Title: Can I Help You?

Rating: T

Warnings: Language, Violence

Summary: The flock settles down in NY, but when Kick-Ass and the gang show up, things start getting complicated: identities, relationships, secrets, and yeah... trying to save the world doesn't help much, either.

Feedback: It's always loved and appreciated, guys.

Disclaimer: I own neither characters; I just use them as barbies for my own liking.

Author's Note: Sorry guys, I've been having a mean case of writer's block. I'm sure it'll all get better in time. For starters, here's a new chapter. Woohoo! On a side note, dafuq happened to ? Jesus, this place is ridiculous to get around now.

"I don't believe it," I whispered.

Ari shrugged, turning aside. "It's not that big of a deal, I guess. I was given a toy and had it taken away. I guess they thought I deserved it." Angel gasped to my left, and I flinched. Sounds like she had just woken up.

"Ari… I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," she said, unable to say anything better. I looked back at him, and he was tearing up. I leaned on the bars of my cage, reaching my arm out towards his. "Ari…" I started, not knowing what to say. He reached out to my arm and clasped my hand with his. "It's okay, Max," he answered back. "Seeing you here… that's all that matters. I'm just happy I can see you one more time."

"One more time?" Iggy asked before I could. Ari got silent, letting go of my hand. He turned away slightly.

"Well, look at me. With me like this, only after one attempt at escaping, I'm not sure how they're planning to take care of you guys."

At that point all of us were up awake, our minds scrambled with questions. "Oh my, looks like the coop is up and at it," I heard a male voice exclaim. We all whirled our faces to the noise and there he was: the first white coat I had seen in three years.

"Any time, now."

Fang rolled his eyes before looking back at Mindy, who was tapping her foot. "Sorry, but it's pretty hot right now," she said, adjusting her hat as she sat on her duffel bag. "How do you manage to still wear black?"

"Out of habit."

"You need different habits."

"Whatever."

Dave looked between them two, shaking his head to himself. "Just look away for a sec," Fang said, pulling a switchblade from his pocket. "For?" Mindy asked, crossing her arms.

"Well, if you want to see me shirtless, be my guest." She rolled her eyes before turning away. Fang took off his shirt to cut slits in the back before quickly putting it back on. "I take it you don't have too many good shirts," Dave implied. Fang smirked. "You're saying it like I have a lot of clothes in general." He slung on his backpack and gave a full 360 search before facing the open field again.

"…Well, whenever you're ready," Dave shrugged, gesturing to his own jetpack. Mindy walked over to him with her bag, ready to get clipped onto the straps. Fang looked ahead, taking a running start.

"Do you know what color they are?" Mindy asked?

"I have an idea," Dave murmured, watching Fang jump up. His wings pushed out of his shirt in their 15 foot glory, jet black feathers working together to push him higher and higher up in the air.

"Shoulda figured," Mindy said, and Dave smirked. Fang gave a few flaps before turning to look down at them. "You guys coming, or what?" he called out. Dave and Mindy looked at each other before Dave flipped the switch to turn on the jetpack. Slowly they rose up to his level.

"Man, you guys are gonna be slow," Fang said, scratching the back of his neck. "No time to waste though. We need to get over there before it's too late."

"Cut it out!" I screeched as they zapped Nudge for the fourth time, tears streaming down her face. Everyone pushed against the back of their cages in hopes that they wouldn't go next, but I grabbed the bars in the front, reaching out for Nudge, who lied on the table in front of me. "Ma-ax, help m-me," she blubbered, reaching back. The white coat gently picked her hand up and placed it back on the table. "Your tolerance for pain has gone down... interesting. Nonetheless, you're reacting better than most. Only a few more to go," the woman said. "No! No more!" Nudge screamed, kicking out. My eyes got watery as they tied her legs down, holding her head to prevent it from hitting the edge of the table. "Stop!" she yelled even louder.

"Hey!" a voice called out. "You heard her. Cut it out!" The white coats immediately stopped what they were doing to look towards the door. I looked over there too.

It couldn't have taken me more than a split second to gasp.

You see, I normally give people the cold stare down when we first catch eye of each other, but this guy… this guy just surprises me every time I see him.

"Hey kiddo. There's nothing to worry about," Jeb Batchelder cooed to Nudge, stroking the tears away from her cheeks. He immediately turned to the white coats. "What did I say about them? You're never supposed to hurt them. Go get her some water," he said sternly. Immediately they sped off, like flies from the swatter. I then remembered why I trusted Jeb back when he was with us; he was just so confident in himself, so powerful. He knew he was always the one in charge when it came to the rest of us.

Keyword: "was".

"Get the hell away from her, Jeb," I hissed, and he turned to me. A faint smile irked his lips, and he crouched down to be at eye-level with me. "It's lovely to see you again, dear Maximum," he started, elbows on his knees. "You think so? I'm not too fond of our acquaintance, really," I grumbled, eyebrows pulled close. He smirked before standing up. "Max, Max, Max, you need to understand. We need you back," he started, walking to the others. "We need you all back. I want you all. I miss you."

I felt Ari slide further towards the back of his cage. Immediately the thought of his wings coming off made my blood boil once more.

"For what?!" I shouted, jumping against the front of my cage. "For what fucking reason would you need us or want us back? For our wings? For our genetics? Our blood? Our brains? Our powers? What could you need us for?! Even after all these years, why the hell do you keep coming back to us? Haven't you ruined our lives enough? Why can't you just tell me?! I wanna know for what!" I shrieked, my hands curling into white-knuckled fists.

"Max, you need to calm down," Jeb said sternly, motioning for the white coats to come back in.

"You know what, I don't appreciate your tone, Jeb," I growled. "I ask for answers and I get nothing but a measly reply in return telling me to, what did you say… calm down? How helpful!"

"Maximum—"

"You know, maybe I'd calm down if you'd help my life do the same. Here you are walking around like you own me, like you've cared for me all my life—"

"Max—"

"And yet here I am realizing that you only care for me, for us, when it assists you—"

"Enough!" The word rang through the halls and back, echoing like the big boom of an explosion.

I'd never heard Jeb scream so loud before. I could only assume what it would've felt like to be slapped at that moment.

Jeb took a few deep breaths, trying to regain his composure as everyone stared in complete and utter shock. He adjusted his glasses before looking into my cage, staring me down.

"Just so you know, if I didn't care – if I haven't cared for you, all of you, all these years," he started, leaning down so we were face to face, "don't you think for an instant that any of you would be alive right now."

That was the last time I would hear Jeb's voice for a while.