A/N: just Alec's POV this time. Enjoy :D

Jenwin23 took her time to show me the errors of my way... thank you, girl :)

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Alec paled.

Max, not-if-my-life-depended-on-it Max, was asking him how and when they hooked up? As in... the two of them, together? Oh boy, this was definitively torture. He kinda missed the physical pain now. But judging by the increasing annoyed expression on her gorgeous face, he was going to face that too.

Think Alec, think!

How could one innocent question from a lost little girl scare the shit out of him? He'd faced death a gazillion times, he'd survived Manticore for god's sake!

Of course, 'old' Max would have served his ass for just thinking of her like that. And 'new' Max's questions were anything but innocent. But he was one of Manticore's finest, smart-aleck extraordinaire. He would walk out of this. Preferably alive.

Time for a plan.

First, distract the enemy. Made her lose focus, exploit her weak spots.

Second, use those precious moments to elaborate a winning strategy.

Third, think of a way of escape, because given his track record, sooner or later he would badly need one.

Alec knew Max's weaknesses better than his own, so the first part was a piece of cake, really. But... he could take advantage of these circumstances in which, for the first time ever, Max seemed genuinely to like him. As in like him.

Oi, he really didn't mean that. Let's say... he could accomplish 'phase one' in a pleasant way. For both of them.

Suddenly, his smile was blinding. His whole body oozed confidence and sensuality, and his voice, like liquid sex, caressed her.

"Well Maxie" he drawled, leaning into her personal space, "I was saving the best for the end, honey".

Alec could feel Max's body heat increase... and see the blush spreading from places he'd better not to think of, for his own sanity. Her eyes, a little unfocused, were drawn to his lips, and... she was fooled.

Right, for a second.

Her cheeks were still a pretty shade of pink, but her eyebrow, dangerously arched, signalled that his time was up.

"Can't wait for that, sugar" Max purred back, with a glint in her amused brown eyes that told him she was enjoying herself too, but not too much to forget her question.

Oh, shit. Screw the first part. Yeah, he got the girl all flustered in a second, and that was a first. But clearly not enough. He hadn't managed to sidetrack Max even for a little while.

A little part of him was pleased, though. Max was still... Max. As long as he welcomed the recent, pretty enjoyable changes in their interaction, and revelled how he could affect her, he didn't want a pliant, yielding girl. Ok, scratch that. He had dreamed of a pliant Max in his arms... but the truth was, he had fallen in love with a glaring, scowling chick and, no matter how pathetic it was, he didn't really wish for her to change that much. Except for the 'pliant in his arms' part, of course.

Alec sighed deeply. An old TV hung on the wall was quietly buzzing, the usual chase party running on the screen, and their empty dishes still waited to be collected from the waitress who studiously avoided their table. People around them were minding their own business, unaware and probably uncaring of his little dilemma. But then, to anyone looking their way he was just the luckiest guy, with such a beauty clearly about to eat him up. He was the only one who knew said girl would probably beat him up if he didn't come up with a satisfying answer.

He didn't have many options, really. Tell her the truth, and let her beat the shit out of him because he hadn't come clean sooner, or lie to her and enjoy... a few days maybe? of unthinkable, scorching bliss. Then, Max would recover her memories, and he'd die a happy man.

As much as the second choice was tempting, Alec knew that he'd do nothing to jeopardize the friendship and trust he and Max had only recently shared. He sighed again, and dejectedly averted his eyes, because he couldn't stand to look into her warm, inviting eyes and see her beautiful face turn cold with contempt.

"See, Maxie, our story had a rocky start and, unbelievable as it may seem, you haven't liked me for a long time". He used a light tone to test the water, and then ventured a glance in her direction. The sincere look of incredulity in her eyes was the most rewarding thing ever, and Alec cursed under his breath.

He couldn't believe he was doing this! Ruining his only chance at the... briefest happily ever after in the history of mankind, right.

Don't make it harder, Maxie, please!

He groaned but went on, merciless. "They paired us, back at Manticore, as breeding partners. They ordered me to get you pregnant. The first time we met, and I barged into your cell, undressing and talking about copulation. I asked you to remove your clothes with the same impassive tone you use to order chinese take away on the phone, only minding to get over that as soon as I could, and I didn't even restrain myself from letting you know that it wasn't... a plum assignment for me."

Max was a little taken aback, and Alec waited almost impatiently for the first onslaught of loathing.

It never came. She was trying to evaluate the new information but seemed just more confused than disappointed.

"We didn't..." she trailed off, unsure.

"No, we didn't".

"That means you didn't". Her tone was suddenly confident, and her eyes, unwavering, challenged him to deny it. "You didn't force yourself on me, you didn't follow your orders. You were still a 'good soldier' back then, right? Still, you disobeyed... just because I said 'no'? And you didn't even try..."

"No!" Alec nearly shouted. Sure, he wanted her to see his true, sadly screwed up himself, but even in his lowest moment he hadn't ever thought of something like that. Anyway, his plan B "be honest with the girl as she deserves" was kinda backfiring. He must try harder...

"But I... I took your cot, and I let you sleep on the floor!" Oh god! how lame is that?

"I see. That was plain evil..." Max agreed, trying hard not to giggle.

