Chapter Text
Isobel showed her brothers the impressive engagement ring Noah had gotten her, barely able to contain her news. "I'm getting married!"
"Damn," Michael said of the ring, examining it closely as Max offered his sincere congratulations. "I mean, yeah, congratulations. That is a big ass rock."
"Thank you, I hadn't noticed." Michael released her hand, and she went into full business mode, folding her arms over Max's counter. "Noah doesn't have any family who can come for it, so that means you guys are the wedding party."
"Just us?" Max said. "What about Mom?"
"She'll be there," Isobel assured him. "But I don't want her to be standing too long, you know? And we don't need a huge wedding party. I mean it's going to be nice and traditional, except for the part where I have a Man of Honor instead of a Maid--"
"Dibs on the superhero spot," Michael said, raising his hand. "Michael Guerin, Man of Honor."
Isobel nodded, exactly her plan. She smiled at Max. "And my twin is Best Man. Dad will walk me down the aisle. Oh, there's so much to do, I have to get a dress, pick a venue, order a cake..."
The boys tuned her out and made faces at each other until she got back around to them.
"It'll be several months out still but would you guys throw Noah a bachelor party? He's only got a couple other friends, but not good enough friends that he wants them in the wedding party, so I'll send you their contact information."
Max and Michael exchanged a look and Isobel rolled her eyes at them.
"Didn't you guys already do the 'don't hurt our sister or else' thing back when we started dating?"
"Well, sure, but you guys were just dating then," Max said.
Michael indicated her. "This is far more serious and requires a far more serious 'or else,' to really get the point across."
"Just make sure he's on the altar by the end of it," Isobel said, shaking her head. She stood up. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go research venues."
They waved her out. Michael watched her pass outside the window and said, "I don't know if I could do it."
"Get married?"
He looked around with a frown. "Marry someone who didn't know everything." Max's face contorted automatically, and Michael quickly shook his head. "Forget it. See you around."
"See you."
He got in his truck, feeling a stronger-than-usual itch to talk to Alex, but it had to be two or three am wherever he was in the Middle East this time. (Michael thought it flippantly, but he knew exactly where Alex was stationed for his second deployment and exactly what time it was there relative to Roswell.)
Sometimes, when they both had access to a computer, they'd instant message over Skype, though it was less instant when they had to wait hours or days for the other to see it and respond. Alex was of course some kind of genius code breaker, but he didn't always have internet. And Michael was beholden to the public library's hours.
Still, it was something, and it was far better than the physical-letter-sending-bullshit they had tried during Alex's first deployment.
The library was closed by the time he got back to Roswell. There was an internet cafe open for another two hours in the middle of town, but Michael didn't have the patience for its decade-old computers at that moment.
Instead, he went home and briefly imagined a world in which he'd ask Alex to be his plus one and Alex would say yes. Dancing, snarking at the newlyweds, looking good in fancy dress...
Alex would say no, but Michael was going to ask him on the off chance, anyway.
In the library the next afternoon, Michael gathered a pile of books on weddings and took over a computer for additional internet research, as well as to attempt to Skype Alex.
Mmmguerin (1208): alexxxxx
He spent two hours poring over the books before Skype made a noise, and he almost tuned it out. Michael blinked, marked his place and tabbed over in semi-disbelief.
xX_Alex_Xx (1359): hey
Mmmguerin (1401): were on at the same time! huzzah
xX_Alex_Xx (1402): yup. barring any explosions i have half an hour
xX_Alex_Xx (1402): other people waiting
Mmmguerin (1402): ):
Mmmguerin (1402): isobel is getting married
xX_Alex_Xx (1403): congrats
Mmmguerin (1403): yeah should be fun. im gonna try to convince her to have an open bar
xX_Alex_Xx (1404): i hear alcohol is what makes weddings fun
Mmmguerin (1404): well it's not the suits
Mmmguerin (1405): or the color coordinating, she sent me color swatches this morning
Mmmguerin (1405): what do i even do with these, i cant find anything
xX_Alex_Xx (1406): is that why youre at the library?
Mmmguerin (1407): alex you dont understand she made me the Man of Honor im helping her make it awesome
xX_Alex_Xx (1408): apparently you dont understand either guerin
Mmmguerin (1408): ok first of all alex shut up
Mmmguerin (1408): second of all if youre stateside day of would you want to go?
Michael anxiously watched Alex start and stop typing approximately four times before he finally replied.
xX_Alex_Xx (1410): i hardly know your sister
xX_Alex_Xx (1410): wouldnt it be kinda weird
Mmmguerin (1411): thats what plus ones are for alex
xX_Alex_Xx (1412): oh
xX_Alex_Xx (1412): you want me to go with you?
Mmmguerin (1412): yeah! if you want to
xX_Alex_Xx (1414): when is it
Mmmguerin (1415): dunno yet, she said a couple months so like, in the summer probably
xX_Alex_Xx (1415): i dont know guerin.
xX_Alex_Xx (1415): dont think i could get time for that specifically
Mmmguerin (1416): iz really knows how to throw a party
xX_Alex_Xx (1417): i bet
Mmmguerin (1417): you could teach me how to dance
Mmmguerin (1417): i think she wants to but i fully intend to ignore her
xX_Alex_Xx (1418): as i recall youve always been a lost cause
xX_Alex_Xx (1418): you have that in common with your brother according to liz
Mmmguerin (1419): im leagues better at dancing than max dont even joke about that
xX_Alex_Xx (1420): i'll believe it when i see it guerin
Mmmguerin (1420): come to the wedding and you will
Mmmguerin (1420): you know you wanna go to a wedding with a Man of Honor
xX_Alex_Xx (1421): i can see youre taking it very seriously
xX_Alex_Xx (1421): who is she even marrying
Mmmguerin (1421): thank you
Mmmguerin (1422): not a local, they met... somewhere i forget
Mmmguerin (1422): noah. he seems pretty harmless
xX_Alex_Xx (1423): well thats good. good for isobel
Mmmguerin (1423): yeah. so is that a hard no on going with me
xX_Alex_Xx (1424): i cant make any promises but let me know when theres an actual date set
Mmmguerin (1424): ok (: im sorry i took up most of your time with that
Mmmguerin (1425): what are you up to?
xX_Alex_Xx (1425): nothing as interesting as a sibling's wedding
xX_Alex_Xx (1426): you know, as much shit as i get for being me
xX_Alex_Xx (1426): it isnt like any of my brothers are in long term relationships with women either
Mmmguerin (1427): double standards ):<
xX_Alex_Xx (1427): welcome to my life
Mmmguerin (1427): isnt your oldest brother like 40
xX_Alex_Xx (1428): closer to 30
Mmmguerin (1428): whatever
Mmmguerin (1428): i dont care about your brothers
Mmmguerin (1428): are you doing ok?
xX_Alex_Xx (1429): yeah guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (1429): im fine
xX_Alex_Xx (1429): it's someone else's turn on the computer now
Mmmguerin (1429): ok ok bye! dont die!!
xX_Alex_Xx (1429): i wont
xX_Alex_Xx (1430): good luck with the wedding stuff
Mmmguerin (1430): thanks
The green circle next to Alex's username disappeared, and Michael huffed and went back to the books, occasionally sending an interesting fact or six.
Mmmguerin (1507): the Best Man was originally the best swordfighter the groom knew
Mmmguerin (1512): bridesmaids were to keep the bride safe by confusing any demons
Mmmguerin (1553): theres a whole flipping flower language
Mmmguerin (1555): not like hippie shit either apparently flowers mean things
Mmmguerin (1556): i mean obviously roses mean love but thats specifically red roses
Mmmguerin (1557): and yellow ones are platonic friendship flowers
Mmmguerin (1559): there are so many
Mmmguerin (1559): victorians had too much time on their hands
Mmmguerin (1604): alex tell me what kind of flowers you like i'll tell you what they mean
Mmmguerin (1636): isobel just texted me and said the swatches are for me and max's "accent colors"
Mmmguerin (1638): shes trying to put us in mustard alex can you believe
Mmmguerin (1653): ok im being kicked out
Mmmguerin (1653): talk to you soon??
Michael logged out and quickly checked out a couple of the books from his pile before he was ushered out back to his truck.
The librarians were nice enough, but the ones who remembered him as a teenager were always wary after they'd caught him trying to sleep at the library by hiding in the plastic fort in the kids' room.
Michael was able to get to the library a few more times in the next week or two, but not at the same time as Alex. He did get responses within a few days, though.
xX_Alex_Xx (2043): jeez guerin...
xX_Alex_Xx (2047): please tell me max doesnt have a sword
xX_Alex_Xx (2047): if youre the Man of Honor is it your job to confuse demons
xX_Alex_Xx (2048): thats like, lead bridesmaid isnt it
xX_Alex_Xx (2048): or bridesman?
xX_Alex_Xx (2049): flower symbolism makes sense
xX_Alex_Xx (2049): there are so many distinct species
xX_Alex_Xx (2050): people have always used animals as symbols too
xX_Alex_Xx (2050): maybe not to the same extent to call it a language though
xX_Alex_Xx (2051): i dont know the name of the flowers i like :/ theyre... blue and small
xX_Alex_Xx (2051): probably not helpful lol
xX_Alex_Xx (2051): my mom called them scorpion food or something like that
xX_Alex_Xx (2053): tell me what flowers you like and what they mean too
xX_Alex_Xx (2054): do NOT!! let isobel put you in mustard
xX_Alex_Xx (2056): god im so bored right now
xX_Alex_Xx (2057): no one should be awake at the ass crack of dawn! but here i am! just me and the skype robot!!
xX_Alex_Xx (2058): *insert additional grumbling
xX_Alex_Xx (2058): hows the wedding stuff going?
Michael smiled at the screen. They had tried letters before, but that was annoying as hell, if they even made it to their destination. There were a few months where Alex thought Michael was ignoring him, and Michael had thought he'd pissed Alex off, but Alex's return letter had merely gotten lost.
This was better even if they ended up with a wall of text.
Mmmguerin (1144): as far as i know the nerd doesnt have a sword but hes a cop now so he has a gun
Mmmguerin (1145): he was always good with a rifle
Mmmguerin (1145): so im sure hed win any challenge for noah just fine
Mmmguerin (1147): and i already have all the demons so nothing to worry about there
Mmmguerin (1147): but im the only bridesman it's just me and max in the "party"
Mmmguerin (1149): ah yes. my favorite animal symbol is la chupacabra
Michael paused at Alex's description. He didn't recall anything to do with scorpions on the floriography list. He searched Google and turned up a few different flowers, so he sent links to pictures of the candidates. He thought about his own favorite.
Mmmguerin (1157): forget-me-nots are pretty obvious right
Mmmguerin (1157): theyre cute?? i guess
Mmmguerin (1158): dont worry iz can put me in mustard when im dead
Mmmguerin (1158): now she wants baby blue
Mmmguerin (1158): told her were not babies
Mmmguerin (1158): shes not budging, says it looks good on both of us
Mmmguerin (1159): because we are babies
Mmmguerin (1201): didnt you say you brought a gameboy this time
Mmmguerin (1202): just you, your pokemans, and the skype robot at the ass crack of dawn
Mmmguerin (1203): now thats the life
Mmmguerin (1204): it's difficult to do too much wedding stuff before shes picked a place and reserved it
Mmmguerin (1205): her mom is passing down the dress but since iz is an amazon warrior she has to get it tailored
Mmmguerin (1207): so next week while shes standing on a pedestal getting poked at i get to find a suit to put on layaway
Mmmguerin (1208): and presumably also get poked at
Mmmguerin (1210): i do not like to be poked at
Mmmguerin (1211): but she said this shop lets you drink while they work so hey
Mmmguerin (1211): im really holding out for taste testing the cake and caterers tbh
Michael had given up on the books about weddings. Traditional was a myth, and Isobel was just going to plan whatever she wanted and tell he and Max about it over dinner, which even Noah joined them for occasionally.
He was, however, still fascinated by flower language. Max knew a lot about it as well for his stories, and together they helped Isobel design arrangements and even her bouquet.
It was probably the closest Max and Michael had been in years.
Alex took a few more days to confirm which flower Michael had linked him to, if any, was the one he'd thought of: desert bluebells, AKA desert scorpionweed. It was native to the west and thus not on the list of meanings. Canterbury bells was, though, and another alternate name for Alex's flower was desert Canterbury bells.
Mmmguerin (1502): so i guess they mean gratitude but like... in the desert
Mmmguerin (1503): sandy thank yous
Michael absently googled more meanings for them since he couldn't think of anything to be grateful for with Alex in a desert on the other side of the world, and he tried very hard not to take what he found as a sign. It was hard when "constancy" and "everlasting love" were exactly what he wanted from Alex, cheesy though that may be. Alex hadn't even known what kind of flower he was talking about, there was no way it was some kind of hidden message no matter how much he wished it was.
"Fucking flowers," he mumbled under his breath.
He scrolled around the plant symbolism page with a deep frown and caught on forget-me-not.
It wasn't as obvious as he'd thought. Did he actually tell Alex his favorite flower was one that hoped his true love would remember him?
Michael faceplanted into the keyboard. He hit the enter key as he pulled himself up, so he groaned loudly.
Mmmguerin (1509): fdggfhd
xX_Alex_Xx (1510): you ok there
He lit up instantly.
Mmmguerin (1511): alex!!!!!
xX_Alex_Xx (1511): hey guerin. what happened?
Mmmguerin (1512): thats just what my thoughts sound like
xX_Alex_Xx (1512): fascinating
xX_Alex_Xx (1513): thank you for telling me about the flower
xX_Alex_Xx (1513): or i guess i could just send you some to say that, huh?
Michael made a concerted effort not to fall out of his chair. Alex didn't know. He wasn't doing this to him on purpose.
He took a deep breath when he heard the chime again and sat up straight.
xX_Alex_Xx (1515): maybe not, theyd be sad and dead by the time they got to roswell.
Well, that was worse.
Mmmguerin (1516): dont send me flowers
Mmmguerin (1516): iz is gonna make everyone take home an arrangement
Mmmguerin (1517): im already getting ready to drown in that
xX_Alex_Xx (1517): did she pick a date yet?
xX_Alex_Xx (1518): requests for the summer are due soon
Mmmguerin (1519): no she and noah are trying to agree on which weekend in june
Mmmguerin (1519): by which i mean she has a pros and cons list of dates and noah is fine with whatever she chooses
xX_Alex_Xx (1520): ah.
xX_Alex_Xx (1520): i'll have to guess then
xX_Alex_Xx (1521): and yes i have my "gameboy" but i cant play it while im working
Mmmguerin (1522): boooooo
Mmmguerin (1522): why the sarcasm quotes
xX_Alex_Xx (1523): it's a DS
xX_Alex_Xx (1523): theyre not called gameboys anymore
Mmmguerin (1524): youre a gameboy
xX_Alex_Xx (1524): ???
Mmmguerin (1525): im sorry
Mmmguerin (1525): gameman
xX_Alex_Xx (1525): ??????????
xX_Alex_Xx (1526): anyway?
xX_Alex_Xx (1526): baby blue isnt so bad, youll look good with blue
Mmmguerin (1526): it is purely the "baby" part I take offense to
xX_Alex_Xx (1527): it's what the color is called guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (1527): isnt that what color forget-me-nots are
Mmmguerin (1528): good point
Mmmguerin (1528): i guess i'll live
xX_Alex_Xx (1529): when are you going to the tailor?
Mmmguerin (1529): uhh tuesday
Mmmguerin (1530): how soon is your request thing due?
Mmmguerin (1530): im sure she'll pick a day by then
xX_Alex_Xx (1530): monday
Mmmguerin (1530): ):
xX_Alex_Xx (1531): i'll still visit even if i guess wrong
Mmmguerin (1531): (:
Mmmguerin (1532): i hope you guess right
xX_Alex_Xx (1532): are you asking me as like a date
Mmmguerin (1533): preferably???
Mmmguerin (1533): or friends if youre not comfortable with that!
Mmmguerin (1533): i am just. so serious about dancing with you either way
Michael chewed on his lip as he waited for Alex's response.
xX_Alex_Xx (1535): im, not comfortable being out to people i dont know that well, no
xX_Alex_Xx (1536): sorry
Mmmguerin (1536): i understand
Mmmguerin (1536): no it's ok!
Mmmguerin (1536): i get it alex
Mmmguerin (1537): it wouldnt be any fun if you were uncomfortable
xX_Alex_Xx (1537): :)
xX_Alex_Xx (1538): then i look forward to a friendly dance with you
He couldn't help but grin at the screen. Fortunately, he resisted physically punching the air. That was the closest to a yes he was ever going to get.
Mmmguerin (1538): me too
Mmmguerin (1539): what are you up to now?
xX_Alex_Xx (1539): nothing much
xX_Alex_Xx (1539): kinda tired
Mmmguerin (1540): long day?
xX_Alex_Xx (1540): yeah, got woken up early because of a firefight
Mmmguerin (1541): are you ok?
xX_Alex_Xx (1541): im fine
xX_Alex_Xx (1541): just tired
Mmmguerin (1542): then go to sleep
xX_Alex_Xx (1542): no one else is waiting for the computer right now though
xX_Alex_Xx (1542): i can talk to you as long as i want
Mmmguerin (1543): but youre tired
xX_Alex_Xx (1543): i said im fine guerin so talk to me
Mmmguerin (1544): ok what does DS stand for then
xX_Alex_Xx (1544): dual screen
Mmmguerin (1544): yeah gameboy sounds cooler
xX_Alex_Xx (1545): yeah
xX_Alex_Xx (1545): what flower meaning was the weirdest
Mmmguerin (1546): apparently if you give someone a lime blossom it means you wanna fuck
xX_Alex_Xx (1547): ?? lmao
Mmmguerin (1547): it just says "fornication"
xX_Alex_Xx (1547): victorians had way too much time on their hands
Mmmguerin (1547): yeah they did!!
Mmmguerin (1548): also you would think flowers all have nice meanings but no
Mmmguerin (1548): some of them are mean
xX_Alex_Xx (1549): such as?
Mmmguerin (1549): so uhh if you give someone mint youre suspicious of them
Mmmguerin (1549): foxglove? you think theyre insecure
Mmmguerin (1550): or youre insecure about them? it's not very clear
xX_Alex_Xx (1550): huh
Mmmguerin (1550): idk
xX_Alex_Xx (1551): it's interesting
xX_Alex_Xx (1551): flowers are inherently nice like you said
xX_Alex_Xx (1552): so giving someone flowers without nice meanings
xX_Alex_Xx (1552): i think thats irony
Mmmguerin (1552): yeah
Mmmguerin (1553): there are also some that dont make any sense at all
Mmmguerin (1554): bumblebee orchid says "industry" like whats the occasion for that
Mmmguerin (1554): one just says "philosophy" where was that one
Mmmguerin (1555): whatever the hell a pitch pine blossom is
Mmmguerin (1556): how tired are you
xX_Alex_Xx (1556): im good
Mmmguerin (1557): are you though
xX_Alex_Xx (1557): im talking to you
xX_Alex_Xx (1557): i can sleep when im dead
Mmmguerin (1558): alex please dont joke about that
xX_Alex_Xx (1559): whos joking
Mmmguerin (1559): alex youre in an active war zone i worry enough
xX_Alex_Xx (1600): aw
xX_Alex_Xx (1601): im fine
xX_Alex_Xx (1601): i am trained to stay awake for ridiculous amounts of time this is nothing really
Mmmguerin (1601): but you shouldnt have to
Mmmguerin (1602): if youre tired go to sleep
xX_Alex_Xx (1603): no
Mmmguerin (1603): alex
xX_Alex_Xx (1603): yes?
Mmmguerin (1604): you know what it means when you feel tired?
xX_Alex_Xx (1604): what
Mmmguerin (1605): it means you should go to sleep
xX_Alex_Xx (1606): no
xX_Alex_Xx (1606): im talking to you
xX_Alex_Xx (1606): were on at the same time
Mmmguerin (1606): and thats my favorite
xX_Alex_Xx (1607): see?
Mmmguerin (1607): but you should sleep
Mmmguerin (1608): so you can win the war and come home or whatever
xX_Alex_Xx (1609): ok fine guerin
Mmmguerin (1609): thank you
xX_Alex_Xx (1610): i am only going to bed because you said
xX_Alex_Xx (1610): im not happy about it
Mmmguerin (1610): great, good night alex
Mmmguerin (1610): dont die
xX_Alex_Xx (1611): i wont
xX_Alex_Xx (1611): night guerin
Alex's green circle flickered off after another moment, and Michael scrubbed at his cheek. Alex didn't need to be tired, especially not because of him. Michael didn't want to think about sleep-delayed reflexes on a battlefield. He didn't even want to think about Alex on a battlefield. He much preferred to think of him at a wedding reception lurking by the open bar with him.
He took out his shitty flip phone circa 2007 and texted Isobel hopefully.
(sent) Do u hav a d8 yt?
Her answer made the cell ding a couple minutes later.
(ICE Iz Evans) No Michael I told you I'd decide by Tuesday.
(ICE Iz Evans) Why are you so impatient about this?
(sent) I hav a +1 n mind bt he needs 2 no bi Mon 2 req it off
(ICE Iz Evans) Michael if you don't stop using text speak I am going to drag you to the phone store for a new phone with autocorrect. It's bad enough deciphering the science stuff you say out loud. Please use real words.
He scowled at the screen and typed out his answer.
(sent) Takes a long time )<
(ICE Iz Evans) Do it anyway for my sake.
(ICE Iz Evans) Your +1 is a guy, huh?
Michael rolled his eyes.
(sent) Chill Iz he's a friend
(ICE Iz Evans) Sure he is. Please for the love of all that is good wear clean underwear on Tuesday.
(sent) I'm deeply offended
(ICE Iz Evans) Please wear underwear on Tuesday.
(sent) Ok that's fair. Will u decide on the date before Monday? No pressure
(ICE Iz Evans) I'll let you know as soon as I decide.
(sent) Ty
(ICE Iz Evans) You're welcome.
(ICE Iz Evans) He's a really good friend, huh?
(sent) Yeah Iz I don't get to see him much ok
(ICE Iz Evans) I'll see what I can do.
He decided to leave the library early. Well, before he got kicked out. He awaited Isobel's decision impatiently and with increasing worry that he wouldn't be able to let Alex know in time as the weekend bore on.
He texted Max Sunday morning in an effort to not annoy the hell out of Isobel.
(sent) Wat r u getting them 4 a present?
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Who?
(sent) Iz & Noah
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Idk probably a gift card somewhere or maybe some stuff off the registry once Iz has it up.
(sent) The what
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) She's making a registry at the mall, it's a wedding thing so people don't buy repeats.
(sent) ??? the fuck
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) And so people get things that they actually need instead of random crap.
(sent) O
(sent) Ok thx ill just use that
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Watch 27 Dresses w Katherine Heigl.
(sent) Im nt wtchng a chk flk max
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) It's very informative about weddings, you might learn something.
Michael drove to the library to get on Skype, but Alex hadn't been back on yet, either. He looked up the movie on imdb and griped about it to a lonely Skype window.
Mmmguerin (1048): max thinks i should watch a katherine heigl movie
Mmmguerin (1048): for wedding research
Mmmguerin (1049): because apparently you can make registries at the mall
Mmmguerin (1050): so people can buy you things without buying the same things as other people
Mmmguerin (1051): or useless stuff
Mmmguerin (1053): just how accurate is a romcom going to be anyway
Mmmguerin (1054): although Cyclops is in it
Mmmguerin (1101): ok i checked it out but i dont have a dvd player so im going to go take over max's since it was his idea
Mmmguerin (1102): hopefully iz will decide on a date before the library closes today
He gave Max a twenty minute warning.
(sent) Im cumng bi
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) What why?
(sent) U hav a dvd playr
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Michael I'm working.
(sent) No ur nt
(sent) Were wtchg this movie
(sent) 4 science
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Okay fine but bring a LOT of alcohol.
Michael grinned and stopped at a drug store for liquor and a fresh bottle of nail polish remover.
His hands full, he opened Max's front door with his brain, ignoring the affronted noise Max made in response from his desk and flopping onto his couch once the six pack and large bottle of whiskey was safely on the coffee table. He uncapped the acetone and took a swig by the time Max reached him to take the offered DVD case.
Max had a fairly large tv at Isobel's insistence. In fact, she'd picked out most of the furniture in his house. If Michael had gone for an apartment instead of the Airstream, she promised she'd have done the same for him, a threat that'd hold if he ever did decide to upgrade his living space.
The point of the tv, though, was so that the three of them could have private movie nights, though that rarely happened. Especially since Michael usually made up an excuse to get out of it.
"I have this movie, you didn't have to rent it."
"Of course you do. I got it at the library, I didn't spend money on it." Max passed him two glasses to pour the whiskey into. Michael heard popcorn in the microwave. "Is it even good?"
He shrugged. "I saw it with Iz halfway through senior year. She liked it, which is why I have it. I thought it was pretty good."
"You saw it?" he said doubtfully.
"Well, it's not like I could bring in a flashlight and read instead."
"Good way to get murdered by a bunch of movie goers, yeah."
Max poured the popcorn into a bowl and sat within reach of it. Michael scooped a handful into his mouth as Jane, played by Katherine Heigl, narrated her start as a wedding planner. "Amazing," he said as he chewed. "Dresses are weird. Do they really work like that?"
"How would I know?"
"Hey, that's where Iz is gonna be standing on Tuesday!"
"Her dress is really last minute..."
"Clearly Isobel is a better planner. Oh shit it's not even for her!"
"No, she's the Maid of Honor."
"I thought I saw Judy Greer on the cast list. Oh, I like her already." Michael frowned as the taxi scene played out. "Is she... She's in two weddings!"
"Uh huh."
