Through the Eyes of a Servant Chapter 7, a maximum ride fanfic

Through the Eyes of a Servant | Chapter 7 | by: Rachel / Chapter posted July 13, 2010.

AU | Max/Fang | PG / 4,375 words

When Max accepts a job as a maid in Fang's household, will it be love at first sight? Or will anything and everything come between them?

The idea for this story is my own, and no one else's. Everything else belongs to Jame's Patterson -although I will be next in line for the throne when he retires xD-. I made no money for writing this story, I simply write for reviews.

Gazzy had been staring at his clock radio for seven hours. He'd never once gotten any sleep. There was a little too much on his mind. He couldn't relax until he could finally talk to Max and go back to the mansion. He smiled wryly. It was summer, he was supposed to be sleeping until ten o'clock and playing video games without a care in the world.

So much for that idea.

It had been five days since his day at that mansion. He hadn't expected enjoying being carted off with Max to her job, but he had, and being stuck at 'home' with just his dad, no friends and no television wasn't his idea of fun. To top it all off, his last lifeline, his beloved Nintendo DS, had broken and was now totally worthless.

In five days, he hadn't seen someone who he had just instinctively liked, like he had liked Angel the other day. At the end of the day, they'd said goodbye, and she'd given him a swift handshake. He was going crazy in his house all alone. He wanted to see her again. It had been so long since he'd had a real, true friend.

Five days ago, Max had kissed Fang. And Gazzy had enjoyed seeing her like that. Well, not making out with another guy, that made him nauseous to no end. But when she was with Fang, she just looked happy. And Gazzy missed seeing her that way. Everyone did. Everyone was worried about her.

But Fang made her happy again. Unlike Sam, who was only concerned with being cool, Fang was charismatic on the outside, charming in a dark and mysterious way. On the inside, however, it was a different story. He was just as nervous as Max was, but willing to do anything to make her happy. And that was what counted.

Rolling over again, Gazzy checked the clock. 4:56, it read. In four minutes, Max would be up from her ten minute shower and twenty minute dressing, grooming and primping session. She would make coffee, and Gazzy could finally ask her to take him with her, to take him back to the house where he knew he had someone –at least, some form of entertainment- waiting for him.

He just had to make sure that Iggy wasn't awake. If Iggy came into the kitchen and figured out that he was going with Max, Iggy would just tease him about having a girlfriend or some worthless crap. Gazzy didn't think of Angel that way…did he?

No, absolutely not. Forget being a teenage boy with raging hormones and all that. And that nitwit would turn it into something that it absolutely wasn't. Gazzy didn't necessarily think that it would be a problem…Jeb had made tomato soup last night, and Gazzy had slipped several ground sleeping pills into it before anyone saw.

The next time he glanced at the clock, it was 5:02. He slipped out of bed quietly, tiptoeing swiftly to the door, careful not to make a sound and wake up a sleeping Iggy, whose room happened to be right next door. Even if his room was the size of a shoebox, Gazzy considered it a miracle to have his own room, especially as the youngest.

The door opened soundlessly, and he slipped outside. Once he was in the hall, he shut the door with a quiet click. From the hall, he could see his father in the living room, on his usual moth-eaten chair, surrounded by large boxes. He walked into the kitchen, hearing the soft sipping of coffee. He walked right past it, grabbing a coffee mug from the cabinet and the sugar from the cabinet above it.

He walked over and grabbed the pot of coffee without glancing at whoever else was in the kitchen, walking back to his cup to pour it. "So, Max, I have to ask you something," Gazzy said slowly as he poured the coffee with his back to whoever else was in the room.

Iggy's blind eyes sparkled with mischief. So Gazzy thought he was Max. He was aware of the prank that Gazzy had tried to pull on him last night, but he had secretly switched the bowls around with his father. Not that it had worked, anyway. His father was clearly up and awake, reading the newspaper as he always did.

So Iggy was going to have a little fun. "Sure, what is it? Make it quick, though, I have to get to work soon," he said in a very Max-ish tone. He was careful, making his voice high and at the same time scratchy, like Max's got when she was sick.

Gazzy's back was still turned as he poured the sugar into the cup. "You okay, Max?" he asked, semi-worriedly. He had to admit that he was only asking because he wanted to go with her to her job.

"I'm fine, my voice was just really dry when I woke up this morning," Iggy continued, adding a slight scratchy cough for good measure. "Hence the coffee," he used the patented Max brand of sarcasm.

