archeived over at @bravery-sought

Watching   Alex  as  he  thinks  is  somewhat  of  a  SPORT .  A  dash  to  recognise  all  the  thoughts  &&  emotions  that  splash  across  his  features  before  they’re  all  too  quickly  GONE  for  good .  Michael  tries  his  best  not  to  make  his   OBSERVATIONS  too  obvious  -  eyeing  the  other  male  carefully  in  his  peripheral  as  he  pours  a little   alcohol  into  Alex’s   glass  &&  then  leans    as   far  back  into  his  own  seat   as  possible  &&  lifts  the  ENTIRE   bottle  to  his  lips  to  take  a  glug  of  the  honey  coloured   liquid . 

❝       You  SHOULDN’T   ,   doesn’t   mean  you  won’t  though -  right  ??    ❞   he  can’t  stop  a   GENTLE  smirk  from  curving  the edge  of  his  mouth  .   ❝   c’mon ,   you  KNOW   there’s   more  than  enough  bullshit   going  on  in  this  town  to   warrant  us  throwing   CAUTION  to  the  wind .   ❞

He  spins  on  his  stool  just  a  little  - turning  so  that  he’s  facing   Alex  completely  &&  kicking  a  leg  up  to  rest  it  on  the  bar  underneath  the  seat  of   his  companion . His  head  tips  to  the  side  JUST  a  little  out  of  curiosity  when  Alex  spoke  again.   There’s  BARELY   a  moment  between  the  two  sentences .  The  air  force  captain    seems  to   BAT   Michael’s  comment  back  at  him  before  instantly  returning  fire  &&  the  STEELINESS  of  it  all  catches   the  mechanic  off  guard .    

❝      we’re   good .   ❞   he  says  softly -  it’s  OBVIOUS  that  he’s  been  put  on  edge  by  the  interaction .  His  OWN  fault  for  starting  the  back  &&  forth  .    ❝     We’re  at  odds  most  of  the  time ,  I  want to  keep  her  safe  ,  she’s  INTENT  on  running  into  the  danger  head  on .  You  know  her.   ❞   There’s  a  HEAVY  pause.   His  jaw  is  tight  as  the  memories  of  a   CERTAIN  night  brand  themselves  into  his  mind .   He’d  always  kept  himself  isolated  but  trust  HIM  -  to  have  the  two  people  he’s  ever  been  in  love  with  be  best  friends . 

❝     Does  HE  know  you’re  not  dating ??  the  guy  seems -  LASER  focused  ❞

Michael’s eyes always reminded him of whiskey  ,  golden with a dash of orange to add some vibrancy to the color. Beautiful and VIBRANT and so full of life  ,  like an inferno  (  mirroring RAGE  ). Alex slightly raises his glass in a notion of appreciation before he glances at the liquid that’s been poured. He’s never figured that alcohol could offer such a comfort  ,  but he’s always strayed far from becoming an alcoholic. Given all of his traumas and conflicts  ,  it’s a miracle that he hasn’t sought out a different method of self-destruction to add to his ever-growing list. Everyone deals with guilt and blame differently and his own handlings are... more subtle  ,   but just as damaging as any ADDICTION. 

He takes note of the smirk that crawls across Michael’s features before letting another exhale relax his shoulders as he brings himself to lean his elbows against the bartop.  “  I suppose you do have a point.  ”  But he knows to be careful. After all  ,  given his rank as a commissioned officer he has certain expectations to live up to. 

Alex Manes is on edge and its shown in the way he speaks. He’s always been blunt  ,   but it’s a rarity that anyone sees him like this. Anger isn’t something that he often shows. The younger version of him was much more EXPLOSIVE  ;  one extreme to another with no middle ground. He doesn’t want to focus on himself  (  when does he ever? ). 

Maira and Michael seem to have the occasional tension between them and Alex can sometimes feel in the atmosphere that surrounds them. It has the ability to tingle his nerves and he’s certain that it’s not just the faint jealousy that he feels. Maira has always been a spitfire  ,  but it was something that he rather admired about her.

Alex takes a small sip of the beverage  ,  enjoying the way it burns like a small kindling fire as it travels down his throat.  The topic is redirected to him and he pulls his focus to the present once again.  He lowers the glass slightly to speak  ,    “  Yeah  ,  he does. He’s... like a homing missile sometimes.  ”  Alex chuckles  ,  thoroughly amused by his own analogy.  “  I just... I’m still hesitant.  ” He’s never exactly had a history of acceptance with himself and if anything   ,  he’s more PLAGUED by the notion of internalized discomfort than he was when he was younger. 

