Title: Love Among the Ruins
Disclaimer: We do not own any of the characters from Dark Angel the belong to James Cameron, Charles Eglee, and Fox. But, Mercy and Amora are ours, as well as any other characters you are not familiar with.
Summary: Max couldn't kill Ben, instead they both get brought back to Manticore. Where their lives are changed forever. Max/Alec. Ben/Original Character.
AN: My friend and I were watching my Dark Angel DVD's when we got a great idea for a fic. We thought, what would happen if Max hadn't killed Ben? What if Max and Ben had been brought back to Manticore? The result of our questions was this fic... we have up to chapter five done... if you like it, we'll post more.
Max winced as her back hit the tree, and she narrowly missed blocking Ben's next kick towards herself. Kicking out her own leg at his right leg she heard a snap and watched as her brother Ben rolled away from her. Max ran over to Ben as he gasped and tried to sit up, kneeling down beside him she tried to help him, but he pulled away.
At the sound of Manticore helicopters, Ben laid back on Max's lap and looked up at her, pain in his eyes. "Don't leave me here," he gasped, "Don't let them take me."
Max looked down at Ben with regret. "Ben, I can't carry you. We'll both get caught."
"I know." Ben replied, giving Max a look that made her heart fall. It was a look that brought tears to Max's eyes. She couldn't do what he wanted her to. She couldn't do what his eyes were begging her.
"Ben, I can't." she whispered in reply.
"Please. You know what they'll do to me. They'll put me down there with them...the Nomlies. Please."
Max looked down at Ben as he pleaded with her silently to do what she had to, tears threatening to fall. "Tell me about the Good Place."
Ben smiled up at her, ignoring the searing pain. "Where no one ever gets punished."
"And no one gets yelled at." Max said trying her hardest not to let the tears fall from her eyes.
"And nobody disappears. And when you wake up in the morning you can stay in bed as long as you want." Max bit her lip and smiled down at Ben, she couldn't do it. She couldn't snap his neck, like she had planned to. She couldn't kill her big brother, especially the one she had been so close to.
Max felt a tear roll down her cheek as she said, "I...I'm going to try to get us out of here Ben, and then we're going to find you help. You can't kill innocent people anymore, Ben. It's not right. I don't care what Manticore taught us. It's just not right."
"You already said it Maxie, you can't carry me. We'll both end up getting caught." Ben replied wincing at the stab of pain in his leg.
"I have to try Ben. I can't loose you." Max whispered, the sound of the helicopters getting closer. "I'm not willing to lose you."
"If Manticore gets us, then we'll both be lost to that place Maxie. I don't want to go back there, I don't want to get put down there with the Nomalies."
"I'll get us out of here Ben. We won't get caught. I won't let us." Max replied standing up, and taking a hold of Ben's arm, pulling him up with her. She held him around the waist and let Ben hold onto her for support. "Come on. Let's go."
Max felt her heart race as the sounds of helicopters, and footsteps grew even closer. 'I have to get us out of here. I can't let us get caught, and I definitely can't loose Ben, I'm not ready to loose him again.'
"We're not going to make it Maxie." Ben said, his fear and pain evident in his voice.
"No. We're going to make it out of here." Max replied with confidence for both herself and Ben.
"There's men up ahead." Ben stated.
"I can take them." Max replied. "There's only two." She crouched down, making her brother crouch with her. She flung his arm around her shoulders and shifted her weight to her right foot and slowly pivoted. Max slowly but silently was able to lay Ben in a hollowed tree root. She quickly snatched a branch and lay it over him, using hand signals to let him know to lay low and be quiet.
Max crept among trees and bushes, trying to see ahead. She had been right, there were two men- but they had enough equipment to last an army through World War III. She could see they had about four different guns strapped to random body parts, along with the tazers Max knew could easily mean her capture. She was pondering over a way to ambush them when the plan went down the drain.
"Hey! You! Stop!" One of the Manticore men shouted at Max.
"Who, little old me?" Max smiled quickly before using a spin kick to hit the soldier's gun out of his hand. She heard a crack with the contact, and the man winced.
