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After Alex had gotten his mutant powers, he distanced himself from everyone. He didn’t know how to use it and how to control it, but he knew he could destroy everything by letting it loose. He had to protect his family, his friends - and you.
You were his friend, his best friend alongside his brother. You had shared that bond ever since you first met when you were just two gurgling babies at the daycare - you didn’t even remember meeting him, but you had known him all your life. Always playing together and making silly faces at the school diner. You were inseparable. He grew, you grew, but you never grew apart.
So if he had hurt you with his powers, if he hurt anyone with his powers, he’d never forgiven himself.
So he gave himself in, telling officers how he’d hurt someone if he wasn’t put behind bars, and he had to be in solitary confinement to prevent himself from hurting anyone. He didn’t dare to say why he felt like he needed to be put away, but eventually he found himself sitting in a solitary cell all alone with only a toilet and a hard bed as his partners.
Alex had told about his plans to you and no matter how much you begged him to change his mind, tell him that you’d find a solution together - he was convinced that one day he’d hurt you and he left you standing in the park, calling after him as he drove away, tears in your eyes, knowing it was the last time you’d see him.
And after that, your birthdays had never felt the same - of course, your friends and family celebrated with you, but you couldn’t help it - your parties felt emptier without your best friend. He wasn’t there to smirk at you after you opened up your presents or make jokes about your face when you saw his present - he hadn’t been sitting there on the sofa for years. And even when you had gotten used to it, it never felt quite right.
Now it was your birthday party again, you sat at the table as everyone sang the birthday song and you smiled at them, looking at the gorgeous cake your friends had baked together and your gaze followed the line of treats and snacks which decorated every inch of the table. The backyard had a pretty banner set up which read “happy birthday” with your name hanging below it and people were having fun. Your friends had worked so hard to make your birthday perfect so you sat down as people surrounded you with gifts - but just before you could start opening them, the doorbell rang.
You blinked, not knowing who it would be. All your friends were there… maybe it was your sweet neighbour lady who always baked cookies on your birthday, but usually she brought them over later in the evening, you weren’t sure if she would even be awake yet since she slept so much, let alone baked cookies.
You opened the door, a big smile on your face, ready to take the cookie tray from your neighbour and thank her - but it wasn’t your neighbour behind the door, and your smile slowly faltered and was replaced by confusion and your mouth opened slightly.
He smiled sheepishly at you as he rubbed the back of his neck and you brought your hands to cover your mouth and face and tears formed into your eyes.
“Uh... hey, I was released from-”
Alex couldn’t finish his sentence before you had wrapped your arms around his neck and buried your face to his shirt, and he, slowly and carefully, wrapped his own arms around you too.
“I missed you so much,” you muttered against his shirt and he choked out a chuckle.
“Me too. I’m sorry I haven’t been here for you. But I’m here now… happy birthday.”