"I'm not holding Iz's dress while she pees. She's just gonna have to-- Cyclops!"
"What?"
"James Marsden, he plays Cyclops in the X-Men."
"Oh, really? Huh."
The rest of the movie went much the same way with their commentary, and they drank the entire six pack, bottle of acetone, and most of the whiskey. They both teared up at one point or another and pretended that they didn't.
Michael coughed as the credits ran like an extremely long mock newspaper article. "I sh-- uhh, I guess I should go return that. Thanks."
"You can use my tv whenever you want, Michael," Max said as he returned the disc to its case. "Within reason."
"Right. No porn." He snatched the case and took what was left of the whiskey with him. "I'm not that gross."
"I know, I just meant give me warning, and preferably not in the middle of the night."
"Sure, okay." Michael waved the case at him as he left, positive that he'd never take him up on that offer.
He drove back to the library and grabbed the physics books that were dog-eared because of him once the movie was returned. He settled in front of his usual computer. No message from Alex, no text from Isobel...
Mmmguerin (1357): well that was illuminating
Mmmguerin (1359): i didnt hate it
Mmmguerin (1400): have you seen it?
And with that, he dove in to the theories he'd need to test some of his hypotheses about the console. Not that he could test them without the whole thing, but he had to start somewhere. He kept checking his phone for texts and Skype for Alex's green light, but he didn't get either.
Mmmguerin (1658): dammit
Mmmguerin (1658): im going to the internet cafe they are about to physically remove me
Michael honestly wasn't sure how the internet cafe, called The Motherboard, managed to keep its doors open. It was zero parts cafe and most of their clientele were geriatric, which is why it was only open until seven. It did have a particularly friendly white cat named Gamora who would walk across keyboards and lounge atop screens, and sometimes teenagers would pay for a computer just to sit and pet her. That was probably it.
He knew that Alex most likely wouldn't be on, but he wanted to make sure he could see it as soon as possible before he had to turn in his papers.
If Isobel would just text him before seven...
He was the only one in The Motherboard beside the lonesome employee for the entire two hours. She had a fancy top-of-the-line laptop from what he could tell. At one point, Michael heard her shoo Gamora away, saying she needed her keyboard, so the cat migrated to his lap.
"Kitty," he acknowledged seriously.
She purred.
Michael set up a proxy inside a virtual computer hidden behind a VPN and did his weekly check for legit ship junk. The result was a fat lot of nothing. On the plus side, he wasn't going to go negative on cash or risk another daring theft. On the other hand, he was sure there weren't too many more pieces to be found.
He contemplated sticking a piece in a spectrometer and trying to track down the composite elements, but that seemed far-fetched even to a living, breathing alien.
A loud, sudden pop song broke Michael from his reverie and caused Gamora to flee. "Sorry," said the girl behind the counter, and the music stopped. "My alarm. I gotta lock up in ten minutes, man."
He grumbled an affirmative and flipped open his phone. Isobel would kill him if he tried to rush her about the date, so he texted her about something else instead.
(sent) You got skype?
(ICE Iz Evans) Yes. Why?
(sent) On ur phone?
(ICE Iz Evans) Yes
(sent) Whered you get ur phone
(ICE Iz Evans) The phone store
(sent) Iz plz b specific i want 1 with skype
(ICE Iz Evans) Well
(ICE Iz Evans) I was going to surprise you
(sent) ???
(ICE Iz Evans) I'm due to get a new phone soon, and you didn't want a new one, so I was going to give you this one since it's paid off and you like shitty old things so much.
(sent) Aw Iz u dont have to do that
(ICE Iz Evans) The hell else am I gonna do with it Michael it doesn't work without a SIM card
(sent) Oh. When are you changing phones then so I can get one of those?
(ICE Iz Evans) Do you want to go on Tuesday after the fitting?
The girl at the counter shut her laptop and summoned Gamora by crinkling a bag of treats, which was his cue to get the hell out. He logged out of Skype and cleared all evidence of his search. She locked the door behind him.
Michael sat in his truck to finish texting Isobel.
(sent) Ok. How much do you want for the phone?
(ICE Iz Evans) Michael it is literally worthless. Noah had asked how much credit we'd get if we turned it in, and it was nothing.
(sent) ):
(sent) I have a twenty
(ICE Iz Evans) I am not taking your money
(ICE Iz Evans) Deal with it
(sent) Fine )<
He huffed and drove home.
Two and a half hours later, as he reread his formulas, Isobel texted him again.
(ICE Iz Evans) Second Saturday in June.
(ICE Iz Evans) Will be sending Save the Dates next week.
Michael swore out loud but texted her a thank you. He resolved to go to the library as soon as it opened at nine.
Michael saw that Alex had been on only three hours before him and read excitedly, only to find he was too late.
xX_Alex_Xx (0631): hey guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (0631): had to turn my forms in
xX_Alex_Xx (0632): i'll be stateside for the first week of june
He absolutely had no right to feel as brokenhearted as he did. Alex was still going to be in Roswell where Michael could see him. He'd said he'd visit even if he didn't make the wedding. He scrolled up through their chat history to make sure, then read on.
xX_Alex_Xx (0633): i think i saw that movie in high school with liz and maria
xX_Alex_Xx (0633): but we were smoking weed with rosa before we went
xX_Alex_Xx (0634): so all i remember is giggling in the theater about the cupholders
xX_Alex_Xx (0634): i slept through most of it
xX_Alex_Xx (0635): i didn't even know cyclops was in it
xX_Alex_Xx (0637): no movies here though
xX_Alex_Xx (0638): hence the gameboy
xX_Alex_Xx (0638): now if youll excuse me i have to train my mudkip
He really liked the image of giggly high emo Alex joking about cupholders and then napping through an entire romcom. Michael thought of that instead of the memories that Liz's sister's name dredged up.
Mmmguerin (0904): that is fucking adorable alex
Mmmguerin (0905): possibly the cutest shit ive ever heard
Mmmguerin (0905): or read
Mmmguerin (0908): but unfortunately
Mmmguerin (0908): iz decided last night itd be the second saturday in june
Mmmguerin (0909): but im still gonna hold you to a friendly dance
Mmmguerin (0910): or not friendly if were not in public
Mmmguerin (0912): anyway
Mmmguerin (0912): iz is gonna give me her old phone tomorrow
Mmmguerin (0913): and it has skype on it
Mmmguerin (0914): so you'll be able to message me whenever and ill see it
Mmmguerin (0914): you can even wake me up in the middle of the night
Mmmguerin (0915): well i was hoping to catch you before you had to turn them in
Mmmguerin (0915): but i gotta go work
Mmmguerin (0916): the cows are calling me
Michael spared the darkened screen a wistful grimace before he left.
Ann Evans' wedding dress was a monster with a train and full sleeves. At the top it was fine, if a little big, but the train started at Isobel's calves and looked ridiculous. Ann fussed over her as a woman pinned the bodice furiously.
The shop had indeed given them long-stemmed glasses of champagne, which they were apparently supposed to sip. Michael downed his in one and wasn't given a refill, to his enormous disappointment.
Michael stood in front of a rack of virtually indistinguishable suits with Max and Phil Evans. The jackets felt nice and satin-y, but he was careful not to pet them too long; his rough hand pulled at the fabric.
Beyond the rack were more colorful varieties which Isobel had forbidden them from even going near. A silver specimen caught his eye and reminded him of prom.
He didn't get long to reminisce. Max pulled him out of his memories by asking when they should have the bachelor party.
"Week before," Michael said instantly.
"Oh, you've been thinking about it already?" Phil said.
He blinked. "Not too much, I just figured it might as well be close. We're not doing a destination thing, are we?"
Max squinted at him suspiciously.
"Good point. There are perfectly good places for a bachelor party in Roswell. Why, I had my bachelor party in town."
"Really Dad? Where at?"
"First we went to the range and did a few rounds," he said.
"I don't think Noah knows how to use a gun," Michael said. When he was first thinking about getting the handgun for his truck, he'd conversationally asked Noah about the laws for it, and he hadn't liked that line of questioning at all. He ended up doing the research himself. "Which could be entertaining for the rest of us, but I don't think he'd be interested."
Phil nodded. "Then we went to-- well, there used to be a strip club just off the highway, but it's gone now."
"Dad!"
"Son, don't ask questions you don't want the answers to."
"I don't wanna take Noah to a strip club, that's gross," Michael said flatly. He glanced at Isobel, who was clearly listening to them. "He's only allowed to ogle Iz, and only when she allows it."
He caught her smirk and slight head nod of approval.
"Ew," Max said. "What about a bar?"
"Not Saturn's Rings," he groaned. "Too many tourists."
"I was thinking Wild Pony."
"No, Maria will kill me if I bring a bachelor party there, I don't want to actually get permanently banned."
"I thought you were permanently banned."
Michael crossed his arms. "It's not permanent permanent. She hasn't killed me. I'd like to keep it that way."
He also hadn't been in since Isobel got engaged, which Maria was no doubt enjoying. He supposed he was trying to keep it together for Isobel. Too bad that couldn't be his present.
"Oh, so death makes it permanent. I see."
"Well, boys, that just leaves Shooting Star Oasis."
Max and Michael nodded. It was a nice bar, and there were others, but the rest were too small to accommodate a party. It was frankly a tad too classy for him, and he could only remember being there once when Isobel picked it for their last birthday. Well, he didn't actually remember, but he knew he'd been there.
"When do you guys want to scope it out?" Michael asked.
Phil laughed. "I'm afraid my bachelor party planning days are over. It's up to you two."
He looked at Max. "All right, then when do you want to go scope it out?"
"I'm not working Thursday night, I can spare an hour or two to check it out."
"Thursday night it is," he said, just as one of the tailors was freed up to help them.
Isobel got out of her dress and watched her brothers with a sharp eye. Fortunately, the alterations didn't take long to place with the tailors' deft touches, and they each shed the dress clothes to get back into their jeans and look at the accessories.
When Michael fudged at the selection of ties, Isobel stood beside him and dropped her chin to his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"It was a clip-on for prom."
"Max or I can tie it for you," she said in a low voice.
He shook his head and whispered, "I don't think I can do anything that tight around my neck." He scratched at his left forearm absently, and she softened immediately and rubbed his opposite shoulder.
Isobel waved one of the employees over. "Can you make these into clip-ons?"
The man nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"All right, same color as Max's." She indicated the ties vaguely, and they moved along to the handkerchiefs where she plucked up the matching cloth and held it to his face. "Mhm, very smart looking."
"It doesn't go on my face, Iz," he said, but he smiled anyway. "You sure a clip-on won't ruin your aesthetic?"
"It's more important to me that you don't have a panic attack behind me on the altar. No one will be able to tell anyway."
"As long as you're sure."
She patted his cheek. "I am. Do you wanna walk over to the phone store?"
"It's whatever you want, Iz."
She hooked their arms together for the stroll, and Michael retrieved his black hat from the literal hat rack, which he didn't know existed in real life. They waved goodbye to the rest of the Evanses and headed down the sidewalk.
"So, your friend..."
"Had to guess and turned in his papers before I could reach him. He guessed wrong." He shrugged; what else could he do?
"I'm sorry. Hey, what was that thing you always said? Dates just limit your options."
"He wasn't my date--"
"Yeah, whatever, you were so annoying for just a friend, sure." Isobel flicked a curl off of his forehead before he could duck out of the way. "I hope your closet is a cozy walk-in."
Michael snorted. "Yeah, there's room for at least three people, so you can join me in finding women attractive whenever you like."
She grinned. "I think I'm good with Noah, but thanks for your generous offer."
They meandered into the phone store where Isobel finally released him to fish her phone out of her bag. It was in impeccable condition, especially given how often she hung around Max and his little power blips whenever he experienced an Emotion™.
She chatted with the woman behind the counter as she popped out two small cards.
"Is this your fiance?" she asked.
Michael could only stick his tongue out at her. Twelve years since puberty and people still assumed they were together.
"This is my baby brother. Isn't he cute?"
He rolled his eyes as Isobel patted his head.
"Sorry," the lady said, retreating to the back to get Isobel's new phone.
Michael shook his head at his sister in disbelief.
"What? Do you want a date or not?"
"Not," he said. "Especially if you're going to call me your baby brother. Is this like, a message? Is this a shotgun wedding? You keep calling us babies."
Isobel crossed her arms and spoke low. "He knows that I'm not going to have real ones. Frankly, we don't even know if our biology is similar enough."
"That doesn't make us your babies."
"Then stop acting like it."
He almost gave her a retort that would have proven her point, but the saleswoman returned. Isobel's new phone was a sleek piece of metal and glass. She put the old cards in it and plugged it in; the screen displayed approximately a third battery, so she turned it on and handed it over to Isobel to play with.
"Cool. So he needs a SIM card for my old phone, what does that run? Maybe a memory card as well?"
"Iz," Michael said, exasperated.
The woman took a sheet from under the counter with a variety of cards glued on next to price tags. "This one's unlimited, and I'm obligated to recommend it."
"Oooh. Does it work on Skype?"
"It works for any app," she said.
"Okay, that one then. I think I'm good on memory." Isobel pinched him once he paid. "Ow, what?"
"You want unlimited ability to talk to your Skype friend who is totally just a friend."
"Listen, it's not me, okay? There's-- There's stuff. Reasons."
"Good reasons?"
"Respecting his privacy is a good one."
The woman gave Michael Isobel's old phone, and he brightened like it was candy. Beside him, Isobel sighed and dragged him to the waiting area so that they could figure out their respectively new phones.
"Iz, he just doesn't want to be out to people he doesn't know. And we're not, like, actually together together."
"So I don't know him?"
"Please don't do this. Don't try to guess."
She leaned on her elbow, fist against her temple, to study him. "Okay," she said finally.
"Okay?"
"I've never seen you so serious about somebody. It's cute. Your friend better get it together and actually date you before he misses out."
"Iz!"
She shrugged and leaned over his shoulder to swipe across the screen. "Anyway. It's a touch screen, Michael."
"I know that!"
"What you're interested in is over here. I never used Skype. But you can move the icons around however you want by tapping and holding down."
"Can I make it tell me when someone specific messages me?"
"What part of "I never used it" did you not understand? You're supposed to be a genius."
"I'm also pragmatic." He opened the app and logged in when Isobel took to downloading her old apps back. "Hey. Thank you for this."
"If you ever send me text speak again I will snap it in half," she said mildly.
"Noted."
He didn't have any new Skype messages, so he explored the other apps and settings until Isobel was ready to walk back.
"So, when we doing cake tasting?"
"All in good time, Michael," she said, scrolling through her new calendar, already loaded up with events. "Next month probably."
"You know what's great about being an adult?" he asked, nodding at the grocery store across from their cars.
"You can buy cake whenever you want."
"You can-- yeah!" Michael gave Isobel a short hug and waved as he crossed the street.
Back at the Airstream with an entire cake boxed in plastic and a fork, Michael opened Skype on his phone and tapped on Alex's name.
Mmmguerin (1709): guess which bitch has a whole cake and Skype on a phone
Mmmguerin (1710): it's me
Mmmguerin (1715): don't be bummed about missing the wedding because we're doing the bachelor party that weekend
xX_Alex_Xx (1716): welcome to the future
Michael nearly dropped the phone into the frosting. He hadn't seen that Alex was online or typing, and it didn't make a noise. He'd have to fix those settings...
Mmmguerin (1717): Alex!!!!!!!
xX_Alex_Xx (1717): hey guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (1718): you have an entire cake?
Mmmguerin (1718): yes and it's delicious
xX_Alex_Xx (1718): enough sugar for you?
Mmmguerin (1719): you know they sell just tubs of buttercream right? I think this is a good amount
xX_Alex_Xx (1720): gross
xX_Alex_Xx (1721): wheres the bachelor party going to be?
xX_Alex_Xx (1721): because speaking of gross objectifying women isnt my idea of a good time
Mmmguerin (1722): ye of little faith
Mmmguerin (1723): I'm not taking my sister's fiance to ogle at other women
xX_Alex_Xx (1724): yeah that. would probably be weird
Mmmguerin (1724): Max and I are gonna check out Shooting Star Oasis on Thursday
xX_Alex_Xx (1724): oh nice
xX_Alex_Xx (1725): i like them
Mmmguerin (1725): well if you like them I'm sure they're passable
Mmmguerin (1726): keyboard is weird
xX_Alex_Xx (1727): swype?
Mmmguerin (1727): yeah
xX_Alex_Xx (1727): you get used to it
Mmmguerin (1728): what're you up to m
Mmmguerin (1728): ?*
xX_Alex_Xx (1729): putting together a couple algorithms
Mmmguerin (1730): fun what for
Mmmguerin (1730): no let me guess
Mmmguerin (1730): it's top secret
xX_Alex_Xx (1731): it's classified actually
Mmmguerin (1732): is that different
xX_Alex_Xx (1732): i cant tell you either way, so no
Mmmguerin (1733): ok
Mmmguerin (1733): you been sleeping?
xX_Alex_Xx (1733): yes mom
xX_Alex_Xx (1734): how was the tailor? that was today right
Mmmguerin (1734): well son,
xX_Alex_Xx (1735): oh god i take it back
Mmmguerin (1735): (:
Mmmguerin (1735): it want bad
Mmmguerin (1735): want
Mmmguerin (1736): WASN'T
xX_Alex_Xx (1736): i got it
Mmmguerin (1736): YEAH ANYWAY
Mmmguerin (1737): oops
Mmmguerin (1737): yeah it was less a lot less poking than I thought it'd be
xX_Alex_Xx (1738): thats good
xX_Alex_Xx (1738): not to be that guy but since i wont see you in person i am going to need pictures of you in that suit
Mmmguerin (1739): o sure I'll send you any pictures you want Alex
Mmmguerin (1739): all u gotta do is ask (;
Mmmguerin (1740): though if they have it ready while you're here I could give you a sneak peek...
xX_Alex_Xx (1740): guerin
Mmmguerin (1740): (:
Mmmguerin (1741): yes Alex
xX_Alex_Xx (1742): youre killing me
xX_Alex_Xx (1742): i cant keep pictures
xX_Alex_Xx (1743): i only meant that at some point in the future i want to see a picture
Mmmguerin (1744): I see
Mmmguerin (1744): Isobel is hiring a professional so there will be plenty of pictures
Mmmguerin (1745): maybe even blackmail quality ones
xX_Alex_Xx (1746): do you plan on being photographed doing things people could blackmail you with
xX_Alex_Xx (1746): at your sister's wedding
Mmmguerin (1747): it's an open bar, I'm not planning anything
Mmmguerin (1748): Alex!
xX_Alex_Xx (1748): what
Mmmguerin (1749): I ran out of cake
xX_Alex_Xx (1750): you
xX_Alex_Xx (1750): you ate a whole cake in half an hour
Mmmguerin (1751): I regret nothing
xX_Alex_Xx (1751): let me know if you still feel that way in an hour
Mmmguerin (1751): I will!! Brb need drink
xX_Alex_Xx (1752): ok
xX_Alex_Xx (1754): gdi someone else wants the computer
Mmmguerin (1755): D:
Mmmguerin (1755): weren't you working though? Also it's almost 4 am what the fuck
xX_Alex_Xx (1756): yeah I'm copying off the stuff and then I have to go
Mmmguerin (1756): booooo
Mmmguerin (1756): tell him I'll kick his ass
xX_Alex_Xx (1757): guerin no offense but he would snap you like a twig
Mmmguerin (1757): Alex no uh fence but I could take him
xX_Alex_Xx (1758): if thats whatll help you sleep tonight
xX_Alex_Xx (1758): good night guerin
Mmmguerin (1758): night Alex!
Michael held his new phone to his chin and mumbled, "Shit." He quickly went through the settings. He couldn't set it to alert him only for Alex specifically, but he didn't use Skype for anyone else, anyway.
As he fussed with other options, he got a text.
(unknown) How's it going?
(sent) New phone who dis
(unknown) Isobel
(sent) Iz I love you
(ICE Iz Evans) I love you too
(ICE Iz Evans) So you like the phone then?
(sent) (:
(sent) Yes
(ICE Iz Evans) Good
(sent) Thank you
(sent) Again
(ICE Iz Evans) You're welcome. Again
(ICE Iz Evans) (:
(sent) ❤
Michael supposed he should also add Max and the other contacts he'd had.
(sent) Max this is Michael
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Okay?
(sent) Just making sure it worked
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Okay
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Did it?
(sent) Yup
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Okay
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) What was it?
(sent) Your contact card thingy
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Ah
(sent) Ok see u Thursday
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Okay see you
The staking out of Shooting Star Oasis went surprisingly well. Michael met Max in the sizable parking lot. The bar was dark, black lights strewn in with dim white lights, walls and ceiling flecked with glowing white paint. In the center of the floor was a raised pond populated with a couple koi. A Queen song played over the speakers.
There were a few occupied tables, but Max and Michael went to the counter after they stopped to look at the fish.
"Think anyone gets drunk enough to get in?" Michael wondered.
"You almost did when we were here on our birthday. You wanted to catch one."
"Oh, shit. They gonna remember me?"
"You didn't get in. Isobel said she didn't really want sushi and you backed off. Should be fine."
They sat on the bar stools. They were attended to by the man behind the counter quickly.
"What sort of selection do you have?" Max asked before Michael could ask for whatever was cheapest.
The bartender pulled out a laminated sheet and handed it to them. "We have a wide selection on tap including several local craft beers."
Michael rolled his eyes as Max scanned it. "What's the cheapest, and how much does it cost?"
He pointed at a beer toward the top of the sheet, an acceptable price beside it.
"That one please."
He nodded and turned around to get it.
"They've added more since we were here," Max said. "Hey, does this caramel one taste like caramel?"
"I thought it did. I can give you a sample." He placed a chilled glass in front of Michael.
"Yeah, come on, Michael, let's try some different ones."
He groaned. "It's alcohol, its only job is to get me buzzed, not taste like candy."
Max crossed his arms and nodded at the bartender. "What's the best kind you've got, in your opinion?"
"Well, I'm personally a fan of the Chokecherry Plum Sour."
"Sour fruit? Doesn't sound appetizing."
"It's not really sour. More tart. Here." He turned and filled three shot glasses with alcohol, two for Max and one for Michael. "And that's the caramel. Let me know if you want to try any others."
Michael frowned, not one to turn away free alcohol, and threw back the sample. He did not expect the flavor to actually be good. "Whoa."
Max nodded sagely, a more tame swallow gone from his matching glass. "Yummy."
"I cannot believe you just said the word yummy." He eyed the bartender as Max drank the caramel beer. "How much more expensive is that stuff?"
"Five more dollars than what you've got in that glass."
Michael grumbled. "Could have three of these for the price of two of those."
Max tapped on the rim of the first glass. "I'll do one of these sour ones."
As the bartender turned his back to get it, Max and Michael nodded at each other. When he came back, Michael asked, "So, do you guys take reservations for like, bachelor parties?"
"Yup, I can take 'em right here." He pulled a yellow legal pad from beneath the bar. "Got a date?"
"Yeah, uhh, what day is the first Saturday in June?" Max asked Michael. "Should we put it under my name?"
Michael scrolled through his calendar and told him. "Definitely don't make me responsible for it."
Max rolled his eyes. "I meant me or Noah. Put it under Max Evans."
"How many people?"
"At least four, as many as ten. Iz sent me six friends."
"Oh, wait," Michael said. "Five to eleven. I've got a friend coming to town."
"Uh, okay," Max said. The bartender also took Max's phone number, then moved down the counter. "What friend?"
"I have friends."
"You do?" he said doubtfully.
Michael poked his empty shot glass across the countertop. "Alex Manes, for one."
"Oh," Max said in an odd tone.
Michael turned to look at him somewhat aggressively. "Oh? Oh what?"
"Liz's friend in high school, yeah?" Ah, that explained the sappy nostalgic look Max was now sporting. "He was an all right guy."
"Yeah," Michael said, tipping his taller glass back. "Still is."
"Didn't he join the Air Force, though?"
"Yeah. We Skype."
Max nodded. "That's nice. Well, the more the merrier, right? It's not weird they don't know each other. Is it?"
Michael shrugged. "Is it weird to be thrown a bachelor party by a couple of aliens?"
"Touché."
"It's all about perspective, Max."
"Right. That's what it is." He finished off the fruity beer and dug a ten and a five out of his wallet to lay on the counter. "I've got an early shift tomorrow. See you, Michael."
"See you."
The bartender came over after a moment and nodded at Michael as he cleared the space beside him. "Another?"
"I'll do one of those cherry ones." He jabbed a finger at him. "Tell no one."
"Of course."
He took his phone out and placed it on the bar.
"Here you are."
"Thanks."
Mmmguerin (1935): I'm at Shooting Star Oasis
Mmmguerin (1935): we made a reservation
Mmmguerin (1936): they have this weird sour beer that's like, choked cherry or something
Mmmguerin (1937): do you drink weird fruit beers?
Mmmguerin (1937): Max called it "yummy"
Mmmguerin (1938): I will never let him live it down
Mmmguerin (1940): but it's actually strangely delightful
Michael put his phone back in his pocket and left a twenty on the counter.
Alex messaged him in the middle of the night, but Michael had left the phone in his jeans on the floor when he got into bed. He read in the morning.
xX_Alex_Xx (0503): i drink normal beer
xX_Alex_Xx (0504): the waitresses always try to recommend those though
xX_Alex_Xx (0504): maybe ill try one if you like it
xX_Alex_Xx (0505): you still have SOME taste, right?
Mmmguerin (1113): like a modicum
Mmmguerin (1114): of course I'm used to what is essentially piss
Mmmguerin (1116): it is entirely possible all my taste buds have been destroyed
Mmmguerin (1117): but apparently everyone likes it so who knows?
