As Alec and I sit next to Joshua I can feel my anger grow again. How dare
he. Of all the ridiculous stunts – he had to kill an innocent? I feel
myself start to shake. "We're going to make this right big fella." I mutter
darkly, and through our linked arms around Joshua I feel Alec tense in
surprise. "Pack a bag, it's time for us to be with our own."
I get up and cross to the window, watching the people walk down the street. When he comes up behind me I don't move.
"Max, what are you talking about?"
"I don't want to run anymore Alec. I've been playing an elaborate game of escape and evade for 12 years. It's time to fight back." I turn to face him. "We're here. We're different. We matter." I say calmly.
"And just where are we going to make this stand?"
"The one place they can't force us out of. Terminal City." I look up into his eyes. "Alec we were trained – bred – to fight for our country. This country. Well, this country doesn't want us. Let's make our own."
"What changed your mind?" he asks softly. "Don't get me wrong Maxie, I like this idea, because you're right. We were bred to fight back. But you've been all about avoiding exposure."
"We're exposed. White saw to that." I feel the tears in my eyes rise up again and feel Alec pull me into his chest tightly. "I never wanted it to come to this Alec. I just wanted my own little corner. I don't have it anymore. But other than my unit, we're talking about a group of people with the combined military minds of the world crammed into their heads. We're smarter than them, we're faster than them, and we can outlast them by days."
"What about the familiars? Max, they –
"Have spent thousands of years breeding themselves into the perfect humans. But that's just it Alec. They're still human."
"Aren't we?"
"We're also animals. And we're fighting for freedom; the ultimate incentive for any fighter. Especially ones with revved up perfect genetics."
"We won't make it tonight."
"Then we'll go tonight. It'll give us a chance to grab some clothes."
"Are you sure you want to do this? Because if we call in the troops; that's it. We're committed."
"I'm sure." I look up at him without letting go. "As much as I hate Manticore – even now – this is who we are Alec. I've tried for years to blend in with normal humans. It didn't work. It's never going to work. I didn't want to face that. But he crossed the line. He killed Annie. He broke my friend's heart. It's time for us to take a stand."
He nods. "Then let's do it." We look over at Joshua, who has been silently observing us the whole time, I realize.
"No more laying low?" he asks.
"That's the plan." Alec affirms. "Max and I have to go into work, but we'll be back to pick you up as soon as we get off."
I cross over to Joshua. "We'll be back soon big fella."
"I'll be okay little fella."
I hug him tightly. "I know, it's me I'm worried about."
Joshua nods to Alec. "Alec watch out for Max, that's the plan."
I smile over at Alec. "I suppose it is." I agree, enjoying the light that appears in his eyes.
"We should get going." He motions to the door, and I nod.
"See you tonight Joshua." I follow Alec out the door and manage to tuck myself under his arm as we walk down the stairs. He pulls me closer, and I place my arm around his waist to anchor us together.
As we approach our bikes, he speaks. "You know you're going to have to move out of OC's, right? It wouldn't be –
"Safe for her. I know. I hate it, but I know." I pause. "I suppose I could just take myself to your apartment." I grin up at him.
"You want to move in with me already? I don't know Max – it's a little soon. We haven't even kissed yet." He grins cockily.
So he wants to play, does he? I can play. "Well, fine then." I say huffily, and turn away abruptly. I sense his confusion and grin, then turn back and pull his head down to capture his lips with mine.
I feel the shudder run through his body as he pulls me closer to him, molding my body to his tightly, his tongue sweeping gently across my lips before plunging into my mouth. I relax into the feel of the kiss and feel him grin on my lips as I purr.
"It's not that funny." I murmur calmly.
"It really was." He whispers, kissing my briefly and resting his forehead against mine. "Sexy too."
I smile. "So..." I tilt my head. "Do I get to move in or not?"
"I don't know Max. I could use a little more convincing." I feel his hands rest on my hips. "I mean, what would I be getting out of this arrangement?"
"Me."
He lowers his face a bit. "You?"
"Me." I whisper, and he presses his lips to mine again and I wrap my arms around his neck to support myself as I tremble from the feel of his hands traveling up my back."
We break apart and he fingers my hair. "Much as I'd like to continue this, if we don't get to work soon, Normal is going to fire your cute little ass."
