Hey guys- sorry for the cliffy- I couldn't help it. Lmao. Okay, so here ya go. I'm not sure how long it's going to be- as I type, the internet is off, so ?shrugs? Lmao… enjoy, while you can. No, it's not Miggy- it's a brother sister thing. I adore love triangles, but this is not one. He's just worried about Fang and Max, and he's trying to get used to Fang being what he is, and trying to help Max while he can. He's a little afraid to talk to Fang, because he doesn't know if he'll be different. Just wanted to clear that up. XD
Their lips met, sending fireworks into both minds. Fang pressed Max closer to the counter, though some how staying gentle with her. She felt his fangs slide out a little. One of her arms slipped down, off the counter, dropping the cup. No shattering noise. Fang's hand slid through her hair, holding the back of her head gently. Max pushed herself closer to him, one hand on his shoulder. His tongue slid out, tracing hers softly. She opened her mouth very slightly, sliding her hand into his hair, then pulling herself closer to him. His fang hit her lip, bringing a rusty, rough taste to the kiss. Fang pulled away first this time, face still close to Max's as she took gasping breaths.
"I…uh…" She started to run away, but Fang grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. He ducked his head a little, letting his bangs cover his eyes a little.
"You kissed back." He informed, releasing her. She stood there for a second, staring at him, brown eyes wide and wild, swiveling back and forth.
"I know." She breathed, then took off, running outside where it was cool. The night blanketed the town as she ran down the empty road, bare feet slapping against the pavement. Then she took to the air, not even paying attention to who could have been watching. Or what could have been watching.
XXXX
Max arrived back at her mothers house at around seven in the morning. Dr. Martinez only brought a blanket and some cookies out, sitting her on the porch swing with a previously unseen mug of hot chocolate.
"Glad you're back." Was all she said, and she started to get up.
"…I'm confused." Max murmured. Mom sat back down next to her, pushing the swing a little.
"About?""Everything." Under Mom's look, she admitted, "Fang." "What about Fang?""…I'm worried about him, is all." Max said, denial clear even to her.
"Maybe you should give him a chance- he's doing very well. And of course, he's really worried about you, Max.""He shouldn't be- he should be getting better, rather than worrying about me." Max said defiantly.
"I'm sorry, but that's not how lo-life works, kiddo." Valencia smiled softy at her, about to get up."How did you-?"
"I'm a mother- I know these things." Max nodded, accepting that she might not ever know what she was talking about. "Just wait a little bit- sometimes it takes a while for the answer you want to give people, or yourself, to appear, but I'm sure you'll choose right. Ella will be home today, for just a little bit." With that she walked to her car, got in, waved, and backed out.
Max went inside, sighing. Fang was nowhere in sight. Iggy was sitting on the couch, elbows on his knees, face resting on his hands. His head shot up when she closed the door.
"Where'd you go?" Was all he asked.
"I'm sorry- I was just flying around." And she still wanted to- she was still stressed, and flying was the only thing that usually helped with that. Flying fast worked only when she was upset or confused. Flying slow, with her flock, was usually how she relaxed from stress. "Wanna fly with me?" She asked, knowing flying relaxed everyone when they were stressed. Iggy smiled a little.
"Sure." With that he stood up, put his shoes on, and waited outside on the porch. Fang was suddenly standing in the walk way."Where are you going?""Flying- Iggy's with me." She said abruptly, turning and putting her shoes on and starting to walk outside. Fang snatched her arm."Why?" Was all he said. Max shrugged and started out. "I didn't mean that, and you know it." Old Fang showing through. "I don't know what to do." She whispered, which made Fang loosen his grasp on her arm. "Is it that hard to say…no? Or…yes?" He asked, eyes pleading with her."Fang, sometimes you don't think- I know, I know, some times I don't think, and it's you who has to be the smart one, but I think about this. And I know that if something goes wrong…things would change." She hissed, shaking her head and walking outside- a place Fang would not venture. She stumbled off the stairs, grabbing Iggy's arm to help her stand. He didn't respond to her attack.
"Sorry." She said, letting go and walking to the back of the house. "What happened?" Iggy asked, following her expertly. She looked at him and smiled, realizing that no matter what she told him- he couldn't see her blush."Come on." With that she jumped into the air, whipping her wings out and flying high into the sky. Iggy followed swiftly, keeping up with great practice. "I don't know what to tell him, Iggy." She sighed, then stopped herself. What was with all of this telling-the-younger-ones-all-of-her-problems?? Well, if Fang had really died, then she probably would have turned to Iggy to help her, anyways.
"What to tell him about what?" He was confused. She sighed again, audibly. His head turned to her quickly, and a smile lit his face. "He kissed ya again, didn't he?" He smirked.
"Well- wait, how do you know he's ever kissed me?" Iggy shrugged, smirking more.
"Angel says he's always thinking about it." He responded, then winced. "You don't have to tell her that...I ratted her out." He looked at Max sheepishly."I won't- she'll probably know already. But I do have to talk to her about that.""Max, why can't you just let her have a little bit of fun?" Iggy sighed. Max's face got that just-been-bitch-slapped look on. "I-I…Why- how could you-" She stuttered, unable to speak. Iggy looked sorry.
