Fiction Anything To Zipper- Wager

Series Title: Anything To Zipper

Chapter Title: Wager

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-15

Genre: Dark Angel

Type: humor

Pairing: Max/ Alec, friendship

Summary: How gullible do you think I am?

Spoilers/ Time line: Late Season two.

Feedback: Always welcome.

Distribution: Ask first, please.

A/N: All of these “pranks” that I wrote about were courtesy of Uncle John's Unstoppable Bathroom Reader, published by the good folks of the Bathroom Reader's Institute, Bathroom Reader's Press of Ashland, Oregon. Wonderful books! And please see other note at the end of the fiction.

Wager

“Oh please!” Original Cindy snorted as she leaned back in her chair at the bar, their favorite hang out to relax at, after a long hard day's slog at the grinding spirit breaker that was also known as Jam Pony Messenger Service. It wasn't so much the job, per se, but more that their boss, Normal, was so much of a task oriented, hard ass. One that could would and usually did take it out on his employees.

The day had been typical, and as usual, the gang, which was larger than usual this evening, since no one had had any other plans, were gathered for their typical evening of beer, games and chillin'. They were all taking it in turns to buy pitchers of cheap beer for the table and Cindy had just returned from retrieving her round. She had taken her seat, listened to the current conversation for a moment, an argument between Skye and the recently returned to work, Druid. He'd managed to slip back into the job between drives by the transgenics hiding in plain sight friends, drives to get more of their brethren jobs, and more importantly, sector passes for the city.

The duo of Skye and Druid had been going on about the little prank war they'd resumed at Druid's return, trying to garner votes from the group about which of them had the upper hand. But to Cindy's way of thinking, neither one had been outclassing the other with their immature behavior. But what else could one say about boys and their toys? “Neitha one a ya is showin' the slightest bit o' ingenuity,” she declared and was pleased when there were nods around the table at her assessment. Biggs, the latest addition, from Alec's sneaky little game of buttering up the boss even more than usual, was snickering slightly. He had shared a glance with Alec and the boy had been trying to keep a grin off of his face. She wondered what that was all about, but figured it was rooted in the past that they were keeping from the rest of the world at large.

She'd not be in the know either, but for the fact that her girl Max had risked life, limb and secret past to save Cindy's fine ass. And though it had been hard enough to get through and accept, Cindy was glad that she had.

“Come on Cindy,” Skye was whining. “These are classics we're talking about.” He turned to the males at the table, ignoring the two females, as Max had deigned to sit with them, since she had no other plans, just like the rest and had confided in Cindy that she didn't really want to either. Since those plans would have ended up being another night bein' frustrated by the inability to be with her longed for boyfriend, Logan Cale. She had been the last to arrive, since she had first swung by their friend Joshua's house, to have dinner with him. He, another of Manticore's creations, was unable to join them. Unless it was a Halloween gig or costume party, since the large male was decidedly canine in feature and not meant by his creators to mix with the general populace that inhabited the large world.

“That's true,” Sketchy sighed, tilting his beer in salute to his stoner friend. “But, they're also a trifle worn out. Easy to see 'em comin' man. I agreed with Cin. You need something else.”

“They're only worn out because they've been used so many times, because everyone knows them,” Max argued, finally perking up a little. She was only on her second round, against the other's fourth. But it would make no never mind to her, Cindy knew, with her transgenic healing and metabolism. “There are plenty of classics that could still get some play, if you'd think about it before just runnin' off to play the first little prank you think of.” She sounded disgusted, and maybe she was. Cindy knew the girl liked a good joke or prank, as long as she wasn't the recipient of it.

“Well, if you've got so many good ideas Maxie...” Alec teased, his eyes sparkling as they usually did when the boys eyes landed on her, “then why aren't you in on this?”

“Better things to do than to waste my time,” she shrugged as she retorted. Biggs and Alec shared another glance, this time, neither hiding their grins.

“All right,” Biggs nodded. “What if someone were to make it worth your while?”

“Then I'd be in,” Max smirked. “What'cha got?”

“Hmmm,” Biggs leaned back in his chair, stroking the side of his beer glass and then smirked. “You trick every single person at this table, excludin' yourself, of course, and Alec will do anything you want!”

“What!?” Alec yelped from beside him. And then his hand shot out and smacked hard into Bigg's side, which helped convince Cindy that they probably hadn't been planning something. Or if they had, Biggs had just seriously gone off script.

“Anything?” Max teased, with a waggle of her eyebrows and then turned to her room mate and friend. “When's the last time the apartment was good and sparklin'?” Cindy laughed as Alec groaned. Max giggled into her beer and then tried unsuccessfully to wipe the grin off her face. “Okay, what if I don't trick y'all?”