Before Max could smile or make any of her usual witty comments, she was grabbed around the neck by a thick forearm of the second man. She grasped his wrist and his elbow and used all her force to flip him over her shoulder and send him to the ground. She slammed a boot down on his chest, only to feel herself losing balance and being thrown by the first soldier who had gotten up and was fighting back. She hit a tree and fell to the ground. There was definitely going to be a huge bruise on her back soon.
Max stood up, laughing. She smiled at the men before calmly speaking. "Oh. So that's how you repay me for letting you have some much-needed practice?" She took a quick sprint before placing her hands on the shoulders of one man and using him as a lever to throw her small framed body in the air. She came down hard and fast, hitting the man behind her in the head with the toe of her boot and using her other leg to hit him to the ground.
'Come on, Maxie.' Ben watched through the branch over his face as his sister got hit against a tree. She fell to the ground, and Ben's body tensed. He felt like he had gotten the wind knocked out of him. He wasn't sure if he was breathing, but didn't care enough to ponder the thought. He watched as she flung her small body in the air. He was so caught up in his own nervousness, he didn't notice for a moment or two a hand was resting on his shoulder and the branch had been moved. He glanced behind him to see a third man.
"Marco." The man said. He pulled out a tazer and Ben's mouth was covered. He felt his muscles tense and relax almost in a pulse, and then his vision went black with a final jerk.
Max delivered a final blow to one of the men's head with her elbow. He slumped to the ground and lay in an unconscious heap. She turned to face the other man. Her eyes jerked downward then up to his face again, her eyes widening at his grin. She felt the tazer hit her ribs, and her muscles go wild. She fell to the ground, writhing uncontrollably before blacking out.
6 Months Later
"State your designation!" Director Elizabeth Renfro's voice echoed through the room.
"X5-452!" Max replied, her gaze on the wall in front of her.
From the corner of her eye she could see an uncertain look on Renfro's face. "I'd like you to meet your new CO, 452. You're being moved from solitary confinement to Unit Three. 494 come in."
Max glanced at the door as it opened, to see a guy standing about 6'0'', with hazel eyes, and sandy blonde hair. She felt a twinge of remembrance at the back of her brain. 'Ben,' Max immediately thought to herself. 'Where's Ben?'
"Ma'am?" 494 questioned upon entering.
"Show 452 to your cell block, inform her of the training schedule, and head to the mess hall."
"Yes ma'am!" 494 responded.
Renfro turned to Max, "I'll be watching you 452."
"Understood ma'am!"
"Good, the two of you are dismissed."
Max followed 494 out of the office, almost feeling safer. But she felt unnerved by the fact that she knew there was something missing from her memory. She knew there was something that Manticore had made her forget, and all she wanted to do was remember.
"Have you heard a word I said 452?" 494's voice pulled Max out of her thoughts.
"Yea..." Max trailed off
Flashback
"Have you heard anything I've been saying?" A man questioned looking up from his computer.
"Every word. I parallel-process and multitask like there's no tomorrow." Max grinned.
End Flashback
Max shook her head, she hated this. She hated getting flashes of what must of been her life before, before she ended up back in this hell hole. The last thing Max could remember was the escape, and what had brought her back here. Had Manticore really erased half of her life to make her the good little soldier they wanted?
"452 are you ignoring me again?" 494 questioned.
"No." Max replied.
"Right..." 494 trailed off. "This is your cell, you're sharing it with X5-467. She's actually away on a mission right now, so you have the cell to yourself until she gets back. That probably won't be for awhile though."
'You mean assassination.' Max wanted to say, but instead she said, "OK."
Max walked into the small, bleak cell, unsure of what to think of her new prison. It was exactly like her last one in solitary confinement, only the hole she had dug behind a loose brick would have to be restarted. And that was only possible if it was a cell near an outside wall. It didn't matter- she was going to try anyways, finish her small tunnel to the outside.
"Huh. Home Sweet Home." 494 said, glancing at Max with a sarcastic grin. She glared back at him, making his smile quickly dissipate. "So... I hear you got out. You know, just talk between training-"
"Yeah?" Max turned, glaring even harder and a note of defense in her voice. "What about it?" 494 raised his hands and his brow, looking confused and shocked at Max's tone.