"I'm sorry- that's not what I meant. I just meant that she needs to have a little more fun, and she's got these amazing powers that she isn't allowed to use. I just think that if I had that power, I'd want to use it." "You're right- maybe I'll let her use her mind powers as much as she wants, and then while she's walking around, reading everyone's minds, she'll tell us what you're thinking all the time. Yeah, and she'll be spitting everyone's thoughts all over, and none of us will ever lie. Like, hmm, maybe where your bomb supplies are, possibly?" Max smiled, knowing she'd caught him."Sorry." He mumbled.
"You guys think that the things I do are just for my amusement- well, they're not. I take things away from you, I yell at you, I punish you for your own good. I know, you probably don't think so but I do just want to take care of you." She gave him a smile. Then she grabbed his hand and let him feel her face, so he knew she was smiling. He smiled back and pulled his hands away, flying steadily. His wings were so long, that no matter how far away he was it felt like he'd hit Max in the head.
"What should I tell him, Iggy?" Max asked quietly, staring down at the little houses. She focused on one black Jeep Wrangler, watching it speed too quickly down the high way. "What do you want to tell him?" Well, Iggy seemed to be getting deep. She laughed a little to herself.
"I-If I knew, I'd tell him.""Max." Iggy sighed, exasperated. "Do you ever do that? We can always ask Angel what you're always thinking about." "Angel wouldn't- plus, I usually tell him what I think. Even if it means telling him that dark green is NOT his color." At this Iggy chuckled. "I just…don't know what I think about it." She was blushing, but Iggy couldn't see. Iggy tapped her face.
"I've never seen anyone turn that particular shade of red." "You've never seen anyone, period." She snapped, reddening more. Then she saw Iggy's face drop. "Sorry, Iggy. I was just kidding." She felt bad. Whoops. He shrugged.
"It's fine- I should be used to it by now." "No you shouldn't- it wasn't a choice, like a bad tattoo or a bad hair cut." That got him smiling."I've been blind for almost twelve years- I should have…gotten over it by now. That's all." Max nodded, then sighed."Shall we head back and get breakfast started?""Sure. But one thing- we aren't going to be COOKING breakfast. I'll be doing the cooking- you, you will do the waking of the others." He grinned at her. "Mrs. I-burnt-half-the-expensive-kitchen-down-and-that-could-be-why-Jeb-saved-us-from-the-School-in-the-first-place.""You know what? That was the one time- the one time! I was nine. Jeb should have known what he was in for." She laughed. She shrugged then, her mood shifting instantly. Like it was never happy in the first place.
"Sorry.""Meh- it was fun to think of." She said, shrugging once more. "But it made you sad- I don't know what to do to make you happy again. I miss the old, snappy, moody, bossy Max." He sighed."I miss the old Fang." It wasn't supposed to slip out, but it did, and now she couldn't take away the look on Iggy's face. "Yeah, we all do. You think that because we're the younger ones, that we don't notice things, but we do. All of it. The way Fang's been watching you constantly, following you, just staring. Every time some one else looks at you too long, he starts glaring something fierce. Sometimes we notice that you'll be dizzy after spending five minutes with him in a room, and we don't think that it's an oxygen deprived vertigo." He smiled a little at his humor deprived joke.
"I smell an innuendo." Max joked in a sing-song voice. Iggy laughed.
"Well?" "I'm not gonna tell you until Fang's ready to tell you. He's scared that you guys will reject him. I don't want him to be afraid." She murmured.
"What about the rest of us Max? We're afraid- for him, but still afraid. You aren't-""I think about your pain all the time- all of yours. I hate when you're afraid, but it's not like I can take away any fear you feel. And…I want you to feel safe. But it's not going to happen. So I have to focus on the things I can fix. Like the Fang thing- if he's afraid of telling the flock something, then I have to make it clear to him that you guys won't reject him no matter what he is or has to do." That much slipped. She clamped her mouth shut tightly. "What does he have to do, Max?" Iggy asked suspiciously. "I'll race ya." She took off, a rocket piercing the air. Iggy shook his head, but followed. Clearly, Fang's fear of telling the flock something was something that she was not going to let fly. Ahh, puns.
XXXXX
"Max, what are we going to do today?" Nudge asked at lunch, at the same time she finished speaking, the front door opened. Fang was standing over Max, hunched slightly.
'Okay, that protective thing is getting old fast.' She thought, shaking her head. Fang backed up, smiling a little.
"Wait for it…" Just as he finished speaking, a loud shriek filled the room, so shrill that the flock-Total and Akila included- winced. The sound hurt their over sensitive ears, especially Iggy. Ella dashed in the room, her arms around everyone at once, it felt like. She was moving almost as fast as Fang, Max thought wryly. "When did yous get here? Mom did NOT inform me of this!" She shrieked, hugging Nudge, then Angel, Gazzy, Max, Iggy, but she stopped at Fang. Any other time, in her excitement she would have forgotten his aversion to physical contact, but it wasn't that that had her backing away from him slowly. Her eyes were wide with fear now, and she was shaking slightly. "Max…?" She looked between the two. Fang wasn't tensed- instead he looked more along the lines of hurt, and he shot Max a look, an I-told-you-so look, and he was gone suddenly, probably in the computer room."Ella, come on." Max grabbed her arm and dragged her to the room they now shared- for now, apparently. "What's…why do I feel like I should be scared of him? Why are his eyes red? Why does he move so fast? Why-""Stopstopstop!!" Max yelled, suddenly ready to cry. Ella saw that and sat down on the bed, hard. "What's going on, Max?" She asked, face scared.
