(no subject)

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's been in this house for a few days and he's starting to realize that there's no other shoe that's going to drop. Alex isn't going to hurt him. They're not going to send him out in the cold. Luke's pretty cool and Bopp's really sweet, and it almost feels like a home. Of course, every time it's too good to be true, something comes out of nowhere to ruin that, but if this is really his home when he gets older, then it's not so bad.

Besides, the pod in the bathroom and all the alien materials around make it clear that he really does live here and trust in Alex.

It's why he pries the guitar from its case and tentatively approaches where Alex is sitting with the computer in the main room. Bopp is in tow, bounding at his ankles and she's kind of cute. He kind of likes her -- just like he kind of likes this place. "Hey," he calls over to Alex, nodding to get his attention. "So uh, you said you could teach me how to play the guitar?"

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[littleorphanalien]

Michael can't help his barked laugh, almost in shock. "Did you just tell an eleven year old orphan that he's a dick?" he accuses because it kind of sounds like he did and that takes balls. Hell, he's almost impressed.

"If I stay like this, you lose your husband. Or fiance," he clarifies, shrugging as he points to the plans and the ring. "I don't know if these are for something that's happened or something that's coming up." Either way, it would suck a whole lot for him, that's all he's saying.

[unendurable]

"You mean the eleven year old kid who totally let me start making eggs before demanding pancakes just to see if I'd tell him off and throw him out? You mean, did I just call that kid a dick?" Giving him a sharp look and a raised brow, but he's nearly smiling.

"My fiance," he says, nodding. "The wedding is in July. And if that's the case, then it's how life is. Will I miss him? Every day of my life," he says, trying not to cry again. "But you're here until he is. It's your home, and I want you here as long as you'll stay with us."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael tries not to smirk, but he kind of can't help it. Here he thought he'd been pretty clever about the pancake play, but apparently Alex had been onto him. "You figured that out, huh," he says, but he's not admonished so much as really stupidly amused.

He shrugs, like it's fine, because it is.

So what, he got caught on that. And it sucks, if he's the one here, but he kind of likes the idea of having a family, but not at the cost of his older self losing this. "Maybe someone could like, do something. Alien power me back to normal?" He glances to the pod. "Or I could put you in the pod while I grow up and then take you out when we're the same age again."

[unendurable]

"I did, and I can't blame you for it. You don't know me, and you had to know what I would do. I get that,' he admits, shrugging and not bothered by it. Not in the least.

"Maybe, and this place might do it. It did it before when we were both teenagers again," he admits. "But if not? We'll look into the pod and what's needed to make it happen," he says, allowing for that. "I'll ask you move me out of the bathroom though," he teases.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael still looks at Alex considerately, reaching for the guitar again and bringing it back up. "Will you teach me the chord that comes next?" he asks, and says nothing about whether or not he's willing to let him think about taking the pod out of the bathroom.

After all, they don't need to get there yet.

"Then, maybe," he says tentatively, "could I nap with Bopp today? If that's okay?"

[unendurable]

"Of course," he says, moving to put his hands in the right position, to show him what the next chord is.

But then Michael asks that, and Alex has a sudden rush of doubts and disappointments he hadn't expected. Including if he's made Michael think the worst of him somehow, that the hug was too much.

"If that's what you want," he says, staring at Michael's fingers and adjusting them slightly on the strings, not that he does much to them. It's just better watching his fingers than looking up at him. He can only guess how upset he looks given how he feels.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael leans over to play the next chord, but when he looks up to brag, Alex's face looks fucking miserable, and Michael isn't sure why. He tracks back over his words, and then makes an incredulous face when he thinks he lands on it.

"Wait," he says, wrinkling his nose. "You can nap too," he insists. "I didn't think adults napped, that's all," he scoffs, like he's the affronted one here for thinking a grown man didn't want to lie in bed in the middle of the day curled around a dog. "You're not disinvited just cuz I want the dog."

[unendurable]

Alex is smiling as Michael plays the chord, despite it being a rough smiling. He really is glad for Michael to have this, and remembering only now how it came to him and how amazing Michael is when he plays.

He glances up at Michael, shrugging. "I know I'm being stupid," he admits. "And I don't want you to feel... I don't know, creeped out. It's really okay."

And now he feels stupid about how he's acting. Or worse, like he's coming off predatorily.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael sets aside the guitar, shuffling to the edge of the couch even though he grips it with his hands, peering up at Alex. "It's not stupid," he says, blunt as always, because it's not. It's just not what he'd expect, and okay, so it's a bit weird.

But it's a big bed and it's Alex's bed.

"Besides, maybe it's like fairy tales," he admits. "Suddenly, I'll wake up back to normal?" He pushes down with his toes to massage Bopp's fur. "I don't care if you wanna join or not."

[unendurable]

"I just want the time with you I can have," he admits. "And I want you to have all the memories from this that you can, Michael. I know it won't change the past, it won't fix what was done to you, but it gives you other memories as well," he says softly.

He reaches over slowly, ruffling those curls if Michael lets him. "Whatever happens, your home is here, Michael. That's all I want you to take away from this. No matter what happens."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael lets him. It's been a few days and he knows when Alex touches him, it won't be in anger. It also won't be too affectionate, because Alex has been over paranoid about that, trying to keep things proper. Michael soaks it up, the touch from someone who cares about him, his eyes remaining shut as he blinks.

Then, he inhales a little and pushes it out. "Thanks, Alex," he mumbles, and pushes to his feet again, this time to initiate the hug, burrowing into Alex's torso as he clings to him. "Sorry you have to hurt to do that."

[unendurable]

That Michael comes in for a hug is nearly enough to make Alex completely and wholly break. He nearly collapses then, clinging to Michael as he presses his face to the top of his head. Eyes closed tight, trying so hard not to sob.

"You're welcome, Michael. It's okay. It really is. Whatever we have to do, we'll get through this, okay? All of us."