years.

I sigh, looking around at the beautiful open ocean and down to the violent waves crashing against the rocks. Iggy seems to be thinking about what he wants to ask first and it makes me think I should be too.

What do I want to know? Well, I want to know what happened between him and Ella. The whole Fang and Ivy dating thing. And, probably how everyone is doing and been doing. Yeah, that's a good start.

"Alright, I have my first question." He says, shifting to get more comfortable. The breeze has picked up a bit, whipping around his blonde hair. I take the hair tie off of my wrist, putting it in my hair. "How long have you been free?"

I laugh because I'm not free. I haven't been since I was kidnapped. It may appear that I am, I'm out of the School so in that sense, I've been free for a year. But, I'm in the clutches of the Military in the hopes that they'll help me find Jeb.

"I wouldn't say I'm free, Iggy, but I've been out of the School for little over a year." His eyes narrow, confused as to the meaning behind my words.

"Umm, alright. Why aren't you free, then?"

"It's complicated and an extremely it's a long story. A lot has happened in the last year."

He frowns. "Then why don't you just start from the beginning? The night of the Sunset Bash up until now."

I sigh, nodding. It'll be the easiest way to explain everything. Yeah, but, how true should I be?

"Alright, that's a good idea. Ok, so I'm guessing you remember that night pretty well?"

He nods, both of us well aware that I'm dragging this story out as much as I can. "Yeah, you were on edge the entire time and then completely ignored our questions about it on the car ride home. Fang and I both knew something was up and we thought you'd come to us about it because you always used too."

I sigh, knowing how true he is. Maybe I should tell the full truth as well. But, what will he think of me afterwards? He won't look at me the same.

"Right. I didn't want to ruin your guys' night so I didn't say anything. Besides, everything went sideways when we got home after we had all said goodnight. I had gone outside to get some fresh air when the Erasers showed up. It was only a few minutes after our little chat when you guys practically pounded me with the 'you can tell us anything' spiel."

I take a deep breath. It's starting to get hot even though it's still really early and the breeze has died back down to nearly a whisper. "The Erasers told me that they only wanted me -not you guys- and if I was to make things ugly, you were all to die. So, I willingly went with them in order to keep you guys safe."

Iggy shakes his head, disbelieving. "We could have defeated them and moved on Max. Moved on with you."

My laugh is sarcastic. "You don't think I don't know that? That I don't think about it?"

Truth be told, I never really thought of that night until I was comprehensive in the hospital. During the days stuck in my room, I would think about alternate scenarios where I didn't end up at the School. Never really of thoughts of the Flock, though, which now, makes me feel a bit guilty. It was always thoughts of the kids I murdered. The poor, helpless mutant kids.

"We went to the School, Max, the next day. And fucking Jeb shows up. We didn't put up much of a fight either now that I think about it. Jeb was acting weird so I guess we didn't really want to start something. As we stalled though, he threatened your life."

I nod. I mean, I figured. Not really surprised. "I spent the next two years at the School." Iggy doesn't need to know the in-between details. "Then, one day, the military blasts through the place. Some scientists got away but the rest died in the fight. I was the only surviving mutant."

Yes, because you finished killing them all off a few days before.

"They found me tethered to the bed, thrown against the wall when they blasted through. They took me to a hospital as they bombed the place."

Iggy smiles, thrilled to hear the School is no more. "Great. That's terrific. Not the part about you being tethered to the bed but about the School."

I shrug, trying to shake the memories of the door flying towards me out of my head. "I spent the next year in the military hospital. When the door slammed into me, it broke both of my wings and I hit my head, severing a nerve that allows me to speak. The doctors who knew about me wanted to ask a bunch of questions but I couldn't talk so they had to wait.

"I escaped at the beginning of the year but flew back because Jeb was one of the bastards who survived. They claim to have information on him so in return, I had to answer some of their questions. They don't know about any of you guys." I say in a haste when Iggy's eyes widen and he tenses.

He relaxes slightly, remaining silent to let me finish talking. "They knew I wanted to find Jeb and make him pay but in order for me to get what I wanted, I had to give them what they wanted."

His eyes darken and I smile softly. Nice to know he still cares. "They wanted my loyalty. So the deal we made was once I find Jeb, I'm free to go in exchange for working for them until then."

He nods, looking around. "What are you doing here then?"

I sigh, knowing the question was coming. I was just hoping it didn't come up until later. Much later. "My boss thinks that my mom knows the location of Jeb. That after all these years and all the hardships that we have gone through, they're talking again."

Iggy laughs because it's absurd. "Your mom would never."

I smile. "I know but it's the only lead I've had in the months that I've been working for the military."

"So what was the plan? How were you supposed to get this information?"

I shrug, smile growing. "I was supposed to go to school with you and Fang, get to know you guys then get into the house and have a looksy. Of course, I was hoping that I could just trespass and search the home but my boss advised against it."

"I'm guessing you don't have a warrant?"

"Or a legit reason," I add.

"I can get you inside."

"That'd be great."

"It'll be difficult,"

"Very. I'll have to do a mind block but we all know how suspicious Angel will be of that. Of course, if I don't do one, she'll figure me out."

"I could try and get her out of the house for a few others."

I shake my head. "That'll look suspicious. Even if you ask the other girls to go with her."

He breathes, thinking. "You're going to school right? After the break?"

"Yeah?" Where's he going with this?

"Well, the group and I do study sessions over at our house on Thursdays."

I laugh. "No way, Iggy. Your girlfriend and Fang's girlfriend hate me."

He hangs his head, defeated. Even though he's smiling wide, I can tell that he's slightly disappointed his girlfriend doesn't like me. I'm part of the family for Iggy.

He scrunches up his face in concentration. It's a cute expression for him and it warms me to see it after all these years. "Okay, okay. You know what? Come by randomly tomorrow. I don't really care. We can make up an excuse for you saying I thought the rest of the fam would like to meet you after the dinner with my friends or something. The girls will be thrilled to show you around meaning that you get a tour of the house. Then, another night you could come over and search through it."

"Hah, yeah, that'll go great."

"It's the best plan we have."

"Touche. Alright, it'll have to be the solution."

We sit in silence for a moment, hoping beyond hope that this plan succeeds tomorrow. He fiddles around in his pocket before pulling out a pen. I stare at it, questioningly, as Iggy grabs my hand and messily writes a number on it.

"This is my number so we can finalize the details."

"I don't have a phone." He gives me a weird look as he finishes writing the number, pulling away.

"Then buy a cheap burner phone at the store."

I nod, cheeks burning. Such a simple solution. "Right."

He smiles, saluting before falling backwards. My heart leaps in my throat but seconds later, he's flapping his wings. "Talk to you later." And he flies off, rising into the air. I look down at his curvy handwriting, remembering the times we used to pass notes back and forth during the late hours we were up on patrol. I probably have some of the notes in my room somewhere. Well, in a box now. I don't have a bedroom.