"I-I wish I knew." Max breathed, then controlled herself. "Right. You want answers. He's just a little different, that's all. He's stronger, faster, and probably more durable than the rest of us. That's all. His eyes are part of the transformation. Jeb…said it had something to do with him turning fifteen. That he'd be back to normal shortly. He said a few days, but I also had him by the throat, ready to rip. It. Out." Max took a calming breath and continued. "So Angel told me that she said he thought he'd be better by the end of seven days. How ironic." Max rolled her eyes.
"Okay- but what is he, Max?" The question Max'd been hoping to avoid. She cringed, trying to back away. "That bad, huh?" Max nodded. Ella sighed. "Okay, tell me, I'm ready.""I'm not quite sure if it's what I think it is. I mean, it seems like it- he's got all of the qualities- strength, speed, senses, bloo-" She cut herself off. Ella gasped. "No. He's not drinking blood." "Quiet, Ella." Max moaned, suddenly ready to cry again; Fang's mind was beyond repair, though. It was reeling, and depressed. Beyond, but Max didn't know what to call it.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I forgot that he could hear! I didn't mean it in a bad way- I was shocked." Ella was shaking her head frantically, eyes behind Max. She whipped around, finding Fang standing there, face stricken.
"They're going to-" He choked on his words, trying to get away. Max's hand caught his wrist this time, softly, but he stayed still as if she was the strongest person in the world. His skin was still ice cold. He looked back at her slowly.
"No. They. Won't. I spoke to Iggy." She was barely whispering, but somehow she knew that he could hear her. "I didn't tell him anything- he told me that they wouldn't reject you, or want you out, no matter what, Fang. Stop worrying about that.""He says that. He doesn't know- he wouldn't-couldn't understand. None of them would. It would be so horrid that…they would want me gone." Fang whispered, eyes completely gone. Max was afraid for a minute to feel his mind, scared of what she might feel there. But it was better for him, if she would check. It was scared, sad, depressed, dark, everything she had hoped it wouldn't be. And more, of course, because life wasn't simple. "Fang…I don't think you know your flock at all. They love you- they love each other, we all love the whole flock. It wouldn't matter if you'd grown an extra limb, an extra head, a few fangs, or a bad stench, we'd still love you. You're family." She murmured, framing his face with her hands. Then she backed up, face red. Fang didn't even mention the blush to her, instead staring at her with eyes frozen in the same pained way they'd been before.
"I didn't grow an extra limb, an extra head, or bad odor. I grew fangs, and a new appetite. One for our fear less leader- and that probably won't flow too smoothly with them.""What about Angel? She may be six and a half, but seriously, she's not stupid, and she can read our thoughts. I hope she isn't, but she most likely is. I hate that, too. Because this isn't something a six year old- mutant or not- should be dealing with. Please, Fang, just listen. She hasn't even said a word to the others, and I think it's because she wants you to do it. To prove that they will still accept you.""She isn't that cryptic, Max. She'll probably be ignoring it because-""Because, Fang, you're like a daddy to me." Angel's voice said from the door, eyes wide as she stared up at Fang. His red iris's became panicked, and his pupils narrowed. He might've flushed, but instead he was suddenly behind Max. (He had really been avoiding speaking to the rest of the flock)"I-""He doesn't know how to take that, Angel. Just go back down stairs with the others for now.""But Max, I don't want Fang to think that we'll hate him if he is different. You guys didn't hate me when I had so many more powers than yous. Isn't this a little bit the same? He can just run faster, move faster, speak faster, and is stronger and everything than us.
That's like how I can breathe under water and how I can read thoughts, and control minds, and shape shift, and how Gazzy can change his voice, how Nudge can feel and see into the past and is magnetic when she wants to be. Iggy can feel colors, and other things. Max, you can fly really faster than all of us. And- and-" By then, the tears that were falling down her face down too quickly for Fang to handle, because he was holding her suddenly, shushing her.
"I'm sorry, Angel." Max felt his mind, and realized he knew that it hurt her to see Angel crying and saying all of those things. "I didn't want to hurt you guys. Just calm down and go down stairs. I'll tell them later, okay?" He wasn't definite on the time, but he wasn't lying. "Okay. I'm sor-"
"No." Fang said, resisting as much as possible. Max saw his fangs sliding out a little, as he hugged Angel so close, and saw him brush them across her neck."Go down stairs, now Angel. We'll be down soon." Max said hurriedly, realizing she hadn't let him have any blood today. Ella was watching with horror as Fang turned around, flashing those fangs that seemed horrifying to her, Ella, but average- if not…hot- to Max.
"I- I…no. That's not what I meant Fang. I'm sorry." Ella sighed, shaking her head. "Okay, I'm good. Right. I can get used to that." She smiled brightly. "I guess I don't have to worry about your safety right?" She laughed out loud, obviously over the fact that Fang was a…vampire? Yes, Max was sure he was.
"I guess not." Max joined in the laughter.
"Not mine- or Max's." She just shook her head, but Ella had a strange gleam in her eye that Max did not like.