“Mmm,” Biggs pretended to look thoughtful. “Then for each person you don't trick, you'll owe them a favor. A clean one!” he held up his hands quickly, before she could take him to task on any dirty minded thoughts she might assume he'd have. “And I'll be nice and even allow you two goes at it, in case the first attempt fails.”

Max pursed her lips and sat back in her seat. She regarded the dark haired transgenic for several minutes before she shrugged and grinned. “A'iight. I'm in.”

“Hey, hey now,” Alec interrupted, leaning forward and both the other transgenics shot him looks.

“Shut up Alec,” they declared together and then laughed in startlement at their unintentionally unified words. Alec glared at each of them in turn and then sat back, looking by moments, thoughtful, worried and then slyly smug. Cindy didn't have to think too hard to figure out what was on his mind.

“All right then,” Max rubbed her hands together and eyed each member of the group. “Where to start, where to start,” she mused and then her eyes landed on Sketchy. “All right, Sketch, we'll start with you.”

“Al right Maxie,” Sketchy grinned, setting his beer down, prepared to join in the fun. He crossed his arms on the table and waited.

“Okay,” she inhaled deeply. “You know I'm pretty athletic, right?” Sketch nodded, his eyes glazing over for just a moment before Max snapped her fingers in font of his face. “Focus Sketch. Athletic, not the same as what you're obviously thinkin'.”

“Sorry Max,” he grinned, not at all repentant and they all knew it.

“Uh huh,” she was obviously unconvinced that she had his full attention back and seemed to change her tact. “Well, I guess that too. I've always been pretty limber. Man, remember Lydia?”

“Ugh, nightmare,” Sketch groaned and the others at the table were all mystified. “But Christ yeah! You rocked her world!” He and Max started laughing. And then Sketch shook his head. “Man, how much you think she weighed?”

“Mmm,” Max mused, “'bout one forty, one forty-five?” Sketch nodded and his grin widened. “But what if I told you I had even more power in my legs?” He eyed her skeptically but then nodded again.

“I could believe that,” he allowed. “You were into power training, right?” Max nodded slowly as the people in the know of where Max's athletic prowess truly came from breathed a sigh of relief that she'd already had an excuse in place.

“Still am,” she shrugged. “And I would wager that my legs, are so damn good,” she paused there for effect, “that I,” she gestured to herself and then glanced around, “could jump higher than this building.”

She leaned back, resting one elbow on the back of her chair. Sketch snorted.

“Max, my friend,” he sighed, “I have seen you pull off some amazing crap. I've been on the receiving end of it some of the time. But no, there's no way you could jump higher than this building.”

Biggs an Alec shared another look. They both knew that had Max been full on training, there was every possibility that she could jump the one story building. Especially if she gave herself a running start, but there was no way in hell they'd say so. There had to be a trick there, of course, because there was no way in hell that Max would reveal herself for the sake of a wager. Even getting one over on Alec.

“Fine,” Max sighed sweetly as she pushed her chair back. “Guess I'll just have to prove it.”

“Please do,” Sketch gestured grandly as he reached for his beer again. The whole group watched with interest as Max simply took two steps away from the table, gave a tiny hop in place that took her maybe four inches off the floor and then, with a wide grin, regained her seat.

It dawned on the rest of them immediately, the word play she had employed and while Sketch was shaking his head, Alec began to chuckle.

“One try down, my dear,” Sketch grinned, but Alec was shaking his head.

“Sketch?” he asked slowly and when the stoner looked in his direction, he gestured with one finger to the building around them. “You see the building jumping?” It suddenly hit Sketchy and he groaned and allowed his head to drop.

“Ah crap,” he muttered and then laughed.

“One down,” Max mimicked his words, looking to Biggs, who nodded. That one had been a bit obvious, but she had wisely distracted the boy from paying too close attention.

“All right,” Max mused, perking up even more than she had before. She glanced around the group, then paused to take a deep swallow of her beer before settling the glass back on the table. “Okay, gonna have to pick on my girl here. Since she knows all my tricks. Let's get it out of the way Cin.”

“You know it Boo,” Cindy chuckled. She threw a triumphant glance at the rest of the table. “You may be able to fool these boys, but ya know you can't get it over on me.”

“Oh I beg to differ,” Max smirked. She leaned in closer to her friend. “Just because you used to help me run these scams...” she trailed off and Druid let out a groan.

“Oh man, I had forgotten about that,” he sighed and shook his head. The others, mainly meaning Biggs and Alec, who had not been around for these little shows of Max's genius and dexterity at the bar, were intrigued. “She used to run these tricks for money.” He turned with a grin and smacked Sketch's shoulder. “Remember that one with the phone?”

Sketch let out a soft burp and shook his head. “Sadly my friend, I do not.”

“What was the trick?” Biggs wondered, leaning forward as well.

