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Crystal kisses Maximus in hopes he'll let her out of her bonds. She doesn't expect the repercussions.
{ 4,134 words } | { ao3 | ff.net }
His lips taste sweet like sugar. It surprises her. Sheâd expected him to taste like fire or ash or venom. His lips are soft against her own, his facial hair scratching lightly against her sensitive skin. She shouldnât be doing this. Itâs not the kind of thing that she does. But sheâd run out of options after heâd gotten to her before she could get to Lockjaw and had locked her back in her apartment.
Kissing is captivating, she decides. Crystalâs had boys desire her before, of course, but sheâs never had the chance to interact with many others outside the royal family. Medusaâs always been over protective and Crystal doesnât have friends. Thereâs something turning in her stomach, she hopes itâs disgust, as Maximusâ tongue flicks across her lips.
It doesnât feel like disgust, though. It feels suspiciously like butterflies as Maximus cups her cheek and she parts her lips, moaning and pressing closer to him without even thinking about it. Thereâs fireworks exploding in her chest, heat spreading through her veins. Crystal gasps when Maximus pulls away, leaning into him but Maximus grabs her shoulders to keep her from following.
âAnd here I was thinking you were just kissing me to get out of your bonds,â Maximus murmurs.
The warmth of his breath against her lips makes her shiver and her eyes threaten to flutter closed again. âI-â Crystal hesitates, realizing that sheâs created a dilemma for herself. She doesnât want Maximus to think that sheâs only kissing him for that or he wonât release her. But after her very real reaction to his lips, she doesnât want him to think that she wants him.
Maximus stares at her, his gaze hard. âYou donât realize- Have you ever been kissed before, Crystal?â
Crystal frowns, hurt blooming in the spot in her chest where before thereâd been only fire. âIs it so easy to tell?â
âDid Medusa ever tell you about the first time Black Bolt kissed her?â Maximus asks, ignoring the offended look on Crystalâs face. Crystal can only give a meek shake of her head. âYou understand how Terrigen works on our body?â
âIt gives us our powers.â
Maximus sighs and stands up suddenly from Crystalâs bed, starting to pace. âItâs more than that. Theyâre not just powers, Crystal. It ascends us to a higher level of existence. One of those things is the ability to recognize our proper mate.â
Crystal blinks several times as Maximus stops and turns back to look at her. âI donât understand.â
The tightening of Maximusâ lips is the only sign of his emotions. His eyes are just as blank as ever and Crystal wishes that heâd just give her some sort of clue. âYou didnât feel the burning on your chest?â
âWhat?â Crystal asks, looking down but the only thing she sees is her shirt.
Maximusâ shirt stretches as he tugs it down and Crystal leans back when she sees the red âCâ on his chest, as if carved with a knife. She immediately loops her fingers in her collar, pulling it down and she feels sick as she sees the âMâ on hers.
âEverybody has this?â
âInhumans who go are exposed to Terrigen and are intimate with their mates, yes,â Maximus says and Crystal lets go of her shirt as she realizes that Maximus hasnât looked away from the letter that she can no feel stinging on her skin. It hadnât compared to the butterflies but now all she can feel is the injury. âYour sister and my brother both have it.â
Crystal digs her heels into the bedframe, feeling like she might actually faint. She just got marked with some soulmate letter because she had kissed Maximus. âI only wanted you to let me out of my bonds.â
The laugh that Maximus lets out surprises Crystal and then the man begins pacing again. âI wouldnât have let you out anyway. I still have no intention of letting you out. This is something- I donât know what to do with this.â
âMaximus,â Crystal whispers but she doesnât even know what to say. Thereâs curiosity and terror and something else thatâs threatening to overwhelm her. Crystal doesnât know how to react to this unexpected turn. âI donât understand. Youâre saying that weâre mates?â
âThe genetic council believes itâs about any offspring the mates would produce,â Maximus says quickly, still pacing and obviously still thinking hard. âThey believe mates are able to have stronger children but itâs not confirmed. Itâs uncommon and not talked about regularly because we donât like what we donât understand.â
Crystal huffs out a breath, standing up and Maximus freezes when she steps in front of him, as if she might burn him. âMaximus, what are you saying?â
âThe idea of a soulmate is a very human idea but an accurate one. It would appear that youâre my soulmate, that Iâm yours. I donât know what to do with this situation.â
Crystal collapses back on the bed, covering her face with her hands. She looks up with a frown when she hears her door close. âCoward!â she calls after Maximus, although heâs gone already. It doesnât make her feel any better to say such a thing. It does make her feel better to be alone to think.
