for alex

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's in kind of a shitty mood, which is his own doing, but still.

He has the same ever-pulsing, ever-present headache that always nags at him because he hasn't been drinking acetone or booze, but on top of that is a layer of frustration borne of the fact that every day brings them closer to the holidays and he has no good ideas for what to get Luke. He feels like he did himself in last year by making him the drone. How the hell is he supposed to top that? On top of that, he moved them all into the house and made the garage and...well, he's kind of lost.

It feels like it'll be a letdown if he gives Luke nothing but books and clothes this year.

Hence, headache equals a scowling alien sitting over a mug of hot cider that's doing nothing for him, as he flips aggressively through the latest toy store catalogue, trying to will inspiration to just strike, but nothing is happening.

Comments

[unendurable]

Alex feels he just hasn't been doing enough for Michael. He's tried to just keep things normal. Schedules at home, working on the drone business, performing so they can pay the bills. Whatever it takes, he's been working on trying to do all he can for the sake of the house, for Michael, and yet he isn't sure it's enough.

That's what worries him the most. What more can he do for Michael?

Coming in from talking Bopp for a walk, he sees Michael sitting there and the look on his face is definitely not good.

Slipping over to where he's sitting, Alex moves to sit down near Michael, quiet as he takes in the magazine and Michael's expression. "What can I do to help?" Because right now, that is all that matters.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael flips another glossy page aggressively, scowling down at the toys in the catalogue, which can't compare to a drone. Nothing's going to. So what the hell is Luke going to wake up to that'll make him happy? "I suck at the holidays," he grumbles, knowing that he's complaining a lot for someone who barely has ever had a holiday, but he hates it.

And the headache pressing in at the top of his head isn't helping.

Ask for help, he reminds himself, peering up at Alex. "Can you give me a scalp massage?" he pleads. "My head hurts."

[unendurable]

"No, you don't. Do you know why you don't?"

Even as he asks, he moves to come sit on the arm next to Michael so that he can give him what he needs. His tough is firm but not hard as he starts massaging his scalp.

"Because you just want things to be the best for Luke, just like someone should have done for you, for me," he says softly, still working his fingers over Michael's scalp, careful for the knot in his curls. "And that makes you an amazing dad, Michael."

He leans down, kissing the top of his crown.

"You know he loves you, and he loves us and our house. We're going to work this out and it's going to be awesome."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael breathes in deeply the minute Alex's fingers make contact with his hair, revealing how desperate he'd been for this in the first place. He groans loudly, sinking into it as he closes his eyes, not sure he buys that entirely.

"He loves us, he loves me, and the house, but I gave him a drone last year, Alex," he protests. "Even if it's a split second where the gift isn't as good, I'm gonna see that." And it's gonna hit him, right where it hurts, because he knows it won't be intentional, but it'll be there.

[unendurable]

Taking those sounds, the way he moves with that touch and Alex realizes he should be doing this more often, especially to do as much as he can for this man that he loves so much.

So he keeps working his fingers through Michael's curls, scritching his fingers over his scalp carefully.

"You will never see that from Luke," he whispers, leaning down to kiss Michael's cheek. "I swear, you won't, but we can also consider our options on this. What about a robot?" He smiles a bit thinking about that. "What about a mech suit?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael frowns, because he's not sure that they can control that. It'd be nice if they could, but he's still not sure that it's so easy as that. "I can't build our kid a mech suit, because I won't want him to use it, because I'll freak out that it's dangerous," he complains. "And a robot's just a non-flying drone."

He knows he's being a bit of an asshole, but he also can't help it. His head hurts, and he can't have booze or acetone, because of a decision he made, to be better for his family and for future kids.

[unendurable]

"Hey, I'm making guesses here, Michael," he whispers softly, still working over his husband's scalp, wishing he could help him get through this in some other way.

"I'm sorry we haven't found better ways to help you,' he sighs. "I wish I had answers for that too."

He makes a frustrated sound, considering. "We up for another pet?"

[littleorphanalien]

"What, and make Bopp jealous?" Michael teases, glancing over his shoulder to where Bopp is currently sleeping on her bed, sprawled on her back and earning her title as the sweetest dog. He breathes out raggedly, grunting as Alex strokes his hair.

He has answers on his hand, thanks to Magnus, but nothing about the withdrawal. It's not even withdrawal anymore, he thinks, just him being cranky and exhausted when he uses his powers.

"What were you gonna get him?"

[unendurable]

"Or give her her own little playmate," he notes, smiling at their dog. Their dog. It's still amazing to him. Like having to have this talk. Having to talk about what their kid and presents for him for Christmas. That is still so magical to Alex.

"Uhmmm, no clue," he admits a bit sheepishly. "I had considered getting him a pet of his own. " He pauses a moment. "Hey, what if you made him his own kind of vehicle? Like those kids cars and such, or an electric scooter, but safer?"

[littleorphanalien]

It's definitely an idea. It's not a bad one either, even though Michael's pretty sure that it's still along the lines of a drone and he feels like there has to be something else, something better. "What kind of pet?" he asks instead, because he doesn't want to focus on how he keeps fucking this up.

"Like, are we talking a fish or a hamster? Or something we're going to end up responsible for, too?"

