Chapter Text
“I believe this is yours.”
Michael squinted his eyes as he threw open the door to the airstream. Alex was standing outside, the blanket he’d borrowed all folded up. He looked significantly more put together than he’d seen him two nights prior which was fantastic. The only bad thing was it was ridiculously early in the morning.
“You didn’t have to come bring it back to me this early, Alex,” Michael said, rubbing his eyes. He didn’t even hold his arm out for the blanket. As far as he was concerned, Alex could keep it.
“No, I really think I did,” Alex sighed, holding out the blanket. Michael simply yawned and shook his head.
“Look, I don’t want it back, Alex. I told you to keep it,” he insisted. Alex got that hardened look on his face.
“No, I’m trying to be better about not thinking about romantic feelings and having a blanket that smells like you in my house is not helping, okay?” Alex elaborated. Michael’s eyebrows shot up. Considering that was probably the most straight forward Alex had ever been, he reluctantly accepted the blanket.
“Okay,” Michael said slowly.
“I’m sorry if I was too… pushy the other night. It’s kinda hazy, but I remember you being kind to me and that’s not something I take lightly. So, thank you and I’m sorry,” Alex said. Michael shrugged.
“You weren’t pushy, I promise,” Michael said. Alex gave a respectful little nod.
“So… I’ll see you around, then,” Alex said. He was walking with a purpose back to his car before Michael could think of anything to say back.
He made his way back into the airstream and brought the blanket to his nose. It smelt like Alex.
-
Alex kept true to his word and tried to avoid all things romantic. That’s at least what it seemed like.
Michael saw him around town, but instead of being on dates with pretty, younger men who he clearly had nothing in common with, he saw him alone. Alex had lunch alone, went to movies alone, and read books alone. Michael would say hi when he saw him, but, for the most part, he let Alex come to him whenever he wanted to talk. For the first time, Michael was watching Alex learn to be happy with himself and he wanted to respect his wishes.
It felt like a blessing, though, because that one little night had actually managed to bring them closer. While they refrained from real flirting or hanging out alone, Alex would send him random texts of things he saw and wanted to share with him. He never thought a meme about astrophysics would make his heart want to burst.
“Michael!” Alex called whenever he walked into the Crashdown. Michael’s chest filled with warmth and a smile involuntarily took over his face as he looked towards the booth where Alex was sitting. He waved him over.
“What’s up?” Michael asked as he walked to see him. He had a few empty baskets of fries, two an empty pot of coffee, a thick, open book full of highlighted lines and page tabs, and a half-melted milkshake. He’d clearly been here for a while.
“I’m reading this book and this line made me think of you and then you walked in right before I texted it to you,” Alex said, pointing at the page. Michael leaned over him and read the line highlighted in pink.
“ ‘I simply want to live; to cause no evil to anyone but myself’,” Michael read, huffing a laugh, “Should I be insulted?”
“No!” Alex laughed, smile easy and intoxicating, “I mean, I could be wrong with his intention, but to me, it’s literally just you. I don’t know how to explain it, it’s just you.”
“What’s pink mean?” Michael asked instead of dwelling on what that meant for too long. Alex took a deep breath.
“That’s what I highlight things that I want to tell you about so I don’t forget,” Alex said simply like that wasn’t the sweetest thing in the world. Michael bit his lip and refrained front stealing the book and cherishing every goddamn pink line. That would make him feel a little too similar to Max. Though, maybe he could get some brownie points from his brother if he saw him cherish a Tolstoy.
“Ah, well, thanks,” Michael said. Alex nodded then waved him away.
“Go get your food and do whatever, I’ve got a book to read.”
Michael didn’t argue.
-
Michael minded his business. He really did. He really, really tried.
“Can you please leave me alone?”
“Oh, c’mon, Alex, let me make it up to you.”
Michael watched with furrowed eyebrows as a guy hovered beside Alex’s table. Alex had his highlighter clutched in his hand, clearly trying to decide if he should pack up and leave or if he was going to stand his ground because he was there first. Instinct told Michael to go say something, but he knew that if Alex needed help‒he usually didn’t‒then he would’ve asked for it. So, instead, he sat back and watched. Sort of.
“Who is that?” he asked Liz, not even trying to pretend he wasn’t being nosy. Liz raised an eyebrow, stopping in the middle of wiping the tables.
“That’s that guy,” she said after realizing he still expected an answer.
“Real specific, Liz, thanks.”
