car work

[littleorphanalien]

It had taken him a few tries, but Michael's managed to find a decent body of a car at the junkyard that he'd been given for just under two hundred bucks' worth of parts that he'd brought in to trade. It's an old Charger, but he knows he'll soup it up to make sure it's safe for everyone involved. Once he's got it in the shop, he takes over a small area in the back and texts Caleb that he's got his first shift after school on a Friday.

By then, Michael's already found about a quarter of what he needs, but the main thing he wants to work on with Caleb is the interior, since he wants to get the console installed, and he's got the wiring ready to go.

He's also put aside a jumpsuit for Caleb to use, just in case he really wants to feel like he's a part of the team, though he hasn't been able to get it embroidered the way he'd wanted to.

Comments

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb's never seen a car older than him outside of an auto show, or at the lake when his family goes on vacation and a bunch of the older folks come out to enjoy the weather. And, really, he doesn't know enough about cars to even pretend that this one's anything but an old looking car.

But it's gonna be his, and he's gonna put his own effort into it, with Michael's help.

That's so fucking cool.

He drops his school bag and jacket by the desk, and adjusts the splint on his finger to make sure it doesn't get caught on anything. The pain is mostly gone, so he's been thinking about going in early for his follow up, but he's a little nervous about what the doctor will say if he's fully healed almost a week ahead of schedule.

He doesn't know that he is, but he still doesn't want to find out.

"Hey," he greets, as soon as he feels Michael's red reflecting orange against his yellow.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's gaze slides to Caleb's hand for a moment when he comes in, his attention on the splint and the range of motion. After his injury, it's not like he could've gone to the hospital, but he also didn't even allow anyone to help, which is why it got so bad.

He's hyper-aware of it for Caleb, wanting it to work for him.

"Hey, I got a jumpsuit for you, if you're feeling like you wanna really look the part," Michael offers, gesturing to the one that's hanging from a nearby hook. "I've never really done this with anyone else, so tell me if I'm going too fast."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"I will," he promises. He can feel the concern bubble up as Michael looks at his hand, and he actually has to remind himself that he can say something about it. "It's almost better, I think," he tells him. "Kinda wondering if I should go get it checked, but. I don't want the doctors to freak if I actually did heal a little fast."

[littleorphanalien]

"Is that one of your things?" Michael asks as he roams around to open the doors of the car. "That you can heal faster?" He hasn't really dug deep into other aliens, for him, but he feels like they're opening up, so they should in all ways. "Someone like me, back home, he could heal. I never let him, though," Michael admits.

He's never regretted it, at least not until the incident at the grocery store and how Alex had asked him, after, why he didn't want it fixed.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Um, I don't actually know?" he admits. "But it doesn't hurt as much, and I'm not taking any painkillers for it, so, I figure that's a good sign, right? And the swelling's gone down a bunch." He shrugs.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael is still paranoid about this sort of thing. Maybe it's even worse lately, because he swears that for the last week or so, someone's been just out of sight, lurking. It's not anything he wants to bring to Alex (who's already wary about people following them), but it's enough to keep him nervous. If someone is following him, it's probably not to get his number.

"I mean, if it's faster than you think, maybe you shouldn't be going to the hospital," he says, and knows that it's probably not great advice, but then, he's never set foot in a doctor's office in his life.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Wait, what, what is that?" he asks, staring at Michael. "That feeling, it's. What are you nervous about?" It's not quite nervousness, but Caleb doesn't want to make it worse if Michael doesn't like the word that fits it: paranoid. Not many people like that word.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael can't help his alarm, but he scowls soon after. Right. It's not like he gets to get away with this without some consequence, because any feeling Caleb has is one he's gonna flag. "I don't trust hospitals," he says bluntly. "That's all. Who knows what they're gonna find if they open me up?"

He shakes his head, ducking into the car and shuffling into the passenger seat. "And I dunno, maybe some asshole is trailing me on the streets," he mutters, before Caleb can push it. "I got a secret admirer," he quips.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Bzzt. He's lying. At least at first, a little bit. But then it becomes clear that, no, he's not lying, not anymore. Even the initial lie was small, fleeting — he was lying about the why, not the what. As soon as he says the truth, Caleb's gut clenches.

"Wait, what?" He climbs into the driver's side, jumpsuit forgotten, fingers curling loosely against the steering wheel. "Are you serious?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's working on opening up the dash so that Caleb can see what they're going to be working on, ducking his head down and glancing up at him. "It's no big deal. It's probably just someone who hangs out and works in the same area as he does.

"Look, for all I know, it's someone who's pissed at me for shit I did when I first got here," he says dismissively. "I wasn't exactly great for a while until Alex showed up. Maybe he just wants revenge for the bar fight I got in, and can't remember him."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb doesn't like that answer, or the mixed feelings that come with it, but he doesn't know how to really tackle that. He clears his throat, and offers, "Well, if it happens, I'll. I mean, I've got your back, or... whatever."