“Not important now,” Cindy interrupted, waving the conversation aside. “Original's waiting ta hear what Max has up her sleeve.”

“Well, seeing how you know all my money makin' tricks,” Max grinned, “how about we go for an old fashioned magic trick. I pull it off, I win?”

Cindy mulled that over for a moment. There was a silent communication going on between the two women that was easy for the other transgenics at the table to read, as they knew perfectly well what objections the black woman could make. Finally, she nodded her head and Max happily leaned back to dig in her pocket. She pulled out a quarter from her pocket and held it up to her friend.

“Okay Cin,” she began, “just to make this fair, you get to do the placement. You also get to look at my hands before I do the trick. Okay?”

“So far so good,” Cindy agreed with a nod.

“All right,” Max grinned as she held the quarter out to her friend. “Now, what I want you to do is place the quarter before you on the table, wherever you want. Then you need to put a clean napkin, do we have one?” she asked suddenly and then pointed at where there was a small pile that had been untouched. Cindy reached for one and held it up for her friend and Max gave her a nod. “Okay, you place the napkin over the quarter. Then I, without touching the napkin, or disturbing it in any way will retrieve the quarter. Think I can do it?”

“I know you good, but you ain't that good,” Cindy smirked, folding her arms to lean on the table. “A'ight. Do it girl.”

Max dutifully passed over the quarter and Cindy very carefully placed it on a clear section of the table. She then placed the napkin completely over the coin and then gave her friend a pointed look. Max stood and rolled her shoulders to loosen them. She then held out both hands, fingers spread wide for everyone to dutifully inspect. Alec even went so far to shake her hands, but nothing was shaken loose from the sleeves of her coat and she gave him a smirk. He shrugged once and let go of her.

The entire group leaned forward to watch as Max squatted slightly to pass her hand under the table in the general direction of the quarter. When she straightened up, she regained her seat and held out her hand, the quarter firmly ensconced in her palm.

“No way!” Druid exclaimed and leaned forward to yank up the napkin, even as Cindy yelled in the negative. But unprepared, the black woman was not as quick as her crafty room mate. Max's hand darted out and snatched up the second quarter that had indeed remained under the napkin the whole time.

“I win!” Max giggled triumphantly. Cindy frowned ferociously at the male and smacked him in the arm.

“Dat don't count,” she growled. “I totally knew that trick dumb ass!”

“It so does count,” Max retorted with a snicker. “Because I factored in the dumb ass, you didn't!”

Cindy looked like she was about to protest, but suddenly sagged and looked to Biggs, who seemed to be declared the unofficial arbitrator of this little game. He shrugged and then grinned. “Sorry. She gave you the chance. Not Max's fault you didn't tell the others not to touch or infringe.”

“Yeah, a'ight,” Cindy sighed after a moment. “I give you dat. You right Boo. I forgot about Dumb and Dumber and Dumbo Junior over there.” The males she had indicated took exception immediately.

“Don't worry Cin,” Max smiled. “I'll get you a drink to make up for it. What d'ya want. Hell, I'll even get it for free!”

“There's a trick I'd like to see,” Alec leered, assessing Max's chances at that, because honestly the only way he could see it happening was if Max were to utilize certain of her assets. And she was and always had been reluctant on that score.

“Are we going to count that for your wager?” Max asked archly. She was grinning way too contentedly for Alec's liking and he glanced at the bartender, happily filling orders at the bar, back to her.

“Since it's not me you're tricking, uh uh,” Alec shrugged. “Just want to see what you've come up with in that devious little brain of yours.”

“All right,” Max nodded. She turned back to her friend for her drink order and then promised o be back with the appletini drink that Cindy enjoyed, in just a moment. Since the pitcher was near empty, she grabbed that as well.

The group watched with interest as she approached the bar, having a clear view of her from their perch above the main floor. She waited at the bar until the bartender made his way down to her. He took the pitcher and filled it while they appeared to be chatting. He glanced up a few times at their table and then ended up grinning and chuckling. He nodded his head a few times and then gestured at the phone. But Max shook her head. She then pointed at Cindy and said something, pouting the whole time. The bartender laughed and shook his head. But then something that she said must have intrigued him because he held up one finger and then turned away from her. Max slid onto a stool and waited while the bartender rooted around for something.

They couldn't quite, most of them, see what he brought back to spill over the counter, but Biggs and Alec could.

“Crackers?” Biggs asked, puzzled. “Is she having soup?”

“Dunno,” Alec shrugged. “But she obviously has an idea.” Max was now counting out the individual packets, four of them. At two to a package, she obviously needed a certain amount. She shoved them back toward the bartender and with a smile, the pair of them began tearing them open. The group were all leaning towards where the action they were interested in was happening. They watched as Max, turned to regard the large clock on the wall and held her hand up. When the minute hand reached the twelve, they heard her voice ring out.

