#rnm ficlet

[eusuntgratie]

2025 wips

thank you for the tag @anincompletelist <3

i am a perpetual too-many-wips disaster so i'm always grateful for an opportunity to lay out what i'm working on.

malex pretty woman au (roswell new mexico)

my next big project is the malex pretty woman au. alex is the rich, detached businessman, michael is captivating in tiny blue shorts and thigh high boots. do you see the vision? i need to make a banner and pick a title!

(i make ONE comment to @bigassbowlingballhead about craving a certain type of fic and suddenly i'm being enabled into my next longfic 🙃). i am genuinely so excited about this one. i've got about 5k written and the whole fic is plotted. i'm thinking this will be in the 25-30k range? maybe? honestly jon is better at estimating my word counts than i am so who knows. still not sure if i'll finish writing this one and then edit and post chapter by chapter or what i'll do, but i think i'll be able to get this one up this year.

firstprince exes (rwrb)

if i have another big project in me i would LOVE to finish my outsider pov firstprince exes fic. i love love love this weird little fic but it is a real challenge to write.

sequels & additional chapters

part 3 of conformation (rnm) will be just alex and michael after their fun with maria at the club. maybe alex will make good on his idea of tying michael up and seeing how much he can take. i could write millions of words of sub!michael please do not tempt me.

chapter 3 of after hours (first prince/rwrb) aka mechanic alex will be alex and henry's first date.

one shots

come back inside is a malexa morning after the airstream scene fic...what if michael convinced alex to stay? this is probably more than half written. malexa my beloved 😍

hunting guide au (tknp, men's hockey rpf). tk hires pat for a guided hunt with his young daughter.

these might not happen 😐

shadow is a buddie fic that was gonna be a big bang fic (which will never happen) but i *could* finish and post the first few chapters as a one shot. featuring baby eddie having his mind blown by a slightly older, extremely gay buck at a college party while visiting his sister.

i wanna be adored is an elliott/marco, marco gets dropped into crystal valley fic that i've written about 5k for but can't quite get to do what i want. when i started writing it there were no kissingchambers fics, but there are lots now! so if you like them you should probably just read those bc this bad boy probably won't see the light of day even though i've got about 5k written.

dumotanger omegaverse college au (men's hockey rpf) - y'know i really love this one and i am unhinged about dumotanger but i think there's just something missing here that i haven't been able to figure out. i'd love to finish it if i do though! i've got maybe 3k written.

okay those are the ones with something significant written. i have LOTS of other abandoned wips and ideas, plus i always like to do some kind of short prompt series. i haven't done femslash february in a while so maybe i could write a few ficlets for that? maybe do some shuffle prompts again? hmmm. we'll see, we'll see.

my askbox and dms are always open for questions about my fic, wips, ideas, etc. <3

open tag for anyone with wips they wanna share!!!

[el-gilliath]

Thank you to the always lovely @andrea-lyn for tagging me on this. I don't do a lot of these any more, but they are always fun!

1. How many works do you have on Ao3? 41. I could have more if all my WIP's or blurbs were posted though

2. What's your total Ao3 word count? 228, 700. For 41 fics, I will take it.

3. What fandoms do you write for? None, at the moment. But The Old Guard and RNM could always tempt me back.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? 1. Not complete without you (Joe/Nicky) 2. Of Trickery and Love Confessions (Steve/Danny) 3. Tumblr Ficlets (Mics) 4. I Thought You Didn't Love Me (Michael/Alex) 5. Because I Could Not Stop For Death (Michael/Alex)

5. Do you respond to comments? Yes I do. Sometimes it takes me forever, but at some point I will always respond.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Well there's always Sacrifice, my RNM fic where Alex dies.... I'm not gonna link it because people yell at me when they read that hehe.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Most of my fic have a somewhat happy ending, but probably Nachos which was a fun little one shot for the love of my life @christchex

8. Do you get hate on fics? Sure do. But I don't really mind, I find it funny that people get so invested that they just have to tell me they hate something. I'm weird like that.

9. Do you write smut? I do!

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you have written? I have written a crossover between Hannibal and RNM with @winged-fool called i know he knows that he’s killing me for mercy. I love that fic. And also You Take Me Home To Glory's Throne which is a Pacific Rim/Old Guard crossover witten with @andrea-lyn. One of my favorite passages ever written is in this fic.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not to my knowledge

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Nope

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Yes! i know he knows that he’s killing me for mercy and You Take Me Home To Glory's Throne

14. What's your all time favorite ship? Harry/Draco or Angel/Spike are ships I always come back to so those, probably. But I have so many

15. What is a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? It's not online any more so I won't mention it.

16. What are your writing strengths? Flow of language and pain. I like angst, okay.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Battle scenes and heavy exposition.

18. Thoughts of writing dialogue in another language in fics? I don't mind that at all. Preferably one I speak but with a good translator I don't mind others either.

19. First fandom you wrote for? Harry Potter or Buffy.

20. Favorite fic you have written? Not complete without you. Making @andrea-lyn cry was the highlight of my writing career. And no, I am not joking. That fic just works in a way I don't know if I ever want to recreate.

I'm not gonna tag anyone but I would love for @winged-fool to do it :) So I guess I did tag you. Moahaha

[michaels-blackhat]

new headcanon just dropped! arturo and sanders sitting at the back of the pta meetings. arturo always brings something from the crashdown. they’re perfectly silent until one of the ann evans types suggests cutting funding for science clubs in favor of sportsball.

Alice cleared space on the back table as 6:45 rolled around. Any moment now, Arturo Ortecho would walk in with his arms loaded with snack. She stopped attempting to provide anything besides drinks since she first took over the PTA two years before. She still tried to compensate for the food he brought, reminding him they had a budget for it, but he refused time after time. She had started to just hand Liz an envelope the month before. She hoped he wouldn't come in and try to hand it back to her. She cleared what she hoped would be enough space and moved to her spot at the front of the room.

