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Alex looks up when he hears the familiar sound of gravel crunching under tires. He watches Michael shut off the truck, put his cowboy hat on, and jump out of the cab. Averting his gaze to his clasped hands and dropping his head.
"I wasn't gonna come, ya know." Michael says. The ground crackles on every step he takes. Alex tilts his head up, squinting at the reflection of the sun on the sand. "I got to Maria's bar fully intending to go to her." Alex swallows, clenching his jaw against the hurt of the words.
"What changed your mind, Guerin?"
“You did.” Alex furrows his eyebrows. “I saw her and all I could think about was you. Your spiky hair, the way you look in uniform, the way you stayed in a building that was minutes away from blowing up just to make sure I got out. A-and you were suddenly everywhere. You always have been. You were at the front of my mind when I decided what to wear in high school. When I couldn’t sleep at night, I wondered what you were doing. When I would spend the night in the shed I’d wonder if you’d let me into your room o-or come out at some point.” Michaels shakes his head and looks away. “Even now, when I want to hate you I can’t .” The word comes out strained and painful. “I can’t hate you because I-” Michael’s voice wavers and cracks. It makes Alex stand up and take a careful step towards the other man. Hesitantly, he reaches out to Michael, giving him a chance to pull away. When he doesn’t, Alex takes his hand.
“Hey.” Michael looks back at him with tears pooling in his eyes. “It’s okay. You don’t have to-”
“I do!” Alex barely flinches at the sudden change in volume but it’s enough to make Michael lower his voice again. “I do. Because we almost died- you almost died and the last thing I would’ve said to you would’ve been a-a lie.” Alex’s face creases in concern, small lines forming between his eyebrows and at the corners of his mouth. “I love you, Alex. I always have. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop.” Alex squeezes his hand.
“I love you too, Michael. Of course I love you.” Hope fills Michael’s eyes as he smiles. The tears spill over his lashes and roll down his cheeks. Alex takes his free hand and wipes one away. “I have ever since that day in the shed. When you protected me from my father.” Alex looks down at Michael’s hand, the one he’s holding. He sees the mangled skin and ragged scars. Alex swallows thickly. “Since then I knew; I would never love anyone as much as I love you.” He looks back up at Michael to see more tear tracks on his cheeks. “I meant what I said, Guerin. You’re my family.” Michael suddenly surges forward. His free hand cups Alex’s cheek as he presses their lips together. They both inhale sharply at the contact, pushing further into the kiss. Alex drops Michael’s hand in favor of planting both on his waist.
They pull back a few seconds later, panting and leaning their foreheads together.
“I’m sorry.” Michael whispers. “I’m sorry for how I’ve been acting lately. You don’t deserve it.” Alex shrugs, Michael can’t see it but he can feel it.
“Not that I didn’t deserve it after leaving. But I’m sorry too. I haven’t exactly been the nicest person to you since I got back.”
“Eh, I deserved it.” Alex laughs.
“That’s true.” Michael pulls away and feigns offense. Alex laughs at the face he’s making. “What?! You said it first!” Michael is smiling now, shaking his head in disbelief as he gets closer to Alex.
“Wow, Manes. What happened to the sweet man who was professing his undying love for me just mere moments ago? I want him back.”
“He’s right here, you just gotta ask nicely.” Alex mutters, leaning in closer. Michael makes a show of looking around.
“Where is he? I don’t see him? Did he run off because he was scared he was going to be bullied too or-” Alex kisses Michael passionately in hopes of quieting him. It works and Michael is left gaping like a fish out of water when he pulls away. Alex beams and pushes a stray hair out of Michael’s eyes.
“If I’d known that’s all I had to do to shut you up, we’d have done this a long time ago.” Alex laughs. Michael gathers his bearings quickly and fists Alex’s shirt. He walks Alex backwards until his back is pressed against the side of the trailer. Alex’s breath catches in his throat and he looks wide-eyed up at the other man.
“If I’d known that’s all I had to do to shut you up, we’d have done this a long time ago.” Michael says, voice teasing. Alex smiles. Whispering a small ‘shut up’, he hauls Michael into another kiss, one they both get lost in.
It’s not until the sun has gone down and they’ve finally caught their breath that Alex smiles widely, the conversation truly comprehending in his mind. Michael glances up at him from his spot on Alex’s chest.
“What’s got you grinning like that?” Michael asks, his voice is raspy and slurred from tiredness.
“Just this guy I’m in love with.” A sleepy, almost giddy smile forms on Michael's face and he leans up to kiss Alex once.
“I love you too, Manes.” Michael mutters against his lips.