Full title: You be the anchor that keeps my feet on the ground, i'll be the wings that keep your heat in the clouds.
A/N: DISCLAIMER – I don't own. Sorry.
Max POV
"Ok Ig, you cover Lyndsey, you can't see her eyes, so you're safe man. I'll get the flock." Why did I have the feeling that this was going to be harder than it looked?
I pointed Iggy into Lyndsey's direction in the vast underground room and tapped the back of his hand twice to let him know that he was on his own now. He strolled over to her casually so not to tip her off as to what we're doing, and I decided to try and tackle Gazzy, I figured he'd be the easiest, I mean I would go for the youngest but Angel is probably going to be one of the most tricky to get.
I ruffled his hair and patted him on the back. "Gazzy sweetie," I said as calmly and quietly as I could. He looked up at me with his big trusting eyes and gave me one of his little kid grins, it made me proud that he could be so tough and happy after what we'd been through. Nobody deserved that at his age. "Brigid wants to see us through here, she wants to tell us something about what we have to do next to find Jeb."
"But she told us to stay here with Lyndsey until her and Bernard came back," he replied innocently, but I had a sinking feeling that nothing I could say was going to budge him whilst he was under. I needed help. Maybe it would be better me getting Fang first, though he may be the most difficult, he could help me with the others, and we'd get through this faster. "Okay Gazzy."
I changed tactics and went over to where Fang was still pretty much clinging onto that little bitch, Lyndsey and tapped him on the shoulder, watching Lyndsey spin her head so that he wasn't out of her view. So far nobody was suspicious that we were out so that was a plus I made a mental note to thank the Gods later. Just then Iggy started talking to Lyndsey and she turned her focus to him, desperately trying to get him under her power. He even managed to get her eyes dead on so that it looked as though he was looking her in the eye.
"Fang. We need to get out of here!" I urged, whilst he was out of her evil, gripping claws, it should be easier to do this.
"Why? We're safe here."
"No we're not. Remember what we talked about in that room. Things aren't safe, Lyndsey has you under her ridiculous spell." I was trying desperately to keep my voice down so that she wouldn't hear this. But Iggy was working her like a sweet little charm, telling her she was beautiful, complimenting her and stuff, I liked it, he had her full focus for now.
Fang looked as though he was remembering, and then something seemed to click.
"Got it. Let's go!" He suddenly sprung into action when he figured out what was going on. Between us we managed to just about grab the other kids by the mouths so that they wouldn't shout out and shoved them out of the room hastily, where we stood in a long dank corridor and explained everything to them.
Angel looked up at me. "We need to get Iggy out of there NOW." She looked genuinely worried and I didn't argue with her.
I cooed like a pigeon, as a signal to Iggy to scat. And he came hurrying round the corner, Lyndsey on his tail, but the flock were cleverer than that and all had their eyes trained on the exit through the lift at the end of the corridor and away from her searching, victimless eyes and we all ran for everything we were worth and were there in a matter of seconds, as bird kids were particularly good at travelling fast on our feet.
We managed to get the lift doors shut before Lyndsey even reached us. Huh? Apparently if you weren't born a bird kid, and you just like became one after, you didn't get the speed that came with it.
Now let me tell you this, 6 tall bird kids stuck into a lift that looked big enough for 2 was not my idea of a fun time. I closed my eyes shut tight and tried to breathe deeply. I felt a sympathetic hand rubbing circles between my wings on my back and opened one eye just enough to give Fang a thankful smile. We all poured out of the lift into the lobby when it stopped and ran for the exit, doing and immediate U and A when we got there, just to get enough height to be safe for now.
Lyndsey tried to follow us upon seeing us stretch out our wings, but her clumsily grafted on wings were not unlike the first batch of flyboys and so her flying was awkward and slow at best. She had to focus more on flapping her wings than on where she was actually going, which simply made it easier for us to loose her, expertly angling our feathers with that just-right precision through the tree tops nearby and eventually lowering ourselves in a clearing when we knew it was safe.
The flock looked exhausted so rather than waste time in talking now, I set up a fire and let them sleep, since it must have been days since they got a chance for some quality shut eye, with the exception of me, Fang and Iggy, but Iggy soon dropped down with the others, exhaustion getting hold of him.
