(no subject)

[littleorphanalien]

Alex's name is all over posters for this music festival, something that Michael had seen once or twice. When Alex had arranged it, Michael just figured that it was some casual thing, like a gig at the bar. Then, real flyers came out, posters, and Alex had a spot on a stage at a festival. He'd seen them on the way back from dropping Luke off at school, needing to do a double-take before he was overwhelmed with the sight of them.

To say that he's proud is a wild understatement.

He's grabbed about three of them, taking off for the Ocean View apartment, grateful that they're still in the process of moving so it won't take too long, hurrying inside. "Alex!" he calls, bouncing with excitement. "Alex, you're never gonna believe what I..."

He trails off, because when he glances up from the flyers, he gets his first good look at Alex.

"...uhhhh..."

Alex still has the coffee cup in hand, wearing a pair of sweatpants tied on the one end, and he's shirtless. Michael's seen him shirtless a thousand times before, but the tanned skin against these particular sweatpants, the way his hair is falling over his forehead, and his sleepy mussed just woke up look is...well, it's doing a lot to him.

"I found your music flyers," he manages, babbling out nonsense.

Comments

[littleorphanalien]

"Yes," Michael says bluntly, because yes, Alex would take over in prison. "You would be in charge of them," he guarantees, which is probably not the level of flirting that he wants to achieve, but here he is, and there Alex is, and he's not lying.

He stares at the prosthetic, wanting to be proud, but humility is kicking in hard. "I just want you to like it," he admits. "So if you do, then I don't care who else knows, if it's the whole world or no one at all."

[unendurable]

He laughs at that though, knowing that maybe he's not entirely wrong. "I would rather take over your life and be in charge of that," he says with a grin. "But I settle for partners," he teases him with a laugh, following alongside Michael.

"Not only is it beautiful, it is comfortable. It's already feeling a lot more comfortable than I might have thought." It's new and exciting that it feels so light and this comfortable.

[littleorphanalien]

"You're already in charge of my life," Michael vows, and he's happy to offer it to him, leaning in towards him like an invisible magnetic force is drawing him closer, making him soppy and stupid as he tips his head one way, then the other, curling in towards him.

"I tried really hard to balance the weight, but to make it easier," he says, "and to match the shape of your leg," he says excitedly, grabbing his keys so they can head out. "And now, you're a little bit alien too."

[unendurable]

"And you are in charge of mine," he points out, loving how they walk together, how close they are to one another. He loves how comfortable they are with each other these days. It's wonderful and beautiful.

"You did, it really balances..." He was going to say well but then Michael spoke of that and Alex practically melts. "A little bit of you," he says, leaning into him once more, smiling. "I love you put it like that. I'm part of you now."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's eyes are half-lidded and soft and warm as he stares at Alex, curling in tightly as he wraps his arm around his waist, kissing his cheek as he gets the keys and locks up behind him. He's still feeling warm and fuzzy and delighted, the poster having lifted him up more than anything.

He's in love with a budding rock star.

"I mean," he drawls, breath hot on Alex's ear as he leans in, nipping at his earlobe, "I'm a part of you most nights when you're in me," he says, deliberately trying to make him blush.

[unendurable]

Their life is wholly and truly amazing and Alex can't hide that look of delight on his face as he leans into Michael. Not needing the support but wanting to be close to him, to feel that high warmth pouring off of him and how good that feels.

Whatever he was expecting to hear in that moment, that isn't it. Whining softly as he closes his eyes, savoring the thought, his hand running over Michael's thigh without even thinking about it. "Definitely always mine," he groans. "But if you want to go shopping, you can't keep doing that," he whimpers.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael acts the innocent in this, lifting his keys up like they're going to protect him. "Hey, I'm the one about to drive you to the store," he points out, like he wasn't also the one who's potentially getting him in severe trouble.

He bends down to pry Alex's hand off his thigh, tangling their fingers together. "Shopping," he says. "And it's my treat." Even if he's still freaking out about money these days, with a whole new house to furnish and a shipping container to buy.

[unendurable]

"Remind me how that keeps my hands off of you?" Because he's pretty sure that isn't going to entirely do much to make him behave. He can think of a lot of things he can do while Michael is driving, after all.

But then he makes that offer and Alex blinks at him, arching a brow as his hand takes Michael's.

"You really are excited about this event, aren't you?"

[littleorphanalien]

Michael gives him a long, confused look. "Why wouldn't I be? Alex, this is huge," he says. "Your name is on a festival poster!" he reminds him, getting in the truck and tossing his wallet to the seat beside him. "You dreamed about this when you were seventeen. You wanted to make music, instead you went off and fought someone else's war."