***
The next time he comes in, Crystal is ready for him. Sheâs still cuffed behind her back, because Maximus had told her she was being punished, but she can move around freely and sheâs allowed out to eat and attend to her basic needs three times a day. As soon as the door closes behind Maximus, she walks towards him with purpose.
âCrystal, what?â
Before he can finish the question, Crystalâs pushing forward to press her lips to his. Maximusâ hands come up to her arms, as if to push her away, but Crystal doesnât relent and Maximus uses his hold on her to pull her closer.
Those fireworks erupt in her again and Crystal wishes so badly she could wrap her arms around him, pull him closer. In the back of her mind is the reminder that sheâs doing this so heâll let her go but as soon as their lips connect, all Crystal can think about is being closer to him. All she cares about is his arms wrapping around her waist, lifting her up so he can take her towards the bed.
âI donât-â she starts as soon as he lays her down, scrambling to sit up.
âI know,â Maximus responds immediately, kneeling down and kissing her again. She can only get lost in it as he lays over her, covering her completely, his hands moving over her arms, touching her cheeks, her hair. Crystal wonders how many times that Maximus has been kissed.
The thought is lost as quick as it comes. The only thing sheâs aware of is Maximusâ touch, his lips that kiss trails down from her lips to her neck, sucking and nibbling. Thereâs no time, nobody else, just him and her and this crazy feeling between them.
At least Maximus seems to be just as lost because he groans when the door is opened, not moving his lips from Crystalâs neck. âWeâre busy,â he growls.
âYour Majesty, thereâs news of a-â
Maximus jerks his head up this time. âI said weâre busy,â he snaps and Crystal shakes under him in silent laughter. It wouldnât be so funny if she didnât have the same feelings. Sheâs trying to seduce him into giving her freedom but his body against hers makes her feel like she could fly. It feels like sheâs been missing something for years and is finally complete.
âYour Majesty,â the guard says firmer this time and Crystal reaches out for him as Maximus reluctantly stands up. She wants to just enjoy this while simultaneously hoping for her freedom. She should be able to have both, right?
Maximus straightens, one hand pulling his shirt further down, the other flattening his hair. âWhat then?â
The guard looks between the two as he steps further into the room and Crystal feels her face flush. âThe genetic council wish to have a meeting which you must attend.â
âAnd it canât wait?â Maximus asks, raising his eyebrows. Crystal can hear the dangerous tone of his voice and that should not make heat shoot through her stomach. Perhaps this is getting out of hand.
Crystal sighs, tuning out their conversation and laying her head back against her pillow. She canât get so distracted when sheâs trying to kiss him or else sheâs never going to be able to convince him. Itâs a surprise when she feels the cuffs on her wrists suddenly come apart and she sits up fast, looking over at Maximus.
âYouâre coming with me. But, Crystal, do not think that I will hesitate to have them shoot you if you attempt to use your powers. Lockjaw is locked where you wonât find him. Thereâs nowhere you can go even if you get away,â Maximus warns her, holding out his hand to hers.
Crystal looks at it, thinking about the fact that she had called him the king of no one and had meant it. She crosses her arms over her chest. Making her feel completely doesnât mean she agrees with his politics. âNo. I refuse to let them think I agree with what you say because I donât.â
A moment passes where Maximus just looks at her before he leans down, grabbing her wrist. âEither you come with me or the cuffs go back on permanently.â
Crystal clenches her jaw, weighing her options before she nods quickly. âFine. But Medusa and Black Bolt are going to come back.â
âI expect it,â he tells her.