She looked at her agenda and sighed. It was that time of the year again, fundraisers and budgets. She shuddered. It wasn't going to be pretty. It never was, but this year Alice knew would be worse. Joyce Long had been suggesting, loudly, for weeks that the football team needed new jerseys, never mind the fact that they got new ones three seasons prior, and that the budget should be adjusted to support the things the school was actually good at. Alice wasn't ready. She wasn't ready for the fight that would ensue and she absolutely was not ready to try and keep the peace.

It would be useless anyway. The moment Joyce opened her mouth, it would done.

"Good evening Alice!" Arturo called from the doorway. Alice couldn't see his face over the boxes of food.

"Good evening Arturo," she called back with a smile. Her smile dimmed once she saw who walked in behind him- Walt Sanders. The slight, minuscule bit of remaining hope died in her. There would be no peace tonight. She'd be lucky if no one left with bruises. "Evening Walt." She said as he walked past her.

He grunted and then turned to Arturo. "If Joyce Long thinks I'm going to let her take a penny from the science club, she's dumber than her son."

"Now Walt, don't be so mean," Arturo said as he started to unpack the food. "I'm sure Alice wouldn't dream of taking anything from such important academic groups, right Alice?" He said it with a grin, but Alice could see the glint in his eyes, the one that said 'you mess with my daughter's future, I'll destroy you'.

"Of course not Arturo," she said, voice shaky. "We do proportionate funding."

Arturo shot her a grin and Alice resigned herself to an evening of fighting. And then a week of harassment as Joyce Long took out her annoyance on Alice. No wonder Ellen retired, she thought.

[skinsharpenedteeth]

So... I wrote a little ficlet about Alex's reaction to finding out he's being deployed to Iraq for the first time. It's dark, angst, and littered with self destructive thoughts and actions so... "dead dove: do not eat" I suppose. Also on AO3!

*÷*÷*÷*

"Wasted"

Cw: alcohol, drugs, depression

Rated: M, 1931 words.

...

It was March and cool outside (as cool as south Texas ever got). The walls of the house shook around Alex as he laid on an airbed on top of the coats of his squad mates. The coatroom was quiet compared to the rest of the house. They’d just received their deployment orders going to Iraq for six months so they were throwing their last bash before heading out. Outside the dark bedroom, his squad mates partied like it was their last night on Earth...and it could be one of their few left if things went sideways. Everyone was feeling untethered and wild. Booze was everywhere and Alex had taken a few bars from the bag of prescription party-pills he kept stashed for such occasions. He felt like a character in Alice in Wonderland, but he needed to keep himself from getting out of control. He had secrets he needed to keep and booze could make him chatty and handsy in the wrong situations. Now, however, he felt tired and floaty and the glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to the ceiling of the bedroom swirled slightly as the spins set in. 

    The stars reminded him of Michael. He thought about laying in the back of his truck watching the stars after sex. He could remember the feeling of sweat drying on his naked skin, the way the dry desert air made his breath loud and his voice hoarse after they’d been together, and the hard metal slats of the truck bed digging into his back despite the layers of blankets they used as a makeshift mattress. Alex could almost taste the secondhand Squirt and tequila on his tongue. Had that been only a year ago? 

    Alex’s stomach lurched as the spins took a violent twist and he swallowed thickly around the flood of saliva in his mouth. The odd numb, burning sensations on either side of his jaw alerted him that if he didn’t act fast, he’d be cleaning everyone’s coats. He took a deep breath in through his nose and slowly let it out his mouth, trying to control his gag reflex and diaphragm. After a few breaths, his stomach seemed to settle, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t last. Carefully, he rolled onto his hands and knees (overcorrecting only a little at the unexpected lurch of the inflatable mattress). He looked up and eyed the door that he knew led to a small en suite bathroom. It was about five feet away. If he moved slowly, he could make it without vomiting on the carpet. 

    The cool linoleum of the floor felt good against his palms as he crawled into the small closet of a bathroom. He pushed up the toilet lid and seat before letting himself slump against the cool wood cabinets. Light from the street shone into the bathroom and gave him enough illumination to be disgusted. This was Reyes and Phillips’s house, and it was obvious they’d never used a Clorox wet wipe in their lives. The smell of wet porcelain and dry urine made Alex’s stomach lurch again, but he clamped his teeth together and swallowed against his body’s urge to purge. He could wait it out. 

    “Hey, Manes!” Tyler yelled from the hallway. He banged his fist against the bedroom door and Alex cringed further into the bathroom, trying to hide from the noise and the inevitable wave of drunken airmen. “If you’re passed out, we’re going to put our balls in your mouth. The whole fucking squad’s!”

    Alex only had a second to appreciate the irony of how much he might enjoy that before the door banged open in the bedroom and the volume was suddenly turned up from 7 to 11. A few seconds later, the harsh yellow bathroom light blinded Alex’s vision for a second before he looked up and focused on the figures in the doorway. Tyler, Reyes, and Williams stood crammed in the frame all grinning down at him like loons. 

    “Did you vomit, Manes?” Tyler asked in a vicious tone. Alex shook his head, feeling miserable as he did so, and also like he might be falling, but he was pretty sure his body hadn’t moved. 

    “Good! Airmen don’t vomit. We cherish our liquor and don’t waste it. Get the fuck up, you’re missing the party!” Tyler seemed to yell. Alex shook his head again and started to speak, but was interrupted by the three pairs of hands hauling him off the bathroom floor and manhandling him from the bedroom. 

    “We’ll get you sobered up enough for round three. Come on, man!” Williams yelled. Alex was almost blind to the swirling lights and figures around him. When he stumbled and ended up on his hands and knees on the floor, he felt hands pulling him up again. Then he was being carried. With Reyes at his feet, that left Tyler and Williams on his arms to carry him. The cold rush of early spring air swirled around him as they carried him outside. He had a split second to register the undulating white and aqua light of the pool before he was airborne towards it. His body remembered for him that he wanted to hold his breath, but even so as the frigid water surrounded him he lost it in a great bubble of air. He sank until his feet hit the bottom of the pool, and then he was pushing off and propelling upward. He spluttered and coughed when he felt air on his face. He turned and glared at the whooping, laughing group at the edge of the pool. 

    “Still feel like yakking?” one of them yelled. 