Though it was much easier for Michael to reach Alex with his phone, Alex didn't have the same luck. Michael quickly realized he was wearing his own patience thin by constantly checking the app. He tried to tone it down. He would only ask Alex if he was alive if he hadn't heard from him in a week. It usually wouldn't take him long to confirm after that.
The longest Alex went without answering was sixteen days, beginning about a month after the scoping of the bar.
Mmmguerin (1042): well it's been a quiet week so here's my obligatory are you still alive
Mmmguerin (1043): are you still alive
Mmmguerin (2300): Alex
Mmmguerin (1207): cake tasting today
Mmmguerin (1416): I'm so sorry but I take it back you should absolutely be bummed about missing the wedding
Mmmguerin (1418): that was the most amazing food I've ever put in my mouth
Mmmguerin (1419): and you're gonna miss it
Mmmguerin (2232): Alex
Mmmguerin (0405): I'm getting kinda worried
Mmmguerin (0406): whoops would you look at that it's 4 am
Mmmguerin (1321): Alex?
Mmmguerin (1854): ):
Mmmguerin (0902): ):
Mmmguerin (1508): ):
Mmmguerin (1004): I hope you're alive so I can kick your ass
Mmmguerin (1005): not really I just want you to be alive
Mmmguerin (1736): Alex
Mmmguerin (1227): Alex
Mmmguerin (1153): shoot
Mmmguerin (1153): ALEX
Mmmguerin (2048): Alex
Mmmguerin (0516): Alex I miss you
Mmmguerin (1302): I mean talking to you
Mmmguerin (1302): obviously
Mmmguerin (0117): Alexxxxx
Mmmguerin (0118): god I'm tired
Michael fell asleep with his phone to his chest, where it vibrated him awake two hours later.
xX_Alex_Xx (0313): geez
xX_Alex_Xx (0314): guerin im sorry
xX_Alex_Xx (0315): our power's been out
Mmmguerin (0315): you're alive!!!
xX_Alex_Xx (0315): ive told you like a million times i wont die
Mmmguerin (0316): yeah but it's been more than two weeks
Mmmguerin (0317): are you ok???
xX_Alex_Xx (0317): yeah im fine why the fuck are you awake
xX_Alex_Xx (0317): isnt it like 3 am there
Mmmguerin (0318): notification woke me up
Mmmguerin (0319): don't fucking do that to me again
xX_Alex_Xx (0319): sorry
xX_Alex_Xx (0319): i never woke you up before
xX_Alex_Xx (0319): forgot you have a phone now
Mmmguerin (0320): oh my god
Mmmguerin (0321): I mean don't fucking disappear for two weeks again
Mmmguerin (0321): I don't care if you wake me up
Mmmguerin (0322): I'd just put my phone on silent if I didn't want to hear it
xX_Alex_Xx (0322): oh
xX_Alex_Xx (0322): i didnt really have a choice about disappearing
xX_Alex_Xx (0323): everything went down almost two weeks ago
xX_Alex_Xx (0323): we just got a backup generator shipped in
xX_Alex_Xx (0323): im only online to see if i can figure out what happened
Mmmguerin (0324): dang
xX_Alex_Xx (0324): cant really see the point of taking out our power and not attacking us
Mmmguerin (0325): probably trying to lower the morale of hardworking Americans back home
Mmmguerin (0326): or specifically to prevent you from being a computer bad ass
Mmmguerin (0326): can you believe I have to add badass to my dictionary
xX_Alex_Xx (0327): unbelievable
xX_Alex_Xx (0328): im thinking it was just an accident
Mmmguerin (0328): *loud booing*
xX_Alex_Xx (0329): i know, im not pleased about it either guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (0329): shit happens though
xX_Alex_Xx (0330): i have to go report what ive found but ill talk to you later ok
Mmmguerin (0330): ): ok
xX_Alex_Xx (0330): go back to sleep
Mmmguerin (0331): ok
Michael waited for Alex's online status to go away before depositing his phone on the cabinet behind his head. He let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding.
Alex was okay, alive, and wasn't ignoring him because he was mad at him or something. Great. He supposed he could sleep on that.
Michael dropped a wrench when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Only Skype was allowed to vibrate for the day, and that meant Alex had messaged him.
xX_Alex_Xx (1402): hey guerin you busy
Mmmguerin (1403): nope
Mmmguerin (1403): how'd it go?
xX_Alex_Xx (1404): we brought in an electrician
xX_Alex_Xx (1404): theres a long line to use the computer though, i have half an hour
Mmmguerin (1404): ok just a sec
He picked up the wrench and shuffled over to the lawn chairs. He was due for a break anyway.
xX_Alex_Xx (1404): ok
Mmmguerin (1406): i took some shifts at the junkyard to buy Nobel a nicer present. Had to sit down
xX_Alex_Xx (1406): nobel?
Mmmguerin (1406): you know like brangelina
Mmmguerin (1407): but I don't have to add it to Swype
xX_Alex_Xx (1408): oh you portmanteaud their names thats cute
xX_Alex_Xx (1409): what are you getting them?
Mmmguerin (1409): a grill (:
Mmmguerin (1409): Noah claims to be excellent with one
xX_Alex_Xx (1410): nice
xX_Alex_Xx (1410): so you went cake tasting?
Mmmguerin (1411): it was amazing
Mmmguerin (1411): I wish I could send you some
xX_Alex_Xx (1412): sounds like some life-changing cake
Mmmguerin (1413): I guess that's the point
xX_Alex_Xx (1413): oh true
xX_Alex_Xx (1414): and guerin you don't have to worry about me
Mmmguerin (1414): like I have a choice
Mmmguerin (1415): should have thought about that before going to a war zone
xX_Alex_Xx (1416): im fine
xX_Alex_Xx (1416): are you?
Mmmguerin (1416): I am if you are
xX_Alex_Xx (1417): yeah? ugh id rather tell you this in person but
xX_Alex_Xx (1417): my superiors have been talking about putting me completely off the grid for my next deployment
Mmmguerin (1418): what
xX_Alex_Xx (1419): theres a possibility that i wont have any internet at all next time but thats like a year or two away
Mmmguerin (1419): why???
xX_Alex_Xx (1420): they need me for something
Mmmguerin (1420): A+ in vagueness Alex
Mmmguerin (1420): ):
xX_Alex_Xx (1421): i just want you to be prepared for that possibility because itd be way longer than two weeks of nothing from me
Mmmguerin (1421): ): ): ):
xX_Alex_Xx (1421): are you going to say something besides frowning at me
Mmmguerin (1422): yeah
Mmmguerin (1422): can't you just..... quit
xX_Alex_Xx (1422): no guerin
Mmmguerin (1423): ):
xX_Alex_Xx (1423): anything else
Mmmguerin (1423): like what? I don't want you to?
Mmmguerin (1424): what's the point? could i even say anything to keep you from going?
Mmmguerin (1425): Alex?
xX_Alex_Xx (1426): sorry the next guy is already here and complaining
Mmmguerin (1426): tell him to fuck off
xX_Alex_Xx (1426): i did
Mmmguerin (1427): good
xX_Alex_Xx (1427): you know i have to go where they send me
Mmmguerin (1427): yeah
Mmmguerin (1428): doesn't mean I'm happy about it
Mmmguerin (1428): are you? Do you want to be off the grid?
xX_Alex_Xx (1428): that part isnt ideal
xX_Alex_Xx (1429): im sorry i should have waited to tell you
Mmmguerin (1429): no don't sit on stuff like that
xX_Alex_Xx (1429): it's a good opportunity aside from that
xX_Alex_Xx (1430): but i dont have time right now to talk more about it
xX_Alex_Xx (1430): this guy is about to pop a vein
Mmmguerin (1430): let him
xX_Alex_Xx (1431): if only. night guerin
Mmmguerin (1431): night Alex
It was, of course, still the middle of the day for Michael. He wasn't even sure Alex saw his last message. He pushed his hair back.
He didn't want to wait around for mail again, but he supposed he would if he had to. Wait--
Mmmguerin (1433): would we even be able to send letters or anything
Mmmguerin (1434): like actually nothing from you
Mmmguerin (1434): I don't know if I could survive that Alex
He took a deep breath before he pushed himself up out of the chair and dropped the phone in his pocket. There was no use in bumming himself out. Michael got the wrench from the other chair where he'd tossed it and went back to work.
He was awakened in the middle of the night by his phone again. He eyed the notification blearily and woke up fully when he saw it was from Alex.
xX_Alex_Xx (0457): yes it would actually be nothing
xX_Alex_Xx (0457): shit you have a phone dont wake up
Mmmguerin (0458): too late
Mmmguerin (0459): ):
xX_Alex_Xx (0459): sorry
xX_Alex_Xx (0500): go back to sleep
Mmmguerin (0500): don't tell me what to do Alex
xX_Alex_Xx (0501): i can send frowny faces too
xX_Alex_Xx (0501): :(
Mmmguerin (0501): ):
xX_Alex_Xx (0502): :(
Mmmguerin (0502): ):
xX_Alex_Xx (0502): :(
Mmmguerin (0502): ):
xX_Alex_Xx (0503): ok this is ridiculous
Mmmguerin (0503): ):
xX_Alex_Xx (0503): guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (0503): youd survive it
Mmmguerin (0504): I actually wouldn't
Mmmguerin (0504): not to be That Dramatic Bitch but whenever you message me it's literally the highlight of my day
Mmmguerin (0505): I will definitely die if I don't hear from you for months at a time
xX_Alex_Xx (0506): yeah thats a bit dramatic
xX_Alex_Xx (0507): you wont die
xX_Alex_Xx (0507): neither will i
xX_Alex_Xx (0507): go back to sleep
xX_Alex_Xx (0508): and put your phone on silent overnight
Mmmguerin (0508): I do what I want
xX_Alex_Xx (0508): it's what 5 am? you wanna be awake at 5 am??
Mmmguerin (0509): I want to talk to you
Mmmguerin (0509): whenever I can
xX_Alex_Xx (0509): guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (0510): i am not gonna message you anymore right now unless you go to sleep
xX_Alex_Xx (0510): you can read when you wake up
Mmmguerin (0510): no talk now
Mmmguerin (0511): Alex!!
Mmmguerin (0512): I'm about to get up and make coffee
xX_Alex_Xx (0512): dont
xX_Alex_Xx (0512): please just go to sleep
xX_Alex_Xx (0513): i promise ill talk to you later
Mmmguerin (0513): can you actually keep that promise?
xX_Alex_Xx (0514): you think i wouldnt haunt the shit out of you if i died?
xX_Alex_Xx (0515): which im not going to do btw
Mmmguerin (0515): ok
xX_Alex_Xx (0515): ok?
Mmmguerin (0516): I'll invest in a Ouija board
xX_Alex_Xx (0516): :) go back to sleep guerin
Mmmguerin (0517): fine but I'm not happy about it
xX_Alex_Xx (0517): too bad
xX_Alex_Xx (0517): sleep well
Michael sighed and toggled his phone over to silent, then put it above his head. Dick.
The next months passed decently, even though Alex made Michael mute Skype overnight. It brought down their ability to message each other live, especially since Michael told him not to message him when Alex should be sleeping, too.
Michael also found he was getting along better with Max than he had since The Incident They Don't Talk About. Maybe they were both trying. For Isobel.
Michael, for what it was worth, let Isobel drag him all over the place to do wedding things with her. He poked her as they criss-crossed Roswell to find someone to cater.
"Someone is throwing you a bachelorette party, right?"
She stopped in front of a Greek restaurant, tapping a finger to her chin. "Kind of? Mom invited me to dinner, but she also invited her bridge club. It's supposed to be a surprise, but they're terrible at surprises. Gretchen said she'd see me then, and then she ran away with her hand over her mouth."
"Do you want one?"
"Nah. We're going all out for the reception. You know, I'm thinking Italian, everyone likes Italian food."
"A dozen extra-large pizzas would probably cover it," Michael said, earning him an eye roll.
"Pizza isn't fancy." Isobel opened Google on her phone to track down Italian restaurants with catering in Roswell.
"But it's Italian food."
"I'm not having pizza at my wedding reception."
"Okay, what about cannolis? Are those fancy enough?"
She mock-gasped. "Good idea, Michael. Yes. Let's find a place with cannoli."
Mmmguerin (2013): Alex... I ate too many cannolies
Mmmguerin (2014): cannolis?
Mmmguerin (2015): that doesn't look right either
Mmmguerin (2015): forget it
Mmmguerin (2016): I never want to see or hear that word again
Mmmguerin (2016): at least for six weeks
Mmmguerin (2018): Alex you're flying in to Albuquerque again right
Mmmguerin (2019): do you want me to pick you up?
Mmmguerin (2019): ive got kind of a place if you want to stay with me
Mmmguerin (2020): it's small though
Mmmguerin (2021): hang out with me and the cows
Mmmguerin (2021): I'm sure it's very tempting
xX_Alex_Xx (0007): amazing
Mmmguerin (0008): thought we agreed not to message when we should be sleeping
xX_Alex_Xx (0008): youre one to talk
xX_Alex_Xx (0008): it's not even that early here
Mmmguerin (0009): yeah and it's not that late here!
Mmmguerin (0010): I'm working on a project
Mmmguerin (0010): I do my best work after midnight you know
xX_Alex_Xx (0010): it's always after midnight
Mmmguerin (0011): listen
Mmmguerin (0012): I Never!!!
Mmmguerin (0012): do bad work
xX_Alex_Xx (0013): alright point taken
xX_Alex_Xx (0014): i just thought youd be in a sugar coma because of all the cannolis
Mmmguerin (0014): oh yeah def I'll undoubtedly crash soon enough. Until then, project!!!
xX_Alex_Xx (0015): what is this project
Mmmguerin (0015): wouldn't you like to know!!
xX_Alex_Xx (0015): yes?
xX_Alex_Xx (0016): thats why i asked
Mmmguerin (0016): I'm building a spaceship!
xX_Alex_Xx (0016): haha, ok dont tell me then
xX_Alex_Xx (0017): i guess i deserve that for all the top secret/classified stuff huh
Mmmguerin (0017): uhh yeah sure
Mmmguerin (0017): my bad!
Mmmguerin (0018): how ya doing Alex (:
xX_Alex_Xx (0018): im fine
xX_Alex_Xx (0019): you really had too many cannolis didnt you
Mmmguerin (0019): we went to every Italian restaurant in Roswell what was I supposed to do NOT eat dessert at every single one???
xX_Alex_Xx (0020): oh my god
Mmmguerin (0020): no I'm Michael (:
xX_Alex_Xx (0021): how are you alive
Mmmguerin (0021): excellent genetics
Mmmguerin (0021): did you read my questions before
xX_Alex_Xx (0022): yeah
xX_Alex_Xx (0022): i appreciate the offer but im just gonna do the same as last time
xX_Alex_Xx (0023): taxi, hotel
xX_Alex_Xx (0023): wouldnt want to bother the cows
Mmmguerin (0023): moo
Mmmguerin (0024): don't think they'd mind but if that's what you want
Mmmguerin (0024): holy fuck
xX_Alex_Xx (0024): ??
Mmmguerin (0025): I, need to lie down hold on
xX_Alex_Xx (0025): sleep it off
Mmmguerin (0026): yeah that sounds good v...night Alex
xX_Alex_Xx (0026): night guerin
(sent) Is Max giving a Best Man speech?
(ICE Iz Evans) You really think I could stop him from making a speech whether he's Best Man or not?
(sent) It's essentially public speaking it wouldn't be that hard
(sent) I could give a speech if you want
(ICE Iz Evans) Yeah both of you at the same time! Then I don't have to listen to either of you
(ICE Iz Evans) Except Max has already written several pages
(ICE Iz Evans) I told him to cut it down to five minutes, ten at the most
(sent) Yeah nothing I'd have to say would take that long
(sent) How does it feel to be twins with a giant nerd
(ICE Iz Evans) Could be worse I suppose
(ICE Iz Evans) He voted for Obama both times
(sent) Praise be
(sent) Want me to talk to him about the time limit?
(ICE Iz Evans) If you don't mind
(ICE Iz Evans) He's treating it like a wedding dress
(ICE Iz Evans) Doesn't want me to hear it until the day of
(sent) lol
(sent) Don't worry Iz
(ICE Iz Evans) I'm not
(sent) This is the Speech Inquisition
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) The what
(sent) I'm to inquire about ur speech
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Oh
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Well it's down to twelve minutes when I read it to myself
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) But when I read it in front of four dozen people it'll probably be more like seven minutes
(sent) It's amazing how time compresses like that
(sent) Alas I must hear for myself
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Did Iz put you up to this?
(sent) I offered & she accepted
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Fine you can come over now if you're not busy
(sent) Well that wouldn't be reflective of the unusual environment you'll be in would it?
(sent) Come to Foster Ranch
(sent) The cows shall finally have their day in court
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) I don't particularly appreciate my speech turning into a science experiment
(sent) This is the Speech Inquisition Max you're lucky I'm not stringing u up
(sent) Or whatever
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Fine, I'll be there in thirty
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) Do you want food?
(sent) That is acceptable bribery
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) I'll be there in forty-five
Michael dug out a folding chair and waited.
Mmmguerin (1807): Alex why the fuck doesn't my brother have a book deal yet
Mmmguerin (1808): I won't say that I test-audienced his speech and cried
Mmmguerin (1808): but I did test-audience his speech
Mmmguerin (1809): what the fuck
xX_Alex_Xx (0201): from what i remember of AP Lit, this does not surprise me
xX_Alex_Xx (0202): has he written a book to get a book deal for?
Mmmguerin (1154): I'm going to steal all his transcripts and send them to publishers finished or not
Mmmguerin (1156): it's always "but it's not done!!" fuck off at this rate you'll never be done might as well get it out there
xX_Alex_Xx (1247): i think they usually want a finished product
xX_Alex_Xx (1248): consumerism's a bitch
Mmmguerin (1250): HEAR HEAR
Mmmguerin (1250): howdy
xX_Alex_Xx (1251): fully embracing that cowboy life are we
Mmmguerin (1252): need to work on my quick draw
Mmmguerin (1252): saving up for the ass less chaps
Mmmguerin (1253): you would think without the ass they'd be cheaper but no
xX_Alex_Xx (1253): oh my god
Mmmguerin (1253): I've got the hat already
Mmmguerin (1254): I look damn good in the hat
xX_Alex_Xx (1254): i know
xX_Alex_Xx (1254): about the hat
Mmmguerin (1255): which part
xX_Alex_Xx (1255): both
Mmmguerin (1255): (;
xX_Alex_Xx (1256): please dont start
xX_Alex_Xx (1257): computer's in a common area
Mmmguerin (1257): what EVER do u mean by that Alex
xX_Alex_Xx (1258): you damn well know
Mmmguerin (1258): (:
Mmmguerin (1259): well since you asked nicely
xX_Alex_Xx (1300): thank you
Mmmguerin (1300): sure thing pardner
xX_Alex_Xx (1300): please stop
Mmmguerin (1301): (:
Mmmguerin (1301): would it help if I said I get most of my cowboy dialect from Toy Story
xX_Alex_Xx (1302): if you say anything about snakes or boots i will log off
xX_Alex_Xx (1303): you were about to werent you
Mmmguerin (1304): well I don't want you to log off
Mmmguerin (1305): as a cowboy I also have a variety of highly fashionable belt buckles
xX_Alex_Xx (1305): adorable
Mmmguerin (1306): excuse me
xX_Alex_Xx (1306): sorry
xX_Alex_Xx (1306): extremely manly
xX_Alex_Xx (1307): barbie dream cowboy
Mmmguerin (1308): I know I deserve this but I am so offended
xX_Alex_Xx (1308): good
Mmmguerin (1309): I'm gonna go cry to the cows
Mmmguerin (1309): I hope you're happy Alex
xX_Alex_Xx (1310): incredibly
xX_Alex_Xx (1310): tell the cows i said hey
Mmmguerin (1310): NEVER
Mmmguerin (1311): they only respond to howdy
Mmmguerin (1311): and moo
Mmmguerin (1311): and WHO WANTS TREATS
xX_Alex_Xx (1312): tell them i said moo then
Mmmguerin (1312): ok
Mmmguerin (1313): they said moo back
xX_Alex_Xx (1314): id be worried if they said anything else
Mmmguerin (1315): bah
xX_Alex_Xx (1315): that's sheep
Mmmguerin (1316): what are you up to then Alex
xX_Alex_Xx (1316): thoroughly annoyed by fluent syntax
Mmmguerin (1317): fluency good?
xX_Alex_Xx (1318): overly complicated but easier to understand for non coders
xX_Alex_Xx (1319): so partly
xX_Alex_Xx (1320): it is just a lot of extra steps and too much context
Mmmguerin (1320): who even needs to understand it besides you??
xX_Alex_Xx (1321): my boss does not read my perfectly legible inline comments
Mmmguerin (1322): booo you should quit and get a new one
xX_Alex_Xx (1322): cant
Mmmguerin (1323): not with that attitude
xX_Alex_Xx (1323): guerin send me the eye roll emoji
Mmmguerin (1324): (◔_◔)
xX_Alex_Xx (1325): thank you
xX_Alex_Xx (1325): (◔_◔)
Mmmguerin (1326): 👍
Mmmguerin (1327): how long are you on for
xX_Alex_Xx (1328): im working and they actually got a second computer hooked up to the internet so until they drag me away i guess
Mmmguerin (1329): hot
xX_Alex_Xx (1329): (◔_◔) what are you doing
Mmmguerin (1330): I told you I'm stealing Max's transcripts
xX_Alex_Xx (1330): right right
xX_Alex_Xx (1330): hows that going
Mmmguerin (1331): there are too many pages so I'm stealing his bourbon instead
xX_Alex_Xx (1331): stealing a man's bourbon guerin? im disappointed
Mmmguerin (1332): he said I could use his tv whenever and I had a hankering for Toy Story actually
xX_Alex_Xx (1332): "hankering"
Mmmguerin (1332): do you expect me to watch Toy Story without alcohol
Mmmguerin (1333): what what what's wrong with hankering
xX_Alex_Xx (1333): nothing
Mmmguerin (1333): what!!!
xX_Alex_Xx (1334): just... hankering
Mmmguerin (1334): ?????????????
xX_Alex_Xx (1325): send me a shrug emoji
Mmmguerin (1326): ¯\_(ヅ)_/¯
xX_Alex_Xx (1326): thank you
xX_Alex_Xx (1326): ¯\_(ヅ)_/¯
Mmmguerin (1327): you're welcome
Mmmguerin (1327): does this one work? ✨
xX_Alex_Xx (1328): glitter?
xX_Alex_Xx (1328): ✨✨✨✨✨
Mmmguerin (1328): yup
Mmmguerin (1329): 🤠?
xX_Alex_Xx (1329): no, it's a box
xX_Alex_Xx (1330): whats it supposed to be
Mmmguerin (1330): it's a cowboy smiley!! What the heck
xX_Alex_Xx (1331): maybe you have to be full cowboy to send it
Mmmguerin (1332): I
Mmmguerin (1332): l i t e r a l l y
xX_Alex_Xx (1332): or maybe it's for cowboy eyes only
Mmmguerin (1333): am a boy who hangs out with cows all day
Mmmguerin (1334): perhaps
xX_Alex_Xx (1334): i wouldnt call you a boy guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (1335): you're a bit old to be a boy
Mmmguerin (1336): cow man is just a terrible superhero name
xX_Alex_Xx (1337): you got me there
Mmmguerin (1338): my superhero identity would be Space Cowboy
xX_Alex_Xx (1338): He Tokes At Midnight
Mmmguerin (1339): see you get me
xX_Alex_Xx (1339): the real question is what is a gangster of love
xX_Alex_Xx (1339): yeah that song is very you
Mmmguerin (1340): no idea
Mmmguerin (1340): why thank you
Mmmguerin (1341): what's your superhero identity Alex?
xX_Alex_Xx (1342): ¯\_(ヅ)_/¯
xX_Alex_Xx (1342): dont think id be one
xX_Alex_Xx (1343): just some random mutant if anything
Mmmguerin (1343): ok Alex first of all no
xX_Alex_Xx (1343): with a boring mutation like glowing a bit or something
Mmmguerin (1344): ?????
Mmmguerin (1344): I don't know how to tell you this but you're literally a war hero
xX_Alex_Xx (1344): so?
Mmmguerin (1345): even if all you could do is glow you'd still find a way to be a hero
Mmmguerin (1345): it's who you are, you ass
xX_Alex_Xx (1346): you
xX_Alex_Xx (1346): what??
Mmmguerin (1346): A S S
Mmmguerin (1347): come on Alex you'd have hella cool powers what are the coolest powers you can think of
xX_Alex_Xx (1347): jedi
Mmmguerin (1348): hell yeah!!! ALEX SKYWALKER
xX_Alex_Xx (1348): :)
xX_Alex_Xx (1349): whats Space Cowboy's power then?