"Um, nothing. I mean, it was something. But not that kind of something. A good kind of something. Not that it's good you got caught, it's just...Um. Im sorry?" He stood utterly confused and unsure of Max's reaction. Suddenly she smiled.
"Maybe you are kinda human, underneath all that soldier-y weirdness." She laughed.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"Well, I just noticed that when faced with a defensive confrontation, You do what any normal human male would."
"Oh? And what, in your humble opinion is that?" He asked, cocking one eyebrow up like a question mark.
"Well, you stood there stupidly, stuttering and confused. Oh, and you drooled a little." Max flashed a sarcastic smile and patted his cheek, turning to set down her small sack of things on the small wooden cot. 494 looked at her with a look of annoyance and spoke no longer with his boyish sarcasm, but rather with a hidden embarrassment.
"About our training schedule-"
"Yup. Uh-huh. Got it. Can I get a sandwich or something now?" Max asked, flashing a sarcastic thumbs up and heading out of the cell. 494 grumbled some mimic and followed her.
The mess hall was huge, with about forty long tables made of dull chipped cement. They all had dull stained tablecloths in a pathetic attempt to brighten the dull room. Max stood in line and got her meal, then stared at it.
She was yet unsure whether she was supposed to eat it or use it as a defense mechanism. The only thing it could possibly rival against, however, were the meals served in the hospitals in Seattle from her time there. She followed 494 to a table where about six other X5s were seated, joking and laughing.
"Hey, 510, 613, 640! Scoot over," 494 laughed and sat down near three of the X5s.
Max sat a small distance away, not feeling like she should be there. She poked at the blob on her plate, wondering if they actually expected her to eat it, and glanced over at the other X5s. 510 was a little shorter than 494, with jet black hair and bright blue eyes that seemed to shine brighter when he laughed. 613 looked a lot like 494. Max wondered if there was any connection between the two of them. They both had sandy blonde hair, except 613's was a little past her shoulders with a slight wave. Her hazel eyes had the same characteristics as Ben's, which sent a small shiver up Max's spine. But something about them was different. They almost seemed haunted or secretive. While 494's eyes had always had a laughter about them and a sarcastic glint, Ben's eyes had always been shining with the creativity he was best with, and a darkness that had shown itself.
Max sat there thinking about how you can tell so much about someone through their eyes. It was then that she glanced over at the last X5, 640. She was about Max's height, and had dark hair a little past her shoulders, about to her collar bone. The colour caught Max's eye. It wasn't black, but not brown. A mixture of the two, that was shiny and sat straight over her back. She had bright green eyes with gold flecks under dark lashes, and she held a small smirk that showed she hardly took anything about Manticore too seriously.
"What, got your own tongue?" Max blinked and realized she had been staring and X5-640 was talking to her.
"Hum? Im sorry, I just-"
"You know, next time you decide to go cold turkey and ditch us all you should bring a camera back with you, so you can take a picture. Lasts longer."640 added with a small laugh.
"Alright, enough. Guys, 452. 452, the guys." His smile faded as he saw the glares of 613 and 640. "Er, I mean, the gang?"
"Could you make us sound any dorkier?" 510 asked, grinning widely. "Hey. Im 510."
"452." Max said, wanting so much to tell them her name. She extended a hand and 510 took it and shook.
"So, thanks for saying welcome back 510." 613 said with an arched eyebrow, the only form of emotion on her face. She didn't seem to interested in Max being there.
"What?"
"Ouch. I've been gone a month and the only one to say welcome back is... him?" She said, shooting a look at 494, but laughing afterwards. 510 looked at her apologetically.
"Sorry?"
"Next time I expect a party. A big one. With cake." 613 grinned at 510.
"Not to interrupt, but does anyone know what happened to 493?" asked Max, unsure whether or not the question was too bold to ask.