    “CANNONBALL!” another screamed and then three of his squad were jumping into the pool too. Alex wiped off the water from his face that their entrances had splashed onto him and swam towards the wall. He clung on and tried to reorient himself. He even managed a weak smile for one of the guys when they swam past him. He felt numb. His fingers were stiff and clumsy and he was shivering against the pool wall. 

    “Come on, Manes! It’s a party!” Phillips chided as he swam up beside Alex and clung to the wall too. He paused and studied Alex’s face before his tone sobered. “How fucked up are you?”

    “Preddy… pretty fucked,” Alex managed to slur out. 

    “Booze and…?” Phillips asked quietly. It was no secret most of the guys added to their partying experience with other illicit substances. Phillips didn’t. He was a little older than the rest of them and tended to mother hen. 

    “Bars. Just a couple. I’m fine,” Alex lied, even as he shivered violently in the water. 

    “Sure. Go ahead and go back inside. Take the main bathroom. Lock the door and take a warm shower. I’ll keep everyone here for a while. You might grab a handful of pretzels on your way through the living room, yeah?” he suggested, trying to keep eye contact with Alex whose focus was wandering over the crystalline waves of the surrounding pool. 

    “Sure,” Alex replied a little breathier than normal. 

    “Do I need to escort you?” Phillips asked, adding some authority to his voice that drew Alex’s attention back to him. 

    “No. No, I’m fine. I’ll just get out and go take a shower. Like you said,” he managed. Phillips watched his face in concern for another minute before giving him a brief nod. 

    “On your way, then, airman,” Phillips said briskly, tone light but eyes continuing to assess Alex’s condition. Taking a deep breath, Alex grabbed the edge of the pool and managed to haul himself out of the water. His body felt like it weighed three times its normal weight. He sat on the edge for a moment, catching his breath as the cold night air immediately attacked what little warmth the water had helped his body keep. Teeth chattering slightly, he pushed up to stand and staggered back towards the house, water dripping off of him in sheets. Some part of him that was still human paused before going into the house and pulled his sodden shirt away from his body to wring it out before entering the house. 

    The heat of the surrounding house was almost oppressive once he finally slid the glass patio door shut behind him. Music still blared through the speakers and the smart, more sober half of his squad was still inside drinking. Alex’s eyes swept around the room, but he didn’t take in a single face. He started moving, legs jerking awkwardly, towards the part of the house where the main bedroom was. He paused in the kitchen to take Phillips’ advice and grab a handful of pretzels and a Bud Light before continuing on his journey. Alex heard a few of the guys call his name as he opened the bedroom door, but he waved them off before shutting it firmly behind him.

He found himself in another dark room, but this one with a proper bed and no coats. Alex shoved some pretzels in his mouth and tried to ignore how they seemed to expand and turn to glue on his tongue. He flicked on the bedroom light and lurched towards the open bathroom doorway. The bathroom was modest and relatively clean unlike the one he’d been found in earlier. He set down the beer and pretzels on the counter and started to peel the wet fabric of his clothes from his body. When he was naked, he turned on the water to warm up and returned to the counter to drink his beer and eat his remaining pretzels. He caught his reflection in the mirror. 

    The military had stripped any remaining baby fat from his frame. Well, that and learning to be a functioning alcoholic. Alex knew aesthetically he looked good, even with the shaved head. He was lean and toned and trained to move in quick, decisive movements. He looked exactly like the son his father had always wanted. He looked like a clone of ten other guys on his squad. He was nobody in the military. Alex had lost the one thing he’d always fought for: his sense of identity. 

    “I want to be with you, but not if you’re wasting your life, ya know?”

    His own words echoed distantly. He stared into his own face and saw how tired he looked, how sad, how… empty. And now he was going to war. He was another nameless, faceless body ready to die for a cause he didn’t fully understand or stand behind. Because he had to get away from his father. Because he had to save himself by turning into something he wasn’t. More hiding. 

    “You’re going to die out there. No one will mourn you, because no one will know you there. The last person who loved you--” Alex cut himself off and sighed. He downed the rest of his beer in a single, long swallow before crumpling the can and throwing it into the sink. He turned and slid his hand along the wall as he made the few steps to the edge of the shower. Pushing back the curtain, he climbed into the tub and immediately laid down, letting the stinging spray beat on his chest and stomach. Alex closed his eyes and thought again, You’re going to die over there. You’re going to die. You’re going to die. You’re going to die. 

    He drifted off with the warm water turning cool against his skin. He thought of what a waste this was. He’d made the wrong decision. 

[spaceskam]

Alex had expected some things when he moved in with Michael Guerin. He knew he would constantly be tinkering with things, he knew he would probably disregard clothing most of the time, and he knew that he would have a personal heater every night when he went to bed.

What Alex hadn’t expected, however, was for Michael Guerin to be somewhat of a natural homemaker. He cooked, he cleaned, and he brought a sense of welcoming to the cabin that hadn’t been there before. On top of that, he was just constantly doting, constantly reminding Alex he loved him. It was a little weird at first and made Alex very flustered hearing it so often, but he couldn’t lie.

More often than not, Alex loved it.

“I love you,” Michael would say before he took out the garbage as if he wasn’t going to be right back. “I love you,” Michael would say with a kiss on whatever body part he could reach whenever Alex would walk past him. “I love you,” Michael would say every single night before bed and every single morning the moment he opened his eyes. “I love you,” Michael would say when he left for work. “I love you,” Michael would say with no action at all, just looking up at him across the room with a smile.

It was overwhelming and, on days where he was easily agitated, could feel annoying, but he couldn’t tell him to stop. He didn’t really know what prompted Michael to become so hamfisted with the love confession, but there was no way he could tell him to stop without sounding like an asshole. So he didn’t.

Except for one night, Alex climbed into bed beside Michael with curiosity on his mind. Michael gathered him up, kissed him with all the passion in the world, and whispered his routine ‘I love you’.

“Why do you tell me that so much?” Alex whispered. Michael’s grip on him loosened and he pulled away just a little bit. He saw something on Alex’s face that made him put some distance between them. “I’m not angry, I just don’t understand.”