"Okay." Ella nodded. "So what now?" "Fang and I have to…er, talk. So could you…?" She got the hint and walked away, leaving them in silence. Fang stared at her, red eyes seeming to brighten, then darken when he realized what she'd meant. "Max, you're too tired." He insisted, backing up."I want to talk, too. I know, I know. Don't gasp in surprise." She shook herself out, then sat on the bed. She moved her hair, exposing the mark he'd left on her.
"Just a little bit…a little…sip. Yeah, that's all. Thank you…you're so beautiful and generous, and brave. The bravest person I know." It was like he was babbling to himself- or procrastinating drinking. "Just drink, and we'll talk." She said, pulling him beside her. He leaned towards her, kissed the corner of her mouth, frowned, then bit into her skin. It surprised her- he hadn't asked this time.
'Why?' She asked, and knew he would hear and know what she was talking about.
'I'm sorry. I forgot- I should have. I…was really…thirsty….it was hurting…' He said, and Max stiffened.
'You're fine, Fang. I was just surprised. I thought you couldn't if you didn't ask. Which makes me wonder why you did before- clearly I was okay with it.' Max said, feeling herself fade. Fang felt that and immediately his mind was alarmed, enough to pull away, lap the holes on her neck- made Max blushed, by the way- and looked at her face carefully. SHIFTS…VIEWS, I GUESS. LMAO.
He'd taken too much. She should have drank enough of his remaining blood to be okay, to be regenerating her own blood so quickly that it wouldn't matter, but he knew that it wasn't enough, apparently. Maybe he had enough blood of his own left…to…
So what did he do? Cut his arm open and let her drink? She'd be uncomfortable any way they did this, but the only way he could think would work was to bite his own lip and…but she'd never agreed to…let him kiss her…
In a way she had, but …other than that…she was mostly on…the opposite side of the field, with that one.
"Fang, what's wrong with you?" Max asked, face open and showing her emotions. "Just wondering how I could manage to hurt you, realize I did, then hurt you again." He shrugged, looking at her. That caused her pain, too. Damn, he was just a killing machine, no? That made him wince.
"Fang, I'm fine. A little tired, but fine." She whispered, starting to lean back. At that Fang put his hand behind her neck, pulled her to him hard and kissed her. It was always the same- his feelings would get jumbled, his mind would race, be electrified, and it would feel like that so long as he stayed with Max, life would be sustained. He bit into his own lip with the razor sharp fangs of his, letting a bunch of blood flow into her surprised mouth.
He was every bit as surprised as she was. He had thought that, upon giving Max that big gulp the other day, he'd given the last of his blood away. But apparently, he'd had enough left to give. And that felt good, knowing that he could still give something to her, even if he thought he should do more. He was always taking and never giving. It was horrible. But he couldn't stop it. Not when she agreed so fully to it, and it was hard to resist those brown eyes…
She pulled back, swallowing hard. Her face was pale, but her mind wasn't tired- just scared now. Why was no one seeing how scared everyone was of him?
"Why- how?""Because, it should make you…able to stand all of my selfish taking." He murmured.
"It's not selfish- it's survival, damn it!" Max growled, then slapped a hand over her mouth. Obviously, she'd felt as if she crossed the line. Fang shot her a smile, saw and felt the flicker of fear in her, and closed his mouth. Fangs. He forgot to retract them. Hard to remember when they felt so right when they were showing. "No, it's not those." Max murmured, reaching over and wiping something off his chin. Blood. His own, he would have noticed if it was hers. It was his own. Why was it still dripping? That's when he felt his skin seal up on it's own accord. "Let's go downstairs." Fang suggested.
"What are we going to do today? Before they ask." "You guys could go out again." Max frowned at the regret in his voice. "What would happen if you went into the sun? Aren't your wings cramped up?""Yeah, but I know that the sun will be too hot, and that I'll be uncomfortable, and that it'll hurt." He sighed, then glanced at her, eyes saddened. "Have we checked- it's been at least three days." Then he felt her mind wonder about risking it. She didn't like it. "Never mind. We'll find something to do in the house." She grimaced.
"Why? You shouldn't board yourselves up if it's because of me. I've got tons to do on my own." "Really? You want us out?" She asked, slightly insulted.
"That's not it-""I know, Fang. I know you better than you know you." She rolled her eyes, smiling at him. Brightening his day. She always thought her smile was off, some how messed up, marred by all the punches she'd taken, but he'd always loved it, and now with his enhanced senses, he could see how perfect it was. It was gorgeous, and beautiful. And it was never going to be his- for some reason he figured that's how it would be, because she always ran, and seemed to only kiss back on instinct. And that was just barely. At least he tried.
"Max…please…it's just a yes or no. Not that hard." The smile fell away, and her face became pained.
"Fang, it is hard. Because either choice will change everything. Either way, something big will happen. I can't answer, because something happens either way. I hate that, too. Because I only wanted things to be normal, again." She whined, subconsciously leaning her head on his chest. That made him feel better, to feel her breathing on him, heart beating, blood flowing. It was comforting to know that she was still alive.
