DISCLAIMER: All "Dark Angel" characters belong to James Cameron and Charles Eglee (Cameron Eglee Productions) and "Dark Angel" itself belongs to FOX.
ARCHIVE: No
Bonk Buddies
By Valjean
This is a stand-alone story following the events of Max Allan Collins' DARK ANGEL novels SKIN GAME and AFTER THE DARK, and incorporating information revealed in D.A. Stern's THE EYES ONLY DOSSIER. -- author's note
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When Alec entered Terminal City's control room that morning Max was already there, talking to Dix by one of the security system computers. Half bent over the keyboard, face hidden by long dark hair, she was peering intently at a monitor screen.
Alec steeled himself. He figured that when she turned around and saw him the look in her eyes would answer all of his questions.
"Hey Max," he said softly, knowing she'd hear him even above the hustle and bustle of the busy room.
Slowly, she straightened and turned.
Alec held his breath, and told himself no matter what her reaction -- no matter if she was angry at him, even if she kicked him across the room -- it would be no big deal. Afterall, they were friends, compatriots, family ... Nothing could change that fact, not even--
Fierce dark eyes pinned him."What do you want?"
Alec swallowed hard. Shit, she was royally pissed. However, never one to back down easily, the X5 met Max's hard look with one of his own. "I just wanted to see if you were okay," he said, his voice still quiet.
Mole, who'd been yammering over in a corner with Luke, stared at him, his scaly head cocked quizzically to one side, sensing an undercurrent between the two X5s. "Why the hell wouldn't she be okay?" the lizard man groused, furiously chewing on the cigar stub in his mouth. "Doesn't she look okay? You, on the other hand, look like shit. What? Were you up all night with some female? Didn't get your beauty sleep?" He grinned at that suggestive idea.
"Somethin' like that," Alec said with a cocky smile, his facade firmly slamming into place. Well, he had his answer. Might as well leave. He didn't know why he'd expected anything more from Max -- or even what that "anything" might have been. Best to just go back to what they'd pretty much always been -- antagonistic allies.
"I'll be over at the craft mall if you need me," he said. "The seventh floor is about done and a bunch of the X3s are squabbling over the space." Squaring leather clad shoulders, he headed for the door.
"Alec! Wait!"
He looked back at her, eyebrows raised as Max moved quickly across the room to his side. With a nervous glance at the transhumans in the control center, she took hold of his elbow and steered him into the main garage area beyond.
"You don't have to say anything, Max," Alec said, beating her to the punch as soon as they were out of earshot of the others. "I understand. It was just a one time fling for you. We were both a little drunk, you were mad as hell at Logan, and me ... well, I was probably the one who should'a stopped what was happenin' but I'll admit I'm not that chivalrous." He forced another smile. "Hell, there's nothin' wrong with bein' bonk buddies is there? Let's just chalk it up to revved Manticore hormones and frustration and leave it at that. Okay?"
"So," she said in a low voice, drawing him back into a dark alcove behind one of the water-stained stone pillars holding up the abandoned parking garage. "Last night was just another of Alec's one-night-stands? A conquest?"
Alec's mouth opened, but no words came out as his mind raced furiously. What did she want him to say? He'd never understood women, and Max was no exception. If he said yes, he'd risk insulting her. But if he said no, she might think he was trying to make some kind of claim on her affections.
"You look like a deer caught in the headlights," Max said wryly. "It was a simple question. Was last night just sex for you, or was it something more?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Alec shot back, putting the ball in her court. "Although," he added, "I think I got a clue about your feelings when I woke up alone this morning. Usually I'm the one who sneaks away in the night, Max. Never really had a lady friend do that to me before. Should I be insulted?"
She was searching his eyes, her pupils dilated black in the gloom as she stood a scant foot away from him. He could smell her -- like he'd smelled her last night -- and damn it, his body was reacting, the barrier that had always been between them missing, the "safety" gone.
She took a deep shaky breath. "I was vulnerable last night, Alec. Logan and I had a big fight."
"Yeah," Alec said quietly. "You told me, after your ninth beer at Crash. Somethin' about Asha again, right?"
"Right," Max said, finally releasing his eyes to look down at the floor. "I wanted to get even with Logan so I--" She didn't complete the sentence.