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked. Alex didn’t have an answer. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. “Okay, I’m sorry, I’ll stop.”

Alex made a whine of protest, “No, no, don’t stop, I’m just wondering.”

Michael was quiet for a moment, his eyes avoiding Alex’s as he hesitantly reached to fiddle with the sleeve of his shirt. Alex waited patiently.

“I just... I know how it felt to grow up and never feel loved and how lonely that is. I want you to feel loved. I want you to know that you’re loved. Always,” Michael grumbled out, his voice managing to sound both sweet and annoyed at the same time. Alex gulped softly. “I’m sorry that I annoy you.”

“No, you don’t annoy me,” Alex said, scooting closer, “I love that you do it. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t doing it because you wanted to distract me.”

Michael furrowed his eyebrows. “Distract you from what?” 

“I don’t know, it’s stupid,” Alex sighed. Because it was. They were honest with each other completely. He couldn’t help but feel like his father had implanted doubt in his mind, even though it’d been years since he’d spoken to him. Why else would he feel like an ‘I love you’ required a devious motive? He hated that his mind was like that. “I love that you love me.”

“Thank God or else this might be a weird relationship,” Michael teased, moving in closer for a kiss.

A few days later, Alex looked over at Michael as he sat on the floor and tightened the screws on the barstools.

“Hey, Michael, I love you,” Alex called. Michael’s eyes flickered up to him.

“I love you too.”

Alex relaxed as Michael turned back to his work with a grin so wide it lit up his entire face.

[kyle-valenti]

for @acomebackstory who's tags on one post made me write this....

*

Kyle has nearly no downtime to watch tv shows or movies... he's a highly requested surgeon in a town with way too many side projects. He's never understood the ability or even need to escape into a different life via media or literature...

... but he knows that Alex does, so he makes the jokes and references using buzzwords gleaned from patients and coworkers throughout the years...

because even though he never gets it right, he still knows that it briefly distracts Alex from whatever emotional turbulence they're facing. Sure, they're about to learn horrible things their fathers did, but somethings never change, like Kyle not understanding which scifi movies were which.

After enough times though, Alex catches on at the timing. It's been a day from hell and the man turns his glance out of the corner of his eye to Kyle. "No joke?"

"My jokes aren't even funny," he replies with a sigh, tired but vulnerable at the dependence he heard lingering in Alex's tone. "You tell me that every time."

"I said they were uneducated," is the correction, lips curling ever so slightly. "Not unfunny."

Kyle shakes his head, trying to silence a chuckle. "Is that a roundabout way of saying my stupidity regarding pop culture makes you laugh?"

"You know damn well it does," Alex replies, this time giving in and grinning.

"Yeah, I might." Kyle smiled back, glancing away at the intimacy.

[halevetica]

Is that how you wanted this to go?(Malex)

Alex sat at the table with Kyle across from him, a half drank beer in hand. He'd agreed to get a drink with Kyle to take his mind off of everything going on in his life...and because Kyle had told him he had something important to show him before pulling into the wild pony parking lot with a pleading grin a promise to buy drinks for the night.

Alex avoided the Wild Pony for many reasons. One was the bartender, the other was his ex, if you could even call him that, and lastly was the terrible music. Though the last one was more of an excuse that didn't out him for avoiding the other two.

He and Maria were getting better. Now that Alex didn't have to see her with Michael, it was easier. There was still a mild awkwardness between them, but it was dissipating.

"Another round?" Maria asked Kyle as she paused at their table.

"Sure, I'll take one." Kyle nodded.

"I'm okay." Alex held up his still half empty beer.

"Okay, I'm out-pacing you three to one." Kyle huffed at Alex when Maria left.

"This just isn't how I planned to spend my Thursday night."

"And how did you plan on doing that exactly? Staring at your father's old files? Trying to find information that's not there?" Kyle leaned back in his chair.

"I feel like that would be more productive than sitting here..." Alex's voice trailed off as Micheal Guerin walked into the wild pony.

Michael's eyes met Alex's across the bar.

Kyle turned to see what caused the sudden mood shift.

Alex dropped his gaze first, suddenly very interested in his beer.

"So that's why you didn't want to come." Kyle nodded, ignoring the accusing glare Michael directed at him.

"I can't escape him."

"Do you want to?" Kyle asked, a sympathetic smile on his lips.

In lieu of responding, Alex took a long swig of his beer. That was a complicated question. Everything about Michael Guerin was complicated.

"How's Forrest by the way?" Kyle asked with a knowing smirk.

Alex dropped his head with a chuckle. "Uncomplicated."

Kyle stood, gesturing towards an empty pool table. "Come on, let me kick your ass at pool."

Alex raised a brow at him before downing the last of his beer and following suit.

Alex managed to avoid Michael as he concentrated on the pool game. Kyle was beating him, but he didn't mind. It was a nice distraction.

Alex was lining up his next shot when Michael's laughter pulled his attention up and towards the bar where Michael was sitting on a stool, a raven haired guy stood between his legs. Michael's hands sat firmly on the man's hips, as if holding him in place.

Alex's chest clenched at the sight. Michael was known to be a flirt but he'd never actually seen him flirt with another guy before.

"You good?" Kyle asked, glancing to the bar.

Alex's grip on the pool stick tightened as Michael made eye contact with him before placing his cowboy hat on the guy's head.

Alex forced his focus back on the cue ball and with a little more force than he'd intended, took his shot.

The ball went wide, missing it's intended target by inches.

"Don't let him get to you, man. He's not worth it." Kyle offered with a shake of his head.

What Alex didn't say was that Michael was worth it. He was worth every jolt of jealousy, every nightmare, every reminder, and every heartbreak. He'd endure it all if it made Michael happy. But Alex was certain that this random guy didn't make Michael happy. The smile on his face wasn't genuine. So why the show?

Alex glanced back up to see the guy take off Michael's hat and lean in.

Jealousy coiled in Alex's gut. Was Michael actually gonna kiss this guy?

Michael started to lean back, his eyes falling to Alex, who couldn't bring himself to look away.