"You don't think that I understand that? I know- I knew all along that you just wanted it to go back to normal. But everything IS changing. I'm…devastatingly different, things are different- even before I got sick things were different. I mean…you never talk to me any more. I wish you would- sometimes I think that I wish I could take back…erm, everything, so that we can be best friends again." Fang whispered. He felt her mind become pained, in agony because of his words.
"We're not friends any more?" She murmured.
"That's not what I meant. I meant that you don't act like it. You act like I'm just someone standing there. I want to be…yours." He breathed. Max stiffened, but didn't move.
"I-""MAX!" Angel yelled from downstairs. From her tone of voice, nothing was wrong. Fang was downstairs before Max had even moved.
"What's the matter?" He asked quietly. Angel looked up at him.
"…We…wanted to do something today." She whispered, as if sorry she'd bothered.
"Like what?" He titled his head, wondering at her. She flinched.
"We don't have to go outside. We can play inside, and do stuff indoors, today." She smiled sweetly at him, and he didn't respond. Max made her way down stairs.
"What's the matter? What'd I miss?" She gave Fang a look. One he didn't recognize. It wasn't a 'we're talking later' look, or a 'you're in trouble' or even a 'what's the matter.' it was…confusing. Angel titled her head, obviously listening to their minds. Fang felt Max's mind for a moment, then back pedaled quickly. It didn't feel like her mind at all. It was confused, whirling, and a little…soft. Like something it'd never been. That couldn't mean anything good. But Angel was smiling. "Angel wants to do something, that's all," he assured, figuring that the only reason her mind was like that was because she didn't know if something was wrong. It was still the same.
'Angel, are you going to tell me about this?'
'Thought you'd never ask. She's thinking about how to respond to your…questions. And…it's tilting in your favor, that's all I'm saying.' Fang felt her presence leave his mind and he glanced at Max, obviously thinking of more than what to entertain the kids with today.
"Alright, guys, how about we just do something relaxing, like have a movie day or something?" Max suggested, looking over all of the faces. Iggy looked slightly concerned, but otherwise bored. Gazzy nodded happily. Nudge nodded too enthusiastically, and Fang was surprised she didn't get a headache. He heard her neck crack. Total sighed and flopped on the ground by Akila. Magnolia was watching them both warily. Ella smiled and sat on the couch, dragging Nudge and Angel with her. Max shrugged.
"Okay, I guess we're ready. Angel, Nudge, Ella decide on a movie, then Total, Gazzy, Iggy, and Fang decide on one. I'll go make…popcorn or something." Max said, walking into the kitchen. Fang followed. The cup that she'd accidentally knocked over last night was still on the counter, where he set it when he caught it. He saw her eyes flicker to it, and away. Her mind softened a little, the acute senses dulling a bit. His back stiffened, wings twitching. Uh-oh. "Max?" He asked. She dropped the bowl she'd gotten out. He caught it and set it down. "Sorry," he apologized again. "No, it's fine." She picked the bowl up, slowly, biting her lip. Then Max turned to him, looking at him from under her eye lashes. She took one step closer, then stopped. She was too close, he could smell her rushing blood, hear her heart pounding way faster than usual. She took another step, the bowl between them. Fang found his breathing way off, though he knew that he didn't need to breathe at all.
He was sure that if his heart was still working, alive, it'd be pounding twice as fast as hers. Her eyes fluttered a little, as if scared- her mind was, of rejection, how stupid- and she pushed him back to the counter.
"What answer do you want?" She whispered, quiet enough to keep the conversation from the prying ears in the living room. Even Total's and Akila's.
"I want you." He murmured, breathing hitched. He leaned towards her neck, though he'd never been less thirsty.
"Feeling's mutual." She replied, leaning closer to him. She turned his head towards her, meeting his lips with hers. He shivered, but she should be the cold one, what with his ice like lips on her warm ones. She pushed closer to him, though the bowl was still in one hand between their torso's. He smiled, though not breaking contact. "Mine." He murmured.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FEW DAYS LATER XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Fang was acting slightly normal, though somehow still managed to keep his new attitude. The rest of the flock seemed to be getting less and less amused and more and more annoyed with the fact that he followed Max around like crazy. Ella went to camp, so they were home alone most of the time, until Mom got back from work.
"Guys, I think we should be leaving soon." Max decided, standing in front of everyone. It was about noon, so Mom wasn't home yet. Nudge's mouth fell open to protest, but Angel beat her to it.
"But Max, we're all so comfortable here." She said, eyes sad.
"And we're getting enough food." Gazzy said around a mouth full of hot dog.
"Plus, we're safe." Nudge finally added, and that seemed the end of her argument. Thank goth.
"And there haven't been any attacks lately." Iggy added. Fang was behind Max, watching, waiting.
"I think something is wrong. I feel like someone is watching us. And I don't feel the flattery of stalkers." She added sharply.
"What do you think it is?" Total asked bitterly.
"I'm not sure." She sighed. "Okay, I'm going outside. Be back in a sec." She said blurrily, going out quickly. Something wasn't right. She darted around the side of the house, eyes wheeling everywhere. She kept her back hunched, and muscles coiled.
"Ahh, so you're the one Maximum. You are pretty. A nice toy, if I do say so myself." A voice said from behind her. She jerked up right and turned around. A teenager stood, leaning against the brick house, all casual. Swinging a gun on his finger by the trigger.
