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[littleorphanalien]

He got permission to take Bopp and go to the beach, because he'd promised that he'd meet Caleb there and Caleb would call if anything happened to him. It's been almost a week of him like this and Michael's pretty sure that much more and Alex is gonna have a nervous breakdown or something, because his fiance is gone. It's better if he gets out of the house.

He's come around to loving it, though. It really is home, in a way he hasn't ever had, and he grabs Bopp's leash, going running down the block towards the sand, beaming when he sees Caleb there, lanky and unmissable. He's breathless by the time he jogs to a halt, smirking up at Caleb.

"What's it like, being so tall the Eiffel Tower's jealous of you?" he quips, tugging a borrowed hat off because he's not cold. He's never cold, because he's an alien, and the whole 'keep warm' thing just seems overly worried. Once he's let go of Bopp's leash, she goes running and Michael lets out a cry of alarm. "Bopp! Wait for me!" he shouts, sprinting towards the surf.

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[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb rolls his eyes, but he's grinning. "You do have a habit of collecting strays," he points out, thinking of himself, of Luke, of Bopp, and any of their other friends. The friends that Michael finds and clings to like a barnacle, unwilling to let them go once he's gotten them. His abandonment issues turned full circle for him once he'd come to Darrow.

[littleorphanalien]

"I'm a stray," he says quietly, so it would make sense to him if that's what he's doing in the future. He strokes Bopp's fur, staring at her, and thinking that it's nice of him to do that. It must take a whole lot of happiness and being settled in his life to do it, because Michael's life, as far as it is now, is a complete disaster.

He can't imagine taking care of anyone else.

"You haven't run away. I'm doing something right. Or Alex," he admits, seeing as it seems like they're a pair.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Yeah, you are," he assures, warming. He crouches down beside them, scritching Bopp's head. "I think, if you were still in Roswell, maybe you wouldn't so well adjusted, y'know? It sounds like that place was pretty toxic for you." It's been long enough that Michael knows about Darrow, at least, so Caleb doesn't shy away from admitting that.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael snorts, because that doesn't even get into the half of it. "If it's as bad as it is for me right now, then yeah, I bet," he says. "Something worked out though," he says, collapsing on his ass to coax Bopp into his lap.

"Alex says we're looking for a new house," he says. "And there's the wedding and the company. If I ever grow up," he admits. "If I don't, then he's going in the pod."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Can he even?" Caleb asks, because it's the first thing to come to mind at that remark. Followed quickly by, "Listen, this place made me a girl for, like, a week. You're gonna grow up again."

[littleorphanalien]

"Alex seemed to think he could, so then I'd just...wait," he says, and he stares at Bopp, thinking he could do that. It'd suck, but he could. "Alex said that, too, and that I was younger before, but only seventeen." He peers up at Caleb, giving him a dubious look.

"You were a girl?" he laughs. "That's weird," he accuses, only because he can't imagine it. Caleb's really tall, but also really a dude, so Michael's brain can't really work that.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"It was the fucking weirdest," he agrees. "I have pictures on my phone, if you want to see. I looked like my own twin sister. It was fucking bizarre." He laughs, feeling Michael's amused skepticism, glad the moment isn't getting too heavy.

[littleorphanalien]

"At least I'm eleven and not a girl," Michael says, because he's smart enough to know that wouldn't go over really well with a boyfriend who only likes guys, so he's glad that it's like this, even if it is really awkward. It's nice, though, having someone who brushes his hair back and gives him a warm bed to sleep in and has breakfast ready in the morning.

"You got a sister?" he asks.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Yeah, back home," he confirms. "Alice. She's twelve. Or. I guess she'd be thirteen by now, fuck." He sighs. He looks off towards the ocean, so he's not looking at Michael, not feeling the full force of his feelings as they talk about this. "She's, like, the perfect brat, y'know? Treats me like the kid brother, not the other way around. But we have each other's backs."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael raises both brows as Caleb gives away that he's used to dealing with bratty younger siblings, which explains a lot about how much patience he's been willing to give Michael so far, seeing as he knows he's been a handful and not something that most people would want to deal with.

"Maybe it's cuz you're immature and stupid," he provides helpfully, as if he knows anything about this to be able to talk to it -- and he definitely doesn't.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Ouch, Dude," Caleb says, huffing out a weak laugh. "We can't all be geniuses, okay?" He doesn't bother arguing about his intelligence. Compared to Michael, pretty much everyone in Darrow is stupid. And, okay, he can be pretty immature. Still. It stings a little.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael knows he's pretty smart, but at the same time, it's not like he's ever been tested for it or gone up against anyone else, but he feels pretty secure knowing that he's smart. Genius, even.

"I bet you're pretty smart for a not-alien," he concedes. "I mean, you're here helping take care of me, so I want you around. Obviously."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"I do alright," Caleb says. He smiles a little, because he knows Michael's less trying to make him feel better and more just accepting truths and stating them aloud. "I'm not exactly Ivy league material, but I'm in the top twenty percent of my class, so, I guess that's alright."

[littleorphanalien]

"I bet you're pretty smart. Maybe I could tutor you," he says with a smirk, flopping onto his back with Bopp and staring at the sky. There are no stars out, now, but he gets the chance to stargaze outside of the apartment at night, knowing he can go inside and be safe and warm after.

"Do you use your feelings powers for that?" he asks curiously. "To get like, answers from people because you can feel their confidence in them?"

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"No, that's, like... I try not to do shit like that. And it's hard, anyway, because I always feel the stress more than anything?" He tries to think of any time he'd been able to focus on one person's confidence.