Their eyes met before Michael dove in with purpose. His lips crashing against the other man's.

Alex swallowed before setting his pool stick down and marching towards the door. Whatever game Michael was playing, he wanted no part of it.

He ignored Kyle calling after him.

He barely made it to the parking lot when he heard footsteps behind him.

"Alex."

Alex turned around, a sharp glare set into his expression. "What Guerin?"

"Where are you going?" Michael asked.

Alex could only stare at Michael. Was he seriously asking that question?

"Home." Alex said bluntly when it was obvious Michael expected an answer. He turned to walk away when Michael caught his arm, stopping him.

"Why?"

"Why?" Alex scoffed. "Could it be that you had your tongue down some other guy's throat?"

"So you're leaving? I thought you'd confront me about it." Michael released Alex's arm.

"What? Why would I do that?"

"I thought you'd see me with him and come yell at me for rubbing it in your face."

Alex raised his brows at Michael. "Is that how you wanted this to go?" he asked incredulously.

Michael splayed his arms out. "Just trying to get your attention, Alex."

"No, you wanted a fight. Well, guess what, I'm not giving you one." Alex's tone was calm despite his frustration. He turned to walk away again.

"And that's the problem."

Alex paused.

"You don't wanna fight for us. You'd rather run."

Alex whipped around, his patience waning. "I don't even know what I'd be fighting for Guerin. Like you said before, we're not good for each other."

"That's what I mean. You just let me go without a fight."

"My whole life has been a fight. I'm tired of fighting. And I wasn't going to compete with Maria."

"There's never a competition, Alex."

Alex took a step forward, putting less than two feet between him and Michael. "So you were with that guy to hurt me intentionally and you're mad because I didn't make a scene? Didn't demand that you can't be with anyone other than me?"

Michael pursed his lips, seeing the flaw in his plan.

"Maria and I broke up weeks ago."

Alex furrowed his brow. "And what, you thought I'd come running back?"

"I was hoping." Michael said, as if it was obvious.

Alex glanced to where Kyle had approached.

"I'm seeing someone anyway." Alex took a step back.

"Who? Valenti?" Michael scoffed.

"Forrest, actually."

Michael licked at his bottom lip. He should have guessed. Forrest was always too chummy with Alex.

"Besides, we're not good for each other, Guerin." Alex nodded to Kyle who nodded back and started for his car.

Michael's jaw clenched as he watched Alex follow after Kyle.

His hands pulled at his curls in frustration as he started back for the bar. As he reached the awning, he swung his arms down with a sharp, frustrated grunt. The nearby tables were hit with a gust of his telekinesis, clattering against the surrounding chairs.

He'd viewed this night going very differently.

*AN* Was gonna post this for Michael Guerin week for the prompt 'Is that how you wanted this to go' but it worked better from Alex's point of view so I'm just posting it as it's own thing.

Consider buying me a coffee, I would really appreciate it!

[cosmiceverafter]

If you are still taking Malex prompts, maybe fireplace or steaming mugs

Fireplace + steaming mugs? Two of my favorite things.

Enjoy! ❥

***

"Hot chocolate delivery."

Alex looks up with a smile to see his alien boyfriend teleporting a steaming mug his way. In Michael's arms, he's holding a big blanket, warm socks, and a book.

"Would you like some assistance?" Alex asks, amused yet impressed.

"Baby, I've got this," Michael replies as he brings the items in front of the fireplace where Alex is sitting. "Besides, you're not getting up anytime soon."

Boots, their furry little black and white kitten, who's purring up a storm, nestles warm on Alex's lap.

It's the first snowstorm of winter in Roswell, and the two decide to stay in and relax within their cozy cabin.

"Here you are, darlin'," Michael says as Alex grabs the floating mug. "Peppermint cocoa, with a few marshmallows, just the way you like it."

Alex loves his boyfriend more than words can convey. Since the two made their relationship official, Michael has been so attentive to him; Alex cherishes these domestic moments they can share.

"Thank you," Alex says. He watches and appreciates as Michael puts his socks on and then carefully wraps the blanket around them. "What service."

Michael wiggles his eyebrows and places a kiss on Alex's cheek, "Baby, you haven't seen anything yet."

Alex responds by puckering his lips, and Michael moves casually from his cheek to close the gap.

The kiss starts off small, soft, and sweet, but gradually desire takes hold of them.

If his lips stay on Michael's forever, it'll still never be enough.

As the kiss deepens, they hear a meow as Alex accidentally nudges Boots with his leg. "Sorry, buddy."

The kitten yawns and stretches now across both his and Michael's lap. They share a chuckle, and Michael shrugs, "Apparently, he doesn't like to share."

Alex touches his forehead to Michael's and caresses his boyfriend's curls, "Later?"

The alien's golden eyes flash, "Mmm, later." Michael looks out the window, "It's really comin' down out there."

"Sure is," Alex agrees. "We're not going anywhere anytime soon."

"Is that a promise?" Michael asks with a mischievous grin.

"Promise."

"Good, because one, we already agreed to later midnight activities, and two, because life has been too crazy as of late. Honestly, we need this," Michael adds. His boyfriend is right. With the final battle of Mr. Jones, everyone is finding their balance to something that resembles normalcy. Whatever that means.

Michael turns the record player on to play Alex's favorite Jazz collection with a nod of his powers. Between the crackling of the fire and the melody of the music, Alex feels at peace.

As Alex pets a sleeping Boots, Michael opens the book of poems Alex gave him for his birthday. Michael reads 'i carry your heart with me' by E. E. Cummings with a mesmerizing tone.

"Perfect Moment," Alex states after he finishes. Alex's been keeping a collection of moments worth remembering in his mind; this one fits the criteria.

"It's because you're here, and well, I don't know if you know this Alex Manes, but you're pretty much perfect."

"Hardly," Alex scoffs with a sarcastic laugh.

Michael just shrugs, "To me, you are."

Alex lays his head on Michael's shoulder, "You're too good to me, you know that?"

"There's no such thing. It'll never be enough," Michael answers. "I want to give you the world."

