Who: Michael Guerin and Alex Manes What: Drinks Where: Bar When: Alex’s Birthday (Oct 12) Warnings: Adult Content Status: Closed, Complete
Alex had told Michael he was going to start drinking without him. He had every intention of doing so. He arrived first, Michael probably wouldn’t even be there for another twenty minutes or so. Alex slid into a seat at the bar, and ordered his drink.
He was content to nurse the drink in silence and solitude, even though it gave him time to think. His mind was going a mile a minute, thinking all the reasons meeting up with Michael was a bad idea. He’d agreed to give him space, and insisted that he wasn’t going anywhere even though that was exactly what he’d done by giving Michael the space he needed. He made Michael’s fears a reality, proving his belief that Alex would leave like everyone else in his life had left.
Alex sighed, and glanced up when the door opened. His heart fluttered every time it wasn’t Michael. He told himself giving the guy space was not the same as leaving. Alex didn’t want to leave. Alex wanted to try and make things work with Michael. But that depended on how Michael responded to him tonight.
Only time would tell. Either way, it was probably going to be a birthday to remember. Either he’d lose Michael for good, or he’d make it work.
Michael would be lying if he said he didn’t miss Alex the past week. But it didn’t change anything. There was a reason he had always kept things casual. He wasn’t about to get invested and start caring about someone only for them to leave like everyone else in his life had. The only problem with that was that he did care about Alex. He figured that with time that feeling would go away, or at least fade, but it hadn’t. And now it was Alex’s birthday. It felt wrong not to at least reach out. What Michael hadn’t expected was that Alex would want to see him. But he had, and how could Michael deny the birthday boy?
He had gone home from work to shower really quick before heading to the bar to meet Alex. Like Michael expected, Alex was already there when he arrived. Michael did his best to ignore the way his heart twisted at the sight of the other man and slowly made his way over.
“Hey,” he greeted with a nod as he slid into the stool next to Alex. He waved the bartender over, ordering himself a glass of whiskey. “And put his drinks on my tab,” he told the bartender gesturing to Alex. It was the last he could do for the guy’s birthday.
“You don’t have to do that,” Alex said. Not that he was going to really argue. If Michael wanted to pay for his drinks, he’d let him. Tonight Because it was his birthday. That was a justification, he knew that. But he let it slide.
He looked Michael over. He smelled...like Michael. It was a unique scent, and it did things to Alex that Alex couldn’t even explain. “How have you been?” he asked. It felt...wrong. He should know. Because he should have seen Michael before now. He didn’t like not seeing him for so long.
“I want to,” Michael replied. It was the least he could do for Alex on his birthday. Honestly the man deserved so much more. Michael just didn’t think he could give it to him,
“Been better,” Michael said with a shrug. He missed Alex. More than he thought he would. He didn’t know how he was supposed to leave him again later. But he wouldn’t think about that now. Just try to enjoy the night, for Alex’s birthday. “But tonight isn’t about me,” Michael added with a small smirk. “So tell me,” he went on. “What does the birthday boy want?”
What did the birthday boy want? Well, that was a loaded question, coming from Michael. Because Michael was what he wanted. In every way, shape, and form. He wanted to go back to the airstream and let Michael have his way with Alex. Completely, entirely…
Alex drew a breath. He wanted to knock some sense into Michael. He wanted to scream at him I’m right here but he just let the breath out slow and steady.
“I want you to take me home.” So much for not saying anything. The ball was in Michael’s court now.
“Alex…” Michael breathed in response. He wasn’t expecting Alex to say that. Not after the other day. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he finally added. Of course he wanted that too. He missed Alex more than he cared to admit. He missed the taste of Alex’s lips, the way the other man felt in his arms. But Michael still couldn’t give him more. He couldn’t commit.
“It’s my birthday,” Alex said. He wasn’t above using that as leverage. He’d never cared about his birthday much before. His father made it a less than joyous occasion most of the time. But he was older now, his father hadn’t even sent him a card.
“And that’s what I want.” He knew what he was asking. He was asking for more heartbreak. But it would be worth it for the time that he was with Michael.
Michael’s resolve was fading. Who was he to deny Alex what he wanted on his birthday? Especially because it was exactly what he wanted to.
“Well then,” Michael finally said the smirk forming on his face. “Let’s get out of here.” He slapped some cash down on the bar for the drinks Alex had and the one he had just ordered even though had no longer had any intention to drink it. He climbed off the stool and grabbed Alex’s hand, leading him out of the bar.
Well, that was a lot easier than Alex had expected. Not that he was complaining. Absolutely not. He gripped Michael’s hand just firm enough to send a message, and not enough to be mistaken for clinging, and followed him out of the bar.
This was kind of their thing, anyway. They never really managed to stay at the bar for very long. Leaving with him like this, early in the night, felt right. Normal. Like maybe things would be okay. Between them. Alex broke away from Michael when they approached his truck, so that he could sidle over to the passenger’s side and climb in.
The drive back to his place didn’t take too long. He honestly hadn’t been expecting the night to go this way. He was kind of surprised this was what Alex wanted after their last conversation. But he wasn’t about to argue.
He parked in front of his air stream, climbing out and leading Alex inside. “Now what?” he turned to ask just inside the door, his voice low. He had a pretty good idea of what Alex wanted now, but still he had to be sure.
Alex had absolutely no willpower when it came to Michael Guerin. It didn’t help that he was getting the feels both in his life and in his dreams. That his dream self was as hung up on Michael as he was outside of the dreams. That just made it all the more intense, and now that he was alone with Michael again, despite their most recent conversation and Michael trying to end things, here they were.
Alex’s eyes flashed, looking Michael over, up and down and back again, before he reached for a hold on Michael’s shirt. He pulled the man to him and kissed him, rather than attempting to articulate a verbal response. The kiss and the way Alex rubbed against Michael spoke louder than words, anyway. What Michael did with it at that point, was up to him. The ball was in his court.
When Alex’s lips were on his all rational thought left Michael. All he could do was return the kiss, get lost in their passion that was always there. It was undeniable. There was just something… cosmic between them that Michael couldn’t ignore.
His arms wrapped around Alex, pulling the man closer to him as he deepened the kiss. He only broke it when he needed to take a breath. “Feels like more of a present to me,” Michael mumbled against Alex’s lips. The smile was evident on his face, but it didn’t last long because soon enough his lips were back on Alex’s.
Alex’s response was to moