Title:
Frosting
Author:
Restive Nature
Disclaimer:
I do not own Dark Angel. This show belongs to Fox and Cameron/ Eglee.
No infringement is intended and this fiction is for reading pleasure
only.
Rating:
PG-13
Genre:
Dark Angel
Type:
friendship, budding romance
Pairing:
Max/ Alec
Summary:
"I haven’t even had my cake yet!"- Max,
"Art Attack".
Spoilers/
Time line: Post "Love Among The Ruins".
Feedback:
Always welcome.
Distribution:Ask
first, please.
A/N:
Not entirely happy with the word or the story that resulted, but
there it is.
Frosting
“Can
you believe this?” Max sighed as she stood beside Asha, both women
in finery that they couldn't afford. Both women, sagging a little as
their night had been interrupted. They were waiting for Logan to
return with Bessie, his car, because as usual, in their lives, they
couldn't enjoy the normal that was so rarely anymore the usual, amid
the crazy.
“Just
another day,” Asha began and then forced a chuckle, “or night, in
the life of a secret underground hacker and his sidekicks.”
“You
consider yourself a sidekick?” Max asked with a tone of disbelief.
Even putting women's lib aside, there were so many things wrong with
that statement and if Asha's puzzled look was anything to go by, she
had no clue at all.
“When
it's Logan's stuff?” she retorted softly. “Then, uh, yeah.”
“Oh,
so is he your sidekick with your stuff?” Max asked teasingly. She
still wasn't comfortable with Asha and pretty much figured she never
would be. But that didn't mean that she couldn't put forth an effort
and try.
“No.
He's more like the casual observer who kicks into gear when there's a
problem to solve,” Asha decided. “Or at least he used to be...”
she trailed off.
They
both were content to let that lie and engage in silence, lost in
their own thoughts of what had brought them there that evening.
It
was another wedding in Logan's family. And it was actually one of
them that Max knew and kinda figured was nice enough. The woman had
specifically invited Max, through Logan and when he had informed his
cousin that they had broken up, she had blithely burst right by any
hard feelings that Logan might have and insisted that Max feel free
to bring a friend.
Max
figured that Logan could have kept quiet about it. He could never
have said a word to her and then made some excuse to his cousin. It
wasn't like the lady knew where she worked, or what her address or
number was. They didn't really live in the same world. But she had
her suspicions about why he had passed the invitation along.
It
had only been a month since their last official break up. And a month
since she had offered silence in the face of his assertion that she
tell him that she wasn't with Alec. So he had figured that she had
turned to another man, a transgenic male to be with and had tried to
hide it. But over the course of a few days, something had shifted.
Alec had found out about her little lie of omission and while he had
finally agreed to play along, he was also having fun torturing her
every time Logan was around. Making her stay close to his side for an
impromptu hug or a 'family jewels at risk' make out session. And each
and every single time that Logan had seen it, there had been a
narrowing of his eyes. At first, Max had thought that he just hadn't
liked having this thrust into his face, his nose rubbed in it. But
then she had begun, with a comment from Alec, to realize that Logan
apparently wasn't buying their little routine. Not that she could
truly blame him. They were acting exactly as if they were acting.
Which they were.
She
had been very surprised when she let it spill to Alec, that he had
suggested capturing a few “real” moments for Logan to stumble on.
She hadn't thought much about it, but the few times when they had
been in place, she and Alec had ended up giggling and chuckling
together over a few things and she had allowed him to hug her, even
hugging him back, ending with a sweet kiss upon her forehead. Or like
the time that Max had been upset about Joshua and Alec had sat with
her on the front porch of Sandeman's old house for over an hour while
she poured out her frustrations. He'd just held her, seated on the
step above hers, cradling her comfortingly between his thighs, his
head rested on hers while she leaned against his chest. And she'd
never even realized until Alec told her, that Logan had, at some
point, driven by. A real moment that they were able to capitalize on.
So
when she had informed Alec of their command performance at this
wedding celebration, he had agreed and they had made their game plan.
It all seemed to be working out. Logan had brought them here,
bringing Asha as his date, obviously and Alec had been dressed
impeccably without any interference from her. He had been on his best
behavior in more ways than one. And Max had actually found herself
relaxing a little.
Then
Logan had found them while they were swaying together on the dance
floor. He'd pulled Alec aside, and Max had followed, seeing Asha
waiting anxiously at the edge of the crowd, her eyes trailing them.
He had told them that he had just gotten a call from a contact,
letting him know of a transgenic in danger. And since, Max had to
admit, that Logan wasn't in good standing with their allies down on
Oak Street, they were up to plan a rescue.
