I shoved those thoughts out of my head deciding to go into detail about that later when I was alone. "care to explain…?" I trailed off and he got this faraway look in his eyes.

After a few minutes of silence he finally realised that I was there still there and the slightly glazed look that had covered his eyes disappeared. "Long story." Was his reply and I frowned.

"That's not an answer." I stated.

"Well." He sighed, "I really don't care."

"Why do you always do that?" I questioned and he eyed me in confusion. "You block everything I ask you and when you do decide to answer its always cryptic little sentences that no one can understand!" I didn't mean for my voice to rise but I guess that's what happens when I don't get what I want fast enough which I will let you know has never happened. He's turning out to be trickier than I thought! "I mean seriously what are you trying to say? You're parents were murdered so some stupid person could find out how to get wings or what?" I snapped and he just stared at me patiently waiting for my little rant to end. I sat back with a huff and he waited a further five minutes before speaking.

"We're going to start this again?"

I glared at him but his expression didn't change. "Whatever." I grumbled, "I give up I really do." I announced standing up and making my way to his door. "When you get over you're insecurities and decide that I'm not going to hand you over to whoever killed your parents give me a call." I said angrily leaving the apartment.

Yeah… that was just a little white lie that he'll never know I told! I thought that went pretty well under the circumstances.

OoOoOoO

I had been up all night trying to piece things together, trying to understand the grander scheme of things and still came up empty when my alarm went off the next day. I wanted to talk with Iggy about it, he would see what I couldn't and he would be able to knock some sense into me. I could just picture him now gawking at me in disbelief "You're kidding!" he would gasp, "You're telling me that you think something isn't right with this mission? Max we're frickin assassins what we do isn't right and now you've suddenly grown a conscience? Do you want to die a very slow and painful death? Cause that's all you'll get if you're even thinking about what I think you're thinking."

Yeah thanks Iggy for the helpful advice. Oh don't give me that look I was sleep deprived and my brain was aching. Maybe I should just skip school today and get some rest but I knew I wouldn't, if anything I'd spend longer sifting through the single blasted file they gave me on Fang trying to find something helpful.

So I arrive at school just about ready to pass out when I see Iggy just getting out of his car and Fang nowhere in sight. I was across the lot and pulling Iggy along before anyone could so much as blink but Iggy of course hadn't been expecting my sudden attack and just about chopped my arm off, only stopping the small blade just before it hit me.

"You do not wanna even try me today." I mumbled and the blade disappeared under his sleeve.

"Whoa, Maxie you really look like hell." he stated and I glared at him.
"Well thank you Iggy, you're looking rather great today too." I snapped hitting him upside the head.

"Geeze, stop abusing me!" He whined rubbing his head, "You going to tell me why you're dragging me off again?"

And then I did something so Nudge-like I'm surprised I didn't kill myself. I told Iggy everything about Fang, from the second I realised he had wings to everything that had happened last night and somehow he took it al in and didn't interrupt me once only occasionally nod or frown or look thoughtful and when I was done I had confused myself even more.

"Have you informed HQ about all if this?" He asked casually after a while.

I couldn't do anything but gape at him in a 'are you serious' kinda way. He was joking right? After everything I had told him and he was worried that I hadn't checked in with HQ?

"Max, I'm serious, does anyone else know what you've found?" he demanded this time and I snapped out of my stupefied daze.

Come to think of it, no I hadn't checked in for weeks. "No, no one else knows." I shook me head to emphasize my point and he nodded.

"From the day that you got that file I knew you were gonna take this mission personally, I mean just the way you reacted to the file was enough." He sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Iggy, what's going on?" I asked cautiously and he eyed me warily.

"I don't fancy losing an arm today Maximum."

My heartbeat picked up when he said that, it was bad enough that I'd hurt him because of it.

"Back at my house in my room in the third drawer under all the papers is a blue folder." Was all he told me before walking away leaving me there feeling strangely – scared. I hadn't been scared since I was ten.