Mmmguerin (1350): definitely pheromone control
xX_Alex_Xx (1351): oh of course
xX_Alex_Xx (1351): gotta shake those trees
Mmmguerin (1351): (;
Mmmguerin (1352): I do really like your peaches
xX_Alex_Xx (1352): im pretty sure i don't have peaches guerin
Mmmguerin (1353): but I wanna SHAKE YOUR TREES
Mmmguerin (1354): heh. Coconuts
xX_Alex_Xx (1354): oh my god
xX_Alex_Xx (1355): I'll shake *your* trees
Mmmguerin (1355): promises, promises
xX_Alex_Xx (1356): im in a common area guerin
Mmmguerin (1357): you're no fun
xX_Alex_Xx (1357): how does it feel to lie on the internet
Mmmguerin (1357): I'll live
xX_Alex_Xx (1359): well thank god
Mmmguerin (1400): how's your work going
xX_Alex_Xx (1400): oh i finished my project like half an hour ago
xX_Alex_Xx (1401): hows toy story
Mmmguerin (1402): over
Mmmguerin (1402): I'm rearranging Max's furniture
xX_Alex_Xx (1402): lol why
Mmmguerin (1403): fun
Mmmguerin (1403): ooh I could change the locks before he gets home
xX_Alex_Xx (1403): why would you do that
Mmmguerin (1404): because bourbon
xX_Alex_Xx (1404): drink some water
Mmmguerin (1405): I can't just steal Max's water
xX_Alex_Xx (1406): you are ridiculous
Mmmguerin (1406): (:
xX_Alex_Xx (1406): :)
Mmmguerin (1407): I actually want to go home but I'd have to stop messaging you to drive
Mmmguerin (1408): so interior design it is
xX_Alex_Xx (1408): and youre messaging me and moving furniture simultaneously how exactly
Mmmguerin (1409): I'm hands-free
Mmmguerin (1409): knees, they're called
xX_Alex_Xx (1410): scuffing your brother's floors?
Mmmguerin (1410): naaah
Mmmguerin (1411): hey Alex (:
xX_Alex_Xx (1411): yeah
Mmmguerin (1412): we've been talking for a whole hour and a half
xX_Alex_Xx (1413): so we have :)
xX_Alex_Xx (1413): i get to train some people at ass o clock in the morning
xX_Alex_Xx (1413): well im giving the tour but i plan to make sure they know how to do things properly
Mmmguerin (1414): ass o clock in the morning?
xX_Alex_Xx (1414): yes
Mmmguerin (1415): do you plan on sleeping beforehand?
xX_Alex_Xx (1416): eventually
xX_Alex_Xx (1416): im busy
Mmmguerin (1416): you said you finished working
xX_Alex_Xx (1417): yeah im not busy with work im busy talking to you
Mmmguerin (1417): Alex
xX_Alex_Xx (1417): yes
Mmmguerin (1417): go to bed
xX_Alex_Xx (1417): :(
Mmmguerin (1418): dream of assless chaps
xX_Alex_Xx (1418): ffffffffuck you guerin
Mmmguerin (1418): that's the spirit (:
Mmmguerin (1419): good night Alex, don't die
xX_Alex_Xx (1419): night
xX_Alex_Xx (1420): i wont
Michael telekinetically put Max's couch, coffee table, and desk almost back to where they had been. A few inches to the left.
Michael went to the flower shop with Isobel three weeks before her wedding and two days before Alex was supposed to fly in. She wanted to make sure things were moving along as scheduled.
He stopped abruptly in front of a row of pots filled with small, bright blue bell-shaped flowers.
"What? Oh, those are pretty."
"Uh huh," he said, picking up the first pot in the row and hugging it.
"Brightening up the trailer?"
"Yup," he said shortly.
Isobel patted his cheek and plucked the tag from the dirt. "Desert bluebells. What do those mean, Flower Guru?"
"Gratitude. But in the desert." Michael left out the additional meanings. He hitched up the plant and nodded at the counter they'd been heading for. "Come on."
He had no idea what he was going to do with the plant, but he couldn't bring himself to put it back down. He stared at the blue petals as Isobel interrogated the man behind the counter about her order.
Why the hell was he buying Alex flowers?
As if the answer wasn't in the flowers themselves.
Isobel finished her inquiry, and Michael paid for his new plant, ignoring the cheerful care tips the man he paid told him. "Thanks," he mumbled when he sounded done. His sister followed him out of the store.
"You took a nosedive," Isobel observed. "Are the flowers sucking out your soul or something?"
"Iz, I'm a dumbass," he said, looking up at the sky.
"Well, yeah. Why?"
"They're his favorite. What am I doing?" He turned to go back into the store, but Isobel stopped him with a laugh. "Don't laugh at me."
"I'm not, not really-- just, God, Michael. How long have you been pining over this guy?"
"I'm not pining," he snapped. "I'm just going to return this now."
She held him in place with a hand on his shoulder. "Michael, it's adorable and sweet and you should definitely not return them."
He huffed. "I am neither of those things."
Isobel raised an eyebrow. "Yeah you are."
"Don't listen to her," Michael said to the flowers, holding them away from her. "I'm a rough and tumble cowboy."
He barely caught her eye roll. "Who both remembers and purchases the favorite flowers of the guy he likes. Incredibly rough, very tumble."
"It was an impulse buy, I'm returning them," he said, and made to go inside again, only for Isobel's grip to tighten. "Iz, let me go."
"I'm preventing you from being a dumbass. Give the boy the flowers."
"He can't take them when he leaves."
"So you tell him you saw them in the store and thought of him and bought them, but leave out the part where you had bi panic and tried to put them back. Tell him you'll take care of them for him."
Michael grimaced at her.
"You can take care of a low maintenance flower, Michael. After all, they're his favorite."
He sighed and pulled away toward their cars, and she let him go. He buckled in the pot on the passenger side of his truck and heard Isobel laughing again.
"Shove it," he said when he turned around with his arms crossed.
She eyed the flowers over his shoulder.
"What?"
"He can't take an entire plant, but what about a keychain?"
"Maybe. I don't know. Why would I give him a keychain?"
Isobel whipped out her phone and opened an image search. Soon enough, she was holding it out, and he squinted at the small glass-like pendants with flowers inside displayed on the screen. "Resin."
"I think Maria has a necklace like that," he said vaguely.
"DeLuca? The psychic bartender?"
Michael shrugged and zoomed in on the image.
"Well, we could probably make a keychain or something, if you think he'd be into that. I've been looking into making keepsakes. I want to keep my bouquet since you and Max did such a good job designing it."
He pushed his hair back and looked over the top of her phone. "Could we make guitar picks?"
"I'm sure we can find a mold." She grinned slowly, coaxing the same expression out of him. "Does he play guitar?"
"Used to. Doubt he still does where he's at. But maybe he will some day."
Isobel dusted off his shoulders. "So not a traveling rock star."
"Iz, no guessing. He'd be mad at me."
"I'm sorry I'm curious about who caught my brother's eye, jeez. I already have resin, but you need to dry out some of the flowers, okay?" He nodded. "We'll make a bunch, and you can give him the one that turns out best. You busy Thursday morning?"
"No. Oh!" He turned to go back into the store, and he didn't have the plant in his arms anymore, so he didn't know why Iz stopped him. "I'm gonna get my favorite too," he explained.
She snorted. "I'll come out to Foster Ranch. The resin cures in twenty-four hours, and if you want to put holes in them, find a drill."
Michael hugged her quickly before heading back in to the store.
"Forget-me-nots?" he asked before the man could greet him.
Nonetheless, he smiled and led the way. "Back here. You can plant the bluebells directly into the ground and they should be fine, but these guys need to be damp and preferably in the shade."
The plastic pot of baby blue and yellow flowers was much smaller than the other one, and Michael held it delicately in one hand. "I'm not putting either of them in the ground. Will they be okay?"
The man nodded and led him back to the counter. "The bluebells like sun, they ought to be all right in that pot. You might want to upgrade the forget-me-nots' pot at some point, they don't like to be crowded."
Michael nodded along with him. "Thanks." He totally knew what those words meant. He could totally manage it. He paid for the forget-me-nots and headed back to his truck where he put the plastic pot on the hood for a moment. Michael glared at the empty parking spot where Isobel had been.
"Same color..."
He frowned loudly and scooched the bluebells over to belt in the second pot alongside. Michael drove home unusually carefully and set the two pots on the ground just outside his door. He bent down to cut off a couple flowers from each. Instead of his pocket knife, however, he pulled out his phone. First, he took a picture of the two pots side by side; then, he texted Isobel.
(sent) How do I dry them?
(ICE Iz Evans) Got any napkins?
(sent) Yeah
(ICE Iz Evans) The mold is gonna be pretty shallow, so put the flowers between napkins and then under the eighty science books you have to flatten them. Just leave them there until Thursday
(sent) But the bluebells are... bell shaped
(sent) They'll look weird flat no matter what
(ICE Iz Evans) You wanted guitar picks Michael I don't think they'll be deep enough to have anything inside but pressed flowers
(ICE Iz Evans) But I don't know. Try whatever you want. I found a mold with six identical picks
(sent) Ok thanks Iz
(ICE Iz Evans) Welcome
Michael did as she said and piled his four thick stolen textbooks on top of the napkins. He sat and stared at the stack with a frown for a moment.
How was he supposed to tell Alex?
Well, he knew how. He took out his phone and opened Skype. Alex hadn't been on in a few days, but Michael suspected he was trying to make sure the base wouldn't fall apart without him for a week.
Mmmguerin (1607): back at it again with the flowers
Mmmguerin (1608): making sure Isobel's order was under way
Mmmguerin (1610): and I uhh bought some plants
Mmmguerin (1610): impulsively
Mmmguerin (1613): you know what I'll just show you a picture
Mmmguerin sent an attachment at (1614).
Mmmguerin (1614): they're pretty
Mmmguerin (1615): proud owner of the nicest garden on the ranch
Notes:
Edit 5/27/24 for formatting
Chapter 2: Resin
Summary:
Alex comes to visit and Michael spends a lot of time with him in his hotel.
Notes:
I LIIIIVE
not really. 99% of this was written approximately a month after the last chapter. I have no idea why I was sitting on it. I think I had intended to put in the wedding here but I'm not gonna do that. Because I haven't written it yet. I have to excise a certain character from the next part. But that'll come. Soon maybe?
2024 edit for formatting
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Michael finally got a message from Alex Monday morning. It buzzed noisily on his counter, the "do not disturb" set to wear off at nine am every morning.
xX_Alex_Xx (0856): hey!! im in nyc for a 2 hour layover
xX_Alex_Xx (0857): airport wifi
xX_Alex_Xx (0859): it's amazing how many people have their devices wide open
xX_Alex_Xx (0900): your garden is very nice guerin :)
Mmmguerin (0901): Alex!! We're on the same continent!
xX_Alex_Xx (0901): indeed & same state in about 7 hours
xX_Alex_Xx (0901): how are you
Mmmguerin (0902): superb. Just woke up
Mmmguerin (0903): how are you? Do you wanna get drinks tonight or something?
xX_Alex_Xx (0904): i would but im already jetlagged to hell, im probably gonna pass out as soon as i get to the hotel
xX_Alex_Xx (0904): so thats how i am lol
Mmmguerin (0905): aww
Mmmguerin (0906): how's nyc? Can you see any of it?
xX_Alex_Xx (0906): nah im gonna stay put just in case
xX_Alex_Xx (0907): i had an overpriced cheeseburger and fries for breakfast
Mmmguerin (0907): was it good at least?
xX_Alex_Xx (0908): not as good as the Crashdown, and for twice the price
Mmmguerin (0908): ugh
xX_Alex_Xx (0908): agreed
Mmmguerin (0909): you're back in the states and the first thing you go for is airport food??
xX_Alex_Xx (0910): ive been on a plane for like twelve hours
xX_Alex_Xx (0911): forgive me if im a little fried
Mmmguerin (0911): I suppose
xX_Alex_Xx (0912): impulse buys all around
Mmmguerin (0913): haha...yeah......
xX_Alex_Xx (0913): what?
Michael set his phone down to take a large gulp of his freshly made coffee.
Mmmguerin (0914): well u know, i got the bluebells because i saw them and thought of you
He drank the rest of his coffee and poured himself another laced with acetone when Alex didn't answer right away.
xX_Alex_Xx (0916): guerin you cant just say stuff like that when im fucked up with jetlag
xX_Alex_Xx (0917): im gonna cry in the middle of the airport
Mmmguerin (0917): what why??
xX_Alex_Xx (0918): i dont know im probably fucked up from other stuff too
Mmmguerin (0919): want me to get rid of them? I've got a lighter
xX_Alex_Xx (0919): no!
xX_Alex_Xx (0920): no theyre nice dont do that
Mmmguerin (0920): ok good
Mmmguerin (0920): i kind of got them for you
Mmmguerin (0921): but I know you can't take them with you so I'll take care of them, ok?
xX_Alex_Xx (0922): fuck guerin
Mmmguerin (0922): yah??
xX_Alex_Xx (0923): youre killing me
xX_Alex_Xx (0923): you gotta work soon?
Mmmguerin (0924): not until 1 so like... a while
xX_Alex_Xx called at (0925).
Michael blinked and tapped on accept. "Alex?"
"Hey," he replied with a tired, hoarse lilt. "No headphones, but I found a quiet corner."
He felt his eyes watering and rubbed at them furiously. He somehow managed to keep his voice from cracking when he said, "I haven't heard your voice in ages. Feels like forever."
"Guerin," he said with a wet laugh, "Yeah, it does."
"Don't cry," Michael said, his voice shaking.
"Why not? You are."
"Because you are!" He grabbed a napkin and held it to his eyes. His voice dropped to a whisper. "I've really missed you."
"I miss you too." He heard Alex blow his nose. "God."
"I wanna see you."
"Tomorrow," he said. "You want me to be able to keep up with you, don't you?"
Michael couldn't stop his giggle. "I really don't care, Alex."
He huffed. "Tell you what. I'm gonna sleep when I get to the hotel, but if I wake up at a reasonable hour, I'll get drinks with you at the hotel bar. Deal?"
"Deal," Michael said, in an effort to not say something cheesy like I'll take whatever time you'll give me or something. But then there was the or something: "I could make a Crashdown run if you want."
"Ooh," Alex said. "But I want to visit Mr. Ortecho myself. I don't think I need two cheeseburgers in one day, either. Thanks anyway."
"All right." Whatever you want, Alex.
"I have a feeling I'm going to be out of commission till tomorrow, though." He sounded annoyed.
"Did you sleep on the plane?"
"I slept before I left. Doesn't matter though. Twelve hour flights through seven time zones will do that."
"Yeah. Define a reasonable hour, though, because you know I'll--" come whenever you call. Michael cut himself off with a shake of his head. "Reasonable time?"
Alex blew out a long breath. "Before eleven, I guess? I'll go back to sleep at midnight, try to trick my body into normal people time while I'm there."
"Okay," Michael said with a nod. "I'll keep my fingers crossed."
"Where are you working today?"
"Sanders. It is tourist season, the extra money is nice."
Alex snorted. "Don't know why they insist on driving when they can't."
"Seriously, whenever someone with an out-of-state license cuts me off I can viscerally imagine scraping them off the front of my truck."
"God, you'd squash them."
"Like bugs."
The literal payback, of course, was that the offending car's check engine light would mysteriously turn on, and they'd have to go to the mechanic (him) to get it checked. Telekinesis had its perks.
"What are you up to in your quiet corner?"
"People watching, mostly." His voice dropped and Michael was sure he was leaning closer to the laptop's mic. "There's a guy over there wearing nazi shit."
"Gross, punch him."
"I would if I wasn't so tired-- oh, shit, someone else noticed. She's tiny, but she's kicking his ass." Alex leaned away and Michael heard him shout encouragingly, "Fuck him up!"
"Yeah, fuck him up!" he echoed.
Alex didn't say anything for a moment.
"Airport security came and separated them. He's bleeding profusely, and I think she's trying to explain that being a nazi is provocation. Oh my god, she's German. She's saying they've got laws back home to prevent people from espousing genocidal ideals again. Security doesn't know what to do with her, and she's fucking pissed." He snorted. "She just lunged at the guy and made him flinch. That was amazing."
"Good! They let her go?"
"Yeah, looks like she had blood on her hands so she went to wash them off. They've dragged off the nazi guy, for first aid, probably. They're not even having anyone wait for her."
"Amazing," Michael agreed. "You're too tired to punch a nazi?"
"I would have gotten one in and fallen over. Although, I'm in uniform, maybe I'd have only needed one to get the point across."
"Or maybe it'd look bad for you."
"I dunno, punching nazis is very Captain America."
"And he had, what, a week of military training?"
"And a super serum. I may be out of my mind, but aren't we getting a little off topic?"
"What was the topic? Punching nazis? I punch racist Hank whenever I get the chance," Michael said, startling a laugh out of Alex. There was a noise he could absolutely live for. "I actually haven't been to the Wild Pony since Isobel told us she's getting married, which has limited how much I can punch him. Ah, well."
"Too bad. If that woman comes close enough for me to flag her down, I'll buy her an overpriced drink."
"Give her my number," Michael said jokingly.
"I'm sure that'd go over well. Hey I just narrated you using a nazi as a punching bag to this guy in New Mexico here's his number."
"I have a nazi-punching kink," Michael said with a shrug, but it got Alex to laugh again, which is all he really wanted.
"She's not even looking over here, going the other way."
"Damn. Fare you well, nazi-punching lady."
"Fare you well," Alex repeated.
There was quiet on the line, so Michael went about making himself breakfast.
"Shit," Alex said.
"What?"
"Someone just walked by with a Cinnabon."
Michael snorted.
"Tell me I don't need a Cinnabon."
"You don't need a Cinnabon."
"But they smell so good," he groaned.
"Then get one."
"I don't need one."
"You're the only one who can stop you."
"I'm gonna go get one, hold on." A pause and some clattering. "Just kidding. I'm gonna sit here."
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I did say I'd fall over if I punched anyone, right? Also standing too fast."
"Don't fall over, Alex."
"That's why I'm sitting." He sighed loudly. "What are you doing?"
"Frying eggs for a bagel sandwich," Michael said.
"That sounds good, too, dammit."
"I thought you had a cheeseburger."
"Yeah, but that was like an hour ago."
"Sounding like you're not as okay as you claim to be."
"I don't want to be hungry on the plane. I can't eat any more inflight pretzels, Guerin. I'll turn into one."
"Hmm, no comment."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"Sure. I wonder if any place here has bagel sandwiches."
"I'll make you some."
"But I'm hungry now," Alex grumbled.
"Well, I can't help you then, can I?" Michael constructed his sandwich, and he leaned over as he chewed and said, "Mmmmm."
"Now you're just being mean."
"Yup. It's delicious."
Alex mumbled something.
"Speak up," Michael said.
"I think I just heard an announcement about my flight. Let me go ask."
"Can you?"
"Shush, I'm gonna mute for a minute."
"Did you just shush me?"
The line went silent, and Michael huffed. He finished his sandwich before Alex unmuted. He brought plenty of airport noise with him.
"They're letting us board now."
"Does that mean you'll get here sooner?"
"If only."
"Message me when you do, okay?"
"Okay, Guerin. Be seeing you."
"Yeah you will!"
Michael heard Alex laugh as he ended the call and dropped the Airstream into silence again. He rested his forehead on the counter. He wondered briefly if Isobel felt the same way about Noah as he did about Alex.
He still didn't think he'd be able to marry him without telling him everything first. It'd feel... wrong.
"Shit."
Unlike Noah and Isobel, Alex didn't want to marry him. If he did, maybe he could get over it and--
What was he even thinking?
Alex was going to leave him again on Sunday morning, as always.
No, he couldn't think about that, either.
"I'm going to see Alex, definitely tomorrow and maybe tonight," he said aloud. That was better. He patted the stack of books and filled a glass with water for the forget-me-nots.
Michael was on a creeper beneath a tourist's rental when he felt his phone vibrate. He rolled himself out and sat up.
"Is it done?" the tourist called.
"I'm still trying to figure out what you did to it."
He took out his phone and tabbed over to Skype.
xX_Alex_Xx (1507): landed @ ABQ waiting for baggage
Mmmguerin (1508): same state!!
xX_Alex_Xx (1508): yup. not excited for the 3 hr drive though
Mmmguerin (1509): just sleep through it
Mmmguerin (1510): I really would have come to pick you up you know
xX_Alex_Xx (1510): like id be able to sleep sitting next to you for the first time in over a year
Mmmguerin (1511): sitting? I make a great pillow u know
xX_Alex_Xx (1511): hey guerin!
Mmmguerin (1511): yes?
xX_Alex_Xx (1512): shut up
xX_Alex_Xx (1512): we wouldnt leave the parking lot and you know it
Mmmguerin (1513): MAYBE SO
Mmmguerin (1514): a price I'm willing to pay
xX_Alex_Xx (1514): i want to sleep
xX_Alex_Xx (1514): hungry though
Mmmguerin (1515): no Alex not more airport food, make the driver stop somewhere
xX_Alex_Xx (1515): but im hungry now :(
Mmmguerin (1516): is there anything good around??
xX_Alex_Xx (1516): i think i might actually be too fried to care about the quality at this point
xX_Alex_Xx (1516): id happily take an mre
xX_Alex_Xx (1517): even a chili one
xX_Alex_Xx (1517): you can use those ones for chemical warfare
Mmmguerin (1517): good to know
Mmmguerin (1518): one sec this tourist is throwing a fit
Michael shot a glare at the noisy man. "Rushing me will not make me work faster and in fact makes me more likely to make a mistake. Keep your pants on, dude. Unless you want to return a broken car? You got renter's insurance?"
The tourist shut his mouth and looked down at his own phone.
xX_Alex_Xx (1519): found my bag
xX_Alex_Xx (1519): now for food
xX_Alex_Xx (1519): i'll message you when i get to the hotel ok
Mmmguerin (1520): ok Alex have a nice nap! No overpriced airport food!!
xX_Alex_Xx (1520): d:
Michael finished his shift and got to the Airstream before Alex messaged him again. He sat on the steps and eyed his little garden.
xX_Alex_Xx (1822): checked in
xX_Alex_Xx (1822): i do feel a lot better
xX_Alex_Xx (1823): you still working? wanna get dinner?
Mmmguerin (1823): I was about to shower
xX_Alex_Xx (1824): dont let me stop you
Mmmguerin (1824): where do you want to get dinner?
xX_Alex_Xx (1824): hmmm
xX_Alex_Xx (1825): i dunno... down for room service?
Mmmguerin (1825): I'll service your room whenever u like (;
xX_Alex_Xx (1826): you are actually the worst
Mmmguerin (1826): that hurts my one (1) feeling
Mmmguerin (1827): I can be there in twenty unless I'm so bad you don't want me to come anymore
xX_Alex_Xx (1827): no i definitely want you here
xX_Alex_Xx (1827): take your shower
Mmmguerin (1828): ok Alex see you soon
xX_Alex_Xx (1828): see you
Michael didn't think he'd ever showered faster in his life. His hair dripped as he leaned over his phone, the rest of him barely dry enough for his clothes.
xX_Alex_Xx (1829): ill wait in the lobby
xX_Alex_Xx (1830): comfy
Mmmguerin (1836): ok omw
Michael conveniently ignored the speed limit signs and made it to the hotel in record time. He parked toward the back of the lot and picked his way through the cars. He was pretty sure he was vibrating with anticipation.
Inside, the kid at the reception desk greeted him, but Michael evaded him in favor of the white leather couches to the right, where he spotted Alex leaning back with his arms crossed, laptop by his side, and eyes shut.
"Jesus," Michael mumbled. He sank into the couch with the laptop between them. Alex's hair was a mess, but he'd changed out of his uniform into jeans and an Air Force t-shirt. He leaned on his elbow for a moment to take him in before he said, gently, "Alex, wake up."
He jumped and his hand automatically went to his side, where he presumably kept a gun normally, until he saw Michael. He smiled brightly. "Guerin! I was just resting my eyes."
"Sure you were. Do you want to sleep more? I can come back later... or tomorrow..."
"Don't be ridiculous, you're already here."
He stood and Michael quickly followed, only for Alex to trap him in a vice grip of a hug. He'd hardly realized and squeezed back before Alex grabbed his computer and led him to his room.
"You're wet," Alex observed as he plugged the laptop in. He picked up the hotel phone.
"I literally just took a shower."
"Right. What do you want to eat?"
Michael shrugged awkwardly from a step inside the door. "I'll have whatever you're having."
Alex ordered two bowls of mac and cheese as he waved Michael closer. He stayed back until he put the phone down, then he was hugging him tightly. Alex patted his back. "Guerin, come on."
"No."
Alex laughed and his breath tickled Michael's ear. "Guerin, I'm okay."
"I know, just... gimme a minute."
He settled his arms around his middle. "All right."
They swayed slightly, forehead to forehead, for a couple minutes as Michael simply took Alex in. He was really in Roswell, in the same room as him. He considered refusing to let him go.
"I said I missed you, right?"
"I think you said you really missed me."
"Well, I did, you--"
Alex was all over him in an instant, pushing the back of Michael's knees against the bed. His mouth on his was better than anything, anyone else no matter how much time passed. Michael moaned his name before Alex pulled away just enough to let them breathe. Michael rested their foreheads together again.
"Missed you, too," Alex said. He pushed his fingers through Michael's still damp curls, drawing out a smile. He pressed his lips to every part of Alex's face and neck he could reach. When he pulled out of reach, Michael made a noise of protest that Alex raised his eyebrows at. He jerked his head at the door. "They've been knocking. You want to eat, don't you?"
He only inclined his chin at him. "Doesn't have to be food."
Alex quickly opened the door and cleared his throat to thank the runner and accept a tray with two bowls and two drinks.
They sat thigh to thigh on the bed. Michael watched Alex inhale his mac and cheese with more interest than he gave his own bowl. He got through half of it before Alex had devoured his. "You want mine?"
"You don't?"
"I haven't been stuck with airplane food all day. I'm alright." Michael passed the bowl over. "I could probably find you a horse to eat if you're still hungry."
"Nah, this ought to do it."
"Ought to." He rested his head on Alex's shoulder while he finished off the second bowl.
Once he had the bowls back on the tray and slid it across the floor, Michael settled his hands on either side of Alex's face and pushed into his space to kiss him slowly, as if he could spell out with his mouth the words Alex never seemed to want to hear and he couldn't properly say aloud. Michael felt his smile and mirrored his expression.
He listened to his breathing for a moment and realized just how exhausted Alex sounded. Michael leaned back, and Alex stared at him with an eyebrow raised. "What?"
