It's a SNOW DAY XD
So, turns out Fax is freaking hard for me to write.
...Or y'know, just romance in general.
I hope it lives up to you're Faxness standards.
It's longer than usual cause I didn't feel like splitting it.
So enjoy five pages of Microsoft Word :)
"You seem bothered." To my surprise, Fang started the conversation like he had a few times before. I listened to the deep breathing of everyone sleeping around us as I looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of Caige in the darkness.
"Is he asleep?" I asked like I always did. There was a slight pause as he checked.
"Yeah, you're good." He confirmed. I let out a short breath, relaxing a bit, the cold bars digging into my back.
"I don't know why I can't talk in front of him." I explained. It almost felt like I was talking to no one, even though I could constantly feel Fang's eyes on me. But the past few days, they almost felt gentler, less like him. "I mean, I'm sure it would be fine if he heard but-" I cut myself off, sighing and holding my head in my hands a bit.
"You don't want him to be scarred or anything?" Fang guessed. I nodded, forgetting that he couldn't see me in the dark. "He's been brutally attacked by half men half wolves, has been tased and he's been in a cage for over 120 hours straight, sitting in the dark. I think being scarred for life is kind of checked off on his list." He told me blankly. It was a bit obvious, because it wasn't the real reason.
"That doesn't mean I can't stop him from getting any ideas." I blurted out. That was the real reason I was always careful around Caige. In fact, I barely gave him any freedom at all. Even though I loved him, he was young, and I was afraid with what he could do with power, and what he would do.
"You don't want him to turn out like... her." Fang confirmed my thoughts, speaking with a sharp tone. Based on that, and of course moral judgment, I figured he wouldn't particularly enjoy that either.
"I can't let that happen again." I explained. "He's small, easily corrupted. You should see that way he follows Jace and Crest around, even Zen sometimes. As adorable as it is, it's dangerous." I said, trailing off a bit at the end of my sentence. But Fang got the picture, verifying with a sigh.
"He's not going to leave." He told me firmly, blowing off the though as nothing but an illusion. It wasn't like him.
"You don't know that." I snapped a little too harshly. "He could convert at anytime. All he'd need would be the right resources. Angel could get into his mind. He could stab me in the back. He could-"
"Yeah, maybe he could do that. Maybe he's some evil genius here to destroy the world and kill everyone." Fang was trying to show me how stupid my thoughts were, but he was only offending me.
"She's my baby!" I yelled, shocked at the words coming out of my mouth. I shut it quickly before more unthought-of of spew could flood out. Fang's stare was making the hair on my neck stand on end. "He... he's my baby." I said quietly, burying my head in my knees which were now hugged tightly into my chest.
"You miss her." Fang told me, but my fists were tightening with denial.
"No, no I do not." I said sharply waiting for him to confront the subject. But the five words were so full of lies there was nothing to contradict. "It's just a fresh start, and I don't want to mess it up." I explained, trying to convince even myself as I sunk lower into the bars.
"So you're replacing her then." Fang said like it was obvious. Damn his logic and his stupid reality.
"I'm not replacing Angel. Caige is my second chance and trust me, he is not her." I said sternly, trying not to shout to prove my point. Sometimes I think people only hear me when my voice is raised. Too bad I only hear myself when it's quiet.
"You don't get a second chance with people Max." Fang said matching my stubborn and unchanging tone. "She's gone and there's nothing you can do about."
"If Angel was really gone, she would have told Jeb." I argued callously. This is what human's are like. Our minds are reduced to the size of seven year olds when the annoying brat on the playground steals our favourite toy.
"Stop making false hope and start dealing with it." Fang snapped coldly. I could picture his face, stern and sharp. And stupidly, stupidly practical. Just like everything coming out of his mouth. Almost everything. I could catch him with this one.
"I am dealing with it." My voice sounding too haughty as I shot the words out of my mouth, crossing my arms as my back turned to him. "Take your own advice." I added before turning over my shoulder and shouting the words very immaturely. "At least I can say Angel's name."