613 looked at her skeptically. "Oh, you mean your little psycho buddy who sent 494 and me to Psy-Ops for six months and looks like our home boy here? Pretty sure he's walking around here somewhere. Oh wait. No. Heard you snapped both his legs like they were nothing but twigs."
Max clenched her fist at hearing this, and was about to tell them what had happened, but realized telling them she only broke one leg and then left him in a smelly tree root may not help her case.
640, noticing Max's uneasy expression, stepped in. "Not so sane yourself there, 613. Watch who you call psycho, little miss head case."
"You know," 613 said, her nostrils flaring suddenly, "I'm not feeling so hungry anymore. Catch all of you in training," She said, glancing at 494 and winking at 510 before getting up and leaving the mess hall.
"Sorry if I said something wrong," Max said with some annoyance in her own voice.
"Nah. Don't worry about her. She's the one with problems, not you." 640 said, gathering her hair with her hands and putting it over her right shoulder.
"Would you just lay off of 613?" 510 said, standing up.
"You know I ain't serious, settle down. It's just anytime she hears anything anyone says she takes it wrong or too seriously and goes kinda... whacko."640 took a bite of the glob. She wrinkled her nose and swallowed. "I've been here, how long? Oh yeah. My whole life. And I'm still not used to this stuff." She stood up and threw the glob in the garbage. She turned back to the table. "I'm out, gonna go get ready before training starts. Hey, 452, find me afterwards. I'll help you look for that friend of yours and we can chill." She left, swishing her hair over her shoulder and walking more casually than any soldier Max ever saw.
A Few Days Later
Max was sprawled out on one of the couches in the rec room. She was dozing on and off and thinking about everything that had happened in the past year, trying to piece together the small bits she could remember. She was almost asleep again when 640 came bounding in, looking excited about something.
"Guess what!" 640 shouted. Max grunted. "I found him!"
"Huh?"
"493! I found 493! He was in Psy-Ops, he was just released into unit four! Or at least he's going to be."
Max jumped up, instantly awake. She ran out of the rec room, with 640 following her. She ran to unit four and walked past every cell, looking to see if she could find Ben. She had gone past every cell and found nothing. Her heart dropped. She had one more idea. She ran down different hallways and turned until she found the solitary confinement chamber she had been held in herself. She felt her face flush and her heart pound when she saw the sleeping form of her brother.
Max knocked on the small window, as loudly as she could without having patrolling guards hear her. "Ben. Ben, wake up." Ben stirred. "Ben, you've got to wake up! Please,"
Ben made a grunting noise and sat up, rubbing his face with his hands. "Maxie?"He glanced at her. It took him a moment to focus, then he lept up and ran to the window. "Maxie I thought you were dead! I thought they got you, I thought-"
"I know, I thought the same about you Benny boy." Max said, her eyes watering, She could feel hot tears burning her lids. Not only tears of joy, but a small part of her felt rage that he was trapped alone. She knew how horrible that was. "Ben, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get us caught."
"Its all right, they helped me. In a strange, messed up way."
"What?"
"They helped me realize that what I was doing was wrong." Ben smiled softly, and Max noticed his eyes seemed more happily creative and- more Ben.
"Ben, I missed you. But I'm not going to be able to get you out of here right now, but as soon as they let you out, you gotta find me. Im in unit three now."
"Trust me, I will." They said their goodbyes and Max turned and left with 640.
Back in the rec room, they were met by 494, 510, and 613. Max and 640 were already in a conversation that the others joined immediately.
"So, what was with the Ben and Maxie stuff?"640 asked, crossing her arms and sitting on a couch.
"Its called a name." Max smiled. "Like the ones you get on missions, but its yours. Not a fake one."
"I know what a name is," 640 shot back. "But why do you and 493 have your own?"
"When we were younger it helped us feel a little more... Human." Max smiled at remembrance of Tinga, Brin, Zack and the others. "Plus on the outside you can't live by a number, you should know that."
"Aww, isn't that sweet." 494 stepped in sarcastically.
Max glanced at him. "You guys need names. Why don't we start with you 494?" Max smiled. "I'm gonna call you Alec, as in smart aleck."
"I can live with that."
