Title: Name
Summary: Max naming Alec is more important than she thought.
Author's note: Okay, I just wanted to explain something with this one. I debated back and forth on using Alec's name to address him, since it's in his point of view, or if I should use his designation. I decided to use 494 because, although at this time in the season most of us saw him as Alec, the point I'm trying to make wouldn't come across as well otherwise. Just go with me on this, and I promise it'll make sense. I hope. Maybe?
Name
X5-494 sauntered into Jam Pony and glanced around, taking in the less-than-stately décor of the place and wondering inwardly whether a sector pass was worth the trouble. Upon further thought, he decided that it was the only way he could get by without any suspicion, and so he glanced around in hopes of finding someone in charge. His gaze skittered to a halt on a very beautiful, very distraught, very familiar face. He watched in amusement as she marched up to him, blunt as a punch in the jaw.
"Was 'Stay the hell out of my life' not direct enough?" She demanded once she was in earshot, her voice harsh and her face twisted into an angry sneer. He just shook his head and grinned.
"Max, you told me to find a job. I figured what better place than somewhere I already have a friend?" He made his tone overly cheerful and slightly condescending just because he knew it would rile her. It was a dangerous game, but damn, she looked hot when she was pissed.
She snorted derisively and crossed her arms over her chest. "If by 'friend' you mean someone who'd just as soon drop an anvil on you, then welcome."
He stared at her for a moment, his green eyes laughing, and then scoffed, "You don't mean that."
Her deep brown eyes flashed and her full lips twisted angrily. "Find me an anvil and watch me go."
He met her fiery gaze and forced his face into a pained expression. "Max, that hurts, it really does." He placed a hand over his heart for believability, meanwhile glancing around Jam Pony and studying the bikes hanging on the rack to his left. "Your words inspired me. I want to change my ways."
Her face morphed into such a look of disbelief that he found it kind of cute. "Whatever! This'll only take a second," She turned her back on him and shouted, "Hey, Normal! Loser"—she pointed at 494 for emphasis—"looking for a job."
The bespectacled man who must have been Normal didn't even glance up from whatever paper he was studying. "No jobs here. Got enough of you slugs to keep me in Maalox 'til the cows come home."
"Oh, well." Max said, shrugging her shoulders and feigning a saddened look.
494 opened his mouth, prepared to put his charm and charisma to good use, when another scruffy-looking guy piped in, "Hey, aren't you that boxer dude?"
494 turned to look at him, surprise marring his features. Meanwhile, Normal's head jerked up, and he studied 494 with wide eyes behind his glasses and greatly renewed interest. "You're Monty Cora!" He nearly yelled, and there was something akin to awe in his voice. 494 grinned; this would be easier than he thought.
"Monty Cora?" Max questioned slowly, her face showing confusion but also a calculating glint that told 494 she realized what his cage-fighting name sounded like.
"It's a stage name," He told her by way of explanation. It was clear from the gradual reddening of her face that she would like nothing better than to smack him upside the head. Her grinned when he noticed her hand twitch as she fought the urge.
Normal continued their conversation with enthusiasm. "I once saw this beautiful man take down "Mangler" Miller in less than forty-five seconds flat. Wonderful! Bravo!"
At this Max went from looking angry and confused to looking completely and totally disgusted. Even 494 had to keep himself from laughing; he'd never heard himself described as a "beautiful man" before. Instead, he placed a charming smile on his lips and shook the older man's hand. "Well, thank you, uh… Normal."
"Please, call me Reagan." Normal replied, and 494 nodded, his smile widening because he had no intention of doing so. "So you're looking for a job, huh?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'd love to be a part of Team Jam Pony." 494 said with false zeal, glancing at Max and smirking victoriously.
Normal nodded and then said, "If I may ask, though, why lower yourself to working with these reprobates?" Normal sent a scathing look at Max and the other workers as he spoke.