"Who are you?" "Nunya. The point is that I know who you are." He smiled and looked into her eyes. Then he frowned. "What? Did you not enjoy the little game I set up? This would be so fun. If only you'd cooperate and play the right way. I know what you're thinking- this is the kind of game Jeb is talking about. No, it's not. I really want to play. He's talking hypothetically." "Okay, WHAT are you?" He blinked twice.
"Oh, thanks. I'm the assassin. They call me Ace. They want me-" he pointed to himself. "To take care of-" he made a show of shooting her in the center of her forehead. "You." he caressed her face.
"Um- and I'm supposed to what? Take it like a dog?" She snarled at him, knocking his hand from her face.
"Oh, no. That wouldn't be fun at all. I hate it when they do that." They. He said they. Like he'd killed before. But he couldn't be more than seventeen. 'He's only a teenager, and he has killed enough times to say 'they' casually.' She thought in disgust. Max stiffened when she saw him move.
"They?" She asked warily, praying for time. Maybe Fang would- you idiot! Fang can't go in the sun- it hurts him so far! She thought calming things, and hoped Angel and Fang didn't notice anything. Ace nodded.
"Oh, yes, "they". The School, and Itex has created me purely for taking care of their little screw ups. Of course, they didn't think that you guys needed me yet, but you proved quite hard to catch. That's why I was so eager to meet you. You think, you plan, and you're pretty. Too bad I have to kill you.""Jesus, don't you have a soul?" Max snapped, glaring at him. She wasn't all for that soul crap, but clearly this kid didn't have one. His sapphire blue eyes saddened for a second, before going flat.
"No, as a matter of fact, I don't." He said quietly. "Why do you care? Aren't you supposed to hit me now and save your little family?" He snarled. Claws extended from his fingers. Something flashed in his eyes. "Run, Max." he pleaded softly.
"Why should I run? Because that's what you want me to do?" Then he stood up straight, the claws going into his fingers again, and a charming smile spread across his face.
"Nah- I'd prefer to fight. But right now I'm armed. Armed far past your imagination. At this moment, you have not one, but seventy guns trained on your head, including mine. I don't give a damn about fair fights, but I do like to take my kill for my own. I don't want someone else's bullet to be the one to take you out. You seem to be a good one to take on. You may put up a fight.""And if I win?" She snarled.
"You won't…but for hypothesis's sake, if you were to win, take down the worlds most dangerous and sadistic- savage, even- assassin, well you might well be doing all of us a favor." He flicked dark brown hair out of his eyes, clenched his jaw. "But for some odd reason, I don't think you'll win. They told me your smart, sassy, stubborn, and strong, Maximum." She watched him back away, a light suddenly in his sapphire eyes. "Let's just see how strong you are." He jumped into the air, onto the house, and seemed to disappear. She was shaking. They couldn't know about this- this Ace character.
'Maximum, I know you really don't want to hear this, but…well you've got a new mutation.' Jeb told her.
'What do you mean by that, Jeb? And how do you know?'
'If I'm right, you can…and please, don't jump to conclusions- let me explain first- transmit part of your soul to these soulless experiments. Of course, not all of them will be able to take it, or don't deserve it. But the ones that do, you can give them a part of your soul. It will be painful. But if they have a part of your soul, they will be good. Pure. You will be doing a good thing. It will be tearing a piece of your soul from you, and giving it to someone else. Your soul is pure, good, and worth this gift. So it will regenerate. That's why I would allow you to do it, of course- because it can fix itself.'
'…What will you be getting out of it? I don't understand.' Max sighed frustrated-ly, sitting against the house.
'I won't technically be getting anything from this. But if the experiments start getting souls of a good person…well…it may become a problem for Itex's directors. Because, along with a soul, they will get a conscience. It's sort of a packaged deal. And I believe your first mission is that Ace kid. He's been trained since birth- creation, I mean- that he is the only thing on earth that can kill everything. He doesn't care about who he kills. He only wants to play the game. Toy with you. Cat and mouse, really, because there hasn't been one person he can't take down. And he has an atomic amount of power over the Flyboys, and the other creations. They're mostly at his command, his beck and call. He can't order them to kill you when he's there at the Itex branch, of course. He has to be going with them. They're like his troops- at least, that's how he thinks of them.
And there's another experiment that you must save. Her name is Athena, like the Greek Goddess, obviously.'
'Why should I do what you say?'
'Because these two will help you, if they had souls. Ace has no soul, and he has been killing. He'll need your help, first, of course. Because once he has a conscience and a soul, he is going to realize what he's done. Right now, to him, it's just his life, a game to him.
And Athena somewhat knows what's going on. I really shouldn't tell you where she came from- you wouldn't entirely understand. She has a soul, already, of sorts. She just has been brainwashed. You have to meet up with her, tell her who you are, and- well the rest is up to both of you.'
'Jeb, why should I do this?'
'You saw that Ace was hurt when you told him he had no soul. He knows he should have one. You can give him one. You're a good person, Max, and I know you'll do what you think is right.'
'Damn straight.' She stood up and started to go back inside, scared, confused, and slightly defiant. Fang met her at the door, feeling her minds turmoil.
'What's the matter?' He asked her in thought. He tilted his head to the side and nudged her mind a bit, and she blocked it.