“And go!”

The bartender started stuffing the crackers, one at a time into his mouth, chewing quickly and swallowing, but along about the sixth one, he stopped and was coughing, spewing crumbs everywhere.

Max's laughter rang out, even as the bartender covered his mouth and they could see his shoulders shaking in a paroxysm of laughter and coughing. He reached for a glass under the bar and turned to gather some water for himself. He gulped it down and then leaned on the bar, bent over as far as he could. Max reached over the bar to pat at his shoulder. The bartender shook his head at whatever she said and then with an obvious sigh, straightened up and with a grin, started preparing Max's drink order.

It took only a moment before Max returned, beer pitcher and appletini in hand. She slid Cindy's drink before her and grinned. “Enjoy!” she urged and then handed the pitcher to Biggs to pour. She resumed her seat as everyone turned back in their seats to face her.

“How'd you know that was gonna happen?” Skye demanded as he slid his glass towards the latest addition to the group. Max shrugged one shoulder.

“Crackers for soup,” she explained briefly. “Absorb moisture really quickly. You try to eat them too fast, you get cottonmouth because they absorb all the saliva in your mouth and throat, making it difficult to swallow.”

“Makes perfect sense,” Alec nodded solemnly before snickering. He clapped his hands together and grinned. “So who's next?”

Mm,” Max hummed for a moment, accepted her glass from Biggs and then pointed at Druid. “You're up kid.”

Druid mimicked Alec's smirk and straightened up, placing his hands, clasped together on the table like a schoolboy awaiting a lesson he already knew. “Please, by all means,” he announced magnanimously.

'All right,” Max nodded once. “I bet that I can get you to say the word black.”

“And how might you do that?” he sniffed, leaning back to a more relaxed pose.

“I ask questions, you answer,” Max smiled sweetly. “As simple as that.”

“All right,” Druid agreed, obviously not needing to think it over. “Fire away.”

“All right,” Max nodded. “What color is my shirt?”

“Red,” Druid answered, his eyes narrowing in amusement.

“And what color are my eyes?”

“Brown.”

This continued for several minutes and every time Max led Druid anywhere close to saying black, Druid would choose his words carefully, finding new ways to describe black. Dark gray, ebony, night-like. Finally he continued choosing the ebony, even if it didn't quite relate to her question. Soon there were chuckles all around the table.

“Okay fine,” Max smirked at last, crossing her arms over her chest. “What color is Cindy?” That got the other woman's attention as she mimicked her friend's pose and regarded Druid impatiently.

“She's a beautiful mocha caramel confection,” Druid grinned at the pair of them. “And just as sweet.”

“A'ight fool,” Cindy rolled her eyes. “No more smackin' on ya tonight fo them sweet words.”

Max on the other hand, seemed to deflate. She glanced at Biggs who was waggling his eyebrows at her. “You ready to admit defeat?” he asked cheekily.

“Never!” she grated out, making the others laugh. She turned to Druid. “Okay, what are the colors of the American flag?”

“Red, white and blue,” he answered automatically and then recoiled as Max half came out of her seat.

“Ha! I did it!” she crowed as the others looked at her as if she had lost it. “I got you to say blue!”

“No you didn't!” Druid protested immediately. “You said black.”

Even as the word slipped out of his mouth, his head drooped and the rest of the word transformed into a very naughty work that sounded so very similar. Max regained her seat calmly and her pursed lips held a very satisfied look to them. Alec however, was shaking his head.

“Frickin' dumb asses,” he growled lowly to his friend, but Max caught it as well and simply winked at him.

“Sorry Alec,” she simpered lowly. “Can I help it if public schools never ran a course in avoiding scams and the obvious pitfalls of word play?”

Alec simply shook his head. But there was always his ace in the hole. And that was himself. Max now only had to trick Skye, Biggs and of course yours truly. But he was pretty certain that he and Biggs were in a different class all together. But he could see the wheels turning in her mind and was just a little wary. Not that he'd admit it out loud. But at least there was one silver lining. Cleaning wouldn't be a problem at their place, because he'd been there before. Yeah, things got a little cluttered sometimes. But they weren't complete and total pigs. Not, he reminded himself, that he even had to honor a bet that others made that included him. No way in hell.

Max decided then to take a break, challenging Skye to a game of pool, now that it had come open. After determining that it would just be a game of pool with no ploys involved, the pair of them left, while the others confabbed over her tricks. They were all turning to Cindy, wondering what else Max might think up, but Cindy was a clueless as to what Max knew, as the rest of them. They did then, want to hear Druid's story about Max's scams, which Cindy was more than happy to brag on. And the amounts that they had raked in with said scams. According to the girl, it was lunch money for a week some days.