"Good. Cause my second choice was Dick." Max grinned, turning to 510, "Now you, 510."
"Ooh, how about Biggs because of his big-" 613 blushed. "Never mind."
"His big ego?" 640 grinned.
"No, his big smile." Max added with a laugh.
510 looked at them. "I like it. Although I think it should be Biggs for my big muscles." His smirk getting even bigger.
Max ignored his comment and looked at 613. "How about you, 613? Anyone got ideas?"
"Yeah. Mercy." Alec put his arm around 613's shoulders and smiled like a proud older brother would.
"Mercy... I like it." Max replied.
"Mercy? Its got a nice ring." Mercy grinned at Alec.
"Alright. Now there's just 640." Max said, turning.
"No thanks, I'll pass." 640 stood up. "I gotta go catch a nap anyways. I'll talk to you all later." With that she left, before anyone could protest.
Ben stared at the ceiling. Max was ok. She had been all Ben had been able to think about, since he woke up in this hell hole a little over six months ago. He had been so afraid that Max was dead because of him, because of his stupidity. He hated to admit it, but Manticore had helped him. They helped him see the error of his ways, something he knew Max could have done if he'd given her a chance to.
Rolling onto his side, all Ben could think about was how he had gotten Max and himself brought back to Manticore. If he hadn't been such an idiot, they'd both be free right now, living the lives they chose to live. He should of listened to Zack.
Zack had been the first one to try and help Ben after the escape. Zack had been the first to notice something wasn't right. Then there was Jondy. He'd found her when he was seventeen, and Ben had a feeling Zack had set that meeting up. Zack had known there were only two people that could get through to Ben sometimes, and that was Max and Jondy. Even if that had been the case, Zack had definitely not been counting on what happened that night.
Flashback
Ben walked into the small club in San Francisco Zack had told him to meet him at. It had surprised Ben to see the address Zack had given him belonged to a club. Zack and clubs didn't fit in together. Sitting down Ben scanned the club, there were people all over, but one person caught his eye. She looked no older then him with blonde hair a little past her shoulders, and bright blue eyes. Eyes that reminded him of Jondy.
Ben watched the girl as he waited for Zack to show. Something about her was calling to him. Then he caught it, there was a scent in the air, a scent that he pinpoint coming from her, and it was calling out to him. The girl looked up and her blue eyes connected with Ben's hazel ones. He watched as a grin formed on the girl's face.
Getting up Ben headed in her direction. Zack could wait, he was already late. If Zack had to talk to him bad enough, he could call.
End Flashback
Heat. It was that night Ben learnt what exactly that was. It was that night Ben had learned how screwed up Manticore was when they made him and his siblings. But it wasn't until the morning after that he had found out that the girl had been Jondy. To say things had been awkward between them was an understatement. They had agreed to go their separate ways and never speak of the incident again. They had also agreed to make sure Zack never found out about what happened.
Ben began to wonder about what had happened to Jondy. Sure they had swapped cell numbers, and promised to keep in touch. But Ben had never worked up enough courage to call Jondy. All he could think about was how he had let someone he called his sister be a one night stand.
Closing his eyes, Ben tried to forget it all. He tried to forget how he had let himself become a cold blooded murderer. He tried to forget about how he had hurt those he loved. He tried to forget that he was back in Manticore. Slowly sleep consumed him, letting him forget everything, if just for a little while.
The Night After
"Hey, psychooo." 640 walked into the rec room and wandered over to Mercy. 640 was bored and felt like pushing a few of Mercy's buttons. It was a favorite pass time of 640s.
"Would you just shut up!" Mercy stood up and suddenly slapped 640 across the face.
"Aww, mad cause you ain't gettin any lovin'?" 640 winked sarcastically, not even flinching from the slap. Mercy's nostrils flared and she clenched her jaw.
"I said shut up!" Mercy screamed, and punched 640 in the jaw. She was about to tackle her to the ground when she felt a restraint on her waist. Looking down Mercy saw Biggs' arm wrapped around her waist
"Settle down. You know she just likes to aggravate you." Biggs whispered, giving her a quick squeeze.