[unendurable]

His fingers keep working over Michael's scalp, just trying to help soothe him and help him through this. "I was thinking perhaps a reptile, maybe a bearded dragon? They can be trained to be on a leash, live in the aquarium most of the time, and we just have to clean that out and feed them."

He had thought of many things and that had seemed the best.

"It gives him some responsibility but also not hard on us if we help with it."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael can't help smiling at that, feeling a little better. "Didn't you used to have a lizard when you were a kid?" he teases, vaguely remembering that. His mind keeps making connections, jumping from point to point, and then something clicks.

Maybe he can give Luke the thing that he most treasured as a kid.

The epiphany strikes, his mouth falling open slightly, and he gives Alex a Look. "I think I know what to do."

[unendurable]

"Maybe," he says, rolling his eyes. "But it wasn't a bearded lizard. But I remember liking having that light in my room, and taking care of him," he points out.

But then he sees that look and he arches a brow. "What? Tell me?"

He's so glad something in this talk might have worked things out for Michael.

[littleorphanalien]

"Speaking of lights..." Michael points up to the ceiling. "I figure maybe I could do a little construction and install a galaxy ceiling pattern with stars and that. Sort of a sub-light layer," he says. "The light pollution isn't bad in the country, but I'd love to give that to Luke here."

Turn off the lights, and see the entire galaxy lit up. "Then he can have a light for his lizard, and one for the stars."

[unendurable]

He smiles at that idea, knowing that Luke would love it. He liked Star Wars and the parts of the ship and the drone. Not to mention it's personalizing the room for him. In his home.

"I think that would be perfect," he admits, considering it a minute, logistics. "What are we going to do with him while it's being installed? How much work do you think it'll be?"

[littleorphanalien]

"I could do it while he's at school, but there'd definitely be construction around while I did a second ceiling," he admits, trying to think if he could do it in a day. "Let me search around," he admits, pulling his phone to him.

"Maybe if I hire people, I could get all the wiring and construction done in a day, then install the light switch closer to Christmas."

He also has to figure out what star system he wants to put up there for Luke to see.

[unendurable]

"I am willing to help too," he admits. "I'm good at following directions. We have the funds right now though that we could look into hiring someone to help. That way he wouldn't know until you put the switch in and turned it on."

He thinks this sounds amazing and utterly beautiful.

"This is a perfect idea, Michael. I think he'll love it."

[littleorphanalien]

"I want to do the work," Michael insists, his voice calm, but firm. He knows that they probably have enough money, but if he wants to start thinking about getting his hand fixed up, he'll want to have some cash stashed away for that.

Besides, he wants to be able to look Luke in the eye and tell him, proudly, that he made it for him. "I think you should also get him the lizard," he insists.

[unendurable]

Alex smiles at that. "Then you'll do it. We have while he's at school and we can make time so that it all works and so that you won't have to worry about time. If that's what you want, we'll make time for it."

And that is what matters to him, wanting to find time, for that.

"I think I will. I want him to know we trust him and we want him to have responsibilities here as part of our family."

[littleorphanalien]

He's nodding, because it's a great plan and a good idea, but he's not surprised. For as much as Michael's a genius, he's nowhere near as smart as Alex. God, he's so fucking grateful for him. He peers up, letting Alex's fingers slide through his hair, staring at him upside down with a baleful look.

"I can't believe I was lucky enough to marry you," he informs him, still awed that it happened. "You're amazing."

[unendurable]

They complement each other wonderfully, doing so much for one another. It truly works for them and leads to them being able to do all they could for one another.

"Funny, I will always believe I'm the lucky one," he admits, leaning down and kissing him before he starts giggling. "Super-Man kiss."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael laughs at that, giving him a fond look. "Fuck, did I marry such a geek or what," he drawls, giving him a fond smile because he doesn't care in the least that Alex likes those kinds of things. He adores him all the same.

"So now I got Luke's gift, but that's one thing. I'm still trying to navigate a sea of confusing holiday shit. What are we supposed to do? What do you want this year? Do we make cookies? A big dinner?"

[unendurable]

"A major nerd," he agrees, nodding. Though he's glad to have gotten that smile from Michael. In this moment, that is truly all that matters is that he got him to smile. He can't fix all that's hurting him, but one thing at a time, he can try and make them a little bit better.

"Yes to cookies. No to a big dinner, maybe? We could do something that we all love. Maybe a big breakfast after we do gifts?"

[littleorphanalien]

"The hottest nerd I've ever met," he adds, flirting outrageously because that's what he knows how to do. He shifts to push his chair out, patting his lap to coax Alex to sit with him, reaching for the notebook to start taking down what he's saying.

"What kind of breakfast are we talking about here? My forte pretty much starts and stops with eggs," he admits.

[unendurable]

Alex easily slides around Michael, settling onto his lap with a grin. "I can live with being the hottest nerd you know," he admits, and he is thankful for that. He's happier than he can find words for. Just utterly and completely happy with his life.

"We could do pancakes, bacon, maybe sausage." He's willing to learn. "Eggs, obviously. Oh. Maybe cinnamon rolls?" He pauses and adds. "And by those I'm thinking a bakery."