Missing Moments -- Together: Max and Alec

Disclaimer: The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Alec, etc.), and everything else that has to do with the show belong to their respective owners, not to me.  No money is being made off of this fic.  I only own the original characters (Becky/X6-405, etc.).

Notes: Takes place immediately after chapter 39 of “Together.”

“Thanks for using Jam Pony,” Max said as she accepted her clipboard back from a customer.

“No problem,” the man said.  He handed some money to both Max and Alec, went inside his apartment, and shut the door.  The two X5s turned around and walked their bicycles back down the hallway.

“What now, Max?” Alec asked.

“Well, since you seem to be keen on sucking up to Normal, we head back to Jam Pony,” Max replied.  “Any normal person—or transgenic, for that matter—would just hang around here or somewhere for a few.  Even Becky does.”  When Alec gave her a skeptical look, she shrugged.  “Well, sometimes she does.”

“That sounds more like her,” Alec observed.  He pressed the down button for the elevator.  “This thing better be working.”

Max rolled her eyes.  “What, too lazy to walk your bike down the stairs if you have to?”

“First: what crawled up your rear end and died, second: I am not too lazy, and third: I know that you haven’t forgotten about the bet that you have going with Original Cindy,” Alec said.  “Do you actually want to lose?”

“Huh?”  Max looked at her fellow X5 in disbelief as the elevator doors opened and they walked inside.  “Are you helping me win?”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Alec said, shrugging.  He jammed the button for the lobby.  “I just know that if it were me, I wouldn’t want to lose a bet if I could help it and X5s in general seem to be competitive.”

“Oh.  That makes sense,” Max commented.  The two of them were quiet until the elevator reached the ground floor.  Max followed Alec off of the elevator and towards the building doors, only to sigh in exasperation at the sight that greeted her.  “Great.  It’s monsooning out there.”

Alec raised an eyebrow.  “Why are you surprised?  You’ve been living here for awhile, haven’t you?”  He grinned wickedly.  “Is Maxie afraid of a little rain?”

“I am not afraid of rain, you ass,” Max snapped.  “For crying out loud, why do you have to be such a dick all the time?  I don’t think I’ve ever heard you be anything less than an asshole for more than a few seconds at a stretch.  What is your problem?”

“I’m sorry, Max,” Alec apologized.  “I was just trying to be a friend.  I mean, I would joke around with my best friends back at Manticore like this.  Plus, you’ve seen me around Sketchy and even Jeff.  I’m not the devil incarnate, Max.”  He shook his head.  “I might not be your brother Ben, but I’m not Ames White either or even Lydecker.”  Alec shivered.  “I’ve seen that guy a few times when he would visit the Seattle base.  Yikes.”

“Noted,” Max conceded.  “But why the hell do you want to be my friend?”

“Not too keen on wanting me as a buddy, are you?” Alec observed.  He sighed. “Honestly, you remind me a little of one of my best friends.  I miss her.”

“You were friends with a female?” Max said skeptically.

“Believe it or not, yes.  I am capable of friendships with people of the opposite gender,” Alec confirmed.

“Sorry,” Max told him.  She tried to force a smile to her face.  “What’s her name?”

“I don’t know what her name is, but her designation’s 121,” Alec replied.

Max was speechless.  121?  Is she who I think she might be?  “121?”

“Yep,” Alec said.  “Her designation’s 121 the same way that mine’s 494.  I’m gonna take a wild guess based on that sort of freaked out look on your face that 120 was one of your best friends from your childhood.”

“She was,” Max confirmed.  “And her name is Rena.”

“Sorry.  I forgot how touchy you are about the name thing.”  He shrugged when Max gave him a dirty look.  “I understand why you’re so uptight about that whole deal, honest.  I was in Manticore for a lot longer than you were.  I know how they worked with us even better than you do.”

“You’re right,” Max conceded.  “Sometimes I forget that, yet other times it’s so obvious that it makes me want to kill something.  Or just kill you.”

“So, that’s why you don’t like me so much?  Because I’ve spent my entire life until the fire inside Manticore, missions not withstanding?” Alec guessed.  “Not because I’ve been allegedly acting like an ass?  Not because I look just like one of your brothers?”

“Alec—“ Max began.  She took a deep breath.  “I’m sorry.  I can’t…Ben’s just…you know.”

Alec nodded.  “Believe me, I’m all for filing talking about Ben under ‘Way, way later.’”

“Thanks,” Max told him gratefully.  She looked outside and tried to think of a less volatile topic of conversation.  “Rena and I had a similar sense of humor.  We also shared a bunch of likes and dislikes.  I guess the same holds for me and 121?”

“It does,” Alec said.  “We’ve always gotten along.  Her, me, and our buddy 511 were best friends since the three of us were babies.  We were always laughing and joking around together, especially since the rest of our unit didn’t care or just plain hated us.  Boy, was my unit a fun bunch.  It kind of solidified our friendship, especially after 121 and I were released from Psy Ops six months after you, Rena, Ben, and the rest of your unit decided to leave Wyoming.  Us against them.  Anyway, we would trade wisecracks, rude remarks, and insults back and forth all of the time.  We’ve come up with some pretty creative ones over the years.  When I got to know you—sort of—when we first met back in your cell at Manticore a few days before the fire, I guess you unconsciously reminded me of 121 so I began treating you the same way that I did her.  I wanted to be a little nicer to you because…”  Alec paused.  Maybe I shouldn’t tell Max about Renfro pairing up me with 734 just yet.  I’m actually liking the two of us having a civil conversation.  The revelation of the I.D. of breeding partner number one can wait.  “…honestly, it’s not in my nature to be a total asshole to a woman that—well, I’m at least supposed to sleep with.”  Which technically is true.  “I didn’t consciously make the connection between your personality and my friend’s until later.”

“Oh.”  Max looked thoughtful and glanced out towards the street again.  “The rain’s stopped and the sky looks as if it’s clearing.”

“Awesome,” Alec commented.  “Let’s get back.”  He started to walk his bicycle towards the doors, but stopped and turned around to face Max again.  “Friends?”

“Sure,” Max agreed.  “Friends.”  She held out her hand and Alec shook it.  The two X5s left the building and got on their bikes.  Before they started back towards Jam Pony, Max looked at her ex-breeding partner and smiled sweetly.  “But don’t expect me to stop kicking your ass every once in awhile.  Or a lot.”

“What else are friends for?” Alec said dryly as they pedaled away from the building.

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