#alien!gerard

Gerard is beyond relieved, of course, they can go home and see their family and friends. A stone sits in your stomach but you work around it, ignore it, push it aside and focus on how excited your friend is. Ray is a genius and says he can walk Gerard through how to fix the ship and recalibrate the system to withstand the atmosphere within a few days. A few days.

A few days and your sweet alien will be gone. 

You smile despite yourself and Gerard grins back at you, hazel eyes practically glowing with joy. They start immediately, drawing up plans and talking a mile a minute at Ray, who looks at Gerard with familial affection. You have to leave, unable to watch any longer for fear of crying in front of them. Inside the house feels empty despite it being very lived in, despite Gerard’s hoodies all over the floor and leftovers left out on the counter and dishes on the coffee table and you ache deep in your chest. You love them, you really do, and now you’re going to lose them. 

--

The second day Gerard is up and out of bed before you; you wake up alone, reaching out for a body long gone. Your chest feels empty as you make your way into the main area of the house and glance out the backdoor to find Gerard underneath the ship and speaking so fast in a language you can’t understand. They had told you awhile back that their ship has the ability to translate any language so everyone can always be understood and that they haven’t been speaking English at all, the fact that you can’t understand what they must be shouting to Ray now is worrying, why would they turn the translator off?

You watch them for a moment but you don’t want them to see you in this mood, you don’t want them to think you’re upset with them or anything. You head into the kitchen and see that Gerard had made oatmeal, dirty bowl and spoon in the sink, so you forgo making breakfast for the two of you like usual and just pour a bowl of Frosted Flakes and head back to your room to get ready for work. 

You’re on your way out the door when Gerard stops you, hand on your waist, and you meet their eyes, smiling nervously. Gerard kisses your cheek, too quick for you to respond, and your face heats up.

“Have a good day at work!” They say, wide smile on their face and you laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Forgetting, for a moment, that this is the end.

Gerard leaves then, heading back to their ship and you shake your head, smiling and feeling slightly better as you head to work. 

--

It goes like this for days, Gerard spends hours and hours working, rarely has time for you, rarely has time to eat and sleep. They just work and you just mope and it feels like an ending that won’t end. It’s early morning on your day off and you were sitting on the couch pretending to read but not having any luck focusing. A loud noise suddenly fills the air, similar to a car starting up but louder and more mechanical. You’re up and on your feet, heading out back and finding Gerard grinning at their ship with a look of pride painting on their face. The sight makes your heart swell, love drowning out the sick feeling in your stomach that won’t seem to leave.

You venture into the yard, bare feet on the grass wet with dew. It tickles and reminds you of Gerard in a way, childlike wonder. They notice you, eyes lighting up, and you can’t help but smile at them. They take your hand, leading you closer, and holding hands they tell you how the ship will fly and how it knows the way home and how they can’t wait to get to Reprise.

Your chest aches, your body feels cold, and when Gerard mentions pancakes before they pack up you don’t question it. You feel like you’ve disconnected from your body, like you got pushed to the back of your head and are watching everything like a movie screen. A tragedy happening and you can only watch.

You take them to the diner you went to a few days ago, a booth near the back and Gerard drowning their pancakes in strawberry syrup again. You just get coffee, holding the hot mug between your hands but not drinking it, not feeling the warmth, watching Gerard read the labels on the sugar packets. You watch their fingers move against the packets, their fork, slender and calloused; watch their eyes scanning over food and words and everything in between, endless curiosity; watch red drop from their fork to their shirt, sticky on their lips and teeth. You watch and don’t speak and it really does feel like an ending.

You don’t think you’ll be able to step foot in this diner again after they leave. How will you go home? How will you sleep in your bed? So many what ifs spinning in your head and making you sick when Gerard’s hand touches your arm and you flinch away violently.

They look hurt and you flush with shame.

“Are you okay?”

You take a shaky breath, feeling pop rocks in your lungs and it burns behind your eyes. You grip your mug too tight, hands aching, uncomfortable in your own skin, unsure, unwanted, nowhere to go. The only place you want to be is back in bed, Gerard sleeping beside you, even breathing, chest rising and falling and the wind is gentle outside, warm and calm and the moment never has to end. Safe, loved.