I grin. "I could live with that."
"But not without a sector pass. Go." He points at my Ninja, and I climb on, pulling out, and hearing him pull out behind me.
I get up and cross to the window, watching the people walk down the street. When he comes up behind me I don't move.
"Max, what are you talking about?"
"I don't want to run anymore Alec. I've been playing an elaborate game of escape and evade for 12 years. It's time to fight back." I turn to face him. "We're here. We're different. We matter." I say calmly.
"And just where are we going to make this stand?"
"The one place they can't force us out of. Terminal City." I look up into his eyes. "Alec we were trained – bred – to fight for our country. This country. Well, this country doesn't want us. Let's make our own."
"What changed your mind?" he asks softly. "Don't get me wrong Maxie, I like this idea, because you're right. We were bred to fight back. But you've been all about avoiding exposure."
"We're exposed. White saw to that." I feel the tears in my eyes rise up again and feel Alec pull me into his chest tightly. "I never wanted it to come to this Alec. I just wanted my own little corner. I don't have it anymore. But other than my unit, we're talking about a group of people with the combined military minds of the world crammed into their heads. We're smarter than them, we're faster than them, and we can outlast them by days."
"What about the familiars? Max, they –
"Have spent thousands of years breeding themselves into the perfect humans. But that's just it Alec. They're still human."
"Aren't we?"
"We're also animals. And we're fighting for freedom; the ultimate incentive for any fighter. Especially ones with revved up perfect genetics."
"We won't make it tonight."
"Then we'll go tonight. It'll give us a chance to grab some clothes."
"Are you sure you want to do this? Because if we call in the troops; that's it. We're committed."
"I'm sure." I look up at him without letting go. "As much as I hate Manticore – even now – this is who we are Alec. I've tried for years to blend in with normal humans. It didn't work. It's never going to work. I didn't want to face that. But he crossed the line. He killed Annie. He broke my friend's heart. It's time for us to take a stand."
He nods. "Then let's do it." We look over at Joshua, who has been silently observing us the whole time, I realize.
"No more laying low?" he asks.
"That's the plan." Alec affirms. "Max and I have to go into work, but we'll be back to pick you up as soon as we get off."
I cross over to Joshua. "We'll be back soon big fella."
"I'll be okay little fella."
I hug him tightly. "I know, it's me I'm worried about."
Joshua nods to Alec. "Alec watch out for Max, that's the plan."
I smile over at Alec. "I suppose it is." I agree, enjoying the light that appears in his eyes.
"We should get going." He motions to the door, and I nod.
"See you tonight Joshua." I follow Alec out the door and manage to tuck myself under his arm as we walk down the stairs. He pulls me closer, and I place my arm around his waist to anchor us together.
As we approach our bikes, he speaks. "You know you're going to have to move out of OC's, right? It wouldn't be –
"Safe for her. I know. I hate it, but I know." I pause. "I suppose I could just take myself to your apartment." I grin up at him.
"You want to move in with me already? I don't know Max – it's a little soon. We haven't even kissed yet." He grins cockily.
So he wants to play, does he? I can play. "Well, fine then." I say huffily, and turn away abruptly. I sense his confusion and grin, then turn back and pull his head down to capture his lips with mine.
I feel the shudder run through his body as he pulls me closer to him, molding my body to his tightly, his tongue sweeping gently across my lips before plunging into my mouth. I relax into the feel of the kiss and feel him grin on my lips as I purr.
"It's not that funny." I murmur calmly.
"It really was." He whispers, kissing my briefly and resting his forehead against mine. "Sexy too."
I smile. "So..." I tilt my head. "Do I get to move in or not?"
"I don't know Max. I could use a little more convincing." I feel his hands rest on my hips. "I mean, what would I be getting out of this arrangement?"
"Me."
He lowers his face a bit. "You?"
"Me." I whisper, and he presses his lips to mine again and I wrap my arms around his neck to support myself as I tremble from the feel of his hands traveling up my back."
We break apart and he fingers my hair. "Much as I'd like to continue this, if we don't get to work soon, Normal is going to fire your cute little ass."
I grin. "I could live with that."
"But not without a sector pass. Go." He points at my Ninja, and I climb on, pulling out, and hearing him pull out behind me.