Even

By Tiriel

PG-13, m/m

Part Two of the Macho Posturing series. Zack's back in town.

So it's been a while since the ep aired, but here it is, finally. Expect another installment when the big Z appears onscreen again.

Disclaimer: These guys aren't mine. Damn do I ever wish they were, though.

Set during the Dark Angel episode "The Kids Are Aiight"

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Even

By Tiriel

Logan smiled to himself. The look on Zack's face when he'd seen him standing up, that look had almost made the time he'd spent in the wheelchair somehow seem worthwhile. A classic double--no, triple-take. This was good. And finally they were on equal footing, so to speak. He could walk, could look Zack in the eye. He waited until Max was in the bathroom, safely out of the way, and then he made his move.

"So, how'd they get you? I thought you were home free." Logan walked toward Zack, who was standing by the window, looking out at the city.

Zack didn't turn, but Logan could see his frown reflected in the glass. "What are you talking about?"

"Manticore. How'd they capture you? You didn't commit a 'tactical error,' did you?" The tone of the taunt was pitched just right, Zack's own words tossed in his face. Oh, this was perfect.

"I don't remember how I got there. What do you mean, you thought I was home free?" Zack turned around.

Logan slowed his approach, but still continued to walk toward Zack, long pauses between his steps. "When you were here after the helicopter crash, you were pretty cocky about not getting caught."

"When I was here?" Zack echoed. "What are you talking about?" He looked genuinely confused and more than a little irritated.

Being at a disadvantage like this was clearly distressing Zack. Logan couldn't help grinning. "Don't play dumb. When you came here after the crash. Max doesn't know. You told me not to tell her."

"You're lying. Why would I come here?"

"Fine. I'll play along. Ostensibly, it was to interrogate me some more about my relationship with Max. But there was more to it than that." He was in Zack's space now, one more step and he'd have crossed the invisible boundary into "too close."

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about."

Logan took the last step and put one hand on Zack's chest, pushing him gently but firmly backward. "Let me refresh your memory. It looked something like this." He put his hands on the window on either side of Zack, using his entire body to push him against the glass. He registered the pleasant feeling of Zack's muscular torso against his as he closed the gap between their mouths, slipping his tongue between Zack's lips. After a moment, Zack kissed him back eagerly, arms snaking around his waist, and the only thing that shocked Logan more than his own developing erection was the answering one he felt pressing back against him. They were both hard. Both enjoying this, and not just as part of some power struggle.

Logan pressed his palms harder against the window and pushed himself away from Zack. He needed to think about this, needed to--

Zack wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, staring at Logan with wide, surprised eyes.

Logan felt a different kind of shock ball up in his throat. "You really don't remember, do you?" He frowned. "You don't remember coming here and kissing me?"

"I don't remember a lot of things right now." Zack paused, as if he wasn't sure he wanted to ask more. "What else did I do?"

"Nothing. Showed up, questioned me about Max, kissed me, told me not to tell her you were alive, and vanished." And Zack had disappeared awfully fast when Max had arrived. What if...

"You're lying. Or you were just daydreaming about me." Zack's voice was regaining some of its usual tone. "If I made it this far after the crash, how'd they find me?"

"I don't know," Logan snapped, "but why would I lie about something like that? You did it. Just to shock me, keep me off guard. Now we're even."

"I don't think--" Zack looked past Logan for a moment and he cut himself off.

Logan was expecting to hear Max's voice even before she spoke. "Geez, a girl leaves the room for just a min, and you two are all over each other with the macho posturing thing. Men. Can't you learn to get along?"

Zack and Logan exchanged a look that almost felt guilty. Logan turned and walked away toward the kitchen. He'd taken Zack by surprise, clearly gotten the upper hand, for the moment, at least. But why, then, did it suddenly feel like he was in way over his head?

The End...for now...

Tiriel

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