***
Maximus never pushes her. He simply kisses her, never going below the mark that appeared just underneath her neck. It seems that he finds just as much pleasure from her as she does from him. She refuses to leave her room but he comes to her, more and more often, more and more frantic for her touch. They never talk about politics but they seem to talk about everything else.
What had started as just something physical between them suddenly becomes something more. Crystal finds herself craving not just his touches but his witty words and fun stories. He talks a lot about their childhood, back when Maximus and Black Bolt actually seemed to get along. Crystal develops a fondness for him.
Until he gets clumsy. Heâs obviously desperate for something, perhaps for his brotherâs death? Whatever it is, he leaves the door without closing it completely and she sneaks out. Lockjaw isnât as hard to find as Maximus had promised and she lets out a breath when she lands on Earth. Sheâs alone in the dark until she hears a rumbling sound and then somebody comes barreling out on some kind of machine and runs over Lockjaw.
***
Dave kisses her and Crystal wants so badly to like it. She wants to believe that Maximus isnât for her but no matter how fun she finds the other man, sheâs grateful when she hears Medusaâs voice interrupting them. Daveâs a friend. Thatâs all he can be when she has Maximusâ initial burned into her skin.
Calling the parley is something that Crystal wants to do. She hasnât told anybody about the fact that she had apparently found her mate. Instead, she teleports in with Lockjaw and blasts the guns that threaten her. Maximus looks at her with so much emotion in his eyes that she feels breathless with it.
âHave you come crawling back then?â
âI have a message from your king,â Crystal snaps and she repeats the words just as she had practiced them. The pain of being apart has worsened now that theyâre so close and not touching. She wants his arms around her, his lips on hers. Her body craves it. But she refuses to give in to a madman. Black Bolt is the rightful king and sheâll stand by her convictions even if the pain threatens to bring her to her knees.
Maximus glances over at his team before stepping towards her. âYou think you can come and demand a parley from me?â
âGorgon is dead,â Crystal says blankly, meeting him in the middle. Sheâs not afraid of him. Thatâs what she tells herself. Another few inches and she could touch him and perhaps alleviate some of the pain.
Is that emotion that she sees in Maximusâ eyes? She doesnât know. âIf you had stayed with me this wouldnât have happened,â Maximus says to her in a voice that nobody else can hear.
The words send a spark up her spine. âItâs not my fault that heâs dead or that my family is in exile. Itâs yours,â she hisses back at him, looking back at Lockjaw. âIf we had figured this out in different circumstances we maybe...â
Maximusâ eyes meet hers as she trails off, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Itâs been on her mind for so long. If they had realized that they were mates before this had happened things could have been different. Crystal has eyes. Maximus is incredibly attractive but heâd always been off-limits. Medusa didnât trust him, Crystal knew that Maximus and Medusa had a history she doesnât know the full details of, heâs her brother-in-law. But them being mates? It wouldâve come above all of that.
âOr you could stay with me now and relieve us both of the pain of being apart. I know that your body wants me just as much as mine wants yours,â Maximus tells her, reaching out.
Crystal jumps back as if he was going to burn her. âA parley with your king, Maximus,â she reminds him.
A quiet sigh and then Maximus nods. âI will meet my brother at midday then. Youâll be with him or I wonât see him.â
âMaximus,â Crystal whispers.
âThose are my terms.â
Crystal looks at him for a moment before letting out a breath and nodding. âFine,â she whispers before putting a hand on Lockjaw and teleporting. When she sees her sister waiting for her, Crystal bites her lip. âMaximus will meet as long as Iâm with you.â
And then she runs, tears filling her eyes.
Medusa, of course, follows her, sitting down next to her. âCrystal, whatâs wrong?â
Crystal canât even bring herself to speak. She sits up, rubbing at her eyes even as tears continue streaming down her cheeks. She isnât sure sheâs ever going to be able to stop when it feels as if sheâs being torn apart away from him.
âCrystal, please. Tell me. Iâm sorry I left you but I donât know what to do. How can I fix it?â Medusa asks, reaching out for Crystal but Crystal scoots back on the bed.