OoOoOoO

It only took me a few minutes to get to Iggy's house and only about two extra to find the folder buried under mountains of papers stuffed into his drawer, what can I say? He's not exactly the neatest person on earth. I could feel my heart thumping erratically in my chest and it got faster if possible when I found it. For some reason without even opening it I knew there would be something big in that file. I sat down on the chair and with shaky hands opened it…

I still couldn't believe it, there I was two hours later still on that blasted chair with papers and pictures littering the floor staring into space like some brainless idiot. Well I guess that's what happens when you find out something like this. I glanced down at the piece of paper in my hand, a little scrunched up because I'd held it tight for quite a while.

It was my birth certificate, I hadn't seen it in years. Why was my birth certificate of such importance? Well it only confirmed everything else that the file had told me.

The door opened with a creak and I looked up to find Iggy leaning against the doorframe. "Aren't you meant to be at school?" I asked unemotionally.

He eyed me apologetically and said softly, "Got sent home 'cause I'm 'sick'." He came closer and stood in front of me, taking in the papers all over and my birth certificate clutched in one hand. "Are you ok?" He asked gently prying it from my grasp.

"How long have you known?" I returned not answering his question.

He sighed and thought about his answer, "A while." He said truthfully.

"How long is a while?" I probed and a ghost of a smile came to his face but it was gone as soon as it appeared.

"Two months."

Two whole months and he only told me now! He had no right to keep this from me! He must have known I was about to explode because he continued, "Only pieces though, I couldn't connect them until a few days ago when I got this." He held up my birth certificate, "You never told me your Dad changed your last name and I actually thought that maybe he was your stepdad or something but then I found your birth certificate and I realised what he'd done."

I nodded slowly still half dazed.

"You know, I only started suspecting you when I checked the hospital records." He stated sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of me. "No check-ups when your Mom was pregnant with you, not even a trace that you'd even been born. But then of course I realised that your Dad could have done it all and then I noticed you were registered as a home birth."

"But, I don't…and he does and…" I trailed off thoroughly confused.

Iggy chuckled, "That is the only thing I couldn't figure out, sorry."

"I can't believe it." I mumbled and Iggy patted my knee.

"Things don't have to change, you know." He told me and I raised an eyebrow.

He was kidding right? But when I looked into his eyes my heart rate picked up again. Why was he staring at me like that? oh god, this wasn't going to end well. His sea blue eyes were swirling with something but I had the sudden feeling to get up and run. Thank goodness I did. I stood up quickly, "You're joking right Igs? Please tell me you are because I quite honestly can't see how I can just pretend I don't know any of this!" I paced around the room trying to clear my jumbled thoughts.

He sighed and we were quiet for another long while, "What are you going to do Max?" he asked in a whisper and I closed my eyes.
"I can't just let this go Iggy, I'm sorry." And I left.

What to do what to do…you see I'd never gone against the things we were taught in the academy, I listened and did as I was told – most of the time anyway. But I'd never thought I would go rogue because I knew it was a death sentence. It was funny how things change huh? It was pouring with rain but I couldn't really bring myself to care; I had too many things on my mind. If I was going to do this then I needed to get ready for what I knew would come. No one survived the hunters.

I spent hours going through everything that I would need to do and then of course there was one last vital decision: what to do about Fang.

Fang's P.O.V.

I didn't understand her, she was so up and down with one minute laughing and the next on the verge of killing someone and that irritated me. When she stormed out yesterday I didn't think too much about it, it's not like I cared what she did but the last comment confused me. Was I that closed off? As I thought things over I realised that she was once again right about me, Iggy was my friend but I would never trust him enough to tell him about my wings and the same with Nudge but now an almost total stranger knew about them and I instantly closed off but can you really blame me? Would you tell a stranger the secrets of your life just cause they asked? I didn't think so.

Bang bang bang! Geeze, what the hell's that about? I got up from the couch and slowly walked out the front door, really not in the mood for any crap from anyone especially Max. I reluctantly opened the door to tell her to go away but before I could even begin to say anything there was a prick on my neck and I blacked out.

Max's P.O.V.

Shit shit shitty shit! I was screaming at myself angrily, thoroughly p'd off that I had actually let them take him. Now I had known that Iggy would have told them – it was his arse on the line too if he didn't – but I didn't expect him to do it immediately I mean I thought we were close enough that he would at least give me a day. My heart sunk when I caught them leaving the building with a drugged Fang in between two of them and instantly jumped onto my bike ready for the chase. I couldn't let them reach wherever they were going – Fang would be as good as dead if that happened – so I had to intercept them before that. I didn't bother with my helmet this time and expertly flew passed the cars as they turned onto a busy street. Bloody black armour plated vans, why were they so fast? Oh right, cause they're carrying a kidnapped teenager who can fly in the back.