Not since Miles Miller, he's pretty sure.

"Besides, just because I can feel their confidence doesn't mean they're right. And if it's on paper, I have no idea what they're confident about, y'know? I can feel their feelings, but I can't read their thoughts."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael sits up a little, sand in his hair, and probably making a real mess for later, but he squints at him. "You can read their feelings, isn't that just as close as their thoughts?" he points out bluntly. It feels like it to him, but then, he makes things shake.

It's not like he's a super expert in the powers department here.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Not really," he answers. "I can guess, but that's not always totally, like, accurate. And there are other things that can change how a person feels about something. Like, if someone's afraid of a barking dog," he adds when Bopp yips at Michael for more attention. "I can feel their fear, and I can feel where it's aimed, but I don't know why they're afraid. I don't know if it's because it's a loud noise, or if it's because they've had a bad experience with a dog, or if the sound of a bark triggers a bad memory, or something, y'know?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael laughs as he sprawls out on his stomach to drag Bopp towards him, nuzzling at her fur when she wants attention, his fingers scratching at her. He isn't afraid of her, but only because she's really good to him, like she's anticipating him, and everything he might need.

"So you just know fear," he says. "I still think that's kind of like being able to read the answers," he protests. "Like, you gotta know when someone likes you, right? Like-likes?"

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"Well, yeah" he admits. "I can tell when someone is feeling something for me, or at me, or, like, on my behalf? But I couldn't always tell. The more I practice, the easier it gets."

He shrugs, unsure how else to explain it to this stubborn, young Michael.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael has to brush away some of the sand when it starts riding up his shirt and getting his pants (which are a little too big for his small frame) and he peers at Caleb without flinching or blinking, trying to decide if that's an acceptable answer.

"So what am I feeling now?" he challenges, because Caleb clearly needs more practice, if he's doubting himself so much.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb rolls his eyes, but he grins and humors him.

"Smug," he says bluntly. "You're challenging me." He tips his head, feeling that familiar zing of Michael's genius superiority at work. "You think you can figure out my power because you're so smart." He shrugs, and adds, "But you're happy, too. You're feeling good."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael smirks at him. "I am too so smart," he counters, because this is easy. It's not like the problems he's been thinking about with the spaceship and how they got there, figuring out someone's feelings is stupid simple.

He's warily happy, and he feels weird about that.

Because he's supposed to be angry and mistrustful, but Alex and Luke and Caleb have given him nothing but love and support. "I shouldn't be feeling good," he mutters, petting Bopp. "Cuz it's all gonna end, or I'm gonna owe something."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Bopp whines and nudges her nose against Michael's chin.

"You've got picture proof, Dude," Caleb points out. The playfulness is eased in his voice. He speaks gently, reaching over to nudge Michael's shoulder. "It doesn't, and you don't. We love you, Man, all of us."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael laughs as he bops his chin down on her, like her namesake, and then cuddles her up in his arms like a stuffed animal and not a live dog, getting as cozy as he can.

"Yeah, but people don't just give things away, they're not nice without a reason," he argues. "It just means I have to pay it back someday."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

Caleb sighs, very softly. "I know you've got a good reason to feel that way, but... it's not like that with us, Dude. Come on, like... You started to trust us, y'know? Why are you back pedaling?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael squints at him. "Cuz you'll want something. Or someone will yell. Happy families like this one don't last forever," he says knowingly, because as far as he's concerned, there's always something waiting in the wings to take it down.

"Sure, it's happy now. What happens if Alex has a bad day? Or money gets tight? Then I go back, I get sent away."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"That's not going to happen," he assures. "Michael, I promise. I know you have no reason to believe me, and I know you're talking from experience, but... that's not what it's like, here. Not with us. Alex is gonna have bad days, but he'd never take it out on you. He loves you, so, so much. God, the feeling of his love is... I can't even describe it. That man would do anything for you. Anything." He'd killed for him. He'd done so much. "You won't get sent away. You're our family, Michael. I'm serious. We would do anything for you. To protect you."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael twists his lips up like he's not entirely sure that he believes him, but at the same time, he's also not about to test his theory. He likes where he is, he likes the home, and until it backfires on him, he wants to enjoy it.

"Yeah, adult me," he scoffs. "And I just took away the man he loves so much and would do anything for," he parrots. He's still unsure, but Caleb is being pretty persuasive.

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"No, you didn't," Caleb assures. "You're that guy. Yeah, you're small, right now, but this is only temporary, remember? Any day, you're gonna be grown up again, and this is gonna be, like... just another weird thing that this city does."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael snarls just a little at 'small', even though he is. He knows he is, but that's not something to tease him about, even if he knows Caleb is only speaking matter-of-factly. He slumps against Bopp, even as she wriggles a little to act like a pillow.

"That sucks," he says. "Cuz I bet you're feeling all his sad now, because I'm not a good replacement for someone he loves."

[greatamazingfeelingsboy]

"If he was sad, yeah, I would be," Caleb agrees. "But he's not. Last time I checked in with him, he was... confused, a little worried, but. He knows it's you, and he still loves you. That's still there, Dude." He sighs and rubs his face. "You're not replacing anyone. You're still you."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael wraps up Bopp in his arms, burying his face in her fur, thinking about that. He's never had a family. He's never had people who cared about him. It seems completely impossible to imagine, which is why he keeps fighting it, trying so hard to prove that Caleb or Alex or Luke will falter and prove him right.

But they haven't.

"Fine," he says, barely audible, because he mumbles it into Bopp's fur. "I guess you're right."