âDonât be mad,â she whispers as she unbuttons the checkered shirt that Dave had given her, that sheâs been wearing buttoned so nobody sees the mark.
Medusa draws in a sharp breath when she sees the âM,â her eyes lifting to meet Crystalâs. âMaximus?â
The sob comes unbidden, Crystalâs hand coming up to cover her mouth. âI didnât mean to!â she says, wiping away the tears viciously. She can see Medusa trembling. âI thought that if I kissed him then he might come to care about me and eventually heâd let me out. I didnât even know about mates!â
âIâm sorry. That was my fault for never telling you. It had never come up and didnât seem important. Black Bolt and I didnât kiss until we were already in love so the marks didnât matter to us,â Medusa whispers, reaching up to rub at her chest. âBut to have Maximusâ initial on you.â
Crystal shakes her head, closing her eyes tight. âIt was different while I was up there and you were down here. I know it wasnât long but I saw a different side of him. He seemed so much freer while he was with me and we talked and heâs- Medusa, what do I do?â
âHeâs quite charming when he wants to be, isnât he?â Medusa asks gently, reaching out to take one of Crystalâs hands and holding it tight.
The feeling of having her sister there has always been the best feeling to Crystal. From a very young age, even before their parents were executed, Medusa had made her feel safe. Crystal feels her heart constrict as she realizes that sheâd rather have Maximus here than Medusa. âDid you two?â
âNo. We were friends, that was all. Maximus acted like he might have wanted something else but I was never really interested. I was busy falling in love with Black Bolt,â Medusa says, reaching her free hand out to cup Crystalâs cheek, brushing aside her tears. âHow do you feel?â
âConflicted. I donât love him but⊠I feel like I could. And itâs a physical ache to be apart. How did you manage to be apart from Black Bolt?â
Medusa smiles disparagingly. âI didnât easily. I was overly mean and I felt the ache every moment we were apart. It was too long. What did Maximus tell you about how mates are chosen?â
âHe said the genetic council believes itâs about having powerful offspring but itâs not talked about because itâs not properly understood.â
âIâm not surprised heâd take such a pessimistic look at it. Itâs more than just offspring. Itâs about finding your perfect match. I know itâs hard to understand but itâs like pieces falling into place. When I first kissed Black Bolt, I just knew. Did you⊠feel that?â
Crystal thinks back to the kiss and she knows that she felt the same thing that Medusa did. She had felt the fireworks and still felt them every time he had kissed her. Medusa seems to read the answer in her eyes because she squeezes Crystalâs hand.
âI canât really tell you what to do, Crystal. But⊠now that I know heâs your mate, I really canât let anything happen to him. It would destroy you.â
Crystal feels her chest ache at the very thought of Maximus dying and she nods. âI have an idea, though. About the parley.â
Medusa tilts her head to the side and listens.
***
Maximus doesnât react as Crystal, Black Bolt and Medusa walk towards him, meeting in the middle.
âHave you told your sister?â Maximus asks, looking at Crystal.
Crystalâs lips twitch but Medusa takes another step forward. She hadnât liked Crystalâs plan. Sheâd prefer to keep Crystal far away from Maximus but she knows that Maximus wonât hurt her. It would destroy him to lose her just as much as it would destroy Crystal to lose Maximus. Black Bolt had listened to the same plan and heâd held her late that night as sheâd cried thinking of Crystal hurt.
âShe has. And it reminds us that youâre our family, Maximus. Weâre all family here. Weâre here to extend grace. Weâve heard that you wish to go through Terrigenesis again. We will grant you that request as benevolent leaders. So, you have a choice. We are willing to give you your scientist and you can proceed. Or you can have Crystal. In return, we reclaim our throne which is rightfully ours. If you choose the scientist, Crystal has expressed a desire to remain on Earth with her new human friend.â
Crystal doesnât listen to the rest. She doesnât need to. Maximusâ eyes meet hers and he seems to be looking into her soul. Perhaps heâs trying to find the lie thatâs obviously there. Sheâd never leave her family to return to Earth. âPlease,â she whispers, not loud enough for any of them to hear. She doesnât want to lose any more of her family but she doesnât want to lose him either.
