#got too cocky explaining my ideas to my brother who i have a psychic link with and

[nymphaerie]

DIDNT RXPLAIN MYSELF FULLY & WELL ENKUGH I SHOULD BE SHOT

[bowsie22]

Alex Manes Week 5

Day 5: Canon, canon divergence, what-ifs, fix-its

Summary: Alex is in the Crashdown on the night of the shooting.

He offered to help Liz close up. The woman looked exhausted after driving to Roswell. The approaching anniversary of Rosa’s death wasn’t making things easier either. So, he figured he could take a broom and sweep a floor to help out. It’s not like anyone was going to come in this late at night anyway. Which explained his near heart attack when he looked up and saw Max Evans in the doorway.

“Holy shit! Jesus Max! How long have you been standing there?”

“Just a few seconds. Not long enough to know that you know all the lyrics to an Ariana Grande song.”

“And you know it’s an Ariana Grande song. What’s your point?”

The two men laughed. Alex had always liked Max. Sure, he was serious and a bit uptight at times, but he loved his family and wanted to do the right thing. He was a good man.

Thinking back on it, Alex knew he shouldn’t have been surprised at what happened. All soldiers developed an almost sixth sense when something was going to turn dangerous. And Alex’s had been screaming at him since he entered the Crashdown. He saw the car out of the corner of his eye, crying out a warning to Max when he saw the gun. Damn, he forgot how much getting shot hurt.

Alex shot up, gasping, shoving away whoever was hovering over him. He reached for his gun, surprised when a familiar pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders.

“Alex? Alex, it’s ok. You’re in Roswell, at the Crashdown Café. Listen to my voice Alex, come back to us.”

“Liz?”

“Yeah. It’s ok, you’re ok.”

He looked down, panicking when he saw the red on his chest. Liz, feeling him tense up, was quick to comfort him.

“It’s fine. It’s tomato sauce. Max said a bullet hit it and you were standing close enough to get covered.”

Max? Looking to his side, Alex saw a very dazed Max sitting against the counter. He knew he hadn’t pushed him that hard. Something wasn’t right here.

Standing outside the door, Alex took a deep breath. Cam had warned him that Michael and Isobel were in there with Max. Which meant things would either go smoothly or go completely off track. He opened the door, smiling at the siblings in front of him. Michael, slouched in the cell when he walked in, straightened, staring at the other man in shock.

“Alex?”

“Hey Guerin. Fun night?”

There it was. Cocky, cowboy Michael Guerin. Alex had to admit; it was one of his favourite masks that Guerin wore. He’d never admit it to Michael but is was kinda hot.

“You know me soldier, never a boring night.”

Max cleared his throat, breaking apart the staring competition between his brother and Alex. Jesus, and he thought the sexual tension between Noah and Isobel was overwhelming.

“How I can help you Alex?”

“I need to talk to you about last night. Specifically, about the fact that I got shot in my chest and yet somehow walked away unharmed.”

“I told you, you didn’t get shot. The attack sent you into a flashback. Only thing hurt was the building.”

“Except, I know what it feels like to be shot, it’s happened to me before. And then, of course, there’s this.”

He pulled down the collar of is loose t-shirt, revealing the glowing handprint on his chest. He heard Isobel sigh behind him. She locked the door, gesturing to Michael, who opened the door of the cell without even touching it. Alex went with it. Still not the weirdest thing he’d seen that day.

“So, tell me the truth. What did you do to me Max?”

“He saved your life.”

“Michael!”

“No Max. We can trust Alex. He’s not his father. We can tell him.”

“Michael is right. Alex is good. A bit messed up, but who in this room isn’t?”

Now Alex would admit that he was lost, watching the three have a silent argument. in front of him. Evidently, from the way he threw his hands in the air and collapsed into his chair, Max lost. Michael grabbed Alex’s hand, pulling him away from his siblings.

“Ok, this is going to sound crazy, but we’re aliens. We came down in the 1947 crash and basically hibernated until twenty years ago. We each have a power. I have telekinesis, Isobel is telepathic, and Max has electromagnetic manipulation. He can also heal people, which is what he did to you last night.”