"You need to sleep."
"I'm fine," he insisted, and waved his hand as if that was proof.
"Alex."
"I invited you here, Guerin, I don't want to just pass out."
"This morning you were pretty confident you were gonna be out of it till tomorrow."
He looked away. "I was wrong."
"No, you weren't," Michael said with a laugh. "Go on, Alex, we can do whatever you want tomorrow, I took it off."
Alex held him in place with an intense kiss -- until he pushed Michael over.
"Alex!"
He leaned on his elbow and refused to vacate Michael's chest. "Yeah, Guerin?"
"You need to sleep."
He frowned thoughtfully. "You said you make a good pillow."
"I actually said great pillow."
Alex quirked an eyebrow. "Well, if you want me to sleep..."
"Yeah, okay. This has to come off," Michael said, tugging at his Very Impressive belt.
"It can all come off," Alex said flippantly.
"Don't have to tell me twice."
Two hours later, Alex sound asleep and holding onto him like a body pillow, Michael heard his phone ding from his jeans on the floor. He twisted his left hand through Alex's hair to make sure he was asleep, then levitated his phone to his right. He toggled it over to silent and checked the noisy text.
(ICE Iz Evans) Where are you
(sent) At a sleepover
(ICE Iz Evans) He's in town?
(sent) Don't.
(sent) Did you need something m
(sent) ?*
(ICE Iz Evans) I brought you leftovers
(ICE Iz Evans) In your fridge
(ICE Iz Evans) Your truck's not at any of your usual haunts, so I wondered where you were
(sent) Thanks (:
(sent) Just chilling with my friend
(ICE Iz Evans) Sure thing.
(ICE Iz Evans) Right. Sure you are.
(ICE Iz Evans) One day, Michael, you will tell me who he is.
(sent) He's literally asleep
(sent) Today is not that day
(sent) Anything else?
(ICE Iz Evans) Did you tell him about the flowers? :3c
(sent) What is that
(ICE Iz Evans) What's what?
(sent) :3c what is it
(ICE Iz Evans) It's a face leaning on a hand
(ICE Iz Evans) Did you tell him?
(sent) I don't see it
(ICE Iz Evans) Michael
(sent) Yes Isobel I told him and he got upset in the airport
(ICE Iz Evans) What???
(sent) He said I shouldn't say stuff like that while he's jetlagged because he almost cried in the middle of the airport
(ICE Iz Evans) You're
(ICE Iz Evans) Michael you're hopeless
(sent) Thank you that makes me feel much better ):
(ICE Iz Evans) You moved the boy to tears dumbass
(ICE Iz Evans) I can't with you
(ICE Iz Evans) I really can't Michael
(sent) What are you even on about
(ICE Iz Evans) I don't know how to explain this to you
(ICE Iz Evans) You're... In... Love
Michael squinted at his phone and then down at Alex, who snuggled closer to him in his sleep.
(sent) No fucking shit I been knew
(ICE Iz Evans) SO IS HE
(ICE Iz Evans) GO 👏 ON 👏 A 👏 DATE 👏
(sent) Why are you yelling? He's sleeping!! Shhh
(sent) We can't
(ICE Iz Evans) Why the fuck not
(sent) 😱 girl ur mouth
(ICE Iz Evans) Michael
(ICE Iz Evans) Ask him out
(sent) He's only here until Sunday
(ICE Iz Evans) I know you can't see me right now so you have no way of knowing this, but you are going to make me roll my eyes so hard they fall out of my head
(ICE Iz Evans) Why not literally any night before he leaves?
(sent) I already told him I had off tomorrow, and we could do whatever
(ICE Iz Evans) I hate you
(sent) Actually you love me
(ICE Iz Evans) Whatever
(ICE Iz Evans) Have fun I guess
(ICE Iz Evans) See you Thursday
(sent) See you (:
Michael tossed his phone back to his jeans and slid his fingers through Alex's hair and down his neck.
"Guerin," he mumbled into his skin after a minute.
"Mhm?"
Alex's lips traced his collarbone. "Not tired?"
"My bedtime's not usually for a couple more hours."
"You don't have to stay."
"Alex, this bed is way better than mine," he said flatly.
"Hmm." Alex found Michael's good hand and slotted their fingers together.
"Better company, too. 'Less you want me to leave."
"You do make a great pillow, Guerin. Just don't want you to be bored."
"I'm not bored. Your hair is, well, too short, but still--"
Alex leaned up to kiss him quiet. "You're an awfully talkative pillow."
"It's a feature."
He kissed his way back down to rest his head against Michael's chest. "I like your voice."
He smoothed Alex's hair back. "Go back to sleep."
"Kay," he said, cuddling so close that Michael was pretty sure they couldn't be any closer. He played with Alex's hair for quite a while before he fell asleep as well.
It was a rare occurrence for Michael and Alex to sleep in the same bed, let alone still be there when they woke up. These were treasured moments. Michael certainly wouldn't admit it, but he had committed every time to memory, especially because Alex tended to wake him up in the same way.
He could only enjoy being peppered with kisses for so long before he had to return the sentiment.
"You're awake."
Michael nodded. "You feelin' better?"
Alex smiled and tangled his fingers in Michael's curls. "Much. I think you're an excellent pillow."
"I'll be sure to update my resume."
"You could be a professional cuddler."
"You can get paid for this? Shit, I'm in the wrong career." Michael pulled Alex fully on top of him only for Alex to lean back and sit on his thighs. He couldn't help but push himself upright to stay in his gravity.
"You are very warm. Bet you'd be pretty popular."
"Yeah? It's my abundance of testosterone."
"Oh, of course."
"All part of the cowboy charm."
If Alex kept doing whatever the hell he was doing with Michael's hair, he was either going to get tangled or Michael was going to turn into a cat and chase his hand. Alex glanced up when his ministrations caused a low whine. "A cowboy without the hat?"
"Left it in my truck." Michael turned his head to push against Alex's hand. "I can go get it if you want."
"I can do without the macho cowboy swagger thing for a minute, Guerin," he said. "I want you right here."
"You've got me, then."
It was eventually their empty stomachs that got them out of bed, but that only led them to the shower, which was quite an affair thanks to the hotel's seemingly unlimited supply of hot water.
"Lunch?" Michael asked once they were finally both decent.
Alex nodded. "Crashdown?"
"You need a ride?"
There was a familiar expression taking over Alex's face as he nodded again. The one that meant they were going to be friends only until they were in private again. Michael understood, even if it made him feel like a shameful secret sometimes. He just had to remind himself of the toxicity in their lives that made Alex think they had to hide.
That wasn't pleasant either, so Michael preferred to delay the inevitable. He pressed into Alex, kissing him firmly. There was a contented sigh from each of them, then Alex said, "Come on, Guerin, I'm starving."
"Can't have that. My truck's in the back."
A space grew between them as they walked, but that was just how it always was. Alex was keeping himself safe. (Maybe he even thought he was keeping Michael safe?) Secrets kept them safe. That's what Michael had been telling himself for years, anyway.
Alex plucked the black Stetson from the passenger side and dropped it on Michael's head. He tipped it with a wink and got a laugh for his troubles.
"How many of those shirts do you have, by the way?"
Alex looked down at what he'd assured Michael was a different Air Force t-shirt than the day before. "Dunno. They accumulate."
The drive was short; they talked about the menu, which hadn't changed in its essentials since Alex had last been in town.
They sat at the counter and only had to wait a moment before Arturo came over in his antennae and apron. "Morning," Michael said.
"Afternoon, Michael," he corrected, with an air of resignation that gave away how often he had to say it to him. "You want your usual? Who's your-- Alex Manes!"
"Hello, Mr. Ortecho," Alex said with a grin. Arturo hurried around the counter to give him a hug. "How are you?"
"I'm good! Oh, wait till I tell Liz you've been by!"
"Liz is here?" Michael asked over his shoulder, careful to keep the fear out of his voice. Neither noticed.
Arturo shook his head. "No, she's in Sacramento. But I know she'll be glad to hear about you, Alex. How have you been? Is the Air Force treating you well? Hold on." He went back behind the counter. "First things first. You boys must be hungry, what do you want to eat?"
"I'll take my usual, Mr. Ortecho," Michael said with a nod. He put his phone on the counter. "You two go ahead and catch up."
He turned just so that his knee brushed against Alex's, and Alex nodded. "Thanks, Guerin."
Michael flashed him a smile and focused on his phone, though he couldn't totally tune out their conversation. As he tried to research resin tips, Alex's voice and laugh kept drawing him out.
Arturo eventually moved his phone out of the way for his plate, shaking his head. "He's always on that thing, Alex. Siempre."
"I'm doing research," Michael said haughtily. "They have internet on the phones now, you know."
"I know. Skype isn't research," Arturo said. Conspiratorially, he told Alex, "He's usually on Skype."
He frowned around a fry when Michael's only answer was to slurp his milkshake. "Well, he's right, Guerin, Skype isn't research."
"Not really any point being on Skype if the only person I Skype with is here," Michael mumbled as Arturo went to help a waiter.
"What? You said you only upgraded your phone to get Skype."
"I did."
"But if I'm the only--"
Michael leveled a look at him. "If I'd had it before, I would have been able to tell you in time, before you turned in your papers."
Alex looked down and picked through his fries for a good one to dunk. "You're the one who's really bummed that I guessed wrong, huh?"
"I'm not-- it's not--" Michael shook his head. "It's my sister's wedding so there's no one I'd rather go with, but I'm not bummed, 'cause I get to see you anyway."
"Uh-huh." Alex dropped a hand to Michael's knee, still grazing his leg, and squeezed. Michael froze for a moment. "I'm sorry I won't make it."
"I'll live. Open bar, remember?"
Alex snorted and withdrew his hand to finish eating. With both their plates clear and drinks drained, he bumped his knee into Michael's. "What now?"
He shrugged. "Your call."
Alex leaned on his hand with his elbow on the counter to eye Michael, who mirrored him. "Back to the hotel?"
"Twist my arm." They each shelled out cash for their lunch and waved goodbye to Arturo. "I gotta work at the ranch early tomorrow."
"You ever think of... Never mind."
"What? It's open," Michael said of his truck.
"I guess I don't get why you never went to college, that's all. You always outscored Liz. You could go anywhere."
"Aw, I like Foster Ranch. I don't need to go anywhere," Michael said dismissively as he drove. "I'm all right here. Got my Evanses, got my scrap metal, got my cows..."
"Every town needs a cowboy mechanic, huh?"
"Yeah." Michael parked a little closer to the building this time and frowned. "And Roswell is where you are when you're here, Alex."
Alex studied him for a moment before he got out of the truck, and Michael scrambled to follow.
"What? Alex!"
He stopped in the lobby to let Michael catch up. "Am I holding you back?"
Michael made a face. "No? I do what I want."
"What do you want, then?"
He looked around the hotel lobby, aghast. It was sparsely populated, but he wasn't going to risk it. "Alex, I really don't think you want me to say what I want right now out here."
Alex shook his head. "I mean, in general, Guerin. Do you want to be a cowboy when you could be so much more? You could change the world."
"Only world I'm interested in changing is yours." Michael jerked his head towards Alex's room. "After you."
He sighed but led the way. Michael had a feeling that wouldn't be the end of it. Maybe he could distract it out of him.
Turned out, he didn't have to. Alex leaned over his laptop and brought up YouTube as Michael watched curiously. He recognized the song that shortly bleated from the speakers as a recent one that occasionally played on the radio when Isobel insisted on carpooling as they scoured Roswell for caterers. Alex held out his hand and made his request along with the song. "Shut up and dance with me?"
Michael snorted and took his hand, though he didn't move.
"What happened to I can dance, Alex? I'm better than my certifiably bad-at-dancing brother, Alex? I'll prove--"
Michael pressed his lips to Alex's and began to slow dance with him despite the tempo. "You got me. I'm a liar. You do not want to see what else I've got."
"This is pretty good, actually. Maybe I do."
"Aw, you're just saying that because I kissed you."
"Then we're even." Alex tugged him back to bed before the song even ended.
If Michael was a noisy heated body pillow, Alex was one of those gimmicky forever cool pillows. Michael liked to put his ear above Alex's heart and listen. It wasn't Quiet, but it wasn't anything but Alex's heartbeat, either. Alex snaked his fingers up Michael's neck and into his hair to play with the curls there.
There was never anything so good to touch as Alex's skin.
"When do you need to get home?"
It took Michael a moment to answer. He was home, as far as he was concerned. "Uhh, like, eleven, I guess."
"You guess?"
"I'm comfy." As evidence, he rubbed his nose against Alex's chest.
"Sleep here, then."
"Don't wanna wake you up at four. Alarm's set."
"I can go back to sleep."
"Hmm." He craned his neck to kiss at Alex's throat. "If you're sure."
"I am."
Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy played at a slowly ramping volume and woke them up, and Alex swatted at Michael as the chorus rang out, laughing.
"Sorry," he said, reaching over him as obnoxiously as possible to turn the alarm off. He was not successful.
"Could have just asked, Guerin," Alex said, catching his waist and rolling them over.
"Alex!" he whined, covering his eyes with his arm. "You're gonna make me late."
"Doesn't seem like you want to go." He raised his eyebrows. "Do you?"
Michael lowered his arm and shot him a heatless glare. "No."
"Then you're making yourself late."
As if Michael could just leave when Alex had his hands all over him.
The alarm snoozed itself after five minutes and went off again after another five. Some time after it snoozed the second time but before it went off for a third time, Michael was able to retrieve his phone from the nightstand. Alex was already on his way back to sleep, his face pressed into Michael's neck.
God, he'd stay with Alex forever if he just asked.
But Alex said, "See you tonight?"
"Yeah, message me," Michael said, lips on Alex's temple. He smiled and backed off enough to allow Michael to get up. "Gonna borrow your shower real quick."
"Okay, have fun," he replied in a sleepy mumble.
This was the third day, technically, that he was wearing the same clothes, but given how little he'd actually had them on, he wasn't too bad off. Michael was definitely going to be late.
"Guerin," Alex said as he pulled open the door. He stopped, of course. "Tell the cows I said moo."
"Will do."
Mmmguerin (0607): they said moo back
xX_Alex_Xx (0842): send me a thumbs up emoji
Mmmguerin (0843): 👍
xX_Alex_Xx (0843): thanks
xX_Alex_Xx (0843): 👍
Mmmguerin (0844): welcome (:
xX_Alex_Xx (0845): :)
Mmmguerin (0846): gonna do something fun today m
Mmmguerin (0846): ?*
xX_Alex_Xx (0847): i already did something fun today
xX_Alex_Xx (0848): guess i gotta balance that out with something unfun
Mmmguerin (0848): trying to make me blush Alex??
Mmmguerin (0849): what? You're on vacation fun only
xX_Alex_Xx (0850): dont worry about it
Mmmguerin (0851): ????? I wasn't until you said not to??
xX_Alex_Xx (0851): im just gonna rescue some of my shit from my dad's house. Need a jacket
Mmmguerin (0852): ):<
Mmmguerin (0852): wait till I'm done working I'll be your back up. Or I'll lend you one
xX_Alex_Xx (0853): no.
xX_Alex_Xx (0853): i can get my stuff by myself.
Michael frowned at the nearest cow. Alex could take care of himself, obviously, but even the mention of Alex's father made his left hand clench painfully around the phone. If it were up to him, Jesse Manes would be in a hole in the ground. Alive or not, he didn't care, so long as he could never hurt Alex or anyone else again.
xX_Alex_Xx (0854): im gonna visit some other people too
Mmmguerin (0855): ok well
Mmmguerin (0855): um be careful
xX_Alex_Xx (0856): hopefully he wont even be there
xX_Alex_Xx (0857): will you feel better if i message you once i have my stuff
Mmmguerin (0857): yeah
xX_Alex_Xx (0858): ok
xX_Alex_Xx (0858): how are the cows then
Michael turned his phone and threw a thumbs up at the camera, making sure at least one cow was in frame behind him.
Mmmguerin sent an attachment at (0859).
xX_Alex_Xx (0859): nice
Mmmguerin (0900): it's one for the wallet
xX_Alex_Xx (0900): whose
Mmmguerin (0900): uh mine obviously
xX_Alex_Xx (0901): obviously
xX_Alex_Xx (0901): do people actually still put pictures in their wallets
Mmmguerin (0902): Max does! But he's essentially an old man
Mmmguerin (0903): people have phones now
Mmmguerin (0903): with juice cameras
Mmmguerin (0903): nice* wtf
Mmmguerin (0904): Alex?
xX_Alex_Xx (0904): sorry i was laughing
Mmmguerin (0904): at least someone is
xX_Alex_Xx (0905): do juice cameras come in different flavors
Mmmguerin (0905): excuse me that was Swype's fault
xX_Alex_Xx (0906): pulp fiction was recorded with an orange juice camera
Mmmguerin (0907): Alex
Mmmguerin (0907): Alex you're the best damn human on the planet and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise
xX_Alex_Xx (0908): thanks youre not so shabby yourself
Mmmguerin (0908): I try
Mmmguerin (0909): jk no I don't
xX_Alex_Xx (0909): you dont but you still pull it off
xX_Alex_Xx (0909): gdi dont say it
Mmmguerin (0910): say what
xX_Alex_Xx (0910): dont
Mmmguerin (0911): what
xX_Alex_Xx (0911): do not
Mmmguerin (0911): why would I make a handy joke when you're clearly already thinking of it
Mmmguerin (0912): like where's the fun in that
xX_Alex_Xx (0912): when has that ever stopped you before
Mmmguerin (0913): lots of times
xX_Alex_Xx (0913): name one
Mmmguerin (0915): hey Alex
xX_Alex_Xx (0915): yes
Mmmguerin (0915): I'll pull YOU off
xX_Alex_Xx (0916): oh my god
Mmmguerin (0916): *finger gunzz*
xX_Alex_Xx (0917): oh my GOD
Mmmguerin (0917): (:
xX_Alex_Xx (0918): that was worse than i thought itd be
Mmmguerin (0918): the cows thought it was funny
Mmmguerin (0919): they thought it was udderly hilarious
xX_Alex_Xx (0919): oh good it's actually even worse thanks
Mmmguerin (0920): I'd milk for more but you don't seem amoosed
xX_Alex_Xx (0920): i guess im just not in the mood
Mmmguerin (0920): seriously Alex. Best human
Mmmguerin (0921): unfortunately I must stop seducing you with cow puns and patch a fence now
xX_Alex_Xx (0921): you were seducing me?
Mmmguerin (0922): let Barbie dream cowboy dream ok
Mmmguerin (0922): bye Alex don't die
xX_Alex_Xx (0923): i Refuse to die
xX_Alex_Xx (0923): see you later
Mmmguerin (0923): see ya
xX_Alex_Xx (1005): got my stuff
xX_Alex_Xx (1006): no sergeant on grounds
Mmmguerin (1006): good
xX_Alex_Xx (1007): are you working?
Mmmguerin (1007): rarely
xX_Alex_Xx (1008): wouldnt want to distract you
As if Alex hadn't been distracting him since high school without even trying.
Mmmguerin (1009): I patched the fence I deserve a break
Mmmguerin (1010): I deserve the leftovers Isobel brought me
xX_Alex_Xx (1010): whats that
Mmmguerin (1011): appears to be Alfredo raviolis
Mmmguerin (1011): even good cold
xX_Alex_Xx (1011): cold???
Mmmguerin (1012): of low temperature
xX_Alex_Xx (1012): why would you eat them cold
Mmmguerin (1012): because it's hot out
xX_Alex_Xx (1013): pasta should be hot
Mmmguerin (1013): I'm already boiling Alex
xX_Alex_Xx (1013): :(
Mmmguerin (1014): 😥
xX_Alex_Xx (1014): im... not sure what thats supposed to be... angry smirk?
Mmmguerin (1014): sweating emoji
xX_Alex_Xx (1015): ah
xX_Alex_Xx (1015): well
xX_Alex_Xx (1015): i wouldnt want you to overheat or anything
xX_Alex_Xx (1016): are you drinking water too
Mmmguerin (1016): your concern is touching
Mmmguerin (1016): I'm drinking
xX_Alex_Xx (1017): water?
Mmmguerin (1017): I'm drinking
xX_Alex_Xx (1017): guerin
Mmmguerin (1018): yes water what do you take me for
Mmmguerin (1018): don't answer that
xX_Alex_Xx (1018): sure
xX_Alex_Xx (1019): ok im gonna visit the sheriff enjoy your ravioli
Mmmguerin (1019): that sounds like a fun time, tell her I said hey
Mmmguerin (1020): on second thought don't even mention me
xX_Alex_Xx (1020): yeah?
xX_Alex_Xx (1020): later
Mmmguerin (1020): byeee
(sent) The ravioli was delicious thank u
(ICE Iz Evans) It was tortellini but you're welcome
(sent) The PASTA WITH THE CHEESE was delicious THANK U
(ICE Iz Evans) 🙄 I'll be over at 11 with the resin stuff so make sure your boyfriend is gone by then if you still don't want me to know
(sent) Not my boyfriend & not staying with me
(ICE Iz Evans) Sure Michael. You guys just do totally normal friend things.
(ICE Iz Evans) I constantly provide the same things for my friends
(ICE Iz Evans) Buy them flowers, sleepover with them when they're jetlagged, spend the entire following day with them, all that jazz
(ICE Iz Evans) Completely normal
(sent) Really?
(ICE Iz Evans) No Michael it's gay as shit
(sent) Bi as shit
(ICE Iz Evans) Whatever
(ICE Iz Evans) Point is you SHOULD be boyfriends
(sent) 🤷
(ICE Iz Evans) Don't shrug at me
(ICE Iz Evans) Why aren't you
(sent) We just aren't
(sent) He leaves, he doesn't have a choice with that
(sent) We don't talk about it
(sent) And there's other stuff
(ICE Iz Evans) Is he hurting you
(sent) What? What the fuck
(sent) No
(sent) I just miss him when he's gone, that hurts but that's not his fault
(ICE Iz Evans) I could make him stay for you
(sent) No
(sent) I don't think you could
(sent) Or should
(ICE Iz Evans) Oh my god you really love him
(sent) Didn't we go over this already
(ICE Iz Evans) I'm sorry (not really)
(ICE Iz Evans) You're such a romantic disaster
(sent) Excuse me
(ICE Iz Evans) Does he make you happy?
(sent) He makes me better
(ICE Iz Evans) Remind me to kick you tomorrow
(sent) Why???
(ICE Iz Evans) Because you won't date this guy you're so clearly head over heels for
(ICE Iz Evans) I'm gonna start convincing random guys to ask you out
(sent) What the hell will that accomplish?
(ICE Iz Evans) If I find him you just have to say yes
(ICE Iz Evans) If I don't maybe he'll get jealous and ask you out (:
(sent) He won't
(sent) Just leave it alone Iz
(ICE Iz Evans) Are you happy, Michael?
(sent) If I say yes will you leave it alone
(ICE Iz Evans) If you mean it
(sent) Are you going to keep moving the goalposts
(ICE Iz Evans) You deserve to be happy Michael. You're my brother and I want that for you
(sent) Do I?? You really believe that?
(ICE Iz Evans) Yes. Don't you?
Sometimes Michael wondered if Iz had really believed his lie that night. She certainly hadn't wanted to. Maybe deep, deep down, she knew--
But if she wasn't going to say anything, neither was he.
(sent) That's nice of you
(sent) I am perfectly fine letting him set the boundaries and pace, and I'm happy with that, ok
(ICE Iz Evans) Ok
(ICE Iz Evans) If these guitar picks don't instigate some serious smooching I am going to eat your hat
(sent) Please don't threaten my hat I paid good money for it
(ICE Iz Evans) I appreciate that you have an aesthetic but could you be a bigger baby about it?
(sent) Probably
(sent) You realize we already do some serious
(sent) Well I wouldn't call it smooching but I don't want to damage your delicate sensibilities
(ICE Iz Evans) Gross
(ICE Iz Evans) Wait you do that and you're not dating?
(sent) Nope
(ICE Iz Evans) What in the ass
(sent) Are you TRYING to make me say something inappropriate cause I'm abt to
(ICE Iz Evans) DON'T
(sent) OK
(sent) Geez
(ICE Iz Evans) Thank you
(ICE Iz Evans) This conversation isn't over but I have to go
(ICE Iz Evans) See you tomorrow
(sent) Fine... See you
Michael was flipping through one of his old textbooks, looking for a bookmark, when his phone vibrated with a Skype notification.
xX_Alex_Xx (1608): you still working?
Mmmguerin (1609): god no
Mmmguerin (1609): just reading
xX_Alex_Xx (1610): whatcha reading
Mmmguerin (1611): uhhhh ap physics textbook from high school
xX_Alex_Xx (1611): alright
xX_Alex_Xx (1611): you wanna come over?
Mmmguerin (1612): yes when
xX_Alex_Xx (1612): ??
xX_Alex_Xx (1613): when you finish reading your book?
Michael rolled his eyes and shut the text.
Mmmguerin (1614): would you look at that I've finished it
Mmmguerin (1615): want me to pick up takeout or something?
xX_Alex_Xx (1615): oo yeah
Mmmguerin (1615): Chinese?
xX_Alex_Xx (1616): yeah
Mmmguerin (1616): ok I'll be there around five
xX_Alex_Xx (1616): message me when you park i'll help
Mmmguerin (1617): such a gentleman
Mmmguerin (1618): I'll be sure to get enough that I can't carry it on my own
xX_Alex_Xx (1618): thanks
Mmmguerin (1656): I'm here, got a spot at the front
xX_Alex_Xx (1657): be right there
Michael picked up two of the three bags from the passenger side. He could definitely manage all three, but what Alex wanted, Alex got.