"Okay, okay, sheesh," Gazzy rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I was wondering if I could come with you again today, to your work, I mean."

Iggy stifled his laughter. Gazzy was obviously trying to act like it wasn't for a specific reason. It was sort of like Jeb when he tried to act 'hip'. "Oh?" he asked, a devilish grin on his face.

Gazzy reached up to the cabinet, grabbing a box of Frosted Flakes and pouring himself a bowl. "Yeah. You know, it's really boring here, so I thought I'd come with you, see if there's anything specifically fun about working as a maid."

Iggy burst out laughing, startling Gazzy. He turned around awkwardly, his face smashing into the cabinet door, which was still open. He fell to the floor, and Iggy only laughed harder. "I'm sure I could hook you up with the dress!" he chortled, hearing Gazzy slam onto the floor and moan. He didn't see what happened, but he didn't care. He had gotten the little rat.

"What are you doing up here?" Gazzy raged as he stood up, his forehead on fire from slamming into the cabinet. "You're supposed to be asleep until two o'clock in the afternoon!"

Iggy cackled. "Nice try. I switched my soup with Dad's. You're going back to the mansion to see that cute little blonde girl Max told me was Fang's sister!"

"Where would you get that idea?" Gazzy screeched, but from the look on Iggy's face, he knew that he was losing the battle. Suddenly, it dawned on him. "You say you switched your soup with Dad, right?" he whispered.

Iggy became serious. "Yeah, I did. I just assumed that it wasn't working or something. Why, is something wrong?" he asked worriedly.

"Hell, yeah!" Gazzy whisper-hissed. "Those pills are designed to work! They always work, so why isn't Dad dead asleep right now? You had to have slipped the bowl to someone else!"

"But the only other person in the house is…" Iggy trailed off. They both stared at each other.

"Max," they both breathed at the same time.

In an instant, Iggy had flown off his seat and was running down the stairs to Max's bedroom. Gazzy followed him in a rush. "Crap, crap, crap! I knew there was something wrong! She should have been up forty-five minutes ago!" Iggy hissed as he ran through the basement family area and around the corner into Max's room.

He pushed the door open to reveal Max, still lying peacefully asleep. She had to be at her job in another forty-five minutes. It was just a good thing that he'd caught her so early. He glanced at Gazzy and nodded, and Gazzy ran out the door, into her bathroom, to grab the cup of water she always left near the sink.

He filled it up and ran back to the room quickly, dropping all of it on to her chest, cup included. In an instant, she woke up, fury in her eyes. "What the hell are you doing-" she was cut off as she glanced at the clock, and how late it was. "What am I doing asleep at this hour?"

Gazzy grimaced. "You overslept?" he said, sweating buckets.

"Whatever," Max said, pushing her way out of the room. "I don't even have enough time for a shower. I'm going to get dressed and do my hair. Please, please, please get out." She shoved them out the door before being left alone in her room.

Shoot. I really wanted to look good for Fang today…I haven't really talked to him in five days. I hope everything's okay. She shook off the feeling that he didn't want her anymore, and pulled on a pair of skinny jeans and a tank top. It didn't really matter. She'd be in her maid uniform shortly anyway.

Running to the bathroom, she clamored to brush her teeth and put on some makeup. Iggy and Gazzy were left standing awkwardly in the hallway, listening to the rushed sounds coming through the small door. "You okay, Max?" Iggy called anxiously, and looked down at Gazzy, who shrugged, forgetting that Iggy couldn't see it.

"Ugh!" Max screamed, giving up on trying to straighten her hair and just fluffing it out, letting it sit in the naturally wavy way that it always did. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best she could do in twenty minutes. She walked out, practically jumped up the stairs, and pulled her black Converse on.

"Gazzy, did you do what I think you did?" his father asked sternly, and Gazzy gave a meek nod. "As I thought," Jeb said wearily. "You know she'll be too tired to function. You're going to go to work with her to make sure she doesn't fall asleep." Gazzy had to fight to contain his joy.

"You really didn't have to come with me," Max said once they were all safely in Iggy's pickup truck. "Dad always forgets that I'm stronger than you both. No offense," she cackled. "Why didn't you tell him? I'm sure you have better things to do at home." Iggy bit his lip, but still couldn't resist and therefore choked on his laughter.