'Nothing.' She replied shortly, going up stairs. He flinched, but followed her. She'd hurt his feelings. That made her feel bad, but she wasn't quite sure if she wanted to tell him about that. "Yet." She murmured to herself. "Yet, but I will." This was a moment- and there were many like it- when she thought about leaving the flock here, safely, while she dealt with a deadly mission. But no, she couldn't. As much as she hated to admit it, she wouldn't be able to function without Angel's sweet but scary usage of her powers, Gazzy's gassy ness, Nudge's babble, Iggy's smart aleck ness, and Fang's…well Fang's presence, basically. And suddenly he was there, holding her as she shivered. She wasn't crying, not yet, and she didn't plan on it.
"Fang?""I'm sorry. I shouldn't have probed." he said quietly.
"No, it's fine. It's not your fault, and it involves you." She took a deep breath and started from the top. "I went outside, and I was looking around- scoping the area." he nodded, knowing what she'd done to a T. "Then this kid is suddenly behind me. I- I won't go into detail. Unimportant. Apparently his name is Ace and he's the assassin for the School and Itex. He has no soul. He wants to kill me. But he wanted me to participate in this game…? Yeah, he thinks it's a game. And then he left. But before he left I said something about him having no soul, and Fang, you could tell by the look in his eyes that it hurt him when I said that." Fang was stiff, glaring at her.
"Are you mad at me?" She gasped, sounding hurt. Good. He flinched.
"No, I'm not mad at you, Max. I'm just a jealous fool." He sighed, looking down.
"You're not a fool, Fang." She whispered, then moved on. "And then Jeb was talking to me again. I have a new mutation, of sorts. I can… 'give' part of my soul to the deserving experiments. And-""No. Absolutely not. You're not tearing up your soul just to give these little freak bastards a-" he stopped, seeing that she had an explanation. She let what Jeb said flow back into her mind, so that maybe he could see them. "I can't see that well in your head, Max. Not without…" he glanced at her neck. She leaned towards him.
"Go ahead. It's okay." She whispered, and she gasped a little when his fangs met her flesh.
'Ah…I see. But it would hurt you…'
'I want to, Fang. And if my soul is regenerating, I only have to worry about a little bit of physical pain for a little bit. According to Jeb, it would only hurt while it was happening…how would I go about giving a part of my soul up, anyways?' She was ranting, trying to keep her own mind from embarrassing her by thinking about how much she enjoyed it when Fang's teeth were in her veins. Which sounds wrong on it's own level, but she wouldn't think about it too much.
'Max, you would have to touch the person, and concentrate on them. Very hard, and focus is required. Also, be somewhere where your flock can get you to safety. After it has begun, it will take a whole day, and you will both be unconscious during these twenty four hours.' Jeb said, appearing out of nowhere- hypothetically, of course.
'She's not crazy. Figures- why don't you butt out for a bit, Jeb?' Fang demanded sharkily.
'Fang, I'm just keeping our Max-'
'Mine!' Fang snapped, suddenly very territorial, and he was biting a tad too hard into her neck, but Max didn't complain. 'She was never YOURS. Back off.'
'Bye-bye then. Play nice, kids. And remember- abstinence= key.' He chuckled darkly before leaving. Max's face was red, and her blood was thick- at least, she figured it was, because she heard Fang take a hard breath and swallow hard. He let her go, but didn't seem to be able to completely take his arms from around her. She was fine with that, and snuggled closer to him. He blinked in surprise.
'Didn't think you wanted to be held…' he thought quietly, but pulled her closer, tighter against his chest.
"MAX!" Angel yelled from downstairs, sounding very, very angry. Max sat up and was running before Fang had realized it was time to run. Then he was downstairs before Max made it to the stair well.
"Max, Fang, we have to leave. Now." Angel said, tossing things- her things, Nudge's things, Gazzy's things, Iggy's things, Fang's things, Max's things, Total's things- towards Fang. "Why, what's the matter, Angel?" Max asked calmingly, though helping them pack everything. "Angel said she heard some dark thoughts coming from outside, and that we really had to go. I kind of don't understand, but I know that Angel wouldn't lie. Angel doesn't lie, especially when it comes to our safety. And you don't lie- unless it comes to saving us…right Max?" Nudge ranted.
"Yes, Nudge, now help Iggy. Total, can you fly yet?"
"You bet- we've been practicing.""Good. Then you're on your own. I'll carry Akila." She glanced at Gazzy. "Gasman, you got everything?"
"Yep, and I've got your bag packed, too." Her gaze softened. Such a sweet kid. She kissed his forehead.
"Good job. Now wait by the- --- TV." She said, backtracking. She didn't want any one by the windows or doors. "Fang, you get Angel and Nudge finished up. Where's Ig?""I…don't know." He said, listening hard. He shot a look at the door. "OUTSIDE." He said loudly, looking confused, but unable to move. The alarmed look caused Max to dash outside. He was on the porch looking around.
"I hear 'em, Max. He's out here.""Who?" Iggy turned to grin at Max.
"Oh, Angel told us all about this Ace character from your head." As soon as the cheeky little jab was out of his lips, a gun shot, and he was suddenly gasping and grabbing his arm.