He suddenly remembered that Alex wanted to go off the grid for some godforsaken reason and dropped the bags to stare out the windshield. Michael had been dramatic, sure, and he wasn't about to stop. He knew he probably wouldn't die for not hearing from Alex. But he also knew he'd hate every second of it.
A knock on the passenger window broke him out of his reverie, and Alex pulled open the door. "You awake, Guerin?"
He tipped his head back. "Are you really going incommunicado next time?"
Alex shut his eyes and leaned against the side frame of the truck. "It's not that I want that part of it. I... There's basically a guaranteed promotion with it. I'd outrank everyone else in my family."
"You already outrank everyone else in your family to me," Michael said petulantly.
Alex shook his head. "It'd be good for me," he said, as if it was something he was repeating, something he'd been told. He took the nearest two bags. "Come on, Guerin."
Michael grabbed the last bag. "But you'd still be in an active war zone, right?"
"Yeah." He looked toward the hotel. "Afghanistan."
"Alex--"
"Can we talk inside? I can't, not out here."
Michael took a deep breath and exhaled before he got out of his truck.
The bags got unceremoniously dropped on the small table in Alex's room, but they didn't sit down. He gently held Michael's hands. "I want to, Guerin."
"You could have said that outside."
He looked down at their hands. "I actually couldn't. You're the one who's good with words, I need-- well, I need to get better at that."
Michael freed his hands to rest his arms on Alex's shoulders. "I don't know what that means."
"Exactly my point," Alex said dryly, settling his hands around Michael's waist.
"What if something happens to you?"
"What if something did happen to me? If I messaged you that I got hurt, what then?"
Michael felt queasy at the very thought of Alex being injured, but he powered on. "Then I'd know you're okay. Still alive, at least. I could message you things to make you feel better, be supportive and shit."
Alex squinted at him. "I don't think you'd be that chill about it."
"I'm not really chill about any of it, Alex."
"I know." He looked away. "Food's gonna get cold."
Michael sat down, but he stopped pulling out boxes abruptly when he thought of the scars on Alex's body that he hadn't recognized. "Have you gotten hurt and not told me?"
Alex only raised his eyebrows as he sorted through the food.
"Alex!"
He glanced up. "I'm still alive, Guerin. I'm not gonna waste time messaging you about minor things. Skyping with you does make me feel better." He indicated a plate of chicken. "What's this?"
"Honey ginger. Got a bit of everything. I still want to know you're okay."
"I am. I'm here, aren't I?"
"Yeah," Michael said, looking down to fill his own plate. "For now."
There was silence for a moment as they both began to eat.
"I did tell the sheriff you said hey," Alex said with a growing smirk.
Michael groaned.
"She was glad she hadn't seen you in a while. Said she thought Max was a positive influence on you since being deputized."
"Unbelievable. I am, I am a paragon of legal citizen-ness. I'm publicly decent. I'm upstanding. I don't know what she even means by that. Max doesn't influence me at all. He couldn't influence me if he tried."
Alex leaned on his elbow. "Publicly decent," he repeated.
"The opposite of publicly indecent."
"Of course. She said she used to see you almost weekly to put you up in the drunk tank."
Michael only shrugged. "Did you get to see Max in his white hat? It's very impressive."
"No, he wasn't there. Dunno how I'd feel about that. He never struck me as the cop type." Before Michael could lay out exactly how sanctimonious his brother was, Alex asked, "Do I need to worry about you? I didn't know you drank that much."
"Guess we're both learning things today, huh?" He smiled at him in the hopes of getting rid of that concerned look and waved his hand. "You definitely don't need to worry about me. You should worry about yourself. You're the one who gets shot at."
Alex studied him, and Michael held the expression until Alex dropped his gaze back to their dinner. "Okay, Guerin."
"Okay, so that's settled."
"I guess so."
They ate until they were full, and Michael set about putting extra food back in boxes and into the bags.
Alex scooted around the table to sit beside him and rub his arm. "Hey."
Michael automatically dropped his head into Alex's shoulder and wrapped his arms around him. "Hey. Should put these in the fridge." But he made no effort to extricate himself, and neither did Alex.
"Later."
It didn't take Michael long to turn his head to kiss Alex. It never did. He loved him with his entire being, and he doubted that he would ever stop. If Alex felt the same way, he didn't tell Michael aloud, but he returned every touch enthusiastically.
"You're gorgeous," Michael mumbled when they paused to breathe.
"Means a lot coming from you, Barbie dream cowboy." Alex had the brightest smile in the world on his face, by Michael's estimation. He could flag down aliens with it, and Michael supposed he had, given he was about to go down on him where they sat.
The leftovers eventually made it to the fridge. Michael had no intention of taking all of it with him when he left. For now, though, he just wanted to bask in Alex. He flopped back down beside him and instantly got Alex's hands in his hair. Michael poked him. "You got a hair kink, Alex?"
He raised an eyebrow and slid his hands down, making Michael whine until he brought them back up. "Do you?"
"Do I have a your-hands-in-my-hair kink?" He thought for a moment, and Alex pulled lightly and made him shudder. "Yeah, yeah."
Alex gave Michael a satisfied smirk. "It's soft."
Before he could stop himself, he said, "You're the only other one who would know."
"How do you mean?" he asked with a thoughtful frown.
"Well I don't let just anyone touch my hair, Alex." He shrugged with difficulty since he was lying on his side. "Isobel cuts it sometimes. I'm not allowed to go full afro."
"No," he said with a laugh. "Don't think your hair could do that."
"Probably not. It's never been long enough to find out."
Alex pulled him in for a kiss just as soft as his curls. "Whatcha doing tomorrow?"
"Meet Isobel at the ranch at eleven, junkyard shift from one to like, six probably."
"Wedding stuff at the ranch?"
"Mm-mm, sibling stuff. She thinks I need a date," he told him. "Knows I'm seeing somebody this week, but I didn't tell her it's you."
"Oh. Thanks." There was something like fear on Alex's face, but Michael couldn't quite place it. Isobel was scary, sure, but not like--
"And I won't, Alex," he said, running his hand down his arm and hopefully taking the fear along with it. "I'm good at sex secrets, you know."
"Yeah? Like what?"
Michael started off explaining that he couldn't just reveal secrets, but he caught the humor in the way Alex bit his lip. "You think you're so cute."
"I know I am."
"Fuck yeah you are."
There was no noise but the pair of them breathing. Night had crept up on them at some point, possibly before the leftovers even made it to the fridge. They were fighting exhaustion but neither wanted to admit it.
"You sleeping over?" Alex said finally.
"You kicking me out?"
"That'd be difficult since I'm not entirely sure which legs are mine."
"That sounds like a morning us problem."
"Yeah," Alex said, sliding his hand down Michael's jaw to pat there. "G'night, Guerin."
Michael caught his hand and laced their fingers together. "Night, Alex."
Michael woke to a loud ringing as Alex shoved at him gently. "Your phone."
He groaned and rolled away to answer it. "I'm sleeping."
"Wake up call," Isobel said cheerfully.
"Time is it?"
"Ten-o-five."
Michael groaned again, only to watch Alex stumble out of bed and gather the leftovers from the fridge to start reheating them.
"Well if he's not staying with you, and you're being gross, you must be staying with him in town, which means it's going to take you, generously, twenty minutes to drive back to the Airstream. I've left you time to canoodle or whatever, so don't be late."
"I don't canoodle, Iz," Michael scoffed.
"See you soon!"
He glared at the call ended screen and tossed his phone where Alex had been tangled up with him.
"Did you say canoodle?" Alex said from the table. He waved Michael over.
"Iz said it, can we please never say it again?" He kissed Alex's cheek and dropped into the chair beside him.
Alex tapped a fork on the side of his plate thoughtfully. "What does canoodle even mean?"
"I don't know, but I hate it."
"But what if you are a canoodler?"
At this point, Michael realized he was saying it on purpose, so he dug a pea out of his rice and flicked it at him. Alex ducked easily and flung one back, hitting Michael square between the eyes.
"Alex!" he said with a whine.
"Definitely not sorry," Alex replied, though he leaned forward to kiss the wound. "Try eating instead of throwing food at me, Guerin. You wouldn't want to piss Isobel off by being late."
"No," he agreed.
"Why did she say canoodle, anyway?"
Michael picked out another pea for Alex to duck as he laughed.
He pulled out the napkins from beneath his textbooks and scowled at the bluebells, which looked strange flat just as he thought. Maybe they'd be fine, though. Confirmation bias and all.
He heard a car door slam somewhere near his truck, and not long after, Isobel yelled, "Open the door, my hands are full!"
Michael pushed it open from the table, where she dropped all the supplies and glared at him for a moment before smiling. "What?"
"You look happy."
He shrugged. "I'm well-fucked."
"I hate you. So much." She picked the bags up again, and Michael followed her back outside in alarm, but she merely put them on the table beneath the tent. "We need air circulation for the resin. It's bad to breathe the fumes."
"Ah. Here's the flowers."
She looked at the napkin and nodded. The bags got emptied into the clear space where he usually worked. He snatched up the hard plastic mold of six picks as Isobel had promised. The bottoms were textured.
"Fancy. What are the toothpicks for?"
"In case the flowers float you can poke them around." She set about mixing resin. "How long have you known this guy, anyway?"
"A long time."
Isobel made a face. "Like have you met him before this week or were you planning on bringing a stranger from the internet to my wedding?"
"Ha, no. I've met him a couple times before this week. What's the food coloring for?"
"Tint the resin if you want."
Michael frowned in consideration as he arranged six separate piles of flowers. "Nah. Thanks though. You guys doing a honeymoon?"
"Don't change the subject, we're talking about your relationship."
"You are getting married in a little over a week."
"Yeah, and you're... What are you, exactly? Friends with benefits?"
He shrugged as Isobel poured resin to half-fill the molds. "I don't know, Iz, it's just a thing, we don't put words to it."
She raised an eyebrow and watched him set flowers into the clear liquid. "Just a thing? You love each other--"
"I love him. I don't know about that, that, him loving me, I don't." He shook his head.
Isobel rolled her eyes. "He'd be stupid not to. Isn't that what you said to me about Noah when we started dating? Applies to you, too."
"He's not, he's so smart, and he's such a badass, and hot, and I, fuck I need to stop talking before I say something I can't take back."
Isobel rested her chin in her palm with a smirk. "No, please, it's adorable. Is he taller or shorter than you?"
"No."
"No? Same height?"
"No, it's not adorable." Michael grabbed the plastic cup of resin to finish up the picks. She poked his arm until he answered. "Okay, okay, he's maybe an inch taller than me, at most, maybe, we're basically the same height really."
"Same age as us?"
"We don't actually know how old we are," he pointed out as he prodded some of the flowers back into place. She put a Tupperware upside down over the mold along with a rock he used as a paper weight.
"Keep the sand out," she explained. "In general, though? I wanna know if you're being cougared or something."
"Cougared? Seriously? He's less of a cougar than Noah, that's for sure. We at least spend most of the year the same age."
"Wow okay, we're just two years apart, settle down."
"Well now I'm worried. Are you being cougared?"
"Why are you saying it like that, like it's not a thing? People say catfished."
Michael took out his phone.
(sent) Max can u use cougar as a very
(sent) Verb
(sent) Like "Isobel is being cougared by Noah"
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) ...no?
(ICE Maxwellian Evans) ??
He showed Isobel their brother's response.
"Whatever, that's Max."
"Are you saying Mr. Pretentious Writer doesn't know which words can be verbs and which ones can't?"
"Nope. Besides, technically speaking, we would have been born in like, 1940, making us the cougars."
"Ew. For once, I'm against speaking of something technically. Please don't say that ever again."
Isobel hummed and said, "Max said you guys are going to go to Shooting Star Oasis Saturday night?"
"Uh-huh." They began to put her supplies back in her bags.
"Are you going to get dinner first?"
"Oh, shit. That's a good idea."
She sighed and put the bags in her car. "How long till you work?"
He checked the time on his phone. "Don't have to leave for another half hour."
"Great, let's try to find somewhere to make reservations. You text the group and see who can make dinner beforehand."
"We're supposed to have a group text?"
"Oh my god, Michael, why did I let you two do this?"
"Uh, you asked us to, you said throw Noah a bachelor party, we were doing what you asked," he grumbled.
To each of the phone numbers, he texted:
(sent): Pre-bar bachelor dinner y/n plz answer asap
And to Alex he messaged on Skype:
Mmmguerin (1158): so apparently we're supposed to do dinner before the bachelor party, do you want to go to that too?
xX_Alex_Xx (1200): sure
"Well, there's one yes."
"Plus you and Noah and Dad and Max. Five."
He thankfully got the rest of their answers within the next ten minutes. "Okay, nine for dinner."
Isobel got to work finding a restaurant that'd take them. Fifteen minutes later, they had a reservation, which he relayed to everyone, even those who had said no, just in case.
(sent) 5 pm @ Roadhouse to el Dorado 7 pm @ Shooting Star Oasis
He sent the same to Alex as well as a, "Do you want me to pick you up?" which got the same reply as his first question.
"Okay, I gotta go to work," Michael said, tossing some clean clothes into an old bag for afterwards.
Isobel waved her fingers at him from his bed, still on her phone.
"What do you like my bed so much for?"
She shrugged. "Have fun at work."
He was hardly out the door when he heard her open the fridge. "Isobel, don't snoop!"
"Why haven't you gotten any food since I left you that tortellini?" she shouted back. "All you have is beer, a slice of cheese, and an egg!"
"I haven't been here!"
The door popped open, and she pushed past him, the empty Tupperware from the pasta in her hand. "I'm picking up groceries for you. You can pay me back later."
"Iz, I'm fine, you don't need to get groceries for me."
She spread her arms. "How you gonna stop me?"
Michael stomped to his truck and threw his bag in. "Fine, but no weird bagels this time!"
She drove behind him partway into town before she headed to the market.
Twenty minutes before his shift ended, Michael was elbows deep in an SUV he'd definitely have to finish the next day. He sighed and took a step back from it to wipe his face off with his shirt collar. He was just going to call it quits for the day.
He noticed someone in the waiting area staring at him over a laptop and did a double take. "Alex?"
He waved. "Hey Guerin. I was bored and in the area. Thought I'd do some work some place other than the freezing hotel."
"Really? So you're not here to ogle me in all my grimey glory?"
Alex looked down at the computer screen. "Please."
Michael collapsed into the chair beside him and squinted at his Visual Studio window, which had no code whatsoever. "You sure you're working? 'Cause your screen's empty and I'm soaked and like a hundred and six degrees."
"Do you want me to tell you you're hot?"
"You wouldn't be the first, but I do like to hear it from you. It does wonders for my self-esteem."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "You're something, alright."
"I'm something that needs a shower and air conditioning and a drink and food."
"Hey, I've got a hotel room with all that."
"Even the food?"
"Well, you didn't take any of your takeout, so there's still some of that, but I've also got most of a pizza from lunch."
"Cold pizza, yes," he said with a groan. He leaned back and shut his eyes. "I'm just, uh, gonna sit here. For a couple minutes."
"All right."
After a minute, Michael opened one eye and caught Alex staring at him again. He grinned. "You are not subtle, Alex."
He shut his laptop with a huff and put it in his bag. "Neither are you."
"I'm not good at subtle. You wanna go for a ride?"
"Yeah." He kipped up and offered Michael his hand to pull him up. "You'd beat me there by quite a while otherwise. I walked here."
"And you're still way less nasty than I am." Michael unlocked his truck and opened the passenger side door for Alex.
"Thank you? I could still do with a shower, too."
"Welcome. I guess we could share again."
He watched Alex bite down a smile. "You think?"
"Gotta do our part to conserve water."
"We take longer together than separate," Alex said.
"You know, that individual conserve water thing is bullshit, Max was just telling me the other day how it's actually big corporations run by like forty specific people who need to go green, so yeah."
He laughed. "Nice. Nice walkback, Guerin."
"Thanks." He parked and grabbed his bag, then followed Alex back to his room.
Clean and fed, Michael and Alex tangled up in bed, as per usual with them. Michael drew shapes across Alex's chest, using his scars as edges to some.
"What are you drawing?" he asked, pushing his fingers up through Michael's hair.
"Dunno, just something I drew as a kid. Triangle with three circles."
"Hmm, come up here."
Michael leaned up for a lazy kiss, and another.
"You work tomorrow?"
He nodded. "Junkyard eight to two. You gotta fly back on Sunday, right?"
"Mhm. Five am flight."
"What! Ugh, whose idea was that?" He pulled Alex closer. "I'll drive you to the airport."
"You don't have to do that."
"You're going to a party with me beforehand, it'd be rude not to. You'll have to keep me awake, though."
"Like I am now?"
"You do this to me in the truck and we're pulling over and getting in the back," Michael said flatly.
Alex grinned. "I'll keep that in mind."
"We'll never make it to Albuquerque."
"You're optimistic." He patted his cheek. "Which is exactly why you didn't pick me up. Go to sleep."
"Okay, Alex, good night."
Alex pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Good night."
Michael had changed his alarm, and Alex mumbled about it sleepily as he turned it off.
"Inappropriate," Michael told him.
"Your song," Alex retorted. "Take your food this time."
"You'll have to let go of me."
He sighed loudly and scooted backwards so that Michael could get out of bed. He rolled back into the space he vacated. "There goes my space heater."
"You're just using me for my body temperature." He sniffed daintily.
"I'm not using you for anything, Guerin," Alex said seriously, pushing himself up slightly, eyes wide. "Is that what you think?"
Michael could only shrug as he took one of the four remaining boxes from the fridge.
"Guerin, I mean it. That's not what this is."
"Whatever you say, Alex." He felt Alex's eyes on him as he got dressed. "I wouldn't mind if you were." He caught Michael's face in his hands when he tried to kiss him goodbye. "What?"
"I like spending time with you. I'm not using you. Okay?"
He nodded slowly, and Alex closed the distance between their lips. "I'll, uh, I'll see you later?"
"Yeah, come over whenever. I'm gonna see if I can hook that TV up to my laptop and stream movies off the internet."
"Okay." Michael kissed him again and headed to the door only to turn and watch Alex pull the sheets and comforter clear over his head.
Isobel had texted Michael a picture of the receipt in case he lost the real thing. This had happened once, and Isobel had told him to just give her twenty bucks, which he knew wouldn't cover it. He squinted at the list of what she'd bought.
(sent) Thanks
(sent) And thanks for skipping the weird stuff
(ICE Iz Evans) Weird stuff is good for you but it's your money so whatever
(ICE Iz Evans) How'd the picks turn out?
(sent) I'll know after work
(ICE Iz Evans) Send me a picture
(sent) [Picture]
(ICE Iz Evans) Charming. I meant of the picks
(sent) [Picture]
(sent) [Picture]
(ICE Iz Evans) I really don't care for the guts of cars Michael
(sent) [Picture]
(ICE Iz Evans) Yes you're very cute
(ICE Iz Evans) Send me a picture. Of the picks. When you get to them
(sent) Ok (:
(sent) I'll give Noah the grocery money tomorrow
(ICE Iz Evans) Whatever
(sent) [Picture]
(ICE Iz Evans) Fab
(sent) Which one is the best??
(ICE Iz Evans) Hmmmm
(ICE Iz Evans) Second one
(sent) Thank you
Michael very carefully drilled a hole into each of the picks, but set aside the one Isobel recommended. Now he just had to give it to Alex without thinking about the extra flower meanings like a total sap. Yeah, he could definitely do that.
He went inside to swap out the clothes in his bag before he left.
He shoved the pick in his back pocket and knocked on Alex's door.
"Guerin?" came muffled through.
"You expecting someone else?"
The door opened and Michael absently noted that Alex had not bothered to put a shirt on today, just an unzipped hoodie. He was a little jealous of the dog tags touching his bare skin, but he was sure he'd get to in a minute.
"No, but the staff comes around sometimes. Come on. I don't have the right adaptors for the TV, you mind watching on my laptop?"
Did he mind having to balance the laptop on one of their thighs each? "Nope. What are we watching?"
"Did you see Winter Soldier?"
"Nah, I don't really go see movies." Michael tossed his bag to the floor and took the pick back out of his pocket so it wouldn't pop out when he draped himself over Alex, who, of course, immediately noticed that he had something.
"What's that?"
Michael swallowed and held out his palm. "Made you this."
Alex blinked down at it and took the pick gingerly. "Guerin..."
"Izzy thought, well, she mentioned resin, and you can't take the bluebells, so it has a couple, and some of mine, why not, they kinda match--"
He was interrupted by a kiss that melted his soul. There was Isobel's mission accomplished. No, forget about her, focus on Alex's face and the way he was dismantling him like it was nothing.
Eventually, he heard, "What do, um, what do mine mean again?"
Michael realized slowly that they had their foreheads pressed together, and he took a moment to come back down to earth.
"Thank you. Uh, for trying to make my sister's wedding for me." He wondered what Alex would do if he told him the other meanings.
Alex snorted a laugh. "Sure thing. It's really pretty. Thanks, Guerin."
"Glad you like it." He was, admittedly, still sort of dazed.
"Ready for the movie?"
"Movie, yeah."
"You all right?"
Michael shook his head. "Yeah, just in my own head a little."
"Okay. Let me know when." Alex leaned against his shoulder and examined the pick more closely with a small smile, which was way more interesting than any movie could possibly be. He flipped it through his fingers and glanced at Michael, only to smile wider when he saw him staring. "I haven't held a pick in years."
"Not-- Not at all?" Michael said, his eyebrows knitting together.
Alex shrugged. "Haven't played. Now I kinda want to. Never played with a pick this nice."
"Hmm, should we find you a guitar?"
"You mean leave the room and have to put a shirt on? Nah."
"You have a zipper."
"It's broken."
Michael reached up under the hoodie and wrapped his arms around Alex's middle. "I could look at it, if you want."
"I want to watch a movie with you."
"Then hit play."
Alex did, and then he ran his fingers through Michael's hair. He played with the pick with his other hand. Michael paid absolutely no attention to the movie.
"They're gay," Alex announced with a nod approximately two hours later.
Michael blinked at the screen as it ran credits; he might have dozed off a little. "Who?"
"Steve and Bucky."
"Hmm, yeah... What about Peggy?"
Alex nodded. "Steve is bi, but Steve and Bucky are in love, that's my point."
Michael thought back to the first Captain America movie and nodded. "Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"'I'm with you till the end of the line'? Definitely some romantic shit." He tried to press a lazy kiss to Alex's cheek and got his jaw instead. Close enough.
"You're pretty tired, huh?"
"I'm pretty but I never get tired of my favorite people."
He laughed. "Were you watching or sleeping, Guerin?"
Michael snuggled up under Alex's arm. "Comfy."
"So sleeping. You working tomorrow?"
"Uh-uh. I'm all yours. Um, long as you want."
"Then I guess you won't be picking me up tomorrow, just giving me a ride."
"Give you a ride whenever you want, Alex," Michael mumbled.
"Mhm." He picked up his laptop and moved to get up, causing Michael to whine. "I'm just going to go plug it in. I'll be right back."
"Fine." He released him, and Alex put the pick between his lips for safekeeping while he went to the desk. He returned to slot himself next to Michael, only pausing to take off his chain and string the pick on it. "Oh, I didn't think you'd put it there."
"I don't really have anywhere else to put it. Maybe on a USB stick, but those get lost." Michael snuggled in with a nod. "Come on, Guerin, go to sleep."
"I don't wanna waste the time we have left sleeping," he grumbled.
"It's not a waste. Talk like I'm not coming back." Alex shook his head. "You're going to fall asleep again anyway."
"Not if you're talking to me. Are you tired?"
"Nope."
"Well, I don't want you to be bored."
Alex huffed and wrapped his arms around Michael. "I suppose I have nothing to say if you're going to use my own words against me."
"No, I--"
"Just sleep. I can entertain myself. Got my game boy."
He made a face, but in the end, Michael decided not to be stubborn this time. "Okay, fine."
He fell asleep watching him play Pokemon, some time after Alex's marshtomp evolved into swampert.
The morning went by quickly, no matter how tightly Michael held onto Alex. He wondered if it'd be weird if one of Alex's shirts ended up going back to the Airstream with him in his bag. He clocked one on the floor by his jeans. He folded them together haphazardly when they began to pick things up.
Alex rolled his own clothes up neatly and stacked them in his open suitcase.
Michael rifled through his bag, then looked around, confused.
"Lose something?"
"I can't find my shirt."
"It's over your shoulder."
Michael touched the shirt there with a frown. "No, this is the one I brought. I can't find the one from yesterday." He bent over and checked under the bed. Their clothes had ended up in stranger places, but he didn't see it.
Alex nodded at his duffel. "You sure it's not in your bag already?"
He wasn't sure, but he certainly wasn't about to turn it out to check. Alex would see the Air Force t-shirt and know he stole it. In the end, he supposed it was only fair to have no net gain of shirt. "I dunno. Oh well." Michael zipped it up, and Alex did the same to his own.
"So, we'll come back after and sleep a couple hours, then head up to Albuquerque?"
"Yeah," Michael said vaguely. Why had the day been so short? The week?
"You ready?"
He indicated his sustained shirtlessness.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "It's almost five."
"I know." He shuffled closer to Alex. Could he tell him he'd rather they stayed in the room? Could he think it loud enough? Alex's hand lighted on Michael's bicep and shook him out of his thoughts.
"You okay, Guerin?"
"I just... don't want you to leave."
Alex gravitated toward him. "You never do." He always managed to look conflicted about it, but he still went every time. "Don't think getting arrested for going AWOL would be any better. Realistically speaking."
"Being arrested isn't that bad." At least he'd be safe and in one spot, but Michael didn't say that, because even he knew how awful that sounded.
Alex snorted and shook his head. "Would you visit me?"