We both stopped, letting our voices rise in the air, like smoke from our burnt out flame. It was then how similar I realized Jace and Fang were. If I had been fighting with Crest or Iggy for example, and I had said that, both of them would have said her name over and over like there was no tomorrow, just to prove to themselves that I was wrong. But both Jace and Fang would and did shut up, because they knew I was right.
Suddenly a clear voice that I didn't expect to hear rose from our fight's ashes. Its innocence sent chills down my spine. "You're just using me?" Caige asked, the hint of hurt clear as day in his question. I looked in Fang's direction with horror.
"You lied to me?" I demanded with shock that he would bring up the subject while Caige was listening.
"No, Fang didn't have anything to do with it." Caige insisted. I was almost happy that I couldn't see his face, because if it looked anything like his tone sounded, I was pretty sure I would crumble. "I woke up a little while ago, you guys were loud." He said sheepishly. It was pretty dark, and none of us had Iggy's ears. Not that it mattered. You probably wouldn't have been able to hear Caige's stirring under the sound of Fang and I gnashing our teeth at each other.
"I'm not replacing you Caige. And I know you would never-" Betray me? Is that what I was going to say before my voice trailed off. If it was, it's a shame it wasn't true. There was no point on playing innocent since he'd clearly heard the whole thing.
"I'm not going to leave Max, I promise." Caige said after a long pause. I couldn't leave long moments of silence anymore, it gave awful; thoughts too much time to slip into his head, like doubt, hatred, power.
"I know yet Caige, but I just need to make sure of it." I insisted to him, trying not to sound too desperate, although at that point, desperation might have convinced him more. "I don't want you getting hurt." I added. More like I don't want to have to hurt you.
I could hear him shuffling a bit, considering what I had said. Whereas I was scrambling to find something else to fill the silence. Anxiety of his response was taking over before he spoke. "Okay, I believe you." He said. I could almost see his glowing smile cutting through the darkness. It supplied fresh hope, and fresh relief that fueled the corners of my own mouth to twist awkwardly up.
"Good, now get to sleep." I said as cheerily as possible.
"Kay Max." He said a bit louder and I heard him shifting around. "Oh and just so you know, I take it back." He added.
I had a confused look on my face. "You take what back?" I asked with hesitation, wondering just what he was implying.
He waited a bit before the shuffling stopped. "What I said about Angel back when I saw her at the house." He said and I tried to remember before he jogged my memory. "She's not that pretty." I had to keep from laughing to let him fall asleep. Neither me or Fang spoke until I heard him breathing deeply.
"I see what you mean." Fang said finally, his voice almost a sigh. "But he's no Angel." His words stuttered a bit before Angel's name, but he wasn't trying to prove me wrong. He was just trying to deal with it, and I couldn't help but smile slightly.
"I know you miss her too." I said and he sighed for real, much louder.
"Yeah, but it's hard to miss someone who's stabbed you in the back." He said sternly, as if puzzling the statement himself. It was true, that was a fact, but did it also mean...?
I waited a while, considering whether to ask or not, but finally I sucked in a breath. "Fang?" I asked him with only an "Mm?" as a response. It was hared to find and get out the words. I was a tough-ass fighter, not a dopey, heart ached teenaged girl. But it didn't mean that my feelings weren't real. "Did you... miss me?" I asked, biting my lips and mentally sticking a gun in my mouth the minute the last word came out. He didn't speak for what seemed like hours, even though it was probably only a few seconds.
"I'm missing you right now." Was his answer.
"What?" I asked confused, hoping that he would continue. Because the answer he gave me, no matter how often he left it at that, was unacceptable.
"I mean, that until we get out of hear, kill your and Jace's dumb-ass dad, and I kiss you for real, no surprises, I'm going to miss you." He said. How out of character of him.
My stomach was filled with butterflies... nope scratch that. It sounds even lamer than my heart was fluttering. If girl's like me are going to be in love, there needs to be more, less vulnerable phrases about being shocked, thanks. My breath was caught in my throat as I listened to him. There, good enough.