494 grinned recklessly, knowing that Max might very well kick his ass for his next remark. Well, she could try, anyway. "See, I knew my friend Max worked here, and I've heard some great things about Jam Pony through her." His gaze slid over to the transgenic in question.
If looks could kill, 494 would no longer be standing. The glare from Max was so fierce, he didn't look at her directly for fear of being blinded. Good thing Manticore hadn't installed laser-beams in their eyes.
The grubby man who had identified 494 earlier broke into the discussion again, pulling 494's gaze away from Max. "Did you guys date or something?" He asked interestedly, his scraggly blonde hair falling into his eyes as he looked between the two.
494 grinned as he remembered walking into her cell and announcing that he was her breeding partner. Of course, she'd thrown him against the wall and hadn't wanted anything to do with him, but he wanted to make her angry again. So he said, "Something like that."
"No!" Max shouted angrily, punching 494's arm. He leaned back swiftly to escape the brunt of the blow, but still winced at the amount of force she'd put behind it. He instinctively raised his hands to block her in case she tried again.
"Excuse me, Golden Boy and Missy-miss? Let's get back to work here," Normal's voice was sharp and demanding, though neither Max nor 494 paid much heed. 494 grinned at Max and she rolled her eyes at him, her fingers twitching again. "And Sketchy, don't you have packages to deliver?" Normal added to the unkempt man. Sketchy grumbled what sounded like a few very dirty words under his breath, and then slunk away.
"Anyway, usually I demand that my applicants fill out a form…." 494 nearly groaned; he hated paperwork of any kind. Undercover missions at Manticore had been full of daily reports and forms. "But I'm sure you're well equipped to deal with to duties that come along with being a bike messenger." 494 sighed with relief and patted Normal on the back. "Although I need a name, since Monty Cora is just for the ring," Normal added fondly.
494 paused at this. Ever since he'd met Max, he'd sort of just accepted the name Alec. It wasn't really a conscience choice, just the necessity of having something to say when someone asked him this question. But he had never confirmed that his name would actually be the one Max had given him because of his sarcastic wit. So far he had only introduced himself as Alec to girls he had met in bars and other seedy places. They had no permanent spot in his life, nor did they mean anything to him in the long run. So they couldn't affect him.
He knew Max's mind had been firmly made up when she'd named him, and he hadn't wasted the energy trying to stop her; he suspected she'd just do it anyway. But if he told Normal that his name was Alec, he was stuck with the title. And in his view, that linked himself to Max, even if she never saw it that way. And he detested being tied to people in such a way.
"Hello, did you hear me?" Normal asked, clearly wondering whether his beloved Monty Cora had taken too many punches to the head. Granted, few hits had made it that far.
"Yeah, sorry. My name's…." He debated inwardly for a second before finally deciding. "Alec."
Well, hot damn. No turning back now.
Normal still looked strangely expectant, as if Alec should say something more, and Alec realized that Ordinaries also had last names. Thinking quickly, he remembered the surname of a person he'd played on one of his missions. There had been no need to assassinate or hurt anybody on that particular assignment, and as far as he knew from the information he had gathered, the subject hadn't been a threat to Manticore like they'd initially thought. "Alec…. McDowell."
Normal nodded, beaming. "Welcome aboard then, Alec." At the same time, Max groaned, "Oh, you have got to be kidding."
"Ah, good catch, Maxie." Normal replied, and then thought for a second before adding, "And you can show your buddy Alec here the ropes. Get him a bike off the wall, and take him on your deliveries. Explain the rules and whatnot. That is, if you know them?" He thought about that for a second and then said, almost to himself, "Let's hope he rubs off on you."
"Oh, don't I need one of those…. Sector passes?" Alec added quickly, while Max shot him a look of purest loathing.
"Right, I will get on that," Normal responded, and then said enthusiastically, "You're a rock star. Rock star!" Alec smiled in bemusement as the older man walked away, and then looked at Max, opening his mouth to speak.
"Shut up." She said curtly, and then she breezed past him.
"This should be fun," He said to himself, before turning and following after her.
End