But soon enough, once the tale of days gone by had passed, the table's occupants allowed their attention to wander. And mostly, it wandered back to the purveyor of said tales friend. Alec watched as Skye and Max laughed and joked and when the game ended, Max beating him soundly, a few more tales seeming to be exchanged as Skye fished in his pocket. But then Max was gesturing at the table and Skye was shaking his head. Nudging Biggs and giving the pool table his general attention, brought his friend's attention to bear as well.

They both strained their ears and caught snippets of the conversation from across the room.

“...no way in hell Max,” Skye was laughing.

“Seriously, I can,” Max was protesting. And then, with another snort and shake of his head, Skye laid his pool cue across the pool table and grabbed up the cue ball. Intrigued, Biggs and Alec moved before Skye could begin to accomplish what he'd been aiming for. They were at the steps when he rolled the cue ball towards the stick, which naturally enough it smacked into the stick in the way.

“See?” Skye smirked in muted triumph as they neared. “So, unless you can somehow magically levitate the stick off the table, no way.”

“Can I at least give it a try?” Max returned calmly, her arms folded loosely across her stomach. Skye shrugged and then nodded at the two approaching males. Alec sighed, but said nothing. He was pretty sure he'd already figured out this trick of hers.

Permission granted, Max's arms fell away from her waist and she straightened up, giving her transgenic brethren a wide smile as she moved to retrieve the white cue ball from where it was slowly careening near a corner pocket. “Okay,” she murmured lowly as, with the ball in one hand, she reached to make adjustments to the stick. She lowered her face, making quite a production of the whole scene while Skye snickered between where Alec and Biggs had come up beside him, each of them cradling their mugs of beer.

“Okay now,” she was muttering, weighing the cue ball back and forth between her hands. “Have to get the right spin on this.”

“Ain't gonna happen Max,” Skye taunted. Alec just rolled his eyes, catching Biggs doing the same over Skye's oblivious head. They all watched with interest, some a little more carnal than others, as Max leaned over the table, wiggling her hips as she eyed the stick again. It was an obvious distraction ploy that the males enjoyed, even some of them seeing it for what it was.

Her odd little shimmy continued as she prepped the ball along the fading and worn green of the pool table and just it seemed, when she was ready to release the ball, she suddenly ducked, rolling the ball in a straight line under the pool table. As it came to a stop under Alec's prepared foot, Max straightened up with a satisfied smirk on her face, looking to Skye, who was mute for only a moment.

“That was cheating!” he protested instantly. “You said you'd-!”

“Roll the ball under the pool stick,” Max finished for him in a saccharine sweet tone. “Never said I'd use the table as my surface, did I?” That was added a little more acerbically as Skye clapped his hand to his eyes and shook his head at his own idiocy. “So Mr. Judge?” Max chuckled, turning to Biggs. “That count?”

Biggs made a show of slowly drinking his beer, seeming to contemplate, but they could all see the amused glow in his eyes. “Well,” he finally announced, smacking his lips just slightly, “since Skye had ample warning about thinking about your words, and plenty of time to think it over, shame on him. Good enough for me.”

“So now it's down to the final two,” Alec grinned. He knew that there was no way in hell that she'd get one over him or Biggs. Even with all the typical disappointments in the others, excluding Cindy since her loss wasn't totally her fault, Alec was not worried, really about this bet being lost. “Come on Skye, let's play.” He gestured to the table that had just seen defeat of several kinds and with a groan that was more for the embarrassment he had just seen than any other kind, Skye nodded and moved forward to retrieve the stick while Alec stooped to pick up the cue ball. Once in his hand he tossed it up slightly, catching it and grinning. “So? Ready to try your luck Maxie?” He knew the taunt of the name she despised hearing from his lips would egg her on to something probably obvious.

“Mmm,” she returned calmly, regarding them both. “Think I need to come up with something unique for an obvious creature like you.”

The intended sting from an old pick up line didn't hurt, but it was cute that she tried.

“Ah, saving the best for last, huh Maxie?” he teased again. But her answering grin, sly and mocking, one he recognized well on her face gave him just a slight shiver up his back.

“Definitely.”

With that parting salvo, she moved off to their table. Chatting with Cindy, she seemed to take on her usual lackluster persona, fading into the background of the bar scene, as she seemed to have preferred. Alec was, admittedly, a little disappointed, as even though she'd been acerbic and mocking, she'd also been having fun and that was a rare sight anymore with her. Not that he was sure he'd ever actually really seen that side of her.

Alec knew that a good three quarters of an hour had passed, while he and Skye had played, trading off games as opponents and then partners as other came up to challenge, before Max drew their notice again. This time though, Sketch was the one that approached Alec to call his attention to it. They had all noticed the small crowd at the bar, Max in the middle, but unconcerned, since everyone was in good spirits, Alec had not paid attention.

