L is for Last

[parallax23]

LAST

 

“So, how long is this,” Alec said, gesturing his hand at Max and himself, “supposed to last?”

They were drinking alone at a table in Crash for the first time in what felt like ages since Biggs’ death and the close call with White’s men at Jam Pony. Original Cindy was by the pool tables, chatting up some honey with curly blond hair. Sketchy had been avoiding Max and Alec since he found out that two of his best friends were ‘those mutant freaks on TV.’ They had decided to give him some space and hopefully he’d get over it. If not, well, there were bigger problems.

Sitting by themselves wasn’t too detrimental to Max’s health or the back of Alec’s head though. It just seemed to encourage the rumor that they were dating. Surprisingly, the rumor had come in handier than either would have thought.

Whenever they snuck off to Terminal City or take care of some transgenic business, no one asked too many questions. In the minds of the Jam Pony messengers, Max and Alec were working out their months of unresolved sexual tension, not heading up the Transgenic Underground.

“What do you mean?” asked Max, taking a melancholy sip from her beer.

“I mean, how long do we keep pretending to hook up for Logan’s sake?” he replied, swirling the scotch in his glass and then looking at her. “A few months and you catch me cheating on you with some girl in a strip club, then we break up? It’ll be messy and you punch me in the face. Or do we elope and never have sex like most other married couples?”

Max rolled her eyes. “What’re you going on about? We’re doing this to keep Logan away from me so he doesn’t die.”

“Yeah, but for how long?” Alec demanded. “Finding the cure has dropped a few spots on your priority list these days. What happens if you don’t find it?”

That wasn’t the real question that was bothering him. No, the real question was, what would happen if Max and Logan did find their cure? Before the virus, Logan had been Max’s sidekick and the position had only opened up because they couldn’t touch. What would happen when Logan went back to being the first person Max called for help? She made it clear that she was only keeping him around because he was useful. Alec wouldn’t have his best friend anymore that was for sure. He needed to know if he had to make the most of these moments before they were gone.

How long? Max hadn’t really thought much about how this whole fake relationship business would play out. Logan was supposed to walk away from her, but thanks to the runes he would be sticking around indefinitely. Someday they would find the cure when the time was right. Until then, they would have to stay apart. She hadn’t given up hope on finding the cure. Someday.

Max felt hurt and anger swell inside of her. “What’s got you all rotated? Not getting laid enough?”

She could see him bristle in annoyance. “You never think things through, do you? You just jump in head first and screw what happens after. You blew up the DNA lab and we got stuck in that ridiculous breeding program. You blew up Manticore and didn’t think what would happen to all the people you let out.”

“Well, I didn’t let your head blow up and look how well that’s turned out,” Max shot back. “This is just until Logan and I find the cure. Things are screwed up right now, but it’s still out there. So, please don’t let me stand in the way of you finding a new breeding partner in the meantime.”

“Maybe I don’t want a new breeding partner,” Alec told her in a sharp tone. “The last thing I want is another relationship that’s just a job. I’m out of here. Call me when you need something real.”

He stood up, but she got up at the same time and pushed him back into his seat. He scowled.

“That’s rich coming from you, Mr. One Liner, One Night Stand. You had a real shot with Asha and you blew it,” she said as he stood up again.

“Yeah, right. It wouldn’t’ve lasted. You know why? Because we don’t belong with them,” said Alec.

Then he walked away from her and out of Crash. She would see him again in Terminal City, they had a heist to pull at the docks in a few hours. They would just put this spat behind them and do the job they planned.

Where did he get off saying that she and Logan were probably over for good? He didn’t know the first thing about relationships. She and Logan had hit a rough patch. Every relationship had one, and so they needed to put some space between them for the time being. Even Mia had said that things would eventually work out. And she was Psy-ops! Then why did Alec’s comment bother her so much?

“Do you need me to kick his ass?” asked Original Cindy when she returned alone to their table.

Max shook her head. “Nah, I’ll beat his ass later.”

“Boo, you usually more eager to put the smackdown on your boy. Tell Original Cindy what’s wrong,” she said.

Her friend looked her in the eyes and thought for a moment.

“Nothing’s wrong. Alec was just being Alec. Wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last.”