She sobered up fast, and when she spoke again, her tone was playful and just a little teasing. "From what you told me, that was likely the hardest assignment Manticore gave me. So tell me, Alec... are there any other remarkable facts I should know from our first days of acquaintance?"

"You... named me. Alec. From... smart aleck, you know? As in... obnoxiously self-assertive. A pain in the ass, basically. Right from the start."

"I named you?" Max beamed, looking quite proud. "That was nice of me, wasn't it?"

Since he was the only one remembering the whole scene, Alec just snorted a little. Sure, now he knew the difference between a name and a designation. And to be honest, Max had begrudgingly helped a lot with that. She had been right, too: Alec did suite him more than 494. All the same, nice of her was a little too far fetched.

Max frowned at his reaction. "You could have changed it, if you wanted right?" she asked a bit petulantly. "But since you stick with it... I must suppose you like it. Or you keep it just because I gave it to you? What if I came up with... Ed, as in Special Ed? Would you have kept it?" she asked with a triumph note in her voice.

You did think of Dick! Not that I'm gonna tell you. Ever.

Ok, round one was for Max. And he got sidetracked, as the whole point of this was to show her that he was trustworthy even in a situation that just called for one of his evil schemes. That's the reward for honesty?

And that should have been easy! Easy, like recalling the second time he had done wrong to her. Like say... when he had pretended to help her, and just did nothing to prevent her from killing the love of her life. Logan was still alive, sure, but not thanks to him. Alec shrouded lightly. Logan. That was a big can of worms, no kidding. A can he had carefully avoided till now. He simply couldn't find the courage for that. He and Max, just the two of them, in whatever degree of love/hate relationship, he could manage. But Logan was just too much.

Yeah, leave the bespectacled wonder as the last nail of your coffin, you moron.

Well, he could simply skip to his next 'quite forgettable slip up', couldn't he?

"I tried to kill you" he mumbled, quite indistinctly.

This totally got her attention. "What? You tried to kill me? I guess 'tried' is the operative word here, because I'm still breathing and all. But... care to elaborate?"

"Do you really think there is something to elaborate? I mean... I TRIED TO KILL YOU. What can I possibly add to make it better?"

Alec was getting angry now, and frustrated. Damn, the girl was stubborn! That was a cruel joke if he ever saw one. From the beginning, Max hadn't trusted him every time he did (or tried to do) something good or selfless. Now, she doubted him when he spoke ill of himself. He was sooo screwed.

"Yeah, you can make it better, asshole!" Max said angrily. She was all flustered again, and not in the good way this time. All the same, she was quite a view. Cheeks burning, nostril flaring, and fire dancing in those chocolate eyes. Her body was taut with the tension, and she was advancing on him in an intimidating manner. Alec surely hadn't lost his touch.

"You can't sit there and conversationally tell someone who barely remembers her own name, that you tried to kill her! What about a why, Alec? And why 'tried', for the matter? Because I kicked your sorry ass, like I wanna do now?"

"Like you usually do, for the record. But no, that time... you couldn't have done it. I... I stunned you. And I had every intention of killing you and cutting off your barcode, as a bloody neat proof of purchase".

It wouldn't help telling her that he had gone for Joshua first. That didn't make him a better guy. And then, after discovering that Dog Boy hadn't been branded, he had turned to her. To kill her.

"You want to know why, Max? Because 'I was a cold blooded opportunistic show off who thought he could run his game on a major bad guy who it turned out was even a bigger scumbag than I was'. That's pretty much how it happened... Bigger scumbag attached a bomb to my brain stem. He asked me to kill transgenics in exchange for my life."

"Why you didn't?" Max's voice was barely a whisper now. Her rage had somewhat evaporated during his explanation, and her eyes showed only confusion and insecurity.

"What?"

"Why you didn't kill me. You could have done it. You used... a stun gun maybe? And I was there, at your mercy. But you didn't. You didn't kill me to save yourself. You came close but... you didn't. Why?"

"Because you didn't believe I could do it." Damn, that was so hard. Could this be more painful? No wonder he used to lie all the time. "You were lying there, vulnerable and trembling, and I was ready to do it. Still, you couldn't believe I was capable of doing it. You called my name, not to beg for your life, but to ask me how I could do that. And suddenly I couldn't anymore. You believed I couldn't, and I believed in you. That's why, Maxie."

"Oh."

Speechless Max was as rare as flirty Max. Good, all this emotional stuff was getting to him, and he really needed a break. But seeing her exhaling he knew she hadn't finished yet.

"So... I was right, then. You couldn't." The uncertainty was gone, and a small, content smile curled her lips. Then she remembered something, and frowned slightly. "How come you're still alive?"

Alec let out a humorless laugh. "You saved my ass, Maxie. That's another thing you do on regular basis. And, for the life of me, I still don't know why. Maybe when you regain your memory you'll explain?" he half joked.

He saw Max averting her eyes, like she was really pondering his question. She was lost in thoughts for a few moments, and then she faced him again. Alec couldn't help but stared at her, a little bewildered. The smile was back, and her eyes were laughing.

Like she knew a secret or an obvious truth that, maliciously, wasn't gonna share with him.

TBC

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A/N2: thanks to Dazedizzy for Ed, as in Special Ed :D