“Man! You gotta come see this,” Sketch enthused, his words slurring only slightly.

“See what Sketch?” Alec demanded lightly as he leaned over, lining up a shot.

“Geez, we've all tried it,” Sketch chuckled. “She's really got us stumped.”

“Max,” Alec sighed out on a slight smile and turned to glance over his shoulder. There she stood, and lifting his eyes, to see her over some of the crowd, could see that she was laughing, though her pose was odd, her hand on top of her head, like she had forgotten something and her forehead wasn't up to being abused. He turned back, wondering what her latest scam was, dismissed it for a moment to take his shot and then, when the stripes went down, glanced at Steve, his latest opponent. “Sorry man,” he apologized as he straightened up. He had been intending to draw it out a little longer. “She's kinda got me curious.”

Steve, not a Jam Pony drone, but still a regular at the bar, nodded and returned his stick to the table as did Alec and as a group they moved over to the bar where Max was holding court, as Sketch explained the terms of the bet she had come up with for Biggs.

“... and so, using only your first and second finger, you try and lift her hand off her head,” Sketch finished. “No one's been able to do it. She was giving everyone else a chance before Biggs tries. Looks like he's up.”

Alec smirked as they wormed their way in to the action. Of course Max was using her Manticore given strength to win this one. But what she didn't know, was that while she might have bragged about her power legs, Biggs had a deceptive strength in his arms, that, while all transgenics of their series shared, Biggs actually liked looking so cut and worked out that area when he could. He finally paused and came to rest a few feet away from the duo that was facing off now.

“You ready to face defeat, little man?” Max was taunting, while Biggs was stretching his arms, his fingers entwined and extended outward. The slight cracking of his knuckles was audible and he rolled his shoulders after releasing his hands. He bounced on the balls of his feet like a boxer and Alec wanted to laugh, recognizing the showiness of performers before him. Because while all transgenics knew the importance of stealth and anonymity, they also knew well the trick of sleight of hand and eye. The lead up could be just as important as the show and Max and Biggs were playing up to the crowd as much as they could without giving themselves away.

And then, Biggs was inserting the prescribed two fingers under Max's wrist and lifting. Alec's eyes widened as he saw Max move right up on tiptoe, something no one else had achieved, but her laughing eyes told him she wasn't worried. Biggs was friggin' lifting her off the ground with two God damn fingers and she was snorting out laughter! His friend's eyes were wide with disbelief and at long last, in what was only a few seconds really, he let her back down.

“How the hell-!” he began, but stopped himself before he could say too much. His fingers gone from her arm, Max removed her hand and quickly smoothed down the ruffled area of hair.

“Don't know the exact details,” Max began mockingly, “but I guess the position of my arm and muscles, beats the upward motion of two fingers. Science! Huh, go figure.” Biggs stared at her for a long moment and then started laughing. Max smirked and then turned, catching sight of Alec. “You're next pretty boy.”

“Ooh,” he crooned, putting his hand over his chest. “I'm shakin' in my boots, Maxie. Really, I am.”

But instead of taking offense, Max just smiled that Cheshire cat, knowing grin and turned to accept a drink. Alec took the opportunity to sidle up to Biggs. Glancing around as the audience dissipated slightly once more, he asked in a low voice, “so, were you...?” he trailed off, meaning, was Biggs using his Manticore plus strength, hoping he wouldn't have to spell it out. But Biggs got it.

“Fuck yeah, I was,” his friend returned in a shuddering, slightly awed voice as they both glanced at the woman that had bested the dark haired transgenic. “Where the hell did she learn that? And why didn't I know that?”

“With Max? Who knows? With you? Really want me to answer?” Biggs made no verbal reply, but did snort softly and and shove his friend away.

It took quite a while before it seemed she was ready for Alec. The night as they all knew it, was coming to a close, the bar would be shutting down, as it generally did. They'd have to head out and they all knew that if Max was going to get Alec, thus winning the bet, it would have to be soon. And Alec wasn't trying to avoid her or anything, but he also couldn't ignore the eager look she threw his way as he neared the table they had claimed.

“So Maxie,” he drawled as he took a seat, different from earlier, but still across from her. “You ready to lose?”

“That remains to be seen, doesn't it?” she smiled widely before clasping her hands together on the table before her. “I just happen to think that the prize is worth the effort.”

“And why would me cleanin' your apartment be such an entertaining proposition for you?” he wondered aloud and Max arched an eyebrow at him before turning to Cindy.

“Did I actually say I wanted Alec to clean the apartment?” she simpered a little. And Cindy was already smirkin' and shaking her head.

“Boo knows I don't like da boys pawin' through my unmentionables,” Cindy nodded. Alec was about to protest, but then recalled. No, Max hadn't actually said those words. That was true.

“All right then,” he conceded, “what is it you want me to do?”