"The game starts now Maximum. I can pick you off one by one, limb by limb, and we can all play. Because I've got perfect aim. I'm aiming for that little boy friend of yours next." Ace's voice said, but he was no where in sight. Max looked around desperately. There! At the mail box was a square, oddly colored looking speaker. 'Ah, hell.' Max thought, pushing Iggy down, getting blood on her hand. The bomb exploded a few seconds later, blasting metal chunks at them.
"You okay, Max?" Iggy asked, panting.
"It's not me that's bleeding." She gasped, helping him to his feet. The door swung open, and Fang- eyes red as rubies and mad as hell- yanked them inside. "What the hell happened?!" He demanded, slamming both of them down on the couch.
"Ace shot Iggy- and he set a bomb. He knew it wouldn't kill us. He's playing with us, Fang. And he wants you next." She whispered. "He has perfect aim- he said it, and I believe him. He could have had a perfect shot at Iggy's head. He could have killed him- but he didn't. He doesn't want to kill yous first. He wants to kill me first. But he wants to hurt you before I'm dead.' She snarled, thinking something along the lines of 'sick bastard' but then she remembered that he was trained to think like that- no soul and all. Of course he was sick…but…
"No, you're next, Max." Angel said, looking into the distance. She was digging into Ace's mind while he was still close.
'Go Angel!! Yes!' Max thought fiercely. Angel got a grim smile on her six year old face.
"Yes, he's thinking that you're next, because he told you that Fang was next. That you'd be busy protecting Fang and not 'covering your own ass.' What does that-"
"Never repeat it and we'll be fine." Max urged, grabbing her bag and Akila. Iggy- holding his arm, trying to stop the bleeding- stood, too, and grabbed his bag. Nudge was wearing her bag already, and had scribbled a note for Dr. Martinez, telling her that they were safe. Angel was ready, along with Gazzy and Total.
"Let's go." Max said, starting outside. She hesitated, worried about Fang and the sun, but she couldn't risk the rest of the flock, too, by staying here. So she ran off the porch, and jumped into the sky. They followed, and Fang didn't even hesitate. His eyes were slitted, and he seemed a bit weaker than before, but he was definitely not burning up in the sun like Dracula. He shot her a genuinely happy smile- like he was proud of himself.
"Where to, Max? We have get somewhere so we can wrap Iggy's arm. It's only a graze, but it's deep. The bullet went deep, but didn't stay in his skin." Nudge said, looking confused. Max shook her head.
"I don't think there would be- I think he was just making sound effects. Come on. We'll have to stop the bleeding. Ig, can you go a few more miles?" He nodded, but his face was pale, very pale.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said, and she was proud to hear that his voice was steady. 'That's my flock,' Max thought with pride, 'even with gun shot wounds, they're tough as nails.'
"Alright, let's hit it, guys. No one fall behind. Fang, you up front, Iggy, behind and to the left. Nudge, the same but to the right. Angel and Gasman to the center east and west. Total, keep under Angel." Max said, falling behind to keep a watch of the back. She scanned the ground, looking for Ace. Funny. She hadn't been thinking of him as 'that Ace guy' or the assassin. Just Ace. That was not good.
"Max, what's-""Maxy, I swear I read in your file that you could fly super fast." Ace's soulless voice said from in front. She flew up there, and lined up with her flock. Iggy- bleeding and dizzy- on her right, Nudge to his right, and Gazzy to hers. Angel on Max's left, and Fang to hers. Total to his.
"I thought you wanted this to be a game." His sapphire eyes flashed.
"You're not playing right." She cocked her head to the side.
"What do you mean?" she asked slowly.
"Come on, flying away? I can do that." And that much was obvious. He was flying on a set of dark blue-ish wings. They were almost black, but in the right light you could tell they were blue. Obviously the Itex that created him had created him to distract, and he was good at it.
"What else are we supposed to do?" She demanded.
"Fight back, I suppose. But I think you're right- flying away with these little ones is the best thing to do at the moment. She's adorable." He said, suddenly in front of Angel, cupping her chin. She jerked it away. "Just like Maxy. I'm sorry, Maximum. Right. Forgot." he grinned and went to Nudge and stroked her cheek. She slapped his hand.
"Watch it buddy!" She snarled. Max smiled grimly at her. And he moved to Max.
"And the ultimate herself. Quite a surprise, really, that I could make myself wait to get to you." He cupped her chin, and suddenly Fang was in front of them all, wings transforming. His eyes were glowing. His wings were leathery, and a lot longer. They blocked all of the flock from Ace.
"Mine." He snarled, and lunged at Ace. The boy smiled in satisfaction and shot Fang with a gun they hadn't noticed he was toying with. Fang stopped, looking at his gut. Max cried out, and jerked towards him, but Iggy stopped her. The bullet pushed itself out of his stomach and he grinned at Ace, who merely looked more satisfied.
"Good, a real challenge. Another assassin." Max stared at him blankly.
Fang wasn't quite sure what he was doing, he was just sure that he had to protect his own. He almost thought 'his coven' but he instead went with family. They were his, and no one was allowed to hurt them, touch them, or even look at them the wrong way. That was all he knew, or needed to know when he attacked the kid. Only, the kid was armed. He felt the bullet enter his cold flesh, but instead of pain, he felt satisfaction as it fell out of his body. This kid had no idea what he was messing with.