"I really don't," Gazzy said. "Last time I was there, I had fun sneaking past maids and hiding in dumbwaiters, whatever they are. Oh, you turn left here, Ig."

The car leaned as Iggy turned the corner, and Max had a moment to register the thought before annoyance –that look she got for all things stupid and idiotic- crossed her face. "You did what?" she asked sharply.

"Relax, I was with Angel," Gazzy shrugged. "It's her house, anyway." He bit his lip. "Speaking of which, they're something I need to tell you."

"You're in love with 'Angel'?" Iggy clenched his teeth to keep from laughing.

"No!" Gazzy answered too quickly. Iggy burst out laughing.

"Whatever!" Max shooed it away, the annoyance clearly still there. "What was it that you had to tell me? Stop at this stop sign for two seconds and then go. There's no one coming, Ig." She turned back to Gazzy. "Spill it."

Gazzy took a deep breath, and the car lurched forward again. "It's about you dating Fang, Max."

Max exploded. "I don't want to hear any more of your teasing!" she spat at the both of them, fury in her eyes. "And I don't need your ridicule! If I want to date Fang, I will date Fang. Do I need your permission or something? I don't care if he is rich, or that sometimes he yanks me around with his suave attitude, I really like him! So butt out!" If she wasn't in the truck, they all knew she would've stamped her foot.

"It's not like you won't get your heart broken eventually," Iggy said under his breath.

That surprised both Max and Iggy. Iggy had always defended Max, always been supportive of her every decision. He was the trusting and protective older brother, who would've done anything for Max. "What?" Max let the venom slip into her voice, but Iggy remained unfazed.

"Turn left again, Iggy," Gazzy said softly, and Iggy just barely heard him, swerving left.

"He's that kind of person," Iggy said simply. "I don't like seeing you with him. He'll break your heart eventually, Max. Don't get too…attached…to him."

"He isn't a new puppy!" Max screeched. "He's my…boyfriend. Yes, my boyfriend! Like you're perfect, not telling Nudge that you have a boyfriend and then leading her on! She's a sweet girl, and you're the one that'll break her heart, and you're the nicest person I know!" The tears were threatening to spill from her eyes.

They pulled up to the driveway of the huge mansion, and Max opened the car door hastily, jumping out and closing the door with a thud. She didn't even wait for Gazzy as she ran inside. Gazzy saw her run away, wiping her eyes on her sleeve. "She really likes him. I know you're just trying to do the right thing," Gazzy said quietly. "You're both right, and you're both wrong. I don't know who this Nudge is, but you need to tell her."

And he jumped out of the car to follow Max. He'd never gotten to tell her that she was at risk of being discovered as Fang's girlfriend. He had heard those maids talking to Angel, and one of them had been talking about Max. Max breaking up with Fang wasn't an option. They didn't know it, but they loved each other.

Gazzy shook his head. It wouldn't happen. They wouldn't be found out. He shut the car door quietly. He didn't want to hurt Max, but he didn't want to hurt Iggy, either. Taking a few steps, they got quicker and quicker. And when he got in the door of the mansion, Angel was waiting in the doorway for him. "I thought you might be here," she said, laughter in her eyes.

Gazzy didn't understand it, but it was like there was a private joke going on. He was angry, until she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. So he smiled in spite of himself. It was good to be home.

But back in the car, Iggy had his head in his hands, thinking. It was wrong for him to be with Nudge because he was with Ella, so that wasn't fair. But it also wasn't fair that he liked Nudge, and Ella was in the way. And he couldn't decide. He just couldn't, even if Nudge wasn't anything to him yet.

Yet.

He pulled out of the driveway, counting the seconds before he turned again, and counting the seconds before he turned again. He'd learned how to drive this way, despite being blind. He groaned when he remembered another girl that now loved him. Brigid was sure to be waiting for him when he got there.

Max walked into the back room of the mansion, to where her cubbyhole was. She pulled out the maid's uniform slowly, tilting her head back and fighting the tears that threatened to spill. Iggy was wrong, wasn't he? She…liked…Fang. But if Iggy was wrong, why hadn't she spoken to Fang in a few days? Why did she miss him, and long to see him, but he wasn't making an effort to find her?

She walked into the bathroom to change, slipping on the maid's uniform and folding her clothes into neat squares. When she walked out, she was the Max that belonged here, the Max that seemed normal and well-off but was really just a worthless piece of white trash.