The moments stretch on as Maximus contemplates the offer. Crystal isnât sure what she wants. She wants him to accept but she doesnât know which she wants. Does she want him to choose her? Of course she does. She wants him to want her as much as she craves him. Just being here with him makes her heart hurt and tears fill her eyes.
âI accept,â Maximus says finally. âGive me the scientist.â
Crystal feels her heart shatter. It hurts even worse when Maximus declines giving them the throne. She doesnât look at him as she walks away but she swears she can feel his gaze on her back.
***
Itâs been weeks. Maximus has been in the jail cell for weeks before Crystal comes to visit him. He looks no worse for the wear but Medusa had insisted on him being taken care of to not harm Crystal. Crystal didnât think she wouldâve noticed the difference through the agony of being apart from him.
âI would have thought youâd be on Earth right now with your human friend,â Maximus says from behind the bars. Itâs designed to hold an Inhuman, to stop any powers, but Maximus doesnât need it. Thereâs no guards around to ensure his captivity. Just the cell.
Crystal frowns, looking down before back up at him. âDid you not feel the pain of being apart? How could you choose him over me?â
Maximusâ lips twist into a sneer that doesnât meet his eyes. âI knew youâd be safe with your precious family,â he spits out. His tone gentles then, though, as he laughs. âBesides, Iâm not a fool. I know that your harm wouldâve killed me. If another coup happened, I wanted you away. Back on Earth wasnât far enough to keep you safe.â
âI see,â Crystal murmurs because that hadnât been what sheâd been expecting. Maximus had been trying to protect her when heâd chosen to not take her. It changes the course of her thoughts over the past weeks and makes the butterflies erupt in her stomach again.
Maximus sits back on the lone chair in the cell as Crystal steps forward. âTo what do I owe the pleasure of your company anyway, Crystal? Did your Earth boyfriend tire of you?â
âThere was no Earth boyfriend,â Crystal admits, pulling a chair from against the wall to sit with her knees against the bars. She doesnât know who has been visiting Maximus and she doesnât ask. âDavid wanted to be but⊠I couldnât think of him while I was marked by you.â
âMedusaâs told me that Iâll be getting a trial,â Maximus tells her, hesitating before pulling his chair closer to hers.
She reaches through the bars at the same time he does and it feels like electricity when their skin finally connects after so long. Itâs an intense emotion, one she knows sheâs never felt before. Her head falls forward and his must as well as they tangle their fingers and hold on tight.
âYou should have chosen me, Maximus,â Crystal whispers.
She can feel his breath against her lips as he exhales. âA few days of a mate bond doesnât erase so many years of wanting to be something.â
âI know. And Iâm sorry,â Crystal says quietly, opening her eyes and meeting his. Sheâs been doing a lot of thinking and talking to Black Bolt about Maximus. She understands part of his pain and deep down, she feels like she understands more just because of their bond. âI canât imagine how hard that it would be for you.â
Maximus frowns, tilting his head to the side as he gazes at her. âCrystalâŠâ
âTalk to me. Tell me about your childhood. I want to understand you.â
For a moment, Crystal thinks that Maximus is going to pull away or ignore her. But then he opens his mouth and starts talking.
***
Itâs not easy but after talking extensively with mated pairs, Crystal learns that love never is. Maximusâ fair trial sentences him to two years in the mines with the threat of execution for any other minor offense. Crystal believes that he got off lately and the royal family knows itâs because they pity Maximus. They sentence him as they would a human, or a pet.
Crystal doesnât mind, though. Maximus seems to even almost enjoy the mines. Being among others who donât treat him differently because heâs royalty seemed to be just what he needed. And he always comes home with a gentle touch and a kiss for Crystal.
The life she leads isnât the one she wouldâve chosen but itâs the only one that wouldâve ever worked for her. She falls more in love every day with Maximus and the only time she ever feels more love is for their children. The genetic council was right. Their child is powerful.
And as she holds their first daughter in her arms and tastes Maximusâ lips against hers, she canât help but think that he tastes like sugar.