I offered to take the first watch, but Fang said we should do it together, God knows it was going to take the both of us to fight anyone off tonight anyway, and he claimed that he "wasn't tired". Huh, yeah like I believed him. But I was grateful of the company tonight and didn't argue with him.
I sat down slowly on a log, a little way from the fire, I didn't want to make too much noise and wake the flock, but I kept them within eye shot all the time. Fang was poking at the fire a bit and collecting more wood, it was nice to just sit and watch him doing things sometimes. He thought of absolutely everything, I didn't know what I'd do without him most of the time. He looked so beautiful as well, with the moonlight slanting off the side of his face, and his slim, tall build looking intimidating to an enemy but so gentle and finely tuned to whatever I wanted pretty much all of the time. He really knew what I needed, knew when to give me space. I was finally finding time to think things over about us, and all I could think of was that kiss. So perfect and gentle, such unbelievable bliss. I smiled at him when he looked over, and he put down the log he was holding to come over to me.
"You ok?" He asked softly, giving me one of his rare, heart-stopping smiles. I nodded, "Just thinking about stuff," I replied quietly, still thoughtful as I gazed into his deep dark eyes that made me want to melt when he looked into mine. He sat down on the log next to me and put his strong arm around me, and resting my head on his rock-hard shoulder. Like I said, he always knew exactly what I wanted. All the time. We sat there like that for a while, just thinking, everything was beautifully peaceful and the flock were resting and temporarily safe, that was all I could hope for right now and it made me smile to myself.
"Max," He whispered softly, his warm breath skimming over the top of my hair, making a light, tingling shiver go down my spine. I looked up at him and his eyes were gazing at me with an intense, understanding and thoughtful look. It always bewildered me how he could think so many things at once, of course normally they were hidden and he remained like a rock, but he was opening himself up to me more and more lately.
"Yeah," I whispered back, almost as quietly.
"I can hear your thoughts again." I felt alarmed for a minute, what had I been thinking a minute ago? Oh it was ok, just how blissfully quiet and nice things are right now.
"Really? I can't hear yours." I felt almost disappointed.
"I'm not thinking much different to you Max. Maybe part of what you're thinking is me as well. Open your mind up more." He gave my shoulders a gentle squeeze with his arm and I looked at him carefully, making a mental note to ask Iggy later about what this power is all about and how it works, but I gave what Fang suggested a try.
Keep trying Max. I believe in you. Wait. He didn't say that, but I heard it. The corners of my lips slowly curled up into a soft smile as I tried to listen more to his thoughts. He put his arm back around me and I rested my head on his shoulder again. Maybe you should rest a bit Max; it's been a long couple of days. Man you smell good, oh crap I didn't mean to…I chuckled softly. It's ok Fang. You smell pretty good too. But I'm not as beautiful as you Max. Oh yes you are, and more. I turned myself up again to look into his eyes. Oh no. Not possible Max. I shook my head, looking deeper into his eyes, trying to read them as well as his thoughts.
I didn't need to though; I only had to listen to his thoughts to know that he wanted exactly the same thing as me right now. So with that, I angled my head towards him and he did the same. The kiss was sweeter this time, softer, we'd had time to think about it and I didn't have to worry about my flock, convinced that if I listened hard enough, a bug couldn't get within a hundred yards of them without me knowing. Nothing in this world could be nicer than this. Nothing could be better, or more perfect. Fangs hand crept slowly up my back to the spot in between my wings that felt so good and rested the other on the back of my head, angling it so that we could be closer and deepen the kiss. I slid my hands up his back and one to his neck, rubbing soft circles on it with my thumb. This was all I wanted in life, I wanted my flock safe, and to feel happiness like this all the time.
But right now it wasn't all the time, and I slowly, reluctantly brought myself back to reality and rested my head back on Fang's shoulder. At least things were this good for now. The rest was a matter that I could face in the morning, and with that I felt my eyes flutter closed softly and I slipped gently into a happy, dreamy sleep.
A/N: So there you have it, FAX. Let me know if you liked it. Next chapter up soon. Reviews welcome as always. Also this is my first chapter with over 2,000 words, go me, super long. I'm trying to get more descriptive. Also if you get a spare minute and you want something to read, check out my Fictionpress story (like this but not Maximum ride, it has my own characters etc), there is a link to it on my profile.