HE’S FAIRLY CERTAIN his mother knows. He’d heard the door to their bedroom softly shut when he ushered Alex through the house and into the backyard like they’ve done a dozen times since this thing started. He hadn’t said a word, and he likely won’t any time soon.       It’s nothing for them to worry about right now. The only sounds are the horses shuffling in their sleep below and the crickets chirping in the hay and the bed linens rustling beneath the two of them when they shift. Max’s kisses make music too, a melody only the two of them can hear. The horses certainly don’t seem to mind.       They are a pair of soft hearts, easily bruised, wrapped around one another in defense against the cold, the stinging blows of a cruel world. Alex has built himself a shield, an impenetrable wall where Max is naive and exposed, but he’s been given glimpses into what lies beyond in moments like this. Alex’s fingers slide into his hair, glances of cold from the adornments that glitter there making his skin prickle, and Max wants more of it. He wants more of the music Alex makes, and he wants more of that touch, and he wants more of being here like this.       His fingers curl into the hem of Alex’s shirt and begin to pull, slowly up the other boy’s spine until he can lay his hand flat there, soaking up the heat. He kisses until his lungs are on fire, letting Alex take what he wants and taking for himself a few things in return.       When it breaks he’s breathing hard, his eyes shining.            ‘ I ever tell you how much I love kissin’ you? ‘ he whispers. 

There’s something exciting about sneaking around. It’s the reality that Alex is all too familiar with and maybe it’s pretty typical when it comes to teenagers  ,  but at least Alex has reasons to keep things secretive. He’s never particularly minded it  ,  but there are moments in which the truths truly SADDENED him. Now  ,  he can’t bring himself to be concerned about those instances. He’s lost in the intimacy that presents itself now. 

A spread of warmth seems to ignite as Max’s hand travels to touch his bare skin. There’s a faint shiver that finds its way up his spine. They pull apart  ,  remaining in each other’s orbit. Alex brings air into his lungs again with a smile crossing his features and a flush that has coated his cheeks in a gentle shade of pink. 

“  You may have mentioned it before.  You’re not too bad yourself  ,  Evans.  ”  His brow momentarily scrunches as he teases him lightly before pressing a brief kiss the tip of Max’s nose. There’s a sudden giggle that arises from him as he pulls back.  “  Don’t stop touching me.  ”  His voice comes out as a whisper  ,   his thumb gently caressing Max’s cheek. 

@bravery-sought​ asked: 15. a kiss on the jawline.

IT DOESN’T MATTER that he has to triple check the locks on the door. It doesn’t matter that it’s an old barn, and it smells like horses, and they have to keep their ears open for any of the late night ranch hands doing rounds.       It might be open to the stable below it, but the loft’s as good a place to hide as any, outfitted with a living space his family’d rented out more than once to their hired hands who needed it. The bed is small but comfortable, the space warm and inviting, with a woven rug from the reservation and his mother’s paintings on the wall.       No one can see the two boys tangled up together in the darkness on top of the comforter, starshine through the window pouring over their faces lying close together.       Alex’s lips wind their way down the sharp corner of Max’s jaw, leaving a constellation behind and Max’s face lighting up in a grin. He holds on a little tighter and slides his knee between his companion’s legs, their gangly limbs nearly hanging off the ends of the mattress as it is.       He doesn’t say anything, cautious even on his parents’ property, locked away from anyone in the world who might care. His family isn’t what they’re worried about. He lets his eyes speak for him in the dark, soft when they fall on Alex’s face. They close when he leans in to steal his own kiss, sealing over Alex’s lips gentle and easy. 

Warmth seeps into his form from Max’s form that is all but ENTANGLED like strings with his own. There’s comfort here and the faintest of hesitancies. The strong LINGERING scent of the moist atmosphere mixed with that of the animals that reside on the property. There is an occasional creak from the wooden structure as the supports adjust to the slight winds. It’s BEAUTIFUL and comfortable and so domestic. 

Alex contently welcomes the knee that slides between his legs. There’s a blush that spreads across his cheek and he feels ALIVE with the feelings that cultivate and burst inside of him. Every doubt EVAPORATES from his brain  ,   replaced with utter enjoyment that washes over him in a wave. Comfortable  ,  Alex catches the glance that Max gives him and a smile spreads across his features. Max  ,  the high school poetry nerd maybe isn’t so innocent as people thought he was. The thought amuses him and he can’t help the light chuckle that escapes his CONTROL just before lips meet his. 