He looks up to meet Michael's loving gaze, "You already have, Michael. In so many ways." Alex takes Michael's hand, and they intertwine their fingers.

"I love you, Alex."

"And I love you."

They stay this way for hours until the last snowflake falls. With their kitten nestled between them and their beating hearts connected as one.

[a1kitkat]

Thanks for the Christmas prompts everyone, I’m hoping to have them posted between December 20th-24th… But no promises, I’m very chuffed by the response with more than twelve prompts to hopefully get my creative vibes going

[profitinaecho]

Day 1

Rosa sat down at the counter of her family’s restaurant when the busy dinner shift ended. She was wearing heavy black eye liner and chipped black nail polish. Grabbing a menu, she began doodling on the back of it.

She was trying to resist the urge to start day drinking and hoping her mother would stay gone a while. She caused nothing but heartache and trouble for the entire family.

She was also highly confused by Isobel Evans lately. Isobel was so hot and cold with her. It made her feel confused in more ways than one. If Rosa didn’t know better, she would think she had a crush on her.

Rosa rolled her eyes realizing Max Evans was staring moon eyed at her sister again. “Max, a little advice?” Rosa looked up from shading her doodle.

“Hm?” Max replied as Liz leaned in close to refill his cherry coke, distracting him.

“Love is overrated. Let it go.” Rosa wadded up her doodle and stomped up to her bedroom.

[spaceskam]

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"Always."

Alex grabbed Michael's hand and brought it to his lips, closing his eyes to the sound of him breathing steadily to find his words. He could hardly see him, the dark of the night sealing them away from the world. It was just them and the contents of the airstream. Nothing else existed. Nothing else mattered.

"Max and Isobel knew about us," Michael admitted softly. Alex froze but didn't speak. He wasn't quite sure where this was headed and he had a bad track record of assuming. "I didn't tell them, they just knew."

"That's the secret?" Alex asked softly. He heard the pillow rustling as he shook his head.

"No. The secret is I'm confused," he admitted, "I don't know how long they knew or how long they watched me destroy myself when you were gone. At some point in the last decade, they noticed I was missing you so bad that it hurt, and they didn't care."

"Guerin..."

"And I keep thinking about how torn up Isobel was when she realized Max had been unhappy since Liz left, but... she had to know I was unhappy without you too, right? Like, she made a joke about how obvious I was. It was a joke. I was hurting and it was a joke."

Alex wrapped his arms around him, tugging him in until his head was firmly beneath his chin. He cradled him. He deserved to be cradled for a moment at the very least.

Alex didn't know what to say and it was clear that Michael had been sitting on these thoughts for awhile. He had no way to rationalize it in a way that wasn't cruel. Either the people Michael lived for purposely chose not to check in with him for years when they were aware he was hurting, or they chose to ignore it all together.

"She said it was easy, you know? Easy to go on with life where she was happily married, Max was unhappy, and I was a murderer," Michael whispered, clutching onto Alex like his life depended in it. And maybe it did. "Life was good for them when I was fucked up and murderous. They want me that way."

"I don't think they want you that way. They do love you, Guerin, just... in a complicated way," Alex said, though he didn't think his words were good enough. He had a few things he'd like to say to Isobel and Max if he got the chance, but he wasn't sure he had any room to talk. He wasn't much better.

"I'm selfish too, though. I let Max hurt. I let you hurt. Fuck, I hurt everyone myself," Michael sighed. Alex wanted to protest, but he decided against it once he realized that on some level Michael was right. Ignoring that wouldn't be helpful.

"We've all made mistakes, we've all hurt people. It's how you grow from that that matters," Alex whispered. He didn't mention that he didn't think Max and Isobel were aware of their wrongdoings when it came to Michael, but he knew Michael saw it and didn't want to poor salt in the wound.

"Am I growing properly?" he asked softly, the still silence making it weigh that much more. Alex combed through his hair and let his mind sift through the last 24 hours. Their nice date, how they'd split the bill, how Michael had politely asked him to stay over, and how willing he was to talk because he was tired of hurting other people. It was one hell of a testament to his growth.

"Yeah, I think you are," Alex told him. Michael's body physically released tension, like weigh was lifted off of him at the reassurance that he hadn't gone past the point of no return. Alex smiled.

He hoped Michael would smile soon too.

"Okay. Then I'll be okay."

[kyle-valenti]

They're all at the Crashdown for New Years. Max is back from the dead and Liz is tangled around him as they stand with silly decorations for the new year on their heads. Kyle doesn't mind, even if once upon a time he thought the moon hung in the sky to see the red on her lips.

Now... now Kyle is trying to ignore the closeness of Alex Manes and the fact the ball will drop soon. Alex had just broken up with his second boyfriend since back to Roswell and Kyle... Kyle is thinking of the seconds being loudly counted down, the way Alex is moodily staring at his drink, and before he can stop himself he's pulling Alex by the belt loop on the ninth second, watching him stare with surprise and a sense of hesitant readiness as Kyle's second arm moves to Alex's waist.

"Six seconds," Alex says, eyebrows raised.

"Five," Kyle replied with a grin.

2020 had never looked so good.

[angsty-aliens]

@daughterofelros prompted kissing in the rain, so here have a ficlet. (First sentence is @daughterofelros’) He thought he loved kissing this man in the sunlight, but this moment, kissing him in the rain, was even better. Alex knew better than to hope for things. His life was full of regimens. Everything was carefully catalogued, examined, and debated. Every choice was deliberate. He was in control. He had control.

But Guerin.

Guerin messed him up. 

He knew how he tasted in the sunlight. He knew how his curls glowed gold at the tips, and how his skin felt warm under his palms. He knew how his eyes looked like honey and his mouth tasted sweet.

But rain. This was unexpected. Wet skin sliding. Fingers tangled into curls. Guerin’s eyes closed to block the rain, but raindrops clung to eyelashes making Alex want to kiss those eyelids and chase the water away. 

Alex had a plan. Alex was in charge. Alex was calculated and careful… but Michael Guerin standing in the rain, ruined everything.

[prouvaireafterdark]

anyone know if there’s a clip of Michael and Alex’s fight? 

[captainsassmanes]

Everything was going to plan.