“Ya,” you mumble, quickly breaking eye contact and casting your gaze to your muddy coffee.

“Ok…” They sound unsure, sad, but you don’t know how to fix it because you can’t pull yourself together. Your heart feels shattered and of course they were gonna leave but...please stay?

Gerard doesn’t finish their pancakes, sticky red mess left over when you know they always lick their plate clean. Guilt and shame burn in your gut but you can’t speak, can’t breath. Gerard is leaving and they’re taking your air with them, taking your heart and your morning breakfast laughs and kisses before work and hand holding and...everything that matters.

You stuff your hands in your pockets as you walk home, noting how Gerard looks hurt once again and you don’t know how to stop hurting them. You didn’t mean to fall for them, you didn’t mean to get attached and you don’t know how to let them go. You walk home in silence, Gerard behind you and your legs moving without thought.

--

Home is cold and you freeze in the living room, unsure how to live in a place without them. Their still here, sure, but for how much longer?

The answer is two days longer.

After two more days of feeling lost and heartbroken the ship’s final adjustments are made, Gerard’s bag packed and sitting by the back door. Gerard is standing outside by the ship, just looking at it when you join them. They notice you and everything is cold and unsure but they hold out their hand anyway and you take it because you miss them and you’re scared and alone and you need to. Gerard smiles softly and pulls you closer. 

“You fixed it.” You say, voice hesitant. Gerard nods

“Now we can go visit my family.”

Wait, what?

“You want me to come with you?”

“Of course I do.”

“I-I thought you were leaving.” Your voice wobbles, wet, and Gerard wraps you in their embrace.

“No, I can’t leave you, I don’t want to, I just need to go back.” Your mind reels, stomach churning and heart pounding. They want you still. You nuzzle into their shoulder for a moment before looking at them, finding your faces close and you kiss them, without thought. Your lips meet and you lick into their mouth, wet and deep and they grip your hips, pulls you closer, the world spins.

You pull away just as quickly as it had begun and almost fall trying to get away from Gerard.

“I’m so sorry!” You stumble, hands coming up to your mouth, face red. 

“Sorry? We’ve done that before.” They tilt their head, confused puppy look on their face.

“No, Gee, people don’t just kiss their friends on Earth, it’s something for couples, people in love.” You explain and they smile.

“I know, Y/N, Tv is a great way to learn about human relationships. And,” Gerard steps closer to you, your feet almost touch. “I want that with you.”

“Oh.” Oh!

Everything freezes and speeds up and disappears and your heart pounds. You feel hot and cold and broken open and you smile slowly and Gerard steps into your space, leaning hesitantly in and you meet them halfway, lips finding each other’s like they always should. This kiss is slow and gentle and easy, it’s full of love and meaning and you melt all down your spine. Your arms wrap around their shoulders, their hands on your waist, lips sliding together in perfect harmony, sweetly hesitant. Your bodies pressed together, you pull away slowly, eyes opening carefully and Gerard’s hand comes up to caress your cheek.

“It’ll just be a visit to Reprise and then back home.”

Home.

“I’ll follow you anywhere.”

“And now you’re busy going on an adventure with me, now go change.”

They shuffle down the hall to your now shared room and return in the same jeans but a black t-shirt and a jacket that sits too big on their frame. Their hair is messy so when they reach you you reach out and run your fingers through their hair, settling the strands into something more presentable; they lean into your touch for a moment and your heart skips. You hold hands as you leave the house-Gerard really likes holding hands and sometimes you wonder if it’s just with you or if they did it back home with everyone they knew. You take them to a diner down the street and Gerard gets distracted by posters on windows and people walking by, curious eyes looking for everything.

They order pancakes and drown them in strawberry syrup, and of course they get a coffee. You eat and talk, share food and drinks and wipe syrup from each other’s lips, it feels like you’ve known Gerard for years not weeks, you just click so perfectly. It’s like they were always meant to crash land into your life. When you leave the diner, you walk a block and pass a bookstore and two used clothes shops. You look over at Gerard and see sticky syrup on the corner of their mouth and your first instinct is to kiss them, blush burning your face as you shove that thought far down in your chest to never be considered again. Instead you tell Gerard about it and they wipe it away, looking at you like they want to comment on your blush but they don’t and things go back to normal.