"Figured I'd be not only convenient, but ready, willing, and able," Alec finished for her. He didn't say that sarcastically. He'd known all along last night why Max was with him, and it certainly wasn't because of love. She'd wanted revenge, as well as a way to vent her powerful emotions. Truth was, if he hadn't had half a bottle of Scotch in his belly he would have talked some sense into her instead of fucking the lady all night long. But that horse had already left the gate. Now, they both had to deal with the consequences of their actions.
"You're not just a one-night-stand," Alec said levelly, answering her initial question. "You could never be something so trivial to me, Max. Hell, I owe you my life so many times over I've lost count."
"So, last night's outstanding performance was based on your feelings of indebtedness to me?" she said with just the hint of a smile. She noticed the gleam in his eyes at her choice of words. "Don't look so smug, pretty boy. I've had better."
"No, you haven't," Alec replied, certain of his words. "Max, we weren't just good together last night. We were incredible. I've never had--" He stopped himself, realizing he'd been just about to commit a major faux pas, comparing Max to other women. "I've never been with anyone quite like you," he amended.
"You mean I'm a 'unique creature, unlike any other'?"
Again, Alec's mouth opened but he wasn't sure what to say.
"It's all right, Alec," Max said, letting him off the hook. "I admit we both enjoyed ourselves. I'm sorry I left without saying anything to you, but really, what could I have said? I love Logan. I always will. I'll make up with the man and life will go on as before. Besides, it's not like you could ever be my boyfriend or anything. I'm sure the last thing you're looking for is a steady relationship."
Yesterday Max's words would have been true, Alec realized. He'd always sworn that he'd never again let himself be emotionally vulnerable the way he'd been with Rachel. He'd never let himself fall in love with someone who could be killed because of who and what he was -- an epiphany he'd reached while watching Max and Logan struggle with their painful star-crossed relationship. Max, however, had been a safe harbor, completely unattainable to him physically -- a close friend with no possibility of romance to muddy the emotional waters. Besides, like he'd once told her, Logan was his friend and he wasn't the kind of jerk to steal another guy's girl.
But then last night had happened. They'd spent hours together in her bed, naked, doing just about every carnal thing either one of them could think of to each other, some of which he couldn't even spell. Yet now, here they stood -- just fully clothed friends again.
And she was going back to Logan. Unless--
"Max," Alec said. "I--"
Her hand came up, her fingers covering his lips, shushing him. "Don't, Alec," she pleaded. "Please don't say something stupid and ruin things. I really was just a one-night-stand. I have to be."
Couldn't she hear his heart screaming? I love you! I can't let you go back to him! But the words he spoke were far different -- what she wanted to hear. "Not to worry Max," he said with a slight smirk. "I'm not a masochist, and that's what I'd have to be to fall in love with you. I mean, look at all the pain and angst you've caused poor Logan. You're more than high maintenance. Havin' you as a girlfriend is downright lethal."
"Glad to hear it," Max said, her voice light, flippant, and full of relief. "You'll forget about last night soon anyway ... about me. After all, there will always be another conquest for Alec, another notch to carve on your bed post."
But why was she looking at him like that? Alec closed his eyes in exasperation, hating himself for being a coward. He was imagining things.
But suddenly -- her lips touched his.
Wrapping Max's slight form in his arms, he hugged her tightly as they kissed, terrified this would be the last time he'd ever feel her warmth mingling with his. Her tongue on his teeth and in his mouth spoke of their intimacy of the night before -- the way they now knew every inch of each other's bodies. How could either one of them ever forget? How could he forget? The others he'd slept with ... they were nothing to him except vessels for physical release. But with Max last night ... they'd talked and fucked, and fucked and talked, connecting in a way that bordered on the supernatural before finally falling into exhausted slumber in each other's arms.
And then he'd awakened alone with nothing but the cold imprint of her body in the sheets beside him.
"Max," he growled low in her ear when their devouring kiss finally tore apart.
"What do you want me to say?" she whispered. She looked up at him, a sad impish smile on her now swollen lips. "That if it wasn't Logan, it would be you?"
But before he could tell if she was serious or not, before he could claim her, she slipped out of his embrace and was backing away. "Bonk buddies," she said firmly, holding her hands out now as if to ward him off. "Bonk buddies. Nothing more, Alec. Not ever. I love Logan."
And then Max turned and ran, her long dark hair flying as she sprinted for the street beyond -- and the man she really wanted to be with.
"Bonk buddies," Alec repeated out loud to himself, the words echoing slightly in the cavernous garage. He smiled then. He had to, or else he was going to cry.
THE END
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