This is the second chapter of my full-length Mari fic. Nothing much to say here, except that I've posted a bunch of other oneshots, so if you want, you can go read and review those. Hope you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride.
"When do we move out?"
Ari didn't look up from his equipment. "Midnight."
The tall Eraser looked excited, his handsome features twisted with a sick kind of joy. "That's soon."
"I know, Mars, I know. Get ready, everyone."
There was silence as the team prepared, fifteen Erasers on a mission.
Eros, who was checking her gun, asked, "Any last minute orders?"
Ari gave a brisk nod. "Nobody kill the mutants, just knock them out and tie them up. There are cages in the Hummer, put them in those. Lee, you drive, you're best at this kind of terrain. And nobody lay a finger on Max. If I see any one of you touch her, I'll have your asses neutered. She's mine. Eros, Ecstasy, Ember, no messing around with the male mutants, if you're that horny, I'm sure Mars is available."
Ecstasy made a sound that expressed her annoyance at this statement, then replied, "Like you wouldn't screw little Maximum if you got the chance."
Upon seeing Ari's incredulous expression, she rolled her eyes. "You think we don't know, Ari? We're not deaf; we can hear you, every night, saying her name in your sleep. Moaning, whimpering, 'Oh, God, Max, please…' seeing the way you look at photos and videos of her. It's pathetic, and you couldn't make it much more obvious."
Ari's hands curled into fists with rage, his face contorted with anger. The other Erasers watched with interest; all knew Ari's infatuation with Maximum, and she was a touchy subject to bring up around him. Still, no one had ever said anything to Ari about their knowledge of his unrequited love.
To their surprise, Ari did not lunge for Ecstasy, claws extended, or react violently. Instead, he growled in a low voice, "Let's move."
The Flock was sleeping in a clearing, with Iggy on guard. A dart filled with some knockout chemical was fired, and he was down for the count as the Erasers moved in, surrounding the sleeping mutants.
When Ari saw Max lying there, fast asleep, he could feel his heart breaking in two. So beautiful. Big dark eyes that were currently shut, blonde hair that looked so, so soft, smooth expanses of pale skin, long legs and a well-shaped body were all components of the perfection that was Max. Like in his dream…
In his moment of distraction, his foot slipped and landed squarely on a stick, snapping it in half and making a loud cracking noise. He only had time to wince and hear Mars hiss 'You idiot!' before the Flock awoke.
Without thinking, he lunged at Max, but she rolled out of the way, causing him to crash headfirst onto the ground. Growling, he tried to grab her, but she was quick, too quick, and his arms closed around air. She laughed, seeming to find him being humiliated funny.
His Erasers were winning, Gazzy and Angel were already unconscious and he knew that it was only a matter of time until the others were brought down. Still furious, Ari whirled around, looking for what he knew would bring Max down.
When he saw Fang, a different kind of rage shot through him. With Max, it was a temporary annoyance, once that was almost instantly squelched by guilt and adoration for her. But for Fang…a pure, primal hate that stemmed from their mutual affections towards Max.
Anger rising from within him, Ari threw himself at Fang, catching the older boy during a brief moment of weakness as he glanced to see if Max was all right. Moving with speed that surprised even himself, he slammed Fang face-first into the ground. Digging his knee into the small of Fang's back, he pulled his favorite knife from underneath his leather jacket, flourishing it to ensure that Max could see it, and pressed the side of the blade to the back of Fang's neck.
"This fight," Ari hissed, "Is over."
Max froze, as did the other Erasers and Flock members. Her eyes flicked from Fang to him for a brief instant, then back to Fang. Irritation clouded Ari's judgment, and he wanted Max to look at him, not Fang. Moving the knife slowly, he cut the skin at the nape of Fang's neck, seeing the fear in Max's beautiful brown eyes increase as blood rolled down Fang's shoulders onto the dirt. She looked at Ari, desperation and fear in her gaze. Ari loved it, seeing her perfect face look terrified, and because of him! It was thrilling, invigorating, and he wanted more of it.
He purred, "Now, Max, you can be a good girl and come with me, and your boy Fangie will survive. Or, I can kill him and you can try to make a run for it, though I doubt you'll get very far. Make your choice, love, and be sure it's the one you really want, 'cause there's no going back."
She looked at him warily. "If I go with you, nothing will happen to them?"
He shook his head. "Sorry, I can't guarantee that nothing will happen, but they'll be alive, at least."
She looked hesitant, unsure which to choose. Ari watched her, licking his lips with anticipation. For the first time, he noticed that she was wearing only a dirty gray-ish tank top and jeans, with nothing covering her bare shoulders and arms. The way her hair brushed the pale skin of her shoulders was fascinating to Ari, and for a moment he seemed to slide into a trance-like state. He could imagine the straps sliding from Max's shoulders as she walked towards him, kneeling in front of him, her silky hair tickling his thighs as she leaned in, hot mouth only inches away from…
"I'll go with you. Just don't hurt them, please."
Her voice startled him, bringing him back from his fantasy.
Grinning cruelly, he replied, "As you wish, pet." Nodding at his Erasers, Eros strode forward and knocked Fang out while Mars mirrored her action on Nudge. After binding the remaining Flock members, the Erasers left the clearing without a second look back at their leader, leaving them alone.
Max inhaled rapidly, staring at him with a combination of hatred and fear. Smiling, he walked towards her, reveling in her terror. Once within touching distance, he stretched out a hand, gripping her slim shoulder firmly. Max's skin was warm, and he ran his fingers over it lovingly, enjoying the way she shivered slightly.
He breathily whispered, "Touch my face…" When she didn't respond, he grabbed her wrist with his free hand, bringing it up to his cheek, guiding it across his face. The stubble that came from being away from a bathroom for the past few days was rough and felt like sandpaper under her fingers. Ari's eyes closed as he said quietly, "Say my name."
"Ari."
"Say it like you mean it."
She sighed. "Ari…"
He moaned softly, loving the way she said his name. After a moment of running her hand over his face, he opened his eyes and released her hand. He smiled at her. "Night-night, Max."
Before she had a chance to react, he had hit her on the side of the head, hard, knocking her out. Ari bound her wrists with rope that an Eraser had dropped, then lifted her, arranging Max so he could still fly and carry her. He took off clumsily, his wings aching madly as he surged through the air, but none of that mattered.
He had her, at last.
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