It almost felt as if I hadn't been away for two years, that he hadn't given me he darkest scowl I'd ever seen just a week ago, that I hadn't needed to top him from leaving by ramming him into the ground. It only felt like before, like us.
"And even though I... well, you thought that I left?" I questioned, needing o confirm every last detail. Yes, I needed to.
"As hard as it is to miss someone you hate," He started flawlessly. It was like every word was charted on a well prepared map, but they were so true too. "I think it's near impossible to hate someone you love."
Look who got me. Hook line and sinker, but also proud of it. That was me, Maximum Ride, falling for somebody. And I didn't even care.
"That's why Max, I'm going to do everything to get you out." Fang continued, his voice stern, but also compassionate. I think that is the biggest oxymoron there is, stern compassion.
"Fine." I said, secretly gushing like my organs would start pouring out my ears. "But if your going to do that, then you have to promise me that when we do get out, it's going to be together." I said, matching his tone.
"Promise." I could practically hear the lies in the two syllables. And I decided to let him know.
"Good." I said cockily. "Because I swear if you aren't standing with me in that field and we don't take off into the air together, then I am marching right back here with my hands up and we can just make another escape plan." I told him with a smirk, feeling the frustrated aura coming from hear. "You got that?"
"Yeah," He said with a playfully annoyed sigh. "I got it."
I smiled as I looked in his direction. But soon a fake frown appeared on my face as I looked displeased with the largeness of the aisle between us. "Just so you know," I said in a slightly aggravated tone. "I would hug you, but I don't think my arms are long enough."
He actually laughed as I said that and I chuckled a bit with him, our voices in sync. After we quieted down, the smile on my face wouldn't disappear. It felt as if my cheekbones would fall off my face. "Hey Max." Fang said suddenly. I couldn't tell if his tone was bright or solemn, but it was as deep as his eyes.
"Yeah?" I asked hesitantly. He waited for a bit and I heard shuffling as his position changed again. "I love you." He said finally and my smile returned, bright once more.
"Yeah, I love you too." I confirmed as I lay down myself, ready to just fall into unconsciousness.
"Gross." I heard a quiet voice say disgusted as I shot up, hitting my head on the metal roof, before yelling at the voice.
"Caige!"
Unknown's POV
You certainly took your time responding.
"Sorry for actually wanting to have my mind private for once."
Yeah well your teamed up with me now. So say goodbye to that luxury.
"Okay. Goodbye freedom. Goodbye intelligence. Goodbye-"
Shut up. I've had enough sarcasm to last a lifetime.
"Sarcasm makes the world go round. Get used to it kid."
You sound just like her when I was in her mind. Stupid girl, never finding out it was me until I told her.
"Don't talk about Max that way. You should be grateful she hasn't killed you yet."
Grateful? She couldn't kill me if she tried.
"Really? I'd liked to bet on this. Once I find a way of earning money, I'll bet you that she will. That is, if your still alive."
I thought I told you to cut it out with sarcasm, or maybe you'd like me to dig a little deeper into your head.
"Now that I'd like to see."
You seem different.
"Yeah, well I guess certain events can change you."
She really does trust you, doesn't she?
"Never doubted me for a second. I just hope we finish this undercover work soon, I'm tired of acting sweet."
I know how you feel, it's gets boring when you know your so superior. I'll have Jeb come to collect you soon.
"Good, I don't think I can take much more sweet talk. It's disgusting."
I know, remind me not to listen to the tapes next time. You should get some sleep, it's going to be a big day soon.
"I don't want to know. Stay out of my head when I'm asleep."
Don't you know who your talking to?
"Yes, so maybe I'll spend the night listening to some more sweet spew instead of sleeping. Would you like that?"
Fine, fine. Message received. But I'm talking to you at the crack of dawn. Be up early if you don't want a head-ache.
"Noisy brat."