He’d infiltrated with shocking ease, Max and Isabel in his ear and his head respectfully, warning him of incoming guards, camera hot spots, door codes.

They’d planned this for close to a year. Michael had been drinking at the Pony, a group of sloshed soldiers shooting the shit behind him, loudly bragging about beating the snot out of some guy.

But Michael noticed they never said him. Always it.

He texted Isabel to get to the bar and, after casually pulling up a seat next to Michael, she hopped into their minds to quickly discover a facility holding more of their kind.

They planned and plotted and scoped it all out. After months of sleepless nights and seemingly endless arguements on strategy, Michael was in as a new guard named Mark, transferred after some violent incidents at his last base.

Now, with laser focus and his powers burning through his fingertips, Michael had dismantled the security system and watched as the doors on the first and second floor flew open, his brethren laughing and crying as they made their way to the exits, holding tightly to one another.

With what was meant as a parting glance, he noticed the last door on the second floor hadn’t opened despite the heat signatures the system read.

With a groan, he ran upstairs, Max screaming in his ear to get out and Isabel trying to push her way into his head.

“We said no one left behind!”

With alarms blaring and the sound of boots in the stairwells, Michael stood frozen, staring at the man on the other side of the seemingly unmovable wall.

He was filthy, with long hair covering half of his face and a patchy beard that did little to hide his beauty.

Michael moved forward, everything around him fading to nothing, as he placed his hand on the glass. The man on the other side, lifted his hand and placed it similarly, warmth immediately filling them both.

With the sound of guns cocking and screams of “hands up” and “Michael, get out,” he couldn’t help but smile and watch as the other man did the same.

Michael looked at his hand, glowing orange and melting through the glass to squeeze tightly to the fingers on the other side. He couldn’t stop the tears that fell.

“I found you.”

[flintsjohn]

if you're still taking prompts, how about one where michael realizes how fondly alex looks at him?

uhh so i didn’t proofread this and also almost forgot to post it so i’m sorry if it’s messy? also very canon-divergent with a hell of a lot of oblivious!michael and all of their friends being awesome :)

I.

“But do you think he likes likes me?”

Max heaves out a sigh and lifts his eyes from the worn copy of War and Peace he’s reading while chewing on an apple. Michael returns the look nervously, biting down on his thumbnail. His eyes fleet to Alex, sitting on a table not too far from them, laughing with Maria and Liz.

“Yes, Michael,” Max finally says after he swallows. “I don’t know why you keep asking me that, bud. You know how he looks at you.”

Michael takes one last moment to look at Alex, all smiles and shining black-lined eyes, and then turns back to Max with a pout. “He never looks at me.” Not once, in three years of high school together and one that Michael has been crushing on him, and not in that way anyway. “I had to steal his guitar for him to even look my way.” That had been a good day for Michael, crush-wise, even though he had been accused of being a thief which in that case, to be fair, he had been.

Max doesn’t seem convinced, by the state of his raised eyebrows, but Michael shrugs and goes back to his sad little salad, trying not to think of Alex Manes or his stupid eyes, rings, outfits, whatever.

II.

Michael has a physics essay to turn in for which the deadline is in three hours and if he doesn’t finish this now he’s going to be fucked, but Isobel doesn’t seem to care. He’s not even sure why she’s here, because visiting for the weekend doesn’t count when she’s at fashion school fifteen minutes away from his dorm on the UNM campus.

He’s only half listening to her latest rant on her relationship problems with Rosa as he writes his conclusion, but when he’s finally sent in the damned thing, cracked his back and focused back on her, she’s apparently moved on, because she’s now asking, “Why don’t you just ask him out?”

“Uh?” he says stupidly, eyes burning from being focused for so long on the computer screen. He rubs at them and yawns, reaching for a cup of coffee that is now lukewarm.

“Alex, dumbdumb. You know, your life-long crush.”

Michael snorts because yeah, right. Like he’s just going to gather up the courage like that after three years spent pining dramatically. Besides, Alex is always being swarmed by admirers nowadays, college having given him the freedom he’s never had in high school under his father’s thumb. He’s going on dates left and right with guys far more deserving of him than Michael is. He’s tried saying as much to Isobel, but she apparently hasn’t heard a word of it.

“You know, and I can’t believe I’m saying this because God knows I’m the only functional human being in our family, but Max is right.” She sighs, flicks him on the forehead, and finishes her sentence as she moves to the door like she’d come into his dorm just to tell him that. “You should take the blinders off and see how he looks at you.”

III.

It’s not like Michael and Alex aren’t friends. They are, ever since senior year of high schol, when they bonded over shitty childhoods and music. They still hang out in college – living in the same building, it would be weird if they didn’t – and their friend group has remained pretty much the same since high school in Roswell, so they can’t really avoid each other. So Michael knows, on a logical level, that Alex likes spending time with him. It’s just that he doesn’t think Alex will ever see him that way, and by now everyone but Alex knows about Michael’s crush and they’re not subtle about it.

“So, you two fucked yet?” Rosa asks as she drops on the free chair next to him in the middle of the busy café as Michael waits for Alex’s shift to finish so they can have their study-session. He rushes to shush her, even though Alex is so busy behind the counter that he couldn’t possibly have heard her. He blushes as Rosa rolls her eyes, and goes back to his text book, drumming the page with his pencil.

“Sooner or later you’re gonna have to talk to him,” she reminds him, not unkindly (she’s never as insolent as Isobel is, though her crass language would suggest otherwise). She takes a sip of her latte and stares at the busy crowd, probably waiting for her girlfriend’s blonde head to pop up.

“We talk.”

“Not about things that matter, Mikey-boy.” She grins at the glare he directs her way at the nickname and continues easily, “Like the fact that you love when he smiles and lovingly bats his eyelashes at you while you go on and on about science facts nobody else cares about.”

“Shut up,” he mutters, dropping his head on his book and slamming it down a couple of times. Sometimes he wonders why he’s friends with people like Rosa, who won’t know when to drop some topics, but then he always remembers that Isobel would have his balls if he didn’t make an effort with her girlfriend, so all he ever does in the end is shrug and try to change the subject or deny. “And he doesn’t do… That.”

