#alex thread

The sun was starting to set as Alex slowed their car into park across the street from the house. It was like the closer they got, the tighter their chest felt. It was a mix of emotions and they felt guilty for the lingering excitement. The chance to set eyes on them again, the chance to hear their voice. Something that seemed impossible or so many years. Alex had been back for a few weeks, hiding in the shadows. He went to work, went back home, wash rinse and repeat. He didn't take any walks through town unless it was late or very early. He didn't want to risk shocking Linden in public or worse, running into Eve and having them scream so loud at him that the sound barriers broke. But Alex could only wait so long before giving in.

They had been trying to get out of the car for over 30 minutes. hands gripping the wheel as they tried to think about what to say. But they knew in the end it didn't matter what they said, nothing could make up for the distance. Nothing could repair what they had broken. But it didn't mean they couldn't try.

Their legs felt heavy as they got out of the car, the distance between them and the door feeling like it went on for days but before they knew it they were standing in the doorway. One more hesitation and they were ringing the doorbell. They took a deep breath. There was no going back now.

The door opened and suddenly all of that time and distance closed like the slamming of a door and there in front of them was the person who had made a home in their heart and never left. They couldn't speak at first, the sight of them so overpowering it knocked the wind out of them, but with a little help from magic, they re-grounded, a slightly smile growing despite themselves. "Hi, Sunbeam."

"Your sister says we should start a club. The ones who leave and come back," Alex teased as he sat across from Addie at the Emerald Dragon. There were parts of him starting to wake up again, feel present even. He still felt somewhere caught in the ether, like his body was one place but his soul was in another. Being home was finally starting to help more than hurt and in that healing he was hoping to re-connect with people he hadn't seen in a long time. It was the least he could do, especially if he was forced to leave again. Alex couldn't even think that far ahead right now.

He set his chopsticks down to reach for his soda and smiled. "It's really good to see you, Addie. You uh adjusting okay to being back here? I'm not," he admitted with a laugh, feeling like she might understand where he was coming from. "But at least the food is delicious so that helps."

"I'm sorry I wasn't here, about your Dad." It felt like all Alex was doing was apologizing for the past week. Apologizing for the time he missed, apologizing for falling off of the face of the earth. It wasn't that Alex hadn't lived outside of Cardinal Hill but so much of that life had been wrapped up in survival and chase. He had spent the in between moments thinking of home, thinking of what he was missing and feeling guilty for every bit of a moment of relief he got along the way. "I know that doesn't make up for it but maybe this will," he told her with a laugh as he poured them both a glass of wine, a bottle from his parents collection that they wouldn't miss or ever know about.

"Please tell me more about what's going on with you, in your head, in your life? Anything for me to stop wallowing and being so self-centered. Honestly I'm starting to annoy myself."

"So let's see, you were like 16 by the time I left and now you have an entire 16 year old? Yeah I think I just felt my facial hair grow and turn white." Alex sat back with his coffee, smiling at Nara as he took in the passage of time and how many people had grown up while he was away. It made them feel guilty in many ways but at the moment they were just glad to still have the chance to catch up. At least the best they could.

"So Spencer is 16, Oscar is a brand new little human. Do either of them have abilities that you know of yet?" There was a time where Alex would have been more reserved when it came to talking to a another witch but a lot had changed and he had changed with it. That and he was intrigued to know if those things had been passed down and if there was any help he could offer. Anything he could do to prevent someone from turning into someone like his cousin. "Sorry if that's nosey, I guess small talk isn't really my thing anymore."

Seeing Linden again hadn't exactly helped them to feel calmer but at the very least it was out there and Alex finally felt okay finally taking a walk around town, even tending to some long overdue errands. It felt normal, too normal, a kind of normality that Alex hadn't experienced in years. It had been a long time since they had taken a stroll instead of hiding out, trying to survive, tracking down leads. Their nervous system was all over the place, their sleep was shit and they had been up at such early hours that they had already walked most of the outer parts of town before the sun even came up.

After a while they had found themselves walking into the Aperture Photo Lab, deciding that maybe it was time to develop some long overdue film they had taken on their journey. It felt silly to have these collections, these moments of real life in between all of the madness. But they had been taken with intention, telling it's own story and helping Alex map just how they had gotten to this moment.

"Good morning," he greeted the person behind the counter, setting down the bag of film. "I was hoping you could help me develop this. Is there a time limit on film? I feel like I should know this but I have to admit I'm a bit of an amateur when it comes to developing."

"I mean what am I going to say, Ney? Oh, hello my love, I know it's been over a decade and I left on the morning of our wedding but I promise it was to fight evil forces with my magic? Specifically my evil cousin who wants me and everyone I love to die?" Alex turned to look at his long time friend, one of the only people he had trusted to keep his truth. "Not only does that sound crazy to a human but it's a pretty pathetic opener, even if it's the truth." Alex had been trying to figure out the best way to approach Linden as soon as their feet had crossed the Cardinal Hill town limits.

They took a seat and ran their hands over their face. "I've already been here too long to not have talked to them. I can't even sleep. Even worse that I don't even know what we're up against here. I keep hearing things but every time you ask someone it's like all they can do is act like nothing's happened. I'm so out of sorts," he admitted, the transition to being back home feeling more like being pulled out of deep space.

"Sorry, jeez, listen to me, all me me me. Please, tell me about your day, what's on your mind. How's the firehouse?"

Alex has always been a rather composed and strong man. One had to be in able to be a Claymore. The job was just as grating mentally as it was physically. You’re fighting to keep humans safe and sound, and yet you’re hated and outcasted by the majority of them. But yet when they need a demon killed...Who’s the first people they call? Claymores. 

But it was hard to be composed with Aarush’s thick things gliding in and out of his ass. Alex was letting out small moans as it was going on, his cock rockhard between his thick thighs. Hearing the man’s words, Alex narrowed his eyes. He knew exactly what this man was wanting.

“I don’t beg.” It was said deeper due to the pleasure, but it was also said with confidence. He was to prideful to beg or moan loud or whatever he wanted for his egostroke. “Maybe you need to try harder?” Alex asked, a little challenge in his voice as he said tha twith a smirk.