“Is it necessary to know before you'll engage in our little battle of the wits, or would you like to admit defeat now?” Max wanted to know, arching up her back a little. Alec simply shrugged one shoulder.

“Call it fulfilling my curiosity,” he challenged. “A courtesy, if you will.” He heard Sketchy snorting a mumbling, 'curiosity courtesy', under his breath as he lolled at the table. It seemed to tickle some funny bone the lanky ordinary had as he giggled into the last of his beer.

Max regarded Alec for a long moment and then beckoned him to her side. Intrigued, he pushed away from the table to stand and move around to her side. He leaned over, bracing one hand on the table while she whispered her wager demand into his ear, her voice soft and breathy, hot against the senstive skin of his earlobe. When she pulled away to stare at his profile, Alec had the most insane urge to rub at his head and shake away a few sudden cobwebs.

Or maybe rub something else.

But that wasn't a new problem and was one he knew how to work around. Lord knew he'd been doing it long enough. The parameters of her demand were not that unusual and he knew that he'd be able to pull it off. The why's weren't all that hard to figure out either. But, convinced of his own superiority in not being the fool, the patsy, like some of the others, he knew he wouldn't have to worry about the whys and wherefore's any little bit.

“All right, deal,” he announced and then slapping his hand lightly on the table, moved to resume his seat. Once there, he leaned forward. “Okay, Max, give it your best shot.”

“She gets two, remember?” Biggs chose that moment to remind him. But Alec shrugged. Pursing her lips for a moment, Max then leaned forward as well. She threw a glance at Cindy and the girl nodded.

“All right Alec, my challenge is this, I want you to say something, and I'm quite sure that you will,” she inhaled deeply and then breathed out slowly, “say... multifarious... verbiage.”

Alec stared at her for a moment. He wasn't quite sure that his mouth didn't drop open to gape just a little bit. “That's it?” he asked, slightly dumbfounded by her obvious request. He stared at her a moment, before he turned to glance at Biggs, who was sitting calmly by. “That's it?” he repeated, turning back to her and she was nodding slowly. “Two words? Two words that you came right out and told me? 'Cause, honey, that ain't a trick? That's just talking. And I know you know I know how to talk. In fact, you complain about it all the time. But you know Max, don't you, that there's no way in hell that I'm going to say those words. Even if there was no time limit on this wager, I'm pretty sure that I could go the rest of my life, however long it may be, without saying those specific words in any combination.” He turned to his friend. “There is a time limit though, right?” Biggs nodded.

“I figure when the bar closes,” he confirmed. As a whole, the group turned to glance at the large clock mounted on the wall over the bar. There was twenty minutes left.

“Okay, so twenty minutes of me not saying the words that you asked for,” Alec guffawed loudly. “Think I can do that. But I am curious Max. You said that you were pretty sure that I would say those words. But really, what enticement could you offer? Just out of that darn curiosity of mind, if you don't mind me asking?”

“Oh, well,” Max shrugged one shoulder coyly. “Just a little thing really.” She glanced around the table and then her face took on a new expression that he'd never seen before, though Cindy looked like she was trying not to laugh. “You remember that lap dance you were hinting for?”

Alec didn't even swallow. He knew exactly what she was referring to and felt absolutely no embarrassment or censure about it, even as the other males chuckled and added their own two cents to that idea. Even Biggs was looking at the girl contemplatively.

“I do recall that,” Alec smiled coolly. “Are you trying to tell me that's the enticement, because I have since had time to reconsider and I'm not all that sure I'd be interested, given the knowledge I've gained from.. certain quarters.”

Sketchy, obviously picking up on the reference at last, snorted a little beer through his nose, before covering up with a hastily grabbed napkin, muttering, “yeah, that job didn't last long, did it?”

“Oh but Alec, you've never seen me actually try,' Max literally purred, not backing down an inch and he had to admire that, really. “And in fact,” she glanced at Cindy, who was now leaning forward as well, while Max leaned back in her seat to dance her fingers along her roommates bare shoulders, “Cindy even said that she wouldn't mind putting on a little show with me. Girls gotta stick together, hmm?”

Now that gave some of the males, Alec included, pause and they began eying each other, imagining the possibilities. Alec ignored Biggs, who was slowly shaking his drooping head.

“Now that is an interesting proposition,” he sighed, amusement glinting in his eyes. “And let me be honest here, extremely enticing, just because I would love to see what your two devious little brains could come up with. Because it's obvious,” he gestured to where Max's arm was circling Cindy's shoulder, while the black woman's hand had come up to intertwine with Max's fingers, “that you two have pulled this shtick before, haven't you.”

“And very effectively so baby boo,” Cindy licked at her lower lip. “Boys like to look at what they can't have. And you know dis girl untouchable.”