Alex smiled as he heard Michael mutter thank God under his breath. He needed a second to process this. Aliens, actual aliens in Roswell. And no one else knew about them. Except for one person. Oh God.

“I think my father knows about you. Or suspects at least.”

Max leapt to his feet, his computer screen flickering. Behind him, Isobel narrowed her eyes at Alex, making him take a step back. The last thing he needed after last night with Michael was his sister in his head seeing what they got up to. Thankfully, Michael stood between them, hands held up.

“Hey, no. Let’s hear what he has to say first before you mind wham him.”

The relaxed, deciding to give Michael the benefit of the doubt.

“He bought me here to work on something called Project Shepard. He’s trying to hunt down any aliens, or people he suspects of being aliens in the town.”

“And do what?”

Alex met Max’s eyes, hoping he could see the desperation and honesty in his own.

“I have no idea. But I doubt it’s gonna be throw you guys a party. We need to keep him off your backs.”

“You volunteering Manes?”

“Yes. I’ve spent most of the last ten years hacking foreign intelligence. This would be a cakewalk in comparison.”

Isobel stepped closer, still not trusting Alex.

“I don’t understand. Why protect us? What do you get out of it?”

Alex couldn’t help his glance and shy smile towards Michael, who responded in kind.

“Seriously? Since when? Why was I never told?”

“No one was Iz. With Alex’s father, it was too dangerous for him if it got out. And ten years, if you must know. But since he got back, we’ve been taking it slow, getting to know each other again.”

“And it’s good?”

The two smiled at each other again. Isobel had to admit; it was kind of sweet. They looked happy.

“Yeah, it’s pretty good.”

“I’m so conflicted. I can feel all the happiness and love from Alex, which is kinda amazing. But it’s aimed at my brother which grosses me out. Please stop.”

Alex broke away from Michael’s eyes, confused. Isobel and Michael laughing like hyenas cleared nothing up

“Wait, you can feel me?”

“The handprint. It leaves a psychic bond between you and me. It’ll only last a week or so, but until then, I can feel what you’re feeling and vice versa.”

Alex smirked, deciding to test it out. Max spun to face the wall, not able to look at his brother or his boyfriend.

“Oh God!! No, no! I do not want to feel that! Stop it right now Alex Manes!”

Ok, now he knew why it was so funny.

“And on that amazing note I am out. Michael, look after this one. He could be a bit of fun. And he could save us all. Worth it, right Max?”

Max was still facing the wall.

“You all need to leave. Now. Please?”

Laughing, Alex pulled Michael out of the station, deciding to bring him back to the cabin. Michael pinned him against his car door, needing answers.

“What did you show to Max?”

“Remember, after my second tour, you came to visit me during my extended leave? And we’d emailed each other everything that we wanted to do to each other and all our fantasies. And then we spent that month recreating those emails. Over, and over, and over again?”

“You didn’t?”

“I did. He’s gonna have to get used to it. I’ve had a few more years to come up with some new fantasies Guerin. Haven’t you?”

Alex pushed Michael away, sliding into the driver’s seat. Michael slid into the passenger’s seat a second later, pulling him into a hungry kiss. It was passionate, desperate, intense. Alex pulled away, moving Michael’s hand from his where it had been creeping up his thigh.

“You, Alex Manes, are the devil incarnate.”

“Yeah, but you love me.”

“I really do.”

The next kiss was softer, less passionate, but more emotional, like Michael was trying to prove how much he loved Alex with this one kiss. Alex responded in kind. They pulled away, resting their foreheads together, just enjoying the chance to be together.

“You know I’m not having sex with you while you’re psychically linked to my brother, right?”

“Not too keen on that either, trust me. But we can mess with him, right?”

Michael laughed, pushing Alex away so he could drive them back to the cabin. Sure, they had no idea what was ahead of them. And Alex was placing himself in a stupid amount of danger to save his family. But for now, Michael was going to live in the moment. Everything else could be worried about later. He was going to enjoy spending some quiet time with the man he loved.

And the fact Max couldn’t look him in the eyes for the rest of the week? Totally worth it.