But
the longer that Logan took retrieving the car, because apparently the
valet service was on break, the more she grew suspicious. She
wondered, because of his vague assertions about his contact and the
information he had to share. Yes, she could see that he didn't want
to put sensitive info out in a crowded room. But why couldn't they
just get the info and pass it on to their friends and get the ball
rolling? No, Max was thinking that Logan wanted out of there, because
of her and Alec. And all the sympathy from Logan's family as they
rubbed it in his face that someone else got the girl that he had
wanted so badly.
Finally,
she came out of her head as she watched Logan manuever the car into
the little driveway and pull up at the curb next to she and Asha. He
let the motor run as he climbed out of the driver's seat. “Sorry, I
had to get some of the valet to move a few cars. Bessie was boxed
in.”
“That's
fine Logan,” Asha assured him promptly and brightly. “Max I and
were just chatting, passing the time.”
“Where's
Alec?” Logan demanded suddenly, glancing around.
“You
were taking so long that he ran back inside to use the can before we
took off,” Max answered honestly and bluntly. Though she also had
her suspicions about that. Alec didn't have that long of an attention
span when it came to things he wasn't interested in. And all he had
really been interested in that night was Max, spending some time
together and apparently, the cake. When Max had bemoaned the last
wedding she had been at, that surprisingly, had also been interrupted
for a mission, she had been upset that she hadn't gotten to partake
in any of the cake.
Alec
had asked her why and she had mentioned that the happy couple hadn't
cut it yet. Alec had recalled then, hearing about a few of the little
good luck rituals and whatnot that went on at ceremonies like that.
Since Manticore had wanted their operatives to blend in, they had
received a short run down on things they might see in more typical
events. Weddings had been included.
That
had led to an amusing conversation about those exact rituals and what
the hell they were for. Max had actually learned a few things that
she hadn't known before. Alec she found, could be a fount of
information when it wasn't pressing or time sensitive. She had just
been explaining about the single women catching the bride's bouquet
and the tradition and superstition behind it when Logan had
interfered.
“Well
he better hurry up,” Logan grunted and then sighed. “We don't
have time for-!”
“I'm
right here Logan,” Alec interrupted as he slid into the back seat
next to Max. He was holding something in his hand, covered over in
one of the patterned napkins that matched the poodle or something. “I
was already out the door when you pulled up.” He stretched his hand
out to hand the package to Max. “Here, hold this sweetheart.” Max
dutifully took the lightweight package, noting that it felt like a
paper plate. Alec reached back to pull the car door shut.
“What
is this Alec?” she asked, well used to his endearments now. She
moved one hand to lift the napkin to peak underneath, but Alec was
quicker. He yanked the paper napkin completely away and grinned.
“Voila!”
he announced. “Your cake.” With a showy gesture, he folded the
napkin once, to contain any frosting it might have gathered and then
laid it over Max's lap.
“Alec!”
Logan and Asha proclaimed at the same time, their horrified visages
apparent in different ways. Logan from the rear view mirror where he
stared, aghast and Asha, from where she had craned her head around.
“What?”
he demanded, his tone just as outraged as theirs had been. Max's eyes
were wide with amusement. She bit at her lower lip a little. The cake
wasn't your run of the mill white or chocolate. There was a fruit and
nut filling between creamy golden layers and thick swirls of icing
decorating it all.
“You
stole a piece of the wedding cake?” Logan's voice was slightly
strangled.
“I
didn't steal it,” Alec protested indignantly. “It was sitting
right there. It was meant to be eaten, right?” Max was nodding her
head, while the pair in the front were groaning. He turned to Max.
“Sorry I couldn't grab you a fork though.”
“That's
okay,” she chuckled, well aware of what was going through
everyone's minds. “That's what I have fingers for.”
“You've
said that before,” Alec grinned, waggling his eyebrows at her.
“Though I don't think you were talking about food.” Max giggled,
recalling a tickling match that they had gotten into with when they
were visiting Joshua. Totally innocent, but others wouldn't take it
that way. “What's that filling?”
“Hang
on,” Max murmured as she carefully scooped a little out and brought
it to her lips. She was very well aware that more than just Alec's
eyes were on her. She moaned a little. “Mmmm, raspberry walnut. Oh,
this is so good!”
“Max!”
Logan protested again. She glanced up to catch his gaze in the mirror
as he tried to drive and chastise at the same time. “You aren't
seriously going to eat that, are you?”
“Why
not?” she asked. “It's not like Alec can go put it back. And
look, butter cream frosting!”
“Seriously?”
Asha half whined. Max nodded, scooping her finger through a bit of it
and holding her hand forward, being very careful to avoid touching
Logan. Asha held her palm out and Max wiped the frosting into her
hand. Asha, her eyes darting guiltily towards Logan, quickly took the
mouthful and sighed. “Oh yeah, definitely butter cream.”