You find a music store, it’s old and sat between a pawn shop and a parking garage. You enter and are hit with the scent of records and dust and Gerard bounces on the balls of their feet. You lead them further into the store, watching them graze records and glance at cds, hazel eyes so curious and hungry for the world around them. At the back is a table with two cd players each with headphones plugged in and their eyes light up, dropping your hand to go find something to listen to. They return with a purple cd case and they pop it open and place it in the player before you can ask what it is. You laugh and Gerard sits down, pulling you into their lap and you burn red and squeak.

“Only one chair,” They explain but the blush doesn’t subside. Their arms are wrapped around your middle and you’re so tempted to just lean into them, to accept their warmth and smell the deodorant you bought them.

You set the headphones to the biggest size and press your head to theirs, snapping the headphones over you both and hoping they don’t mind how close you are. The music starts up, something soft with haunting vocals and Gerard’s arms tighten around you. You aren’t hearing the music, not that music anyway, you hear Gerard’s breathing, so close to your skin, the scrape of their jeans against yours and the bump of their boot against the table when they swing their leg too far. The humming when they catch on to the melody, the hitch in their breath when you turn and the headphones fall off, the gasp when your mouth covers theirs, the slick noise of your lips sliding together, the pull of your shirt against your back as they twist their fingers in it, the confused noise of pleasure as you pull their bottom lip between yours and the panting as you pull away.

Isn’t music beautiful?

“What was that?” They ask, out of breath and your face is burning.

“A kiss, I don’t know why I did that.” You laugh nervously and climb from their lap, or you attempt to but Gerard pulls you back.

“I liked it,” They say, smiling, and you drop your gaze, lips pulling into a smile without trying.

“Let’s go home, Gee.” You really do climb from their lap this time and hold out your hand, relishing in how well your hands fit together. You swing your hands as you walk and you keep catching Gerard watching you, both of you smile and laugh and Gerard seems to have no more questions until you reach the house.

“Gerard the alien just crashed in my backyard.” You mumble and they frown.

“Stop calling me an alien.” Your entire face heats up and you glance down. They’re dressed in a suit, it’s blue and fits well, and when you glance back up their face has softened again. “Where am I?”

“Earth.” You wanted to say my house, or maybe California, but Earth came out and they smile.

“Earth? Oh, I’ve always wanted to visit there.” They say, voice happy, and you don’t know how to react. “Although I don’t know much about it to be honest.”

“I can teach you!”

“Oh! Wonderful!” They brighten, large grin taking over their face, and you curse your brain for thinking that the alien is cute.

“Um, wanna come in? It’s pretty cold out here and…ya.” You gesture to your house and the open sliding door, they nod and you lead them inside, closing the door and watching them look around your home. It’s brighter inside and you can make out all the details of their very human looking form. They have orange hair- which is certainly not a natural thing on Earth-that looks soft and well styled. They really are cute, small nose and wide hazel eyes, they have crinkles from age and you find yourself wondering if they’re really just a person playing a prank.

“So where are you from?” You ask and they turn to you, away from the TV they were staring at.

“Reprise,” They reply easily and you nod, hoping they’ll explain. They don’t.  “What’s that?” They point to the television and you blank for a moment, feeling silly for having to explain something so simple.

“A TV, it’s for entertainment. I was watching a movie.” You explain and Gerard nods, looking interested.

“What movie?” They ask and you look over to the screen. It’s still playing, Steve Rogers throws his shield and Bucky Barnes catches it, looking badass and broken inside.

“Captain America, it’s a superhero movie.” You tell them and they brighten.

“I love superheroes! We don’t have superheroes movies on Reprise but we have comic books, do you have those? Well I love them! I make them too.”

“Ya, ya we have comics here. Tons of them. You make them? That’s awesome.” They look so happy to be talking about comics and your heart is pounding, cute alien who likes drawing is grinning at you and Steve Rogers is chasing after Bucky on the TV and there is no way this is really happening.

“It’s late, you can stay here obviously but, um, I should go to sleep.” You hate yourself for saying it but it’s true and Gerard doesn’t look disappointed.

“Of course! So much has happened today I’d forgotten how tired I am.”