“You know, that guy. The one who left him at that fucking club on New Year’s,” Liz informed. Anger filled his system as he looked back to Alex and the random guy that was very clearly an asshole. Michael couldn’t help but picture the look on Alex’s face that night. He’d been so upset‒too upset.
“You forgot me at a club, Eli, there’s nothing you can do to make that up to me,” Alex said, doing his best to act like he wasn’t paying attention all while Michael contemplated telekinetically making Eli’s pants fall to the ground. Sure, it was childish, but it was effective.
“And you’ve ghosted me for weeks, so it feels even,” Eli said which made Alex scoff, “C’mon, we’re good together.”
“Just leave me alone.”
“No, I want to talk.”
“Well, I don’t, so leave,” Alex said firmly. Michael was chewing on his lip so hard he almost broke the skin. He wanted to help. He turned to Liz.
“Make a cup of water,” he told her. She furrowed her eyebrows.
“What? Why?”
“Just make a cup of water so I can go pretend to have a reason to butt in,” Michael said. She pursed her lips and gave him that look. “I’m not gonna do anything other than that, I promise.”
Reluctantly, she got him a glass of water that he took with a smile.
Alex’s conversation with Eli was just getting heated whenever Michael strolled up and sat the glass in front of him. They both shut up, though Alex shot him an annoyed glare.
“Can I get anything else for you, sir?” Michael asked, forcing a smile as he kept his attention on Alex. Alex’s look softened just a little.
“No, I was just leaving. Could you tell Liz to put my order on my tab? I’ll pay tomorrow,” Alex said, taking the excuse to gather his things and head out. Michael blocked Eli’s way from following him directly.
“And can I get anything for you?” Michael said, knowing his smile was a little extra cynical as he faced the fresh-out-of-college party twink. Maybe he was biased, but he couldn’t figure out why Alex even wanted to go out with him in the first place.
“No, move,” Eli said, trying to follow Alex.
Thankfully, his car was gone by the time he got out there.
-
“I didn’t need saving.”
“Good morning to you too,” Michael yawned, rubbing his fist over his eye as he looked at Alex who was standing at his airstream at a ridiculous time of morning again.
“Stop, you should’ve let me handle him yesterday. I-I don’t need some knight in shining armor, I’m independent and I can take care of myself,” Alex said, sounding awfully like he was listing points from memory. Michael shrugged a shoulder.
“I know you can, but that guy was gonna cause a scene. And it’s not like I did anything directly, I just gave you a way out. The guy was clearly an asshole,” Michael explained. Alex still had his angry little face on that really seemed to be forced. “I’m not gonna apologize for giving you an out. You could’ve stayed and argued if you wanted.”
“I don’t need you, Michael,” Alex said. It hurt, he couldn’t lie, but he chose to take a deep breath instead.
“I know you don’t,” he said.
They stared at each other for a moment in complete silence. Michael had no idea what was going through his mind, but he wondered if this was it. Had he finally fucked up for good? Wouldn’t that be hilarious that if his biggest, most monumental fuck up was simply trying to be nice. Except it wouldn’t be funny because that meant losing all the sweet messages he’d gotten used to, all the messages that were simply just an ‘hey, I’m thinking about you’. He didn’t want to lose that. It honestly might be worse than losing him the first time.
“Do you still love me?” Alex asked instead of insisting that they cut off all communication, “That night, you said you loved me. Is that still true?”
Michael scoffed, “I love you more now than I did that night.”
Alex gulped slowly before readjusting his stance and raising his chin. He looked so official and adorable. Michael slowly let the hope fill him once again. “Then can I have your blanket back?”
“You can have whatever you want, Alex,” Michael laughed. Licking his lips, Alex nodded.
“Then I want you to take me on a date. A real date. Not a club, not a hookup, not even like a fancy over the top romantic date‒a normal date. Like, standard dinner and a movie type of date. Can we do that?” Alex asked. Michael’s heart thudded harder in his chest and he fought a smile.
“So you’re not mad at me?” he clarified.
“I just needed you to know that I don’t need you before I asked you out so you didn’t think I was caving,” Alex explained. Michael grinned and shook his head.
“You’re ridiculous,” Michael said, slowly stepping down from the airstream, “And of course I’ll take you on a date. Just, hopefully not at this early in the morning.”
“Right, right,” Alex said, relaxing with an exhale and a smile, “I just can convince myself to do shit earlier because I haven’t had time to think about it.”
“I get it,” Michael agreed, “So… tonight?”
Alex bit down on his lip and nodded. “Tonight.”
“And… you wanna come in?” Michael asked. Alex stared at him for a moment, took a deep breath, and nodded.
God bless a confident man.