“What's
the big deal with butter cream?” Alec demanded, his eyes dancing
merrily. Max had began to carefully break the cake apart and was
preparing some with all the elements, as she explained.
“It's
delicious, but notoriously hard to work with,” she told him. He
nodded quickly. “Doesn't do well in any kind of heat.”
“Okay,”
he murmured. “Probably part of why it's expensive, huh?” Max,
scooping the bite into her mouth. Her eyelids fluttered slightly, her
eyes rolling back as the flavors burst on her tongue.
“Uh
huh,” Asha agreed with him as her tongue ran around her lips to
make sure that she hadn't missed any of the small treat.
“Alec,
has no one ever taught you that it was rude to... to just take food?”
Logan demanded huffily as he made a left hand turn, heading
presumably to wherever the trouble was.
“What
was rude about taking cake that was for the wedding guests?” Alec
demanded, hiding it from the other male, but winking at Max. She
grinned at the forthcoming unnecessary lecture.
“It's
not taking the cake,” Logan argued softly. “It's cutting into it
before the newly wedded couple does. That's what's rude!”
“It
is?” the younger man acted surprised. “You'd think they'd
appreciate someone saving them the trouble. Or...” he let out a
mock groan as he turned to Max. “Did I mess up? Miss another one of
those incomprehensible, time honored, meaningless rituals?”
“Yes,”
Logan grunted. “Actually you did. You see the bride and groom cut
the cake together as a sign... to celebrate... it's to symbolize...”
“You
don't actually know, do you?” Alec smirked and Logan huffed out
another sigh. He turned to watch Max gather another piece of the
cake, but this one, she widened her eyes and looked pointedly at him.
“The
why isn't important really, Alec,” Logan defended argumentatively.
“So
what do they do once they cut the cake?” Alec wondered as Max
brought her hand up with the piece of cake on her finger tips. “Throw
it to their guests?” He turned his head, supporting her wrist
gently, steadying her hand before taking the bite that she proferred.
Finding the taste exactly to his liking, he sucked the icing from her
index finger as she giggled. He heard another strangled sound from
Logan and let go of Max to turn his head. “Sorry, missed that.
What's the ritual?”
“Nothing,”
Logan grunted in clipped tones. “It's not important. What's
important is that once again, your inattention, your lack of...
of...”
“Manners?
Charm? Social etiquette?” Alec listed for him, his eyebrows going
higher with each word, before he turned to Max and scooped up some of
the butter cream icing. He held his finger out and she repeated the
process that he had done with her, steading his hand to take the
frosting directly from his finger. Once she had, she turned her face
up to him and it was too perfect a moment not to take advantage of,
Alec decided. He leaned into her, pressing the lightest of kisses to
her lips.
When
she didn't immediately pull away or protest in any manner or form,
Alec brushed his lips back and forth over hers, surprised by the
content sigh issuing from her throat. He pulled back slightly to see
that her eyes had darkened some and after a moment's pause, they both
turned their heads away. Something to talk over later, Alec decided
as he realized Asha was talking.
“...
saying that usually, it's ritual for the bride and groom to cut the
cake together to symbolize their new life together and then feed one
another to show that they'll sustain each other in the marriage,”
Asha was rambling on. “So it would be considered very bad manners
for someone else to cut into the cake first.”
“Oh
well, I didn't do that,” Alec protested, explaining easily, leaning
back into the seat while Max wiggled around a little. He moved his
arm closest to her to stretch across the back of the seat and smiled
when she turned to recline against him. She offered him another bite
of cake, which he took happily. “I grabbed one of the pieces that
the kitchen had already cut. Apparently the caterers messed up the
size of wedding cake. So to make up for it, they provided several
sheet cakes that the kitchen staff cut up, ready to serve as soon as
the bride and groom did their little thing.”
As
he had expected, that took the wind right out of Logan's self
righteous, indignant sails. The older man sagged in his seat, his
lips thinned in anger at how easily he had been routed yet again. Max
took one last bite of the cake, but with a small portion left, kindly
passed it up to Asha, who took it, surprised, but grateful. Max
leaned back once more and turned to face her “boyfriend”. “Thank
you Alec,” she murmured softly, but it seemed to echo through the
car.
“Of
course,” he returned, dropping a kiss to the top of her head.
“Didn't want you to miss your cake twice now, did I?” He dropped
his arm to hug her close and looked up, catching Logan's eye in the
mirror once more. “So Logan, any other wedding traditions we should
know about? Just in case, you know?”
The
was a very long pause before Logan shook his head and refused
thereafter to meet the younger man's eyes.
“No
Alec. None at all.”
AtZ- Girl
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