Disclaimer: I do not claim any right to the Maximum Ride universe.
"Long time no see," I said. Wonderful conversational skills, no? I almost died right then. He didn't say anything. He just stared. Eventually his face shifted back to its normal state of impassivity, but he really seemed out of sorts for a bit. Damn, I love him.
Hours, days seemed to pass before he even moved. I shuffled my feet a little.
"Can I come in?" I asked. His lack of response was really starting to unnerve me. He still didn't say anything. My heart and hopes sank like the Titanic, maybe a few shards survived.
I shrugged as if it didn't make any difference, but I had to get out of there before I broke down. "Um, or not. I'll just…I'm sorry, this was a really bad idea. I just wanted to," My voice cracked. "…I'll go now." I was babbling. I was babbling uncertainly.
I tried to smile at him but it probably looked more like a grimace. I spun around, wiping away the few drops of moisture that had spilled onto my cheek and prepared to run for my life. I almost made it off the porch, but an iron grip locked around my wrist and yanked me back.
At the unyielding grasp my instincts fired and I twisted in a panic, bringing my leg up and around in a powerful roundhouse kick. His other hand caught my ankle and he held me there firmly as I regained awareness of where I was and who was touching me. The instant I did, I found myself crushed against his body.
Relief nearly brought me down and only his tight embrace kept me from a close personal meeting with the floor. Tears began to flow in earnest and I wrapped my own arms about him. The real thing felt so much better that I had ever imagined in my dreams. Fang was actively participating in a hug and being the recipient was almost enough to make me cry, never mind the additional reasons.
He released me in degrees, but kept hold of my wrist as if he were afraid that I would leave again. After all, I nearly had.
See. The Voice said, possibly sounding smug.
Shut up. I thought and thank god it listened. I had enough to deal with without the Voice's input. I swiped away the tear tracks and grinned shakily at my best friend.
"I thought you'd be back sooner," he rasped, his voice a little husky. His dark eyes were suspiciously bright, too. His gaze raked over me again and again looking for some indicator of a trap or maybe just committing my new scars to memory. Most weren't visible, most I would make certain that he would never see.
I giggled a little hysterically. "So did I." His thumb rubbed little circles on the back of my hand.
"Wanna come in?" He nodded to the open door.
I squeezed his fingers. "Yeah. I do."
He moved first, tugging me along behind him. "Hey! Kitchen now!" He yelled upward as we crossed into the foyer. I heard some muffled shouts and the sounds of bodies moving across the floor above us. "They've missed you," He told me quietly. "We thought you were dead," he said even softer.
I met his gaze and the momentary flicker of sadness prodded at my conscience. "I very nearly was," I whispered.
Then a piercing shriek came from the second floor and there was a sudden stampede down the stairs, which we had passed on the way to the kitchen. I turned away from Fang just as something tall, slender, and blonde barreled into me.
"Oh, Max!" it shrieked. "I thought I'd never see you again. When you left you were so certain that you were going to die and I was so scared that you had. Oh…"
I barely recognized the girl crying on me as Angel. She was so tall, almost as tall as me, and so beautiful. Her pale golden hair fell in perfect waves around her shoulders and her huge blue eyes drowned in tears. I burst into tears myself and clutched her tightly to me.
"I know, baby. I know," I murmured. "God, I love you so much." I started sobbing uncontrollably and I sank to the floor with her in my arms. I stroked her hair and just let everything wash over me. There was no point in resisting. A small cough captured my attention and I raised my head to see Nudge, Gazzy and Iggy standing in the doorway. I shifted Angel to one side and held out my hand.
Nudge and Gazzy both dove for me, clinging to me as if I was the source of life. I almost fell back under the onslaught, but managed to stay upright. The Gasman buried himself into my neck and I could feel the tears sliding down my collarbone, but he cried silently. Nudge wailed right in my ear.
I let them have some time, whispering to them, promising that I was back for good.
After a few minutes, I extracted myself and got up to stand in front of Iggy. His handsome face twisted in an expression of disbelief and confusion. He had gotten even taller since I had seen him last, and he had been over six feet then.
I clasped his hands in mine and brought them slowly to my face. I let him feel my tears, his fingertips stroked gently over my features, his pale sightless eyes beginning to well up. "I'm back, Ig." His skin smelled a little like gunpowder and a lot like soap. Tears started leaking again. "I'm home." My voice broke and he dragged me forward by the back of my neck into an embrace.
He held me tightly and I pressed my face into his chest, soaking his t-shirt. It had been a long time since I had felt so safe and I let go of everything while he held me, crying softly himself, into my hair.
It was a long time before he stepped back and he laughed a little as I brushed the moisture from his skin. "It's good to have you back," he said. "You have no idea what a tyrant Fang is." I twisted around to look at Fang and he had the ghost of a smirk on his face, but his eyes were serious as they regarded me.
The rest of the flock agreed emphatically and Fang threw his hands in the air. "See if I every do anything for you again," he growled in jest and made as if to stalk off.
I pinched Iggy playfully and gave the rest of them a look as I caught Fang's arm. "I'm sure you did a wonderful job," I told him.
He wrapped me in his arms again. "I did what I could until you came back." He regarded me for a second and brushed my hair out of my eyes. "I'm glad you're back," he said close to my ear and I tried to ignore the little shiver of heat that crawled up my spine.