I knew what I had to do but I couldn't help but be a little more ticked off because my beloved bike would soon be a total write-off. Just a little closer! Come on…come on! Move you stupid machine! I yelled like it would make the bike go faster. Once I was positive that I was closer enough I took a deep breath and made a dive for the back doors, the tips of my fingers only just grabbing hold while my bike spun across four lanes of traffic. Oops. I heard shouting from the inside and knew they'd spotted me, I mean really who wouldn't have noticed that? There was a loud banging and seconds later the doors flew open. The guy held out his gun, eyes scanning the busy streets trying to find me. He dropped down and looked under the car to make sure I wasn't there. Idiot, you always check up first. Holding the edge of the roof I swung down, my ankles locking around the guy's neck and yanking him out of the truck only to be flattened by the car behind.

I didn't spare a second and dove straight for the second armed man who had already started loosing shots at me. I hissed when one hit my shoulder and wrestled the gun away from him shooting him once and killing him.

Fang was chained with reinforced steel to the floor of the van and I eyed it for a second before aiming the gun at the links.

"What the hell are you doing!" he yelled at me.

"Shut up." I said before shooting three shots at the chain holding him down. It shattered noisily and he hopped up quickly rubbing his wrists. "Now I suggest you put those wings to good use and get your arse out of here." I ordered, slipping a long knife out from where it was strapped around my waist.

"Who are you?" he whispered.

"Live now, talk later." And since he was just taking too damn long I pushed past him and opened the iron door separating the driver from the rest. After taking care of the driver I roughly grabbed Fang's shirt.

"We have about three seconds till this thing crashes into something so you either get us out now or we can both die and have wasted my time." His eyes swimming with incomprehension his arms wound around my waist and his wings came out.

Once in the air I let out a deep breath. "Well that just made my life about ten times harder." I noted and Fang seemed to realise what had just happened.
"Who the hell were those people and what are you?" he asked icily and I rolled my eyes.

"I'll tell you as soon as we land." I assured him and he glared at me. "Don't look at me like that, I just saved your bloody life you could at least be a tad thankful." I poked his chest and his jaw tightened.

He landed on the roof of his apartment, instantly taking about five steps back and his wings disappearing. I moved to the door leading down but he grabbed my wrist. "Explain. Now." He ordered and I looked back at his hard onyx eyes.

"How 'bout this? I explain while you pack, that way we might actually be able to get out of here before they realise you've just been taken back." I smiled sweetly at him, wrenching my arm out his grip. "Don't push me Fang, you can either come voluntarily, and possibly get some answers or I could just knock you out right here and keep you in a bunker with on one but yourself to keep you company till this blows over." I snapped when he didn't follow.

After hesitating he followed me down. The door to his place was slightly open so they must have surprised him by the door.

Fang came up behind me "Wh-"

I cut him off by holding up my hand. "Stay here." I whispered sternly and I could practically feel the anger radiating off him. I took a small gun from my boot and pushed the door open slightly. all I need was a creak and I'd shoot, what can I say I'm just a little trigger happy.

The apartment was completely silent, I couldn't even hear my own breathing and I made my way slowly through every room and I was upstairs checking Fang's bedroom when I heard them downstairs.

"Iggy?" A very confused Fang said and I froze.

Iggy! Crap! I was out the room and down the stairs with the gun at Iggy's head in a split second.

"Max what the hell are you doing!" Fang hissed surprised that I was attacking his friend.

"Shut up Fang." I snapped and tuned him out. Iggy's back was to me so I carefully stepped in front of him with the gun still aimed for his head and my finger ready to pull the trigger. "What, they send you to kill me?" I asked icily glaring at Iggy.

Ooo DRAMA! lol

Right, there you go! Merry (Belated) Christmas to you all, lol.

Anybody wanna try and guess what Max found out? eh it's pretty obvious but anyway.

Teehee. I got an I-pad, I'm uber chuffed!

REVIEWS=LUV
LUV=INSPIRATION
INSPIRATION=UPDATES!
Fangrules