And she realized again that she didn't belong here. It wasn't her world, it was Fang's. And one day, he'd undoubtedly get married to a trophy wife, someone with no personality and bags of money. It didn't matter if he wasn't happy, it was if he respected his mother's wishes.

As much as she would have liked to say that it was fine if he did whatever and screwed around with whoever, it wasn't fine. The thought of him with another girl made her sick to her stomach.

Sadly, she walked back to her cubbyhole and stuffed her clothes inside. Just as she was about to walk away, she was confronted by a maid she knew but wasn't exactly close friends with, Julie Garcia. "What do you think you're doing?" Julie hissed. "Do you know how late it is? I've been covering for you all this time! You could have been fired!"

"I know, I know," Max mumbled. "I'm sorry." She left Julie just standing there, grabbing a broom from the corner and slumping out the door. She could at least try to hide the fact that she was upset, but she didn't really care anymore. Iggy didn't know what he was talking about.

She walked into the main entrance and started to sweep the dust off the floor, not that there was really any to sweep, but she'd at least maintain the illusion of sweeping. Just when she'd swept up the tiniest pile in the history of sweeping, someone or something pinned her up against the wall. Not uncomfortably, when a pair of lips covered her own.

A protest arose in her lips, but she stifled it quickly, just whimpering, praying that whoever it was would stop. Whoever it was happened to be an excellent kisser, though. When they broke apart, her eyes widened. Fang? Sure enough, the dark boy was standing in front of her with a cocky grin on his face.

"W-What the hell do you think you're doing?" Max stared up at him, then all around her. There was no one in sight, but he still shouldn't kiss her in the main hallway. And what if it hadn't been Fang? She blushed violently. "Come with me," Fang ignored her questions and took her by the hand. She wanted to fight it, but she was mildly curious as to where he planned to take her.

They ran up flight after flight of stairs, hiding behind doors when they saw someone coming. Soon, they were on the top floor – or so she thought. But he grabbed a rope, pulled it harshly, and down came a ladder. He ushered her up, pulling it up behind them.

Max looked around. They were in the attic of the mansion. It was small, and carpeted. Cobwebs were nowhere to be seen, and some box labeled for Christmas ornaments and Halloween decorations were scattered all over. But most of all, she noticed an old-fashioned picnic basket and a checkered tablecloth on the floor. She looked up at him questioningly, but he looked down, and one corner of his mouth twitched.

She felt like she was dreaming.

"Sit," he offered, and she walked over to the tablecloth. They sat down together, and she almost smirked at the thought of someone like him sitting on the actual floor. But she had seen him crawling through vents in the restaurant, so she believed it.

In the picnic basket, she expected it to be something like caviar, but when he dug inside it, he picked out a couple sandwiches. He handed her a ham and cheese. It seemed so surreal. They were having a picnic in the attic. And strangely, she loved it. "How'd you know how to make the sandwiches?" she teased.

"Internet," he flashed her a grin.

"You know, you can't just keep sexually harassing me all the time," she muttered, and he grinned harder.

They ate slowly, sneaking peeks at one another every once and a while. The entire time, one of his hands rested protectively over hers. It was embarrassing in some part of her brain, but she didn't really care. When they finished, they leaned against the wall, his arm winding around her shoulders and pulling her closer.

And despite her pride and that voice telling her not to, she leaned her head into his chest and gave a contented sigh. She forgot all her questions, all her accusations, and leaned into him.

His arms tightened around her. He thought she didn't notice, but her heart swelled.

Nudge walked into the small gas station. She'd never been to one, and she was really just exploring the town. She'd snuck out through her window, just hoping to get a glimpse of the world she hoped to end up in one day. She hated the prison of that mansion. That was what it was, keeping her locked up and away from society.

Her hood and sunglasses were on, keeping her invisible. She walked through the gas station, hoping to grab a bottle of water or something. But when she brought the bottle of water back up to the cash register, her eyes widened beneath the sunglasses. "Iggy?" she asked, surprised.

"Who?" Iggy froze, taking one of his iPod earbuds out.

"Nudge," she said, still in shock.

"Oh, thank god," he collapsed onto the counter. "Nudge, come here." She did. "This new employee I have is driving me crazy. Her name's Brigid Dwyer, and she's insane. She keeps attacking me and she likes me. She thinks I'm her boyfriend. If you don't want your eyes ripped out from her jealousy, leave now."

