Disclaimer: I do not own anything affiliated with Maximum Ride.

Just a Little Tense

I am going to go insane. I really am. This whole situation is driving me up the proverbial wall. I'm only fifteen for Christ's sakes. Normal fifteen year olds don't have to worry about five other living beings, friggin' hordes of mutant wolfish creatures that want to rip us to shreds, a psychotic voice in their heads, and finding the homes of each of the aforementioned five living beings.

Right now, I'm sitting Indian-style on the ground in front of our dying fire, leaning against a log, with a map and a bunch of sheets of paper that look like they've been through the war and back, trying to plan our route to reunite the kids with their families. I'm trying to pinpoint the exact location of Iggy's parent's house. Trying being the operative word there. The rest of the Flock is asleep somewhere to my left. I glance over and see Angel's sleeping face, a peaceful smile on it as she clutches Celeste to her chest and snuggles closer to the ball of hyperactive fur we like to call Total.

And that smile makes it all worthwhile. But, a sweet smile will not get the route plotted so I get back to work. After a few minutes, I consult the pages lying on the ground next to me and realize I've marked a location in the opposite direction of our actual goal. I groan exasperatedly and hit myself in the forehead a few times for the sheer stupidity of my actions. Then I set to work erasing my carefully drawn line when I feel a pair of large, strong hands rest on my shoulders.

I jump, startled, and tilt my head back, looking straight into the dark eyes of Fang. Fang stares back, a trace of amusement lighting his eyes, before settling on the log behind me.

He leans over and whispers in my ear, "Did I scare you?"

"No. I'm just a little tense, that's all." I reply.

Fang nods slightly and I turn back to my map. Before long, I feel his hands on my shoulders again, tracing my shoulder blades with his thumbs, gently massaging the knots of tension away. I immediately stop drawing, surprised at his actions but enjoying them all the same. He rubs small circles around the base of my neck and down my spine, reaching about halfway down my back before he stops.

Next he places his hands on either side of my spine right where he stopped rubbing the circles, his fingers curling around my sides. He uses his thumbs to massage the sides of my spine, his hands sliding further down my back, coming to rest on my waist. He stops and gently pulls me closer to him, leaning in once more to whisper in my ear, the feeling of his breath on my skin making me shiver involuntarily.

"Are you still tense?"

I don't answer; instead I turn my head to look into his face, which is mere inches from my own. Feeling strangely daring, I close the distance between our lips. He's hesitant at first but kisses me back. I slide a hand behind his neck and pull his head closer to me, deepening the kiss. Fang responds eagerly, both of us wishing to release years worth of pent up attraction. And considering the sparks flying between us, it was working.

Air becoming a necessity, we separated, both of us panting slightly. He slid down to the ground behind me so now I was sitting on his lap. His hands resting on my hips, his fingers are pleasantly warm on the strip of bare skin exposed where my t-shirt has ridden up.

Turning sideways on his lap, I put my arms around his neck and whispered in his ear.

"Do I seem tense to you?"

And then I kissed him again.