One day, Max came upon Alec sitting at a table quietly assembling guns out of assorted parts. She stopped a moment and watched him. His hands moved confidently over the weapons, expertly fitting the pieces into place. He was focused. Max rarely saw that cocky smirk of his anymore. He could still muster it up, but beyond the world of ordinaries he didn't see the need for it anymore. He was harder now, colder, but also stronger and more reassuring.
Over her indignation at finding out he was the one really running Terminal City, Max could see why they all followed him. She'd only really seen Alec the way he was to force himself into an ordinary world. There he had been a self-absorbed sociopath. Surrounded by transgenics, he was a natural leader. His looks were sharp, his moves fluid, his voice direct. There was a newborn beauty to him for it.
Max knew now it was seeing Alec in his natural habitat.
She envied him that, because Max never felt she was in her element, no matter where she was.
In all the time she'd known him, until very recently Max had underestimated Alec.
As if sensing he was being watch, Alec glanced up from the semiautomatic in his hands and spotted Max. For a second there was only the calm, cool commanding officer in his look. Then he smiled. "Hey, Max."
Max hadn't meant to talk to him, but she approached at his greeting like it was a summons. "Hey… think we'll get any decent arms out of that mess?"
Alec locked a slide into place and dry-fired the gun. "At least half a dozen. Of course, guns aren't as big a problem as ammunition."
"I'll see what Logan can find."
Alec flashed that mischievous grin, "Some more bad guys to steal from? Sooner or later, we'll have all their guns and ammo."
Max smirked. "I hope so."
Alec snorted and put aside the newly-assembled weapon to start on cobbling together another.
On impulse, Max sat down at the table across from Alec. "Alec…"
He looked up at her expectantly.
Max studied him closely. She wondered how she had ever felt she was in a position to demean or talk down to him. She couldn't fathom it now. In almost every way, he was her superior. She knew the ordinary world for having lived in it, but in Terminal City all she had to offer paled in comparison to what Alec could provide.
The transgenics needed Alec in a way they never needed Max. For someone who used to think little of Alec, that was hard to take.
"This is hard for me to say," she began haltingly.
The old Alec would have taunted her. This Alec recognized this was more than casual conversation and put down the gun part in his hand to give her his undivided attention.
"Thing is… I know I'm not the one in charge around here. Everyone in Terminal City listens to you."
"They listen to you," Alec said.
"Only because you do. Took me a long time to realize that," Max snorted, "and even longer to accept it."
Alec's lips twitched but he stayed quiet.
"But I know that the only reason I have any control over anything around here is because you give me your support. So… I guess I just want you to know I appreciate it."
Alec looked at her a long moment, then he shifted in his chair to rest his forearms on the table. "You're looking out for Terminal City, and sometimes it's in ways we can't understand. Remember how I told you we were too close to Manticore and you were too removed?"
Max nodded.
"Well, that means sometimes you're going to know how to go about something that we don't really understand. This isn't Manticore, no matter how much it acts it sometimes. We have to deal with the world of ordinaries, and you're the best intel on that we've got."
"Right… we're all after the same thing," Max agreed.
Alec just nodded. He moved as if to return to his work.
For some reason, Max wasn't ready to surrender his attention. "I just… wanted you to know."
Alec looked sidelong at her, then he gave her a lop-sided smile. "So are these earth-shattering revelations of yours the reason you've been so especially bitchy lately?"
Max stiffened. "What, like I need a reason?" she countered on reflex.
Alec chuckled.
Max forced herself to relax. "But… yeah. Not easy finding out you're a private when you thought you were the general."
Alec frowned in thought. "They don't think of you like that. If anything…" Alec shook his head. "Never mind."
Max wasn't about to let that go. "What?"
Alec shrugged. "It's no secret we were breeding partners at Manticore."
Max froze, her eyes wide. "But we never… we've never…"
"That's not what the rest of our unit heard during the morning after report."
"And you never set them straight?"
Alec looked at her, nonchalant. "Why would I?"
"And you were mad at me for telling Logan you and I were together! You're such a hypocrite."
"Before Terminal City, it didn't mean anything. In Terminal City… Max, you have authority here because most of them assume you're my mate. You can go explain to them that you're not if you want to, but I doubt you'll get much obedience once you do. I don't say anything to deny it because I can't be around to back your every little order. I trust your judgment, especially when it comes to the world outside this City, and I want them to respect your expertise. With Biggs gone, you're the best second-in-command I've got. Between the two of us, we know what we need of both worlds to keep this place going."
Max stood, angry. "Excuse me if I don't just love that idea. I find out this whole time I only get the tinniest amount of respect around here because they think you're doing me?"
"Sorry," Alec snapped fiercely, "I thought the important thing here was keeping Terminal City going."
"It is, but…"
Alec rose suddenly. "No buts, Max. Either this City and those transgenics come before everything or they don't. And frankly, if they don't, I don't want you having any authority over them."
"They're not your soldiers, Alec."
Alec came around the table to stand face-to-face with her, his eyes glinting dangerously. "You ask them about that."
"You are so arrogant! TC's very own Napoleon Bonaparte. They're so lucky to have you." Max tried to leave but Alec grabbed her arm, tight, and yanked her back. She looked up into his eyes, surprised by the fire she found there.
"You know why I ended up with command? Do you, Max?" His fingers tightened even more on her arm. "Because every one of them knows I'd die for this City, for them. And frankly, Max, you always had 'other stuff' that took precedence."
"I never…"
"The virus, Logan, your tattoos, your little quest to save the world with four-eyes." Alec narrowed his eyes at her. "You don't deserve their loyalty."
Max tried to pull out of his grasp. "I sacrificed for this place!"
"Yeah, you did. But you won't commit to it."
"How dare you!"
Alec let her arm go. "If you're so sure of yourself, then go tell them I'm nothing to you. See what that gets you."
Max didn't move from her spot. She pursed her lips and looked hard at him. "You're not nothing to me, Alec."
"You always treated me like you were," Alec snapped. "And I put up with it because… hell, I don't know why I put up with it most of the time. I thought maybe under that double layer of bitch there was someone I could…" Alec shook his head. "You know what, just forget it." With that, Alec started to walk away.
Max rushed after him, moving around him to stand in his path. "No. We're not finished."
"What more do you want from me, Max?" Alec demanded.
"What do you want from me? I came here to tell you how much I appreciate you. You'd think you could show just a little gratitude."
"Gratitude? You mean gratitude for all the times you told me what a fuck up I was? Thanks, Max."
"That's not what I…" Max closed her hands into fists. "Alec, just stop."
"Stop what?"
"Stop… confusing me!" she said helplessly.
At that, Alec smirked darkly. "If you can't stand the idea of them thinking I'm like a husband to you, then find your own way to gain their respect. Commit to this place, Max. Commit to us."
"How? What could I ever do that would convince them?"
Alec shrugged. "Beats me. Good luck." Then he walked past her and out the door.
To Be Continued…