The connection is so tender and soft that Alex’s heart practically melts. A hand comes to rest upon the other’s cheek and he pulls himself even closer to Max  ,  his eagerness showing in how he slowly deepens the kiss. His hand ventures to the small hairs at the start of his hairline  ,  ringed fingers weaving through the strands.

He isn’t AFRAID of the dark. It’s normally seen as a childish fear  ,  but luckily for him ,  Alex has come to shake it. He’s not longer afraid of the anticipation that lingers within the lack of sight. Trust has a lot to do with it and Pablo is someone who he has come to adore. A long breath floods from his lungs as the blindfold is SECURED around his eyes  , properly and comfortably OBSCURING his vision. Alex lets himself relax  , remaining attentive. There’s a strange comfort in the darkness that the fold provides. He can feel every movement that Pablo makes beside him.

He swallows as a finger plays with his nipple with a sharp breath being pulled into him. His other senses are doubled with the lack of his sight  ,  but it’s an enjoyable feeling.  “ What can I say... I can be quite adventurous.  ”  The Captain muses with a smirk crossing his features. He’s completely exposed and VULNERABLE to Pablo’s whims. He doesn’t retreat like he normally would without his prosthetic. He’s open to this. 

Buffy barked in response, licking his cheek one last time before she huffed and began to waddle towards the kitchen. Her steps were slow enough that she could stop and turn around in case Alex fell, and she glanced back to check where he was. Alex seemed to be heading to his room, however, so she backtracked and followed him there, still keeping a close eye on him. Her silly Owner was the type to keep things bottled up, but could she really blame him? The male who smelled funny was nicer to him than his own father. Though they did tend to smoosh their faces sometimes; something she didn’t really understand and tried breaking up once.

The beagle waited for him to finish changing before she led the way to the kitchen, as if he’d forgotten where it was. Once in front of the kitchen counter, she sat down and looked up at him expectantly. She wasn’t starving ( he made sure that she never went hungry ), but she was a beagle of routine. And her senses told her that it was time for dinner, so dinner she should have.

It’s easier for him to keep a lid on his emotions and issues than to verbally speak about them. It was only just recently that he briefly explained the conditions of his childhood to one of his best friends. Alex rises to his feet  ,  with a steady rising motion and a faint wince. He hadn’t seen Michael in a few days  ,  but the Captain has always ASSUMED that the alien’s scent  (  rain  ,  mixed with motor grease and bourbon  )  tends to linger with him. He’s not romantically involved with Michael Guerin at the moment.

He quickly undresses and then throws on a pair of grey sweats and his Air Force t-shirt. A smile crosses his features as he rests his eyes on her. Ever so patient. Alex makes his way into the kitchen and retrieves the dog bowl off of the ground. Fetching the kibble from the cabinet  ,  he pours some into the container and then sets it down in it’s spot.

Cooking was one of the things that Forrest enjoyed and a lot of it had to do with his mother. She’d always made sure to include him. Sometimes he’d thought about going to culinary school but decided that he’d rather keep cooking as something personal that he could enjoy and do with the people he loved and cared about. His time in the military had only made him appreciate cooking more, especially when it came to the meals that they were given during times of deployment. He wasn’t ungrateful for them but they weren’t the best either. So when he was discharged Forrest had moved, followed his dream to become a historian and moved to Roswell because he wanted to write a book about what had happened there after the supposed UFO crash.

“Alright but just try to have fun with it. It’s not a big deal if it’s not precise, it’s all about making the food taste good. But first I want you to get some heavy cream out of the fridge,” he smiled as he moved to start on the shrimp he’d grabbed out. “Shrimp alfredo,” he smiled as he turned to glance at Alex. “thought we could be a little fancy today.”

Alex assumes that he can be a bit of a perfectionist sometimes and he can chalk it up to a combination of the military and his childhood. He has a habit of constantly doubting himself when certain things don’t line-up the way he had originally envisioned it. For now  ,  its a blessing not to be caught up in alien shenanigans and the demands of the Pod Squad. As foreign as this feels  ,  maybe there’s a chance that he could get used to this. There’s the distant worry of what will occur when he’s forced to reveal the existence of alien to Forrest  ,  but it’s a concern that can rest in the back of his mind. Maybe he’s just trying to prolong the INEVITABLE.

Alex maneuvers himself to the fridge. There’s a slight blast of cold air as he opens it  ,  his vision scanning for the heavy cream.  He snatches it before placing the container onto the counter. He lets the fridge door close behind him.  “  I think I’ve only had Shrimp Alfredo from the little restaurant in town. It wasn’t all that good and the last I can recall  ,  one of my Air Force buddies got food poisoning.  ”