And he secretly prayed that she would. He had forgotten about Nudge and Ella temporarily, but this wasn't right. He couldn't see her, not just figuratively, or even talk to her, because it would be wrong.

Nudge's eyes flashed. So Brigid had gotten a job here? She knew just how to make that blonde bitch pay. She had never liked Brigid – Brigid was just too silly, and too young for her brother. And now she was moving in on Iggy? Nudge bit her lip.

She liked Iggy. She'd liked him since she'd first seen him, because he was so natural and kind and gentle, and he lived in that outside world that she wanted to be a part of. She knew he probably didn't like her that way, but she wanted to make sure.

So she brought Iggy over to the wall next to the store room, smiling devilishly, but of course, Iggy would never know. So she pressed her back against the wall and pulled him close to her. "Call her," she whispered. "Tell her to come out here."

Iggy didn't know what to think, or what Nudge was planning. But Nudge was practically yanking on his heartstrings, so he crumbled. "Brigid, I need to talk to you," he called sweetly, knowing that would make her run as quickly as she could to see him.

"Kiss me," Nudge whispered, and Iggy's heart stopped. He didn't want to do this, but he wanted to so badly at the same time. He knew Ella was his girlfriend, she had written him letters and he had sent letters back, letters with the words I love you encased in an envelope. But he ignored it, and pressed his mouth to Nudge's, as he'd wanted to for some time.

Nudge forgot all about Brigid, and their little trick to make her leave. She wound her hands around his neck and into his strawberry-blonde hair, molding herself into him and pulling him closer. His arms came around her waist, and she smiled on the inside, thrilled at his reaction. It was perfect.

Then an earsplitting scream echoed throughout the small gas station, and the couple broke apart to see Brigid standing in the doorway. She glared at Iggy as if he had stabbed her in the heart, and marched up to him, slapping him straight across the face. Iggy staggered back into Nudge, who caught him. Before they could blink, Brigid was grabbing her purse off the counter.

"I thought I meant something to you!" she screamed as she stormed out. Iggy grinned. She couldn't have been more wrong. When he looked down at Nudge, it was curiously. When that had happened, had she felt what he felt? He couldn't see her face, or her eyes, any emotion, so he assumed the negative.

Because it was better that way. Because it was safer that way.

Fang glanced at Max. She had been still for some time, leaning on his chest. He was used to silence, but for some reason, it was driving him crazy now. Just when he thought that she'd fallen asleep, she looked up at him, and he flinched, startled. She didn't seem to notice. "Fang, I've been thinking," she said, avoiding his eyes.

"Oh?" he kept his voice nonchalant and only mildly interested.

"What exactly…are we?" She asked, biting her lip.

"I'm pretty sure we're people," he answered, that telltale side of his mouth twitching again.

"You know what I mean," she mumbled. This was making her feel so insecure, something she hated. She should never have asked. She could have just enjoyed their time and kept her mouth shut, but she just had to open her big mouth.

While Max was having this mental battle with herself, Fang was thinking. "I mean, are we…more than friends?" Max asked. It was a stupid question, really, considering how he had kissed her earlier.

"Well," Fang began smugly, "I'd like to think…that we could be."

Max knew what she was doing. She almost groaned with frustration. He wanted her to be the one to admit that they were together, but she wasn't going to. That big chicken couldn't even say it like a man. "Are we?" Max tried again, batting her eyelashes and trailing two fingers up his arm.

"Possibly," Fang said in that smug tone that made Max want to scream in frustration.

She snuggled deeper into his chest. "Are we?" Max repeated again.

"Maybe." Fang smirked at her.

"That's it," she growled, and turned around to face him. He was almost afraid of having his head bitten off, but then she leaned in and kissed him with everything she had. He was too shocked to respond at first, but when he did, she pulled away. "More than friends?" she growled.

"Hell, yeah," he said breathlessly, then leaned in to kiss her again.

Thanks for reading! I want it to go quickly but not too quickly, I don't want it to seem rushed. Also, the line breaks in the story that separate the scenes aren't really working on my computer, so if they sometimes appear in the wrong places, please just try to figure it out. Every time I change it, it just goes back ot the way it was. I'm sorry D:

Unfortunately, the poll on my lookup ended up being a tie, so we might be getting the new story a little later. Vote on the tiebreaker, no ignoring just because it's a blind poll!

Also - just so one things's clear - Fang and Max are the only ones with wings, and Angel is the only human who has powers.

Don't forget to review! ^3^

~Rachel