"And now, look at you," he praises. "I'm so proud of you, Alex," Michael says, and he's not joking around. He's serious, cupping Alex's cheek. "I'm beyond proud, and I'm so excited what this means for us."

[unendurable]

Those words remind him of how different this world is, how good it is. How good their life is here in Darrow. That all he gave up is his again. And that means so much to him. It means the world.

Climbing into the truck, liking how light the prosthetic feels as he draws it up into the truck. It's so much easier than the other one is.

Leaning into that touch, smiling at him. "I'm excited, and it's crazy. I can't believe I get this chance to have everything I gave up." Music. Michael. This life he has now. "I'm so sorry I made both of us wait so long."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael watches the way he's moving with it. He thinks he'll probably watch that movement for weeks, if not months, just to make sure that it's not hurting him. There's an element of ego and pride, too, because if he's figured it out, then he's made Alex's life better.

That really is all he wants.

"I'm sorry I got myself locked up when you were leaving and acted like a dick all summer," he says, because the blame goes both ways on this one. "It's not all on you, and it's not all on me either." He squeezes Alex's knee. "That's what the therapy is for, right? Fixing this stuff."

[unendurable]

Alex still blames himself. Could he blame Michael for acting out after all he had been through and then Alex just left him? He leans in, kissing Michael's cheek though before settling in.

"I'm glad we're seeing someone. We both need it, but I'm so glad we even got the chance to fix it all. I love you," he whispers softly.

[littleorphanalien]

Michael's eyes fall shut for the kiss, because it's exactly what he needs, breathing out softly as he leans into the warmth of that kiss, turning the engine on. "And I love you too," he says, driving towards the clothing stores, keeping himself at a slow pace.

"Let me know if you see anywhere you wanna stop, okay?" he suggests. "Not sure where you get kilts."

[unendurable]

It's not just the therapy though. Part of it is the things they're willing to do for one another. They've both taken a turn, trying to change how they do things, and what they do for one another. It's how hard they're working on it.

He laughs at that, shaking his head. "I have no idea but there's some shops further down this road I've wanted to check out. He's seen a few places that might carry something he'd wear for a concert. "I think they have some biker shop type places. Hoping they have some punk places."

[littleorphanalien]

Michael leans forward to peer out the windshield, trying to look for clues or signs, reaching over to rub his palm over Alex's thigh as they drive, maybe a little teasingly, but not to the point that he intends to start anything.

After all, he's not stupid.

"Like that one there?" he asks, parking in front of one. "You gonna try and buy a bike too?" he teases. "I knew I should've bought the second truck to stop you longing."

[unendurable]

Alex laughs as he picks one, taking Michael's hand and lifting it to his lips, kissing it tenderly.

"Maybe, but if I do that I need you to fix it for me and why do I think you won't do that?"

He's not sure it's even safe, but now he can't help but think about it.

[littleorphanalien]

"If you really, really wanted it, I would," Michael says, even if there's the edge of a grimace because the thought of Alex in a motorcycle wreck scares the shit out of him. He parks, heading out to meet Alex on the opposite side of the truck.

They do need to think about a second vehicle. "You want to get a SUV? Or another truck?"

[unendurable]

He sees that look and moves to press into Michael, taking his hand. "I might tease you about the bike, but that doesn't mean I want one. I won't take that chance," he admits. "Not with either of us and our future."

They have this future now, and that's what matters to them.

"Uhmm, probably an SUV? So we have something that's enclosed to transport gear and such, maybe?"

[littleorphanalien]

"What about normal bikes? I mean, that's what families do, go for bike rides and the prosthetic could definitely handle that," Michael insists, threading his arm into Alex's as he kisses his cheek, leading him towards the stores (and hoping that he can text some inspiration to Rapunzel to see if she can make it for him).

"I can look for an SUV," he confirms. "Definitely intend to buy used, since I'll be gutting it anyway."

[unendurable]

Alex glances at Michael because the important part of that question comes with what families do He loves how that sounds.

"I think we should try them,' he admits. "For all of us," he adds. "We're living at the beach. We should have bikes," he says, believing that now that they truly should. "We can look into them later."

But now that they've discussed it, he means it.

"You know you don't have to rush. I don't want to be a pain," he says softly. "And I can help with what I can."

[littleorphanalien]

"You're not a pain," Michael insists, kissing his temple as he tugs Alex towards the store. He grins, looking at it, and then nudges him towards it. "Come on," he says. "Let's go inside and find you a look to wow every last person at that festival."

"And the car can come later."