"All the time! Do they do conjugal visits in military prisons?"
"Oh my god," he muttered, flicking at Michael's forehead. "I'm hungry, come on. There's still time later."
It wouldn't be enough. It was never enough. Michael held Alex in place to kiss him slow and sweet, and he responded in equal measure. Maybe Michael could freeze them in time like this, like the flowers in the resin pick under Alex's nice red flannel.
After a moment of simply standing, Alex said, "Guerin, seriously, we hardly ate anything today." They'd finished all the leftovers when they woke up and had been a bit too preoccupied to get anything else.
Michael was pushing it the longer he didn't move, as always. But finally, he pulled his shirt on over his head and picked up his bag. "Okay." There was space between them before they even left the room, and Michael blurted out, "I already miss you."
Alex took a deep breath before he turned around to pull Michael into a tight hug. "I miss you, too."
Michael held on for too long again, but they were both hungry. And late, as Max so helpfully texted him. He sent their eta and followed Alex to his truck.
Max had saved them two seats near him and Phil Evans at the opposite end of Noah so that he could hang out with his fancy lawyer friends.
"Hey, bud!" Noah called.
Michael walked around the table to clap his shoulder. "Congratulations, man, one more week till Isobel's your problem."
"I want her to be," he said earnestly.
"Good! Noah, this is my friend Alex Manes, you share the dubious honor of being bought dinner by me tonight."
Alex rolled his eyes and shook Noah's hand. "Congratulations. If Isobel's anything like I remember from high school, she must think you're perfect."
"Aw, well," Noah said, looking down a moment. "Michael, I like him. He can stay."
He shot him a thumbs up and produced an envelope from his back pocket, Isobel scrawled out on the front. Noah nodded in acknowledgement and put it in his jacket pocket before Michael and Alex made their way down to the other end of the table. Max squinted at his brother but gave Alex an amicable nod.
"Hey, I don't think I've seen you since graduation," Max said to him.
"No," he agreed. "I'm not in town much."
Michael figured heaving a dramatic sigh at this point would be a bit much, so he looked over the menu. "Tacos," he said in deliberation as Alex and Max made small talk. Eventually, he settled for chicken, not sure he could look his cow friends in the eyes if he got beef.
The Roadhouse to El Dorado was a bit tacky in following its theme; replicas of golden artifacts littered the walls. The restaurant's name, of course, inspired thoughts of the movie, but the owners insisted they had nothing to do with each other. Merely a coincidence. Please don't mind the menu items that just so happened to have the same names as characters from the movie.
The top of the leather-bound menu was emblazoned with the words it's about the journey. Michael stuck his tongue out and closed it.
Alex got along with everybody at the table, probably, Michael guessed, because he really was the best human in the world. It was good they weren't sitting across from each other or Michael might have spent dinner staring at him in a quite not-friendly way. As it was, he was trying very hard not to scoot his chair any closer to Alex's than necessary.
Michael was glad he didn't refuse to let him buy their dinner, but Alex told him he was buying their drinks at the bar, so it'd even out.
He caught Max on their way out of the restaurant. "We're not gonna stay super late. D'you think you can handle a bunch of shitfaced lawyers on your own?"
"I can, but why are you bailing?"
Michael nodded at Alex, who was chatting with Phil down the sidewalk. "I'm gonna drive him to the airport. He's got an early flight."
"Oh. That's... extremely nice of you, Michael."
"I am extremely nice," he bristled back.
Max patted his shoulder. "Not to humans."
"Most humans are assholes," he pointed out, and Max conceded with a nod of his head. "Come on, Shooting Star Oasis awaits."
Michael gathered Alex and barely resisted the urge to sling an arm around his shoulders. He stole Alex's hand in the truck to hold to his thigh and hoped his nervous energy wasn't actually causing him to vibrate.
"Are you okay?" Alex asked as he started the truck.
"What? Yeah, of course. Why?" Michael glanced over to see him staring at their joined hands.
"You were shaking, Guerin."
"Oh, I was just kinda cold for a second," he lied.
Alex tugged their hands to his own lap to rub warmth into Michael's. He leaned his head back. "That place was so tacky."
"Right? It was the only place Iz could find that could take us on such short notice."
"It was good, though. There are gonna be more people at the bar?"
"More of Noah's lawyer friends, yeah. Let me know when you wanna head out."
Alex nodded and released Michael's hand so he could park in a dark corner. The two establishments weren't far apart.
"Wait, wait," Michael said before he could push the door open.
"Hm?"
He got to kiss him for a minute before headlights in the mirror spooked them apart. Alex gave a small breathless laugh that Michael desperately wanted to chase, but he was out of the truck in a flash.
"Come on, I want to try that fruit beer you were telling me about," he called.
Michael sighed, and he followed Alex inside.
Shooting Star Oasis cordoned their party off into a separate room and gave them a waitress to get their drinks, though Michael almost immediately began to refer to her as an alcohol fairy in his head because of the way she was flitting about the room.
"If it isn't my favorite airman!" she said when she got around to Alex. She leaned over and whispered something to him.
He laughed. "I still am."
"Well, a girl can dream. What'll it be?"
"This guy is on my check, first," Alex said, patting Michael's shoulder as he looked down at the list of beers. "It was the Chokecherry Plum, right, Guerin?"
"That sounds right."
"Yeah, that's the best one," the alcohol fairy said, scribbling it down.
"Make it two," Michael said, and when she floated over to Max (who made it three), he asked Alex, "What was that all about?"
"Oh, she's been trying to get me on a date for ages. I keep telling her, you know, but I think she's just joking at this point."
Michael snorted. "Can't fault her for having taste."
"Hey, hey, we gotta do shots," one of Noah's friends said loudly. Michael was pretty sure his name was Joe and that he was older than everyone at the table, including Phil. He hadn't been at dinner. "At least once. Do you guys do Chocolate Cake?"
"Yes, is everyone going to do one?" asked the alcohol fairy.
"What's that?" Michael asked suspiciously as people joined in.
"Flavored vodka and lemon," Alex told him, "But it tastes like chocolate cake. I'll do one."
"Come on, Michael," Max said; he and his dad were also getting one.
"Okay, fine, I'll do it too. If it tastes like lemon vodka I'm gonna be annoyed."
"It won't," Alex assured him.
Their waitress soon returned with two small plates of sugar and lemon wedges for each end of the table and nine shots. Alex made sure to cover his wedge in sugar, so Michael did the same.
"All right," said Joe once all the shots were set up. "Drink, then lemon. To Noah!"
"To Noah!"
They all drank, and Michael and Alex grinned at each other through the lemon. He had to admit, the name was accurate, but now he wanted actual chocolate cake.
"Not so bad, right?"
"No, it was good," Michael said. He ran a finger through the sugar plate. "Never had a weird vodka shot before, just tequila."
"Weird vodka shots are fun. Hey, Jeanie, how about Sex on the Beach next?"
Michael huffed as the alcohol fairy winked at him. "Thought you'd never ask. Everyone on board for Sex on the Beach?"
This time, Michael wasn't the one asking. Noah called out, "What's that one?"
"Vodka, peach, pineapple, cranberry," she listed off.
He gave a thumbs up and thus the next round was decided. In the meantime, Jeanie brought out their beers.
"Huh," Alex said after an experimental sip.
"Right?"
He nodded sagely.
Michael decided to be responsible and only had the two shots and one beer before he tapered off into water. Alex kept offering shot suggestions, and Michael very nearly went in again to try a Fuzzy Navel, but he knew he had to drive soon.
"Where'd you learn all these?" he asked.
"Yeah, Alex, I've never heard of any of these," Max said.
"Some of my Air Force buddies really like to party. I know one guy who drank three Irish Car Bombs in seven minutes."
"Irish Car Bomb?" Max repeated.
"I think it's, you get a whole stout and you get a shot of whiskey and Irish cream and drop it in."
"Those are good," Phil said nonchalantly. Max and Michael stared at him; the man had been nursing a Bud Light for the last hour. "What? I was young once too."
"I'll get one if you get one," Max said to his dad.
"Well, twist my arm. Hey, Jane?"
"Jeanie," Alex corrected as she came over.
"Right. Jeanie? Can we get two Irish Car Bombs?"
She nodded. "Anyone else for a Car Bomb?"
"Pass. Way more fun to watch," Alex said.
"I'll watch," Michael agreed.
Joe also got one. He and Phil, in what appeared to be a practiced move, dropped the shot glasses into the beer glasses, where the cream curdled, and they quickly downed a good amount of the drink as Max watched.
"Go on, son," Phil said.
"All right, all right," he said, and dropped in his own shot glass, and somehow managed to hit himself in the teeth with it while drinking. "Ow."
Alex had made a noise as soon as Max tipped his glass too far. The rest of the table laughed at Max's misfortune.
"Like I said, way more fun to watch," Alex said. He squeezed Michael's shoulder and lingered near his elbow. "You wanna get out of here when I finish this one?"
"Whenever you want."
He downed what was left in his glass and called the alcohol fairy over for his check.
"Aww, you're leaving, Alex?" Joe asked.
"Yeah, I'm turning into a pumpkin. Got a five a.m. flight to catch. It's been fun. Congratulations again, Noah. And Michael's my ride so I'm stealing him, too. Bye guys."
There was a chorus of good-natured booing as they waved and made their exit.
Alex only stumbled once as they picked their way across the dark parking lot, and Michael had a feeling it was on purpose given it was directly into his arms. "I know you have a ridiculously high tolerance. You're not that wasted."
He gave Michael a fatal smirk. One that could have him doing anything Alex asked, even right there out in the open. "I'm not, but I still want to cuddle the shit out of you."
"Can't wait," he replied honestly.
"Among other things."
"I'm down. You wanna start in the truck or get to the hotel first?"
Alex deliberated dramatically at the passenger side door. "Hmmmm. Hotel I guess." He opened the door, but didn't get in before he pulled Michael across for an open-mouthed kiss that he was fairly sure would make him fail a breathalyzer despite being completely sober by then. He broke off suddenly. "Okay, let's go."
Michael stood frozen for a moment as Alex climbed in. "What?" he said blankly.
"Guerin, hotel?"
Alex was going to be the death of him, and frankly, Michael was okay with that. "Right." He shut the door and went around to his side.
As soon as the truck was in drive, Alex took his hand again. He might've been distracting if he hadn't dozed off within five minutes. Michael gently freed his hand to park close to the hotel and turn off the engine. "We're here."
"Yesss," Alex said, pushing his door open. "Guerin cuddles here I come."
He laughed in his hurry to get inside. Michael checked his phone clock as soon as the door shut behind him. "So it's almost nine, alarm is set for one, that's four hours if we go to sleep immediately."
Alex groaned even as he threw his arms around Michael. "You sure you wanna drive me? I can call a car."
He returned his hold. "Yeah, I'm sure. Hell, I'll wait for your plane with you. I'll steal as much time with you as I can."
"Oh," Alex said softly.
Michael leaned back curiously, only for Alex to catch his lips with his own and slowly take him apart. He broke off too soon to tug him to bed.
"You need the sleep. Clothes off, now."
Alex barely had the words out before he was unlatching his belt. "By the way, red looks good on you," Michael said as Alex fumbled to unbutton his shirt.
"Yeah? Thanks." He gave up on his buttons and let Michael undo them. "Small motor control, first to go and last to come back," he lamented.
Under the sheets, they each sprawled out, but that was shortly overwhelmed by the fact that they each wanted to be touching as much of the other as physically possible. Michael couldn't think of a better way to sleep than half on top of Alex with his hands in his hair and his heartbeat under his ear.
Michael was, for once, thankful that he woke up before his alarm. He'd have been happy to just look at Alex, but it was a little too dark to see him. He could look with his mouth, though, so he did until his exploration woke Alex and he pulled him up to his face.
"What time is it?" he mumbled into his lips.
"Dunno. Alarm hasn't gone off yet."
Alex patted his jaw. "Check."
Michael sighed but reached for his phone on the night table. "Twelve fifty-four."
Alex groaned. He sat up after a minute, so Michael canceled the alarm and turned a lamp on. "Forgot to ask. Are you supposed to work today?"
"No, Alex, it's the Sabbath."
"What, seriously?"
Michael gave him a look that had Alex rolling his eyes.
"Do you actually work today?"
"Not 'til late in the afternoon at Foster. I know what I'm about."
"All right. Well, I really appreciate you driving me. Let me know what I owe you for gas."
"You don't owe me anything."
"No?"
"No, you're here," Michael said, nipping at Alex's bottom lip. "Actually, what would you say to a quick shower?"
"Yes, and coffee."
"So much coffee," he agreed.
"Start coffee, take shower, drink coffee?"
He nodded, and they made their way to the kitchenette. Alex put a pot on and turned in Michael's arms. "How quick?"
"We unfortunately both have to be sitting a lot today so pretty quick."
"Yeah. Okay, come on."
So the shower maybe wasn't quite as quick as Michael hypothesized, but the coffee was still hot when they got out of the bathroom. Michael shot back a whole paper cup full of steaming black before he even got dressed. "Whoo," he said flatly. "That was disgusting."
"No need to sacrifice taste for caffeine," Alex said with a short laugh.
"I'm blaming the toothpaste. Anyway I absolutely need to, I'm driving, damn it." He poured out two more cups, one for him and one for Alex.
"I'm going to keep you awake, remember? I'll DJ from my laptop." He took his cup and added cream and sugar alongside Michael.
"Sounds good."
"That's the idea. You planning on driving in the nude?"
Michael followed his eyes to the towel still around his waist. "I just have a really hard time keeping clothes on around you."
Alex raised his eyebrows. "A hard time, huh?" When his only answer was to grin wickedly, Alex turned to pick up and throw his shirt at him. "You're the worst."
"Yet you tolerate me."
"Think I do a little more than that." Alex kissed him but quickly pulled away, laughing. "That is disgusting."
"Well now I have regrets."
"You misunderstand. It's not gonna stop me," Alex said as he crowded him against the counter.
Some time later, Michael's alarm reminding them to leave went off, and Alex backed off reluctantly even as Michael followed him.
"We have to go."
He grumbled but went to put his jeans on anyway.
Soon enough, they were in his truck, and time was moving all too fast. Had Michael kissed Alex before they left the room? What if he didn't get another chance?
Alex patted his thigh, his own right leg tucked up beneath him. He unknowingly saved Michael from his spiral. "Some upbeat music to keep us awake?"
"Do you know any upbeat music?" Michael questioned. "Isn't it all, I Will Follow You Into The Dark sad stuff with you?"
He huffed and played Shut Up and Dance With Me.
God, Michael was going to associate that song with him forever, just like all those emo songs they listened to the summer after high school.
Too soon, they got to Albuquerque; too soon, they got to the airport, the airport parking garage, where Michael parked his truck and just stared at Alex as he put away his laptop.
"What?" Alex said when he looked up.
"I--" Michael sniffed, shook his head. "Um, one more kiss?"
"Til next time," Alex said. "Yeah."
It wasn't a short kiss, though it felt that way, because then it was a rush to get Alex to his gate and make sure he had everything and then sit and wait with him until he could board and then...
Then Michael was alone again.
Michael wasn't entirely sure why, but whenever Alex left, time seemed to speed up for a while and outpace him. Maybe it was because he held on to every moment Alex was there so tightly; he tried to stretch their time so he had more of it. Maybe it was just because he was trying to relive it.
Alex messaged him during his layover Sunday night, but it was shorter than the last one. They didn't get to talk long.
Michael didn't hear from him again until Thursday, which did nothing for his anxiety the prior three days.
xX_Alex_Xx (1207): im back on base, got everything in order
Mmmguerin (1209): Alex!!!!
xX_Alex_Xx (1210): guerin!!!! im fine before you ask
Mmmguerin (1210): good!!!!
Mmmguerin (1211): very good
xX_Alex_Xx (1212): yeah how are you
Mmmguerin (1212): fine
xX_Alex_Xx (1213): good
Mmmguerin (1213): what are you up to
xX_Alex_Xx (1214): not much
xX_Alex_Xx (1215): i had a really good week last week
Mmmguerin (1216): yeah? Could be more of those, you know
xX_Alex_Xx (1217): id like that
xX_Alex_Xx (1217): i'll see if i can get time off
Mmmguerin (1218): (:
xX_Alex_Xx (1218): :)
xX_Alex_Xx (1219): ok i have to go scare some fresh meat
xX_Alex_Xx (1220): if i dont get back on the computer before sunday, have fun at the wedding
Mmmguerin (1220): ok scare them good
Mmmguerin (1220): well don't jinx it
xX_Alex_Xx (1221): i dont think theres enough power in the world to jinx isobel let alone her wedding
Mmmguerin (1222): obviously!! I meant not getting on again before Sunday
xX_Alex_Xx (1223): right yeah
Michael's sister was getting married in two days, and he was busy, and happy for her, but his own heart was on the other side of the world.
Notes:
0. Hello from like, 3 years after I wrote 99% of this! No literally I had most of this written and would have sworn that I had posted it. I had not. I apologize if threw formatting doesn't match up. It should be tidy at least.
00. I BELIEVE the airport nazi is based on a Tumblr post. I frankly don't recall. Punch nazis
1. The first picture is the top of his hat. The second two are indeed car guts. The fourth picture is a grinning selfie. And the last of course is the picks out of the mold and lined up
2. The real El Dorado was the friends we made along the way. It is not, as far as I know, a real restaurant, but all of the alcohols are real. Once again, I still do not drink, but I have witnessed all of these drank by others.
3. I worked in a job where working weekends is commonplace except I made my Sundays unavailable, not bc it's the Sabbath but bc it's the last day of the week on their schedules and I didn't like to be surprised. But I told my sister that once. It tickles me.
4. I don't know why I used to write notes like this. Hgk.
Chapter 3: Stolen
Summary:
Nobel wedding background, Michael shenanigans, and rnm pilot episode shenanigans. Fate diverged a little but next time it'll diverge a lot more
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Isobel and Noah's wedding was beautiful. This was unsurprising but still amazing, even to Michael who helped put it together. Even as he spent ninety percent of the time on the altar behind Isobel happy for her, the other ten was daydreaming about marrying Alex.
Not that Michael had never imagined it before. He did... a lot. But this was new material to work with. The church was still not going to happen and never would, but he kinda liked the idea of an outdoor wedding with Alex. Alex looked so good in the sun, and hell, so did he.
Michael thought the reception was the best part, frankly. And yeah it was a little bit because of the open bar, but also because everyone was having such a good time. It was a real party, celebrating something good, something that actually made sense to Michael rather than a building opening or whatever sorts of parties Isobel usually planned.
Isobel and Noah had their first dance as a married couple. Then she danced with Phil, with Max, and finally with Michael before returning to her husband.
Michael really, really was happy for her. He just also really, really wanted Alex, too. But he supposed if she couldn't feel his loneliness, it wasn't that strong, and he didn't have to feel guilty about it.
Everyone ate and drank, and Isobel had kindly placed him at the table nearest the bar, though he didn't plan on getting too hammered. Messaging Alex his observations helped some.
"Whoo! What's that?" Isobel said, dropping beside him.
"Phone," he said, though the screen wasn't currently on.
"That," she said. "In your hand."
Michael looked down. He'd kept the ugliest of the back-up picks and taken to playing with it. The rest stayed in his box of other things relating to Alex. Just in case he ever needed another one. He showed it to her.
"Ooh, turned out nice! I'm excited for the stuff I'm gonna make," she said. "You'll help me since you're clearly a pro now, right?"
"Of course," Michael said, pocketing the pick. "You tired of dancing already?"
"Nah, we needed a little water break. Besides, it's nearly cake time!"
"I'm excited for cake," Michael said, raising his glass to her. She laughed.
"I'll be sure to send you home with some."
"You're already making me take two tins of pasta," Michael said. "And flowers!"
"Sharing is caring, Michael," Isobel said. She squeezed his shoulder and stood up as he grumbled.
He recognized the next song that played, and he leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, and said, "Fuck," under his breath.
Just as Michael suspected, Shut Up And Dance With Me instantly transported him to the prior week, slow dancing with Alex in his hotel room.
It was a perfect wedding reception song. Damn it. He turned his phone on and messaged Alex again.
Mmmguerin (1841): they're playing shut up and dance with me
Mmmguerin (1841): our song Alex!!
Mmmguerin (1842): I think this means next time you're here we have to dance again
Mmmguerin (1843): god I miss you
The rest of the wedding went well, too, though Michael had a feeling his loneliness got worse the longer the night went on.
Finally, he waved at the happy couple and headed out. He had to get out of that suit.
He got to the Airstream and stripped it off and put it back in its garment bag to return. Wait, he forgot to take a selfie for Alex. He frowned at the bag, shrugged, and just took a picture of himself shirtless and sent it to him.
Mmmguerin (2321): I forgot to take a picture with the suit on so you get this instead
Mmmguerin (2322): I probably didn't manage to hide from the photographer all night so once Izzy has the photos I'll send you those too
xX_Alex_Xx (2351): congratulations to Isobel
xX_Alex_Xx (2352): and thank you very very much for the picture. much appreciated
Mmmguerin (2354): Alex!!!
xX_Alex_Xx (2355): hey :) did you have fun
Mmmguerin (2355): yeah. Would've been more fun with you but. Such is life
xX_Alex_Xx (2356): so shut up and dance with me is our song, huh?
Mmmguerin (2356): course
xX_Alex_Xx (2357): we'll dance again next time
xX_Alex_Xx (2357): isnt it almost midnight there?
Mmmguerin (2357): nearly!
Mmmguerin (2358): I'm alright. Okay I might pass out but
xX_Alex_Xx (2359): i miss you too
Mmmguerin (0000): miss you.good night
xX_Alex_Xx (0000): good night guerin
Michael scrolled up and down, a faint smile, before he put his phone up and went to sleep.
Alex didn't get a chance to come back to Roswell before he got deployed again, and though Michael offered to come visit him where he was stationed in Germany until his Secret Mission started, Alex told him to save his money.
Which hurt, but it really would have been an expensive trip that he actually couldn't afford. He didn't know how to tell Alex it'd be worth living off of ramen for months just to see him for a week.
Michael did get weekly phone calls and daily messages now that Alex had constant access to the internet. He wondered if he shouldn't wean himself off of talking to him so often, but there was no way Michael could stop himself.
Before he knew it, it was January, and Alex was shipping out to Afghanistan in a week. He called Michael to tell him. He answered his phone from his bed, delighted to talk to Alex until he heard the subject matter.
"I still don't want you to go."
"I can't change it, Guerin. I'm already briefed and promoted and everything."
"I know but I just... I miss you so damn much, Alex, and we message every day."
"I miss you, too. I'm really glad we were able to talk as much as we have. Three years will be up before you know it, and I'll be back for you, okay?"
"Doesn't seem so short from this side of those years," Michael said. But Alex would be back for him? "You better come back. I don't know what I'd do if you didn't."
"I thought we went over this. Ouija board."
He snorted. "Alex, I mean it. You're not allowed to die. You have to come back."
"I won't die. I'll be back. I'll find you. Okay?"
"I'm not going anywhere. I'll be in Roswell waiting for you."
Alex's end buzzed, and Michael heard him swearing distantly, as if he held the phone he was using away.
"Alex?"
"Guerin, don't wait around for me like that. Please. Just in case I... You have to be okay."
He sat up quickly. "I have to be okay? I'm not the one going into god only knows what sort of war zone with no outside contact!"
"Yeah, yeah, so whatever happens to me--"
Michael's eyes stung. "Please don't say that. Please."
"You have to survive it, Guerin, that's what makes everything worth it, okay?"
"It's not okay, Alex, it's not worth surviving anything without you!"
"You're killing me, Guerin," he said miserably. "Maybe I, maybe I did everything wrong here, I messed this up and you-you shouldn't be waiting around for me, Guerin, you're so much better than that."
Michael re-ran whatever the hell Alex just said twice before he went with, "I don't understand."
"Okay, like, you've been with other people right? You mentioned like, casually?"
"Yeah, but they're not you. Nothing casual about you. What has that got to do with anything?"
"I am, though. Casual."
"Not to me."
"We're, we're not dating, Guerin, that's the definition of casual."
"We could be."
"No, we can't, because I'm not going to be able to talk to you for three years after next week, so you have to do something else."
Michael pulled his pillow to his chest. "I don't want to."
"There isn't a choice, Guerin."
He huffed. "Fine. Okay. I'll do something else. And, when you come back, when you find me, it won't be casual, all right? Alex?"
Alex hesitated. "Yeah..."
"But?"
"But my dad--"
Michael wrapped his hand in his sheets. "I don't want to date your dad."
"Doesn't stop him from being a homophobic asshole."
"I'm not scared of him, Alex."
"You should be."
Michael narrowed his eyes. "Is he still hurting you?"
"Guerin, I'm in Germany, he's in Roswell."
"That wasn't what I asked."
"No, but I still have to deal with it."
Michael tapped his phone against his forehead with a sigh. "Okay. Okay, if that's what you have to do. How do I help?"
"You don't let him take anything else from you. Go to-- Go to college and kick ass and do what you want. I'll deal with it."
"I already kick ass and do what I want from right here. You don't have to deal with it alone."
"Guerin, I am never going to risk you like that, not ever again."
Michael rubbed his face in confusion. "Again?" He turned his hand over and sighed at the scars. "Alex, that wasn't your fault."
He was met only with the sound of Alex taking a deep breath.
"I'm serious, Alex. It wasn't your fault, I don't blame you, and I would do it all--"
"Don't say again."
"--again if that's what it takes to stop him from hurting you!"
"It doesn't take that! It won't. That's why I'm here."
"That doesn't mean you have to fight him alone."
"I do, actually, because I can't have you--" He cut himself off. "I need you to let me take care of it, okay?"
"Sure. Then what?"