"Ok, what is it with the two of you?" Max stepped in between Mercy and 640, tired of their constant bickering.
"Yeah, you're both being kinda nuts." Max turned to see Ben behind her, leaning against the doorframe.
"Alec?" Biggs questioned.
"Ben." Ben replied.
"Ben?" asked Biggs, still confused.
"Alec." said X5-494 walking past Ben into the room. He turned when he spotted Ben at the corner of his eye. "Ben!" With a laugh he added, "Who's the hottie?" He winked at his twin.
"Long story, bro." Ben sighed. Everyone turned back to the two girls. "So what's going on?"
"Its no big deal. We argue, She gets physical, I get a pink band-aid and a lollipop." 640 smirked, glancing at Mercy who looked about ready to kill her.
"I wouldn't call realigning your jaw 'not a big deal'." Max stated raising an eyebrow.
"Oh. Guess you don't know. Manticore played doctor, like they like to do, and now I don't feel pain. They thought it would be great for soldiers." 640 smirked. "No pain, no gain."
Mercy glared at her, Biggs' arm still around her. "Bet you'd feel a fork getting jabbed into your eye socket." She took a slow deep breath and pushed away Biggs' arm. "Im outta here." Biggs followed her and put his arm across her shoulders and they vanished around a corner.
Ben cocked his head to the side. "She looks... familiar." He said slowly.
"Yeah. 'Bout that. She's your twin. My twin. Our clone." Alec explained, shaking his head.
"Another one!" Ben's mouth dropped open.
"Close your mouth hun, don't wanna catch too many flies. Dinner's soon. Well I'm gonna go change, see you at dinner." She winked at Ben and left.
Shaking his head Ben looked at Max, "So I finally get out of solitary and I come find you, yet you don't give me a hug."
Max smiled and gave Ben a hug, "It's good to have you back Ben."
"It's good to be back." Ben replied.
Mercy looked around the hallway to make sure no one was around before she turned and faced Biggs. "You always seem to keep me from doing something I'd regret. You're like my own private prince in shining armor."
"First, it's 'knight in shining armor' not prince. And second, I try my hardest." Biggs grinned at Mercy.
"Hmm, I really don't care what the saying is." Mercy grinned back.
Biggs leaned down to kiss Mercy but the sound of footsteps made him pull back. Glancing over his shoulder, he said, "Hey Alec."
"Biggs." Alec replied nodding towards Biggs. Looking at Mercy, Alec said, "Our dear brother Ben want's to meet you Mercy. Even though he already has in a way."
Mercy nodded, "I'll be there in a sec Alec."
"OK." Alec replied, before turning and heading back in the direction of the rec room.
Mercy sighed and looked at Biggs. "We'll continue this conversation later."
"Promise?" Biggs questioned.
"I promise." Mercy replied, heading towards the rec room herself. As soon as she entered the room she looked from Ben to Alec and back again. "So how exactly are we going to tell the two of you apart?"
"You really don't think you'll be able to tell the difference between Ben and myself?" Alec questioned. "Now that hurts. You grew up with me around."
"Well, as long as you keep that cocky, arrogant attitude of yours I love so much I might be able to." Mercy smirked.
Alec shook his head, "You're not yourself Mercy."
"That's quite a blunt statement there Alec." Mercy replied before turning to Ben. "So, brother of mine, what's the outside world really like?"
"Haven't you been out there for missions?" Ben questioned.
"Yea..." Mercy trailed off. "But missions, and actually living out there are two completely different things."
"Living out there has it's ups and downs." Ben replied.
"So does this place." Mercy said more to herself then anyone else. "What exactly did our dear brother Alec tell you I was? A twin? A clone?"
"He said both." Ben responded, glancing at Alec.
"Well I think I'm more of a clone then twin. I'm a full year younger then the two of you. All they did was use your guys' genetic code, and altered it a bit. Hence me being female." Mercy stated. "But I have to go do something. I'll see you guys at dinner."
Ben watched as Mercy disappeared out the door of the rec room. "She seems... I can't think of the right word."
"She's usually much more quiet." Alec replied. "She tends to keep to herself."