How you ended up in bed with an alien is a little beyond you. You went to brush your teeth and came back to find them under your covers and messing with your phone charger, looking it over and giving it a confused face. You didn’t have the heart to tell them to go sleep on the couch so you just got under the covers with them, taking the charger to plug in your phone.

“It charges the battery.” You tell them and they nod.

“What battery?” They ask after you turn off the lights and you laugh. You unplug your phone and hand it to them, watching that innocent curiosity form as your screen lights up.

“It’s a cell phone, I use it to call people and send messages. Play games, lots of stuff.” You explain and Gerard watches you unlock it and open up a game for them. It’s a simple one, Flow, just connect coloured dots. “But the battery dies so I have to charge it.”

“Wow, you can use this for so much! No wonder its battery dies if it can do all that.” They’re in awe and you smile around a yawn. You rest your head on their shoulder, watching them play the game and then open other things, going through messages to your mom from last week, scrolling through your instagram, accidently turning on your music, and asking endlessly excited questions about everything. It’s cute, watching them, and you fall asleep listening to them clicking out searches on Google.

You wake with Gerard’s arms around you and your noses nearly brushing, breathing even and sun starting to break in through the window. You yawn lightly and let the world come to around you, enjoying the feeling of being close to someone. They’re soft beneath your hands where you’re touching their waist and chest, legs tangles together. You pull away and watch them reach out for you and only finding sheet, their face relaxing after a few moments. You had changed into pajamas but Gerard is still in their suit so you find some clothes that you think will fit and leave them on the bed beside them before you leave the room. You make coffee and are pouring a mug when Gerard walks out, dressed in a big t-shirt and pajama pants that they didn’t tie.

“That smells nice, what is it?” Is what they ask, leaning on the counter and looking too attractive for your brain to comprehend this early.

“Coffee, helps some people stay awake.” You reply and they walk over, taking the mug from you. They take a long sip and then make a disgusted face and you giggle.

“You like that?” They sound horrified and you shake your head, still smiling.

“No, I haven’t even put sugar in it yet.” You take back the mug and stir in the sugar and creamer before handing it back. They take a hesitant sip and then their face brightens, hazel eyes sparkling and you grin. “Better?”

“This is my new favourite thing! I wish they had this on Reprise.” They steal your mug and go to sit on the couch, legs crossed up on the couch. You make a new mug and go sit beside them, legs tucked underneath you.

“You can take some with you when you go back home.” You tell them, a part of you feeling sad at the thought of them leaving. Gerard doesn’t reply for a moment, still drinking, and when they do they seem confused.

“Right, home.” They look out your back door at the crashed ship. “I don’t know how I’m going to get back; I know nothing about building that thing.”

“Who built it?” You ask and they smile.

“My friend, Ray!” They place the mug on the coffee table and turn on the couch to face you, looking excited. “Ray is amazing with everything! He built my rocket and works for our space program on Reprise.”

“Wow, you must be really proud.”

“I am, I’m proud of all my friends. And my brother, Mikey, he’s getting married soon.”

“Oh?”

“Ya! He was gonna wait till I got back from my travels though. I was only supposed to orbit Earth for a few weeks, gather data for Ray and his team, and then come back. We didn’t expect the rocket to fall.”

“So you work for the space program too?”

“Ya, we’re a small team. It’s a lot of fun though, I love the stars.” they say it with such awe and your heart pounds.

“I’ve always loved the stars; I used to sit outside all night when I was little just watching them.” You tell them and Gerard smiles, soft and beautiful.

“I could show you them,” They take your hand and you just stare, skin tingling. “I could show you planets, new species, beautiful things you couldn’t even imagine. I could show you Reprise! Oh, you would love it there and my friends, Mikey, they would love you.”

“Gerard,” You smile and nothing feels real, an alien is offering you the universe, everything you’ve ever wanted is holding your hand. “I’d love to go with you.”

Gerard yanks you forward and you fall into their embrace, a surprised squeak falling from your lips. Gerard holds you tight and you smile into their neck, knowing the little kid watching the stars was right to wait because this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.  You pull back, not far though, and Gerard looks awfully pleased with themselves.

“I need to find a way to contact, Ray.” They announce and you reach out to brush orange hair out of their face.