God, way to hype, Caleb. He tries not to wince, and turns his attention with a little blush to the dash.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael flips the console open and casts a look at Caleb. He knows that he should probably be more worried, but it's been weeks and they haven't snatched him. If they were after him because of his background or where he comes from, he thinks he'd be gone by now.

It's probably just some asshole trying to get the drop on him.

"Kid, you don't gotta do that," he assures. "Look, let's just get started on this car, huh? No need for you to defend my honor."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb manfully doesn't make a face when Michael calls him 'kid,' and then again when he tells him not to defend his honor. It reminds him of Adam, for just a second: their weird, stupid fight about Caleb trying to be the school knight just because their mascot was the Knight.

He rolls his eyes. "Fine, okay. What are we working on first?"

[littleorphanalien]

"We're yanking out all the old electrical shit because I don't want you to have a fire the moment you get this thing," he advises, and starts pulling and tugging at wires, digging out the wire strippers. "I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I'm gonna pull it all," he says.

"Then we can talk about what kind of seats you want."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb nods and starts tentatively pulling out wiring that he can reach. He'd rather not catch on fire, either, honestly. He doesn't like it here, but not that much.

"What d'you mean, 'what kind of seats?'" he asks. "Just, like... car... seats, right?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael hands him the wire strippers. "Here, if you want to get some practice stripping them, now's a good time," he offers. "And for the seats," he says, and slides inside to start working on it, "That's pretty much your call. Leather, upholstery, bench seat, bucket seats, Captain ones," he lists.

"This is a custom car," he promises. "You pretty much get what you want."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Okay, that makes more sense. Caleb automatically fills in the context of each type of seat, except for 'captain', and he feels kind of stupid, so he laughs a little.

"Oh, um." He takes the wire strippers and gets in a little practice, like Michael suggests, and thinks about it. "Leather would be easier to clean, right?" he asks, accidentally but immediately thinking of heavy makeout sessions with Adam like some shitty TV movie. "But probably not that great in terms of temperature regulation," he adds, trying to focus on something that isn't his absent boyfriend.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael can't help his smirk (which is almost proud) when Caleb comments about it being 'easier to clean', but he can't talk. The truck has leather seats and he's definitely had to go at them with a cloth a few times here, so if anything, he's delighted. "Yeah, definitely they're easier to clean," he says, and starts pulling at them.

"We can do leather. Bench seats? All one? Or you want individual ones with a console in the middle?"

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Yeah, probably the bench seats," he confirms, blushing even darker when he feels Michael's pride as he puts the pieces together, and the connections he's sure Michael's gonna make to the bench seat suggestion, too. But honestly, it's more about the idea of being able to sling his arm around Adam's shoulders when they go places together.

If he ever gets here.

"Um, is this gonna be a stick shift, or automatic?" he asks, trying to change the subject before his face goes nuclear from his own blushing.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's smirk only grows wider and more amused, because he knows exactly what he's talking about, and why he wants them. Hell, he has them himself and he loves it, for the ease of access and how he and Alex can get as cozy as possible.

"You tell me. You wanna learn to drive manual, we could do that, or we could go automatic," he allows, and reaches over to give his shoulder a nudge. "You don't gotta be embarrassed, you know," he promises. "I'm not gonna judge you."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

That just has Caleb blushing a little more, and he ducks his head, but leans into the nudge. "I know," he mumbles. "It's just. I'm not used to thinking about that stuff, I guess. But I already know how to drive a stick. That's what I learned on my permit with, actually."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael shifts a little to sit with his back pressed to the passenger seat door, giving him a gentle look. "I mean, from what you've told me, you had a pretty serious boyfriend back home," he says. "I'm pretty sure that you spent a lot of time thinking about that stuff," he says, and he's not meaning to tease, but it seems pretty clear to state that matter of factly.

"And great, we'll put a clutch in, no problem," he says, and finishes tugging out the last of the wiring. "This stuff is definitely old, we'll have to rewire it from scratch." He sounds excited about that, though, seeing as it's a challenge.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb chooses to avoid the first subject entirely. He and Michael are getting to be really good friends, and being around him his great for his ability, but he doesn't want to get into conversations about sex and general horniness with him. Not yet, anyway. Maybe if it ever becomes an issue, he can turn to him for advice.

So for now, he focuses on the car.

"I'm not gonna be able to help with the wiring," he says. "Or, I mean, I've never done that sorta thing before."

[littleorphanalien]

"I don't have everything I need right now, but when I do, you can help me watch it go in," he says with a nod, giving him an encouraging smile, because if he can puzzle it all together, then anyone can. "You can think about what color you want this thing to be once I sand it down, too."

It's good to have something to work on like this, because otherwise, he knows he has a tendency to get bored. That, or let things consume him that really shouldn't.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Green," Caleb says, almost before Michael can finish his sentence. "Definitely green. Like, a nice green. Not a dark one, or like, lime or anything like that. A good green." A green that makes him think of Adam.