“So it would be a feast for the eyes, hmm?” Alec grinned wolfishly. Even if it never happened, he had a damn good imagination and it wasn't like he hadn't... fantasized before. He let it settle for a moment, their offer, but then he shook his head. “Well, I have to say, no can do. Sorry ladies. I know that it's a blow, you can't have your fun with ol' Alec, no matter how vicarious it turns out to be. Because, hey... pride on the line here and all that. Now, I've got a lot to make up for with all these dumb asses here being themselves.” There were protests from the males from that sully but Alec waved them down. “And if I lose this bet now, I'd never hear the end of it. You gotta up the ante Maxie.”

He had to give it to her, she didn't even pause, nor did she let go of Cindy. But, it was relaxed, not like she was clinging to the girl for some reassurance.

“Well then, I'd just have to offer something you have a hard time saying no to, wouldn't I?” she fired back softly. “I know Biggs said clean favors on my account, but that doesn't mean you and I couldn't come to our own agreement. It wouldn't have to be vicarious for either of us, or just looking and no touching, hmm?”

It was obvious to everyone what she was offering in those only slightly veiled words. And Alec wanted to hiss at the unfairness of it. It was the principle of the damn thing! He could not... would not lose to her. Not when it was this simple, this easy and this unimportant. He'd give way on the big things, because he couldn't help himself. But there was no way in hell that he was going to lay down and let her trample all over him.

He leaned back once more, rubbing his finger over his lips. And then decided. “Still not enough there girl. Because I gotta say, you're just not my type. Sure, you've got great... assets, but I've seen it before. Maybe now if you'd offered... hmmm more than just, what were you thinking? A night? A week? How long would you be willing? I know you Max,” he chuckled. He shook his head. “For all your bravado, you're not gonna go there. Ever.”

And still, she didn't back down. “All right, you're not gonna take that up, that is fine by me. More than fine. But you're still gonna say it Alec. Those words? That's all I need.”

The clock had been steadily ticking down over the course of their little play and Alec glanced at it once more. “In twelve minutes? Doubt it. I've got something I know you think I don't. Self control Max. And I can exert it for longer than the two minutes you think my attention span is. In fact, I can promise you that those words will never cross my lips.” Pausing to take the final sip of his beer, Ale then continued in that vein, listing all the ways and places, times and situations in which he would not be saying those words, emphasizing them each and every time, waiting for the moment the boot from the bar came, to see the disappointment flash in her eyes. Oh, it would be sweet.

But even when the end came, it wasn't there.

Because as the group made their way out the main door, huddled together until the bitter end, Max donning her jacket and reaching to release her hair from it's recent confines, she turned to Biggs. “So, does that satisfy?”

“Yeah,” Biggs sighed tiredly. “You win Max. Way to go girl.” The words were sluggish and Biggs was shaking his head as if shamed. He turned to glare at Alec. “Nice going dumb ass!”

“What?” Alec demanded indignantly, while Max and Cindy snickered behind their hands. “I never said the words. I win!”

“Ya freak!” Biggs growled, shoving Alec's shoulder. “Think about what she asked you.” He gave Alec a moment, but that male knew exactly what the words were, but wouldn't repeat them. Life long vow in play now, of course. “Verbiage?” Biggs repeated, looking expectant. “Meaning? Words! And multifarious?”

Suddenly Alec groaned, neon warning signs going off in his head, way too late. “Many,” he garbled out. “Many words.”

“Which is what you gave me pretty boy,” Max shrieked with laughter that she and Cindy could no longer contain. The others caught up and began laughing as well. After all, it had just been a friendly little wager and they had lost nothing. But Alec... Max moved closer, her arm linked with Cindy's as she stepped up to pat his cheek. “Next week Alec. And no excuses. It will be done.”

She moved off, even as Alec whispered miserably, “yes ma'am.” He stared after the two girls, strolling merrily along, giggling at their own devious little minds. He sighed as they turned the corner and disappeared from view, to see Biggs shaking his head. He didn't even try and flinch away as Biggs hand came up to smack the back of his head. His oldest and best friend stalked away in the other direction that the girls had left, muttering to himself.

“The things I do for him and he doesn't even have the damn sense to... see if I ever help him out... dumb ass!”

Well now, what the hell did that mean?” Alec wondered, the conundrum now serving to take his mind off of Max's demand. He'd think about that tomorrow. Or maybe the next day. Or maybe, he could just think about how she could thank him when all was said and done and the pay off delivered.

With a grin and his equilibrium slightly restored, Alec hurried after his buddy, humiliation pushed to the back of his mind until the story was sure to make the rounds at work the very next day.

A/N2- I know many of you are probably wondering what the bet was that Max wanted from Alec. And I will get to that under the Prompt "Zipper". It's not a long wait, okay!

AtZ- Xerox