"What do you mean? Like you were saying. No more casual." Michael thought Alex sounded rather resigned, like it'd never happen.
"Unless you find another reason we can't? I think... I think you're making this way more difficult than it has to be."
"Guerin, do you trust me?"
"I don't think I'd have ever talked to you if I didn't," Michael said, bemused.
"But right now. Do you trust me right now when I say that I need my father out of the picture? Because I need that."
He rolled his eyes. "Call me if you need help hiding the body."
"Guerin, please. Tell me you understand what I'm saying."
"Yeah, I understand, and I do trust you." Probably too much, as an alien, but Michael didn't mention that. "I don't like it, but I get it. You do what you gotta do. But I already don't know if I can survive not hearing from you for three years, Alex, so don't make me miss you too long, okay?"
"Okay," Alex said softly. "I'll try, Michael. I really will. I--" His voice broke. "I can't promise anything else. That I'll make it back or I'll be worth waiting for or... anything. Don't-- Don't argue, just... I don't know. So, um, I know it doesn't matter what I want, but I would like it if we could go into this... okay with each other, at least?"
Michael had no idea which of those things to address first. In fact, it was so much, he felt like he was on the verge of a breakdown. He floated his flask over and took a long swig. "You know I'm not okay with this situation and never have been."
"Not the situation, you and me. Just-- Never mind. I have no right to ask you not to be mad at me for this."
"You can ask anything of me," Michael said mildly. "But, I'm an angry person, Alex. Kind of my default. I'm going to be stewing in this situation for years, it's not in my nature to come out of it hunky-dory."
"That's not what I... I'm talking about right now. Are you mad at me?"
"A little," Michael admitted. "I'm trying not to be but it's hard. Like I said, I'm an angry person."
"That's fair. Um, but if I had to use one adjective to describe you, it wouldn't be angry."
He scoffed. "Better be sexy."
"No," Alex said, an amused hum. "I mean, yes, but I'd say you're a good person."
Michael froze. He didn't even breathe.
"Guerin? You there?"
He hung up, like an idiot, then blinked at his phone in disbelief. He had to have misheard that. There was no way Alex called him a good person. No one thought he was a good person.
If Alex thought he was a good person, and Alex was the best human in the world and usually right, then...
xX_Alex_Xx (1243): guerin?
Mmmguerin (1246): um the call dropped
xX_Alex_Xx (1247): ah, damn, mustve been my end, sorry
Mmmguerin (1248): no, don't worry about it
Mmmguerin (1250): please stay safe, and be careful, and don't die
xX_Alex_Xx (1251): i'll do my best for the first two. ive told you a million times i wont die though
Mmmguerin (1252): well do your best for that one too
xX_Alex_Xx (1252): ok, i will
xX_Alex_Xx (1253): theres still a week til i ship out too
Mmmguerin (1254): do you
Mmmguerin (1254): ummm
xX_Alex_Xx (1256): yeah?
Mmmguerin (1256): I was gonna ask if you could call more until then but
Mmmguerin (1257): I don't know if I can handle that
xX_Alex_Xx (1258): oh. ok.
xX_Alex_Xx (1259): the call didnt drop, did it
Mmmguerin (1300): no
Mmmguerin (1300): sorry
xX_Alex_Xx (1303): Michael, youre a good person, and I know it bc we are so different, and im not good
Mmmguerin (1305): what? Alex it's the opposite. You have it exactly backwards
xX_Alex_Xx (1306): ahh... it's really smth that we think of each other that way...and ourselves that way....
xX_Alex_Xx (1307): we arent different in that respect
Mmmguerin (1307): Alex...
xX_Alex_Xx (1308): i'll work on it. ok how about that? we'll both work on being the good we see in each other
Mmmguerin (1310): I
Mmmguerin (1310): Alex I don't know what you see in me that's good
xX_Alex_Xx (1311): everything you show me is good. you talk to me you make time for me you tell me all kinds of things
Mmmguerin (1312): I like when you do that too
Mmmguerin (1313): I don't know what else to say. You've always been so kind to me even when I don't deserve it
xX_Alex_Xx (1313): bc you always deserve kindness. *always*
Mmmguerin (1314): and you really believe that. Well you should believe it for yourself too
xX_Alex_Xx (1315): ok i'll work on that. you work on it too ok?
Mmmguerin (1315): ok
Mmmguerin (1315): ok but can we talk about something else now. Please
xX_Alex_Xx (1316): ok ummm
xX_Alex_Xx (1317): ok i honestly cant think of anything, you got anything?
Mmmguerin (1318): I had to repot the forget me nots the other day
xX_Alex_Xx (1319): nice, they got bigger?
Mmmguerin (1319): yup. Hold on I'll take a picture for you
Mmmguerin sent an attachment at (1321).
xX_Alex_Xx (1322): what a beautiful garden :)
Mmmguerin (1322): thank you :)
Michael spent the rest of Alex's night talking about flowers. They spent the rest of the week staying on safe topics.
The goodbye call at the end of it was agonizing.
"I'll see you in 2018."
"Yeah, see you then."
It was good he wasn't working, and he was already in bed, because he bawled his eyes out. And when the melancholy washed away and he was just numb, Isobel texted.
I'm fine. I'm fine.
He had to survive somehow.
Michael took to wearing Alex's shirt to sleep when it got too cold to sleep shirtless but not cold enough to throw on a sweater and call it a night.
Then he even wore it under his pullovers, too used to the comforting fabric to go without.
He usually changed before anyone saw him.
The unbridled glee on Isobel's face when she saw it in February of 2015 confused him at first, sleepy but thrilled that she had brought him bagels.
"You're a military wife!"
"What the-- No I'm not. What are you even--" She pointed at his shirt, and he looked down. Thank god he was resistant to blushing. "I found this at a thrift store! And we're not married!"
"Oh, this explains so much," she said, clapping her hands together.
"Me at a thrift store and not being married?" He spread cream cheese over one of the fresh bagels.
"Your boyfriend--"
He dropped the fist with the knife in it perhaps a little too forcefully against the table. "Not my boyfriend--"
"--being in the Air Force. Makes sense, why he couldn't make the wedding, why you don't see him much, why he couldn't take the flowers, why he used to play guitar and why you wouldn't let me make him stay..." Isobel gasped softly. "He's in the Middle East, isn't he? You hate the news but you always watch when they mention Afghanistan."
Michael put the knife down to rub the back of his neck. He stared at his tiny kitchen table. "He said he's got a ton of these shirts," he said in a small voice. "I figured he wouldn't miss one."
She knelt beside his chair and pulled him in. "Michael, you stole his shirt."
"I stole his shirt," he confirmed. "That doesn't make us married, just makes me a thief. He didn't even notice I took it."
Isobel patted his back and hummed doubtfully. "You should take a selfie and send it to him."
"No, then he'd know! 'Sides, he's off the grid," Michael said glumly. "He wouldn't see it."
"Oh, is that why you're so slow to answer texts now?"
"What? No. What are you talking about?" He made a face and tried to think of how long it took him to respond to Isobel's texts. So what if he didn't see them for a couple hours? He was doing stuff. "I don't take that long."
"I see how it is. Your secret boyfriend stops messaging you, no point in looking at your phone anymore, huh?"
"He's not my boyfriend, and it's not like he messaged me all that much before, okay? He's busy, he didn't have internet that much."
Isobel swatted at his arm. "What else am I going to call him, Michael, you won't tell me his name!" She flicked at his hair and a more sympathetic expression took over her face. "I'm sorry. You're sad. When's he coming back on the grid?"
"After his deployment. Like three years." Two years, ten months, twenty-five days and a couple hours, but who was keeping track? "It's been a month and I don't know if I'm gonna make it."
"Oh, Michael," Isobel said, hugging him tight again. "What will cheer you up? Do you wanna go drinking later? I'll keep you company. I'm no hot military man but I can hold my own."
"You'd go to the Wild Pony with me?"
She grimaced at him. "Does it have to be the Wild Pony? That place is disgusting as a senator's sex life."
"Oh my god, why would you say that, now there are old white guys in my brain."
"Sorry." She patted his cheek. "What about Shooting Star Oasis?"
"No, no, we've been there, I'll just get all nostalgic."
Isobel picked up his pillow and thumped him in the head with it. "All this time, and I could have just asked Noah or Max or Dad who your mystery man was!"
"You could but that'd be an invasion of our privacy so you shouldn't. Please stop hitting me."
She threw his pillow back to the bed and crossed her arms. "I want to know."
Michael could have pointed out how petulant she was being, but he knew it'd be awfully hypocritical coming from him. "I'll tell you who he is just as soon as he okays it."
"And that'll take at least two years, eleven months?" Isobel poked him in the forehead. "Fine, I'll wait. He'll be back. You're gonna survive the silence even if I have to go with you to the Wild Pony."
"Such self-sacrifice," he teased.
"I'm a giver, Michael." She started on her own bagel. "And I really don't need a corner of my brain to be mopey."
"I know you're busy, but do you want to go tonight?"
As she deliberated, he tore through his bagel with as much restraint as he could. He wasn't going to tell Isobel he wasn't bothering to eat half the time and that was the only reason it looked like he was keeping the Airstream stocked. He needed to stretch what little money he got in the off season.
"Sure. I think we could even get Max out!"
Stilted, he said, "I'd rather just you, Iz. He wouldn't understand."
Isobel frowned at him. "You know I can make him understand."
"Please?"
She sighed. "All right. Well, anyway, I'm on a diet, do you want the rest of these?"
"Again? Izzy, it's not good to diet so much."
She folded the brown paper bag of bagels over and patted his arm. "I'll pick you up at six."
"Iz!"
She flashed a smile that was all teeth. "If we talk about my diets, we're gonna talk about yours, and it seems like you really don't want to do that, Michael."
"Thanks for the bagels," he said, looking away. "See you at six."
Isobel managed to keep Michael from retreating into himself (and fed) all the way until October, when she sent Max in her place for the first time without telling either of them. Michael was at the bar while he waited. They always got a table; Isobel and the owner of the establishment seemed to hate each other.
Max sat beside him, looking mighty put upon. "Hey."
Michael made a face at him.
"What?"
"Is Isobel coming?"
"No, she said she was having dinner with Noah, then she told me I should get out of the house and come here. What are you drinking?"
He shrugged and turned to the bartender. "What am I drinking?"
"Quoth you ten minutes ago, cheapest piss on tap, please," she said. "Tell me your parole officer has better taste."
"I'm not his--"
"I said please?" Michael gave an impressed grunt. "I am nice."
"What are you having, Deputy?" she asked.
"What crafts do you have?"
"Oh my god," Michael muttered as she handed him a list.
"This peach one, please. And I'll pick up his tab."
"Max!"
"Let's humor Iz, Michael. You know how she gets when she finds out we haven't even seen each other in a while."
"Fine. Arrest anyone interesting lately?"
Max shrugged. "Wyatt Long was in and out yesterday."
"Wouldn't qualify that as interesting," Michael replied.
"Fixed anything interesting lately?"
"Nope." Michael drained his glass and got up. "See ya."
"Michael, wait, come on. Ten minutes. For Iz."
He sighed and sat back down, flagging over the other bartender. "If you're paying, I want a fancy beer. Let me guess, Isobel saw that our last text was the week after her wedding."
"Probably." Max picked at the label as Michael's new drink was delivered. "She was beating a Candy Crush level for me and started snooping when she won on her first try. Then she said I needed to get out more."
"Ooh, there's your problem. Beat your own Candy Crush levels." Michael took a long drink.
"I'd been stuck for two weeks. I refuse to spend money on phone games."
"You sure she didn't?"
"Don't have any money connected. I swear, every time I get stuck she beats the level in one go."
Michael couldn't think of the last time he saw the game on her screen. "She doesn't even play anymore."
"I know!" Max chuckled. "It's not like they're levels she's beaten before, either, I passed her a while ago. And we thought my superpower was useless."
"Don't tell her that or she'll stop beating levels for you."
"I'd probably never finish them."
They talked for a while, well beyond the ten minutes Max suggested, about harmless topics like phone games and alcohol.
Unfortunately, that meant Michael was six drinks in and feeling punchy when the racists arrived.
Michael saw them in the mirror, then he spun haphazardly on his stool to watch them cross the bar. They each had matching red hats. "Unbelievable."
"Not sure they're really orange enough to pull them off," Max said into his beer.
"Aww, look, Hank likes you, he's got a Blue Lives Matter shirt."
"Yikes. I chose my line of work. No one chooses the skin they're born into."
Michael flinched and hid it by jumping up, which made his brain rattle dangerously. He put his Stetson on. "I'm gonna go say hi."
"Michael, wait--"
Too late. He strolled right up to the red-hatted ringleader and said, "So like it's just cool to be a neonazi in public now?"
"What?"
He gestured at his own black hat to indicate theirs. "Y'all a bunch of nazis, right?"
They seemed to know that nazis are bad, because calling them that pissed them off and they denied it, so Michael began to list the ways their rhetoric matched that of nazis in the mid-1930s. "What about that doesn't scream nazism? Like maybe if you don't want to be called nazis you shouldn't act like nazis?"
One of them finally swung at him, and Michael had enough coordination to duck and hightail it out of the building; he turned back just in time for the sheriff to see him aim an uppercut into Long's chin. The patrol car chirped.
Max had called for backup. Bastard. Admittedly, Michael was about ten seconds from being pulped, so he didn't mind getting pulled from the fray. He did object to getting slapped in handcuffs. "Aw, Sheriff, you know I'd go with you anywhere, you don't have to use the bracelets."
"You'd also like to sit in the front, wouldn't you?" she asked as she lowered his head to get him in the back.
"Since you mention it, yes. It was self-defense, Sheriff, honest. I was pursued by nazis."
She began to drive to the station with a sigh. The other officers grabbed two of the racists as they were now fighting each other. "Guerin, you were doing so much better. I haven't even seen you in months."
"I knew you missed me," Michael said, wiggling to get more comfortable in the hard plastic seat. It was a good thing he was long immune to disappointed women, or she might've had an effect.
"I really didn't. Not you nor the massive amounts of paperwork you come with."
"Well, would you punch a nazi for being a nazi? That's all I did."
He saw Sheriff Valenti roll her eyes.
"Did you know in Germany it's illegal to wear or spout nazi shit? That's true, Alex Manes watched a German lady beat the shit out of a nazi in New York last year," Michael rambled. "He had jet lag or he said he would've helped."
The sheriff hummed. Michael didn't want to think about Alex, that made him sad.
"You know those nazis don't respect you, right? They respect Max more 'cause he's a big white man. Not me. I know you could snap us in half. See, I'm just trying to do my part in making racism and misogyny unacceptable."
"How noble," she said as she pulled into the sheriff parking spot. "Let's go take some pictures."
He was all too glad to commemorate the occasion with a smirk to the camera, and Sheriff Valenti knew she wouldn't get anything more serious out of him.
Michael slept in the holding cell. He agreed at all the right times in the morning when Max woke him up for a lecture, so Max let him out.
"So the nazis aren't pressing charges?"
"Shockingly, no. But Valenti is charging you with a drunk and disorderly, which comes with a fine."
Michael grimaced before he could stop himself. "I'd punch a nazi sober, too," he said in the hopes of hiding why he'd reacted like that.
"Because what you really need is an assault record." Max wasn't fooled. "Can you pay it?"
"Is there an alternative? Community service or something?"
"No, Michael, it's pay the fine or jail time."
"Hoo. Hell of a poor people prison pipeline," Michael said, shoving past him. "I can pay it."
For some reason, after that, Isobel didn't join Michael at the Wild Pony anymore, and neither did Max. He quickly realized that Isobel had been paying a lot more than her share of the check, and given that fine and the strangled trickle of tourists, he wasn't going to be able to keep drowning himself the way he needed to in order to not think about Alex or his myriad of other personal problems, like how much his damn hand hurt, or how he couldn't find any more console pieces, or how he could extract the dang pod substance.
He stood at the bar one day in December of 2015. He wasn't sure why he was there except that he was used to it. He'd spent the last of his cash on canned soup and nail polish remover at the dollar store. He'd resisted drinking the soup. He'd already eaten that day, he could save it for breakfast. The acetone, however, went directly into his flask.
But, he managed to make a deal with the owner: alcohol for fixing a broken stool.
Maybe if he did a good job fixing the stool, he could get paid to fix more things? Other people's things? Sanders rarely had anything for him to do the last few months, and the ranch was giving more hours to kids who needed the work for school credit.
And he refused to go to Max or Isobel.
God, he wanted to make a stupid handyman joke to Alex so bad.
Instead, he sent him the last Skype messages he ever would, though he didn't know it at the time.
Mmmguerin (1009): I'm driving myself up a wall checking this app
Mmmguerin (1011): keep fooling myself into thinking your dot is green
Mmmguerin (1011): I'm gonna disable Skype on my phone and delete it from the home screen.
Mmmguerin (1012): I still want you to find me when you come back
Mmmguerin (1013): I miss you
Michael signed out and did just as he said. He would still tap the empty space where the app had lived and sigh. He replaced it with sudoku, which quickly got him to stop tapping there, because he found sudoku to be way too easy.
Isobel didn't have time for his shenanigans, and really, he was glad she was keeping busy. Michael even tried to make it to the less-fancy events she planned. He was rarely successful, but pleased as she was when he did show, he wouldn't stop trying.
Though she didn't go out and drink with him anymore, she did find plenty of excuses to see him, mostly involving things breaking down around the house. Whether or not they were actually broken, Isobel paid him in exorbitant amounts of delicious leftovers that made him suspect she was creeping around the Airstream while he was out and had discovered his most recent diet of canned soup and acetone. Then, on the days Noah worked late, she'd make Michael stick around and watch a movie with her.
At least she wasn't trying to pay him with money. That resulted in a resolute no from him. The food was fine; the borrowed Tupperware meant he could be back in a few days to see her again under the guise of returning them. (Only to be sent away hours later with even more.)
There were plenty of old or broken things in the Wild Pony to keep his alcoholism somewhat satiated.
He cashed in whenever Alex was on his mind, and at the end of the night he'd either stumble into his truck bed, or someone would call the police to come get him so he wouldn't drive, and then he'd get to listen to Max in the morning.
He liked to pretend that his brother cared, and that's why he lectured him. Not because it was his job or anything.
That idea came crashing down when a woman got transferred in from Ohio. She was military precise, constantly irritated with him, and an absolute vision. Michael got much the same disappointed, unimpressed speech from Jenna Cameron as he did from Max, and there was no way this woman gave the slightest shit about him.
(And he'd definitely tried to flirt with her despite being in the backseat of her cruiser. It didn't go well. He'd say he was thoroughly shot down, especially when she told him Long had tried to do essentially the same act.)
(At least Michael wasn't a neonazi.)
(Telling her that hadn't helped for some reason.)
But Michael did as Alex had asked. He survived, at least. And he was so, so angry about it.
And then who swans in but Liz Ortecho, a week before the anniversary of her sister's death, to get shot up next to alien Jesus who was apparently in love with her despite no contact in approximately ten years. Ohh, Max was lucky that Michael didn't crucify him outside the drunk tank. He only made a big mess before he grabbed his stuff and left.
Foster had left a message that there were some military thugs snooping around the Airstream, and he better get there ASAP. Fucking pushover.
Michael had all these words he thought he'd say to Alex when he came back and finally found him, but he never expected him to appear at his Airstream in uniform with a whole damn troop including his father.
He was kneeling beside his potted plants inspecting the leaves, though Michael didn't recognize him until he pulled him up proclaiming that was private property. No one touched his garden.
Seeing Alex's face didn't make the anger dissipate, only transmogrified it. The angry words, the leaving him alone words, the terrified words he remembered, easy enough with a split eyebrow and yesterday's clothes and Alex right in front of him with that stupid beret and the ghost of a smile.
So he said the angry words with a nod to Jesse Manes in the background and internalized the guilt of Alex shuttering after he looked behind him.
What was he leaning over for? Why did he have a crutch? Why did his leg sound like metal?
Why was Michael angry again?
Because he fucking missed him! They said some other things, but it wasn't the place to demand answers and he knew it and he hated it.
He went inside and slammed the door behind him. He pulled his shirt over his head before he realized that Alex was in Roswell. As in, out of a war zone, on the grid again, and therefore relatively safe.
Michael took a deep, steadying breath as he sat heavily on his bed. Alex was back. Alex was back.
He squeezed his brain back to one of their last Skype calls. Alex had wanted to deal with his dad before finding Michael. Obviously, he hadn't yet (and Michael couldn't believe he'd said such an asshole thing to him a couple minutes ago).
He heard the humvees driving out and cursed himself. Maybe he could have invited Alex in. That wouldn't have looked suspicious. Especially since he had a piece of alien glass sitting out on his table. He swatted it into a box and covered it with paper.
How long had Alex been back, anyway? He had so many ribbons pinned to that damn uniform. Surely he'd have heard? That was a big deal to small town people, wasn't it?
Then again, he'd been out of his mind whenever possible for probably two years. Did Alex message him?
Michael suddenly fumbled to find his phone and enable Skype. Messages from several months ago appeared. "Shit, god dammit, no."
xX_Alex_Xx (1834): hell
xX_Alex_Xx (1836): i probably shouldnt be on right now,, u probably hate me anyway and i am
xX_Alex_Xx (1837): sooooo fucking high on painkillers right now
xX_Alex_Xx (1838): on painkillers
xX_Alex_Xx (1840): i already said that
xX_Alex_Xx (1841): i just
xX_Alex_Xx (1842): fuck i miss u guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (1843): probably more than im gonna miss the half of my leg thats getting amputated
xX_Alex_Xx (1844): wait
xX_Alex_Xx (1845): i just checked + its already gone,, surgery was . . .
xX_Alex_Xx (1845): yesterday?
xX_Alex_Xx (1846): pour one out 4 my right shin + foot
xX_Alex_Xx (1846): i mean most of it was all ready shot to shit
xX_Alex_Xx (1847): i think the back of my leg is on the front now
xX_Alex_Xx (1847): fucky
xX_Alex_Xx (1850): well u said u wanted to know if i got hurt but i just noticed skype says u havent logged in in in like 876 days
xX_Alex_Xx (1851): i kinda wanna go find ur phone number now
xX_Alex_Xx (1852): but i dont think u wanna talk to me tho
xX_Alex_Xx (1854): + my dad wont FUCK OFF
xX_Alex_Xx (1856): i hate this!! i hate this,,, i need u 2 know that i hate this
xX_Alex_Xx (1857): mmmorephine
xX_Alex_Xx (1901): thats more + morphine,, its a portman2.like noble
xX_Alex_Xx (1902): ''alex has a purple heart now a mong a fuckdozen+ other acco lades such a decorated air man u must be sooo p ro ud of ur s o n''
xX_Alex_Xx (1903): i actually hard someone say that while they thot i was asleep
xX_Alex_Xx (1904): (in reality hes disappointed i disnt come back in a box)
xX_Alex_Xx (1905): lol
xX_Alex_Xx (1908): didnt*
xX_Alex_Xx (1910): i am so tired guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (1911): my arm is at a weird angle
xX_Alex_Xx (1912): and im all twisted up
xX_Alex_Xx (1913): this lady keeps telling me to sleep
xX_Alex_Xx (1915): oh shes a nurse. should,,, probably listen
xX_Alex_Xx (1916): good night guerin
xX_Alex_Xx (1307): hi im Alex im 26 (i think) and i never learned how to fucking read
xX_Alex_Xx (1308): what part of u disabled skype did i not understand ? ?
xX_Alex_Xx (1310): i guess the part where i lost the ability to talk to you
xX_Alex_Xx (1311): so stupid
xX_Alex_Xx (1312): me, not you
xX_Alex_Xx (1316): ivam so
xX_Alex_Xx (1319): i guess theres not really any point 2 me writing all this if u arent gonna see it
xX_Alex_Xx (1321): no point in saying it wasnt like, my mom or my squad mates i was thinking of while i was bleeding out in the desert
xX_Alex_Xx (1324): was typing always so exhausting ?
xX_Alex_Xx (1325): im gonna stop
xX_Alex_Xx (1326): theres a different guy telling me to rest
xX_Alex_Xx (1327): i hope im better before i see you again
xX_Alex_Xx (1328): put s kind of a dent n my plans 4 justice or w/e
xX_Alex_Xx (1330): sorry
xX_Alex_Xx (1330): bye guerin
"God dammit, god dammit."
He started to type out a message, erased it, typed another, realized that Alex's status was still "DOPED UP", meaning he hadn't been back on after the drugs wore off, since there was no way he'd have left that up if he was in his right mind.
Michael found his open bottle of nail polish remover and downed what was left of it. Alex was alive. That was a reason to be happy, not angry.
Angry was-- angry was making sure Max didn't ruin their little alien lives after twenty years of secrets. He could deal with the Air Force bullshit later.
Maybe Alex would be at the reunion, and he could tell him he didn't hate him then.
Yeah. But first, he had to protect his siblings from Liz Ortecho.
Notes:
Phew! We made it friends!! If you would like to see more from this series, subscribe to the series. I plan to rewrite the whole show from Michael's point of view with malex only 🖤 and I'm already...eeek 51k in seven chapters.
Ps. Photo of smirky bastard Michael via this post and yes I have literally had this planned since September of 2019 ;)
Ps2. Fuck nazis. I do not capitalize it specifically as a form of disrespect :)Pps. I cannot remember where Michael said Alex was back from in the pilot, I have a feeling it was Iraq. However, I am not wrong to keep saying Afghanistan in this fic. Michael just said the wrong thing to antagonize him. :)
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CarlaDuquette on Chapter 1 Tue 08 Aug 2023 10:17PM UTC
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AlyKat on Chapter 2 Mon 09 Jan 2023 06:32PM UTC
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