“Dude. I’m in a band with him. He talks about you all the time.” He picks his head up just in time to catch yet another of Rosa’s patented eye-rolls, and then she’s squealing and jumping up to throw herself into Isobel’s arms. He makes a gagging sound as they kiss as he does every time he has to see that, without fail, but the thought of Alex talking about him when he’s not there keeps nagging him for the rest of the afternoon, even when the man himself joins him with complimentary coffee.

IV.

“Maria, please,” he begs, tugging at her arm for her to stay.

“Jeez, Michael, it’s just Alex. You’ll be fine.” She shakes her head and drops a kiss to his cheek before waving at him and going back to the bar to join the rest of the girls. Hell of a night for Max to be busy and leave him at the mercy of the meanest group of ladies he’s ever met. And, well, Alex.

It’s just Alex, Maria says. Michael snorts and shakes his head, thumb rubbing at the condensation on his beer bottle. Just Alex is always Michael’s problem. He gets tongue-tied and stuttery around Alex, the last four years of shared life experiences forgotten when Alex as much as looks his way.

Which is what happens next, more or less. Alex gets back with his drink and an added sway to his hips which Michael knows, because he’s had to witness it countless times before, means he’s already been hit on by the first guy of the night, and Michael settles in for a long, long night of sulking in his beer.

Thankfully, around the third guy that strikes up a conversation with Alex and offers him a drink, Liz comes to save him. Michael really, really loves Liz, and he hopes Max will pull his head out of his ass and ask her to marry him sooner rather than later so he can have her as his sister-in-law, because Liz is awesome. He tells her as much, because he’s tipsy and loose-tongued enough now that he’s not alone with Alex anymore. She laughs and wraps an arm around his waist and tugs him to the dance floor.

Five minutes later, however, Michael feels like taking back everything he’s just stated about Liz, because she’s swaying with him so she can yell in his ear. “Why did you let him leave?” She draws back to catch Michael’s reaction, which is just a frown, before she continues, “We left you two alone and with alcohol! It was the perfect opportunity, Mikey!”

Scratch awesome, all the girls he knows are downright evil.

V.

Pool night with the boys becomes a thing in college, and they bring it back to Roswell when they all end up moving back. No matter how busy Alex gets with teaching, or how swamped with deadlines for his current writing project Max is, or how tired Kyle is from shifts, or how forgetful Michael gets with new projects in his lab, they try to keep their one night a week going.

Michael is getting drinks at the bar, making small talk with Mimi, when Kyle joins him, clapping him on the back before he takes two of the glasses from him. He’s coming off a double shift and almost missed boys night, though he refused to force them to reschedule, so Michael guesses from his crazy hair and shining eyes that he’s still running high on caffeine. Unfortunately, a caffeinated Kyle is a chatty Kyle.

“So, tell me, what did I miss? It’s been a while since our last night out.” Michael throws a look his way and shrugs at the expectant look on Kyle’s face, which earns him a pout. “C’mon, man, as your best friend outside of your siblings-“

“Liz is my best friend.”

“As your best friend,” Kyle repeats more forcefully, glaring at him until Michael accepts the statement with another shrug, “You should talk to me about this stuff.”

“There’s nothing to tell, Kyle.”

Kyle’s expression drops at that, and he stops to put the drinks down on a random table so he can turn on Michael, even though they haven’t reached the pool table they’ve commandeered for the night yet. “What do you mean nothing?”

“I mean,” Michael sighs, running a hand through his curls. He throws a glance Alex’s way, but he’s deep in conversation with Max and doesn’t seem to notice Kyle is holding him hostage, “Nothing happened.”

“But you went on a date.” Michael nods, taking a sip of his beer since it looks like Kyle isn’t going to release him any time soon. “And you kissed. He told me you two kissed!” Another nod, and Kyle frowns again. “So?”

“So what? He doesn’t want a relationship, Kyle.”

“Did he tell you that?” Kyle crosses his arms over his chest, studying Michael as he shifts uncomfortably on his feet. Alex hasn’t actually said that, not in as many words, but Michael can read the signs, and he knows that date was a mistake. Kyle doesn’t seem to agree, because he mutters, “Por Dios, que idiota eres.”

“I speak Spanish.”

“I know! I want you to understand what a dumbass you are!” Kyle pushes a finger into his chest, and Michael barely has time to mutter an ow before Kyle’s hands are on his cheeks and he’s forced to look into the other man’s eyes, which is weird because he hasn’t been this close to Kyle’s face since they drunkenly made out at his graduation party.

“Now, you listen to me, Guerin,” Kyle says determinedly, “You go there, free Alex from Max, and ask him out again. I will not lose the bet because of your obliviousness.”

VI.

“Oh,” Michael breathes as the pictures pop up on the big screen set up appositely for the slideshow. He tried to avoid it, of course, worried about what photos Isobel would be able to unearth, but it was non-negotiable in Isobel’s wedding plan, and unfortunately Alex had been on her side. Alex, who now sighs happily and cuddles closer to him with an inquisitive noise. “That’s- That’s what they always meant.”

“With what, babe?” Alex presses a kiss to his cheek and entwines their fingers, both of them smiling sheepishly when their rings clink together. Three hours haven’t been enough to get used to that (Michael isn’t sure a lifetime will be enough to get used to the fact that he’s just married the love of his life).

“The way you look at me,” Michael whispers, just for them to hear. He nods at the screen, which is now showing a picture of them in college, a guitar in each of their laps, heads bowed together as they play. Michael’s eyes are focused on his fingers in the photo, but Alex is looking at him, an incredibly fond look in his eyes. He has the exact same look in most of their pictures together, and Michael gasps as he looks down to find it replicated on his husband, eyes crinkling with his smile.

“Yeah,” Michael breathes, pressing his forehead to Alex’s, “That look.”

Alex hums, pressing closer to Michael like he would want to fuse them together if he could. He smiles as he drops a kiss to the corner of Michael’s lips, causing him to shiver when his next words brush against his skin like a caress. “I never look away.”