"Sure you're not a bad influence on her Alec?" Max questioned from where she sat on one of the couches in the room.
"Yea right." Alec snorted, causing Max to roll her eyes. "She doesn't let anyone influence her decisions."
"So what's going on between Mercy and your friend Biggs?" Ben questioned, slightly changing the subject.
"Nothing's going on between them." Alec replied quickly.
"OK...it just seemed like there was something between the two of them." Ben mused. "Guess I was wrong."
"Just a little." Alec replied.
"But are you sure there's nothing going on between them?" Ben questioned.
"I'm sure."
"Positive?"
"Drop it, Ben." Alec replied. "There's nothing going on between the two of them. I'd know if there was something going on."
"If you say so." Ben shrugged.
"Ready to finish our conversation?" Mercy questioned as she stepped into the cell Biggs shared with Alec.
"I like that idea." Biggs smirked, sitting up on his bunk.
Mercy walked up to Biggs and sat down beside him. Looking at him she asked, "So where were we exactly?"
"Right about here." Biggs replied, tilting Mercy's head up to meet his with his hand, and giving her a kiss. Mercy deepened the kiss, her hands moving to either side of Biggs' face.
When she pulled away Mercy asked, "How could I possibly forget that was where we left off?"
"I don't know." Biggs laughed.
"Do you think anyone has realized that you and I are together?" Mercy questioned, tilting her head to the side.
"I don't think anyone has got a clue."
"Guess that could be a good thing. Don't want Alec to kill you, that would completely suck for me."
"He wouldn't kill me." Biggs replied.
"You sure about that? I am his 'baby sister'."
"And I am his best friend."
"I say once again, I'm his 'baby sister'. Have you not seen a protective Alec?"
"Right..." Biggs trailed off. "So we make sure he doesn't find out about us. Which shouldn't be a problem."
"He is kinda dense." Mercy mused after a second. "We've been together for what? A year, and he has yet to realize that we're together."
"That's Alec for you." Biggs laughed.
"Who knew a one night stand could turn into this." Mercy mused, even though it hadn't been a one night stand. More of a kiss one night, that led to so much more the following night.
"I was a one night stand?" Biggs questioned, giving Mercy a hurt look.
"I'm kidding Biggs." Mercy replied, giving Biggs a quick kiss. "But we should head to the Mess Hall. Dinner started two minutes ago, don't want anyone to come searching for us."
"Lead the way."
"You just wanna look at my ass." Mercy joked standing up.
"You know me to well." Biggs laughed, following Mercy out of his cell.
The two walked down the halls towards the Mess Hall, as soon as they entered they got a plate of Manticore's lovely mystery food, and found the rest of the group. Mercy and Biggs purposely took seats opposite from each other and started eating.
"'Bout time the two of you showed up." 640 stated.
"I didn't know you cared so much." Mercy replied, glancing at her.
"I don't." 640 said before eating some of her own food.
"Where were you guys anyway?" Max questioned looking between the two.
"I was in the bathroom." Mercy replied quickly.
"I was taking a quick nap in my cell." Biggs replied at the same time.
Max smiled at them, "Sure..."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Mercy questioned.
"Nothing." Max replied.
The conversation soon died around them. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, as they sat and ate the food they had been served. Mercy was trying to keep the memories of her last mission from getting to her, by thinking of Biggs. Biggs was pondering whether or not to tell Alec about Mercy and himself. After all it had been a year, and Alec would probably be more mad about him taking so long to tell him. 640 was thinking about Ben, he was pretty cute, and she knew he was different from Alec. Alec was thinking about Max, and how something about her just pulled him in. Ben couldn't help but feel like he belonged better within the walls of Manticore, with people more like him, rather than out in the world, with people that didn't know his secret. Max, well Max was trying to come up with a plan on how to get out of Manticore and bring along Ben and he new found friends. She was also trying to remember the life she had lived before getting brought back to Manticore. Max knew there were people that missed her right now, and she just wanted to remember them.
AN: Thanks for reading, please leave a review to let us know what you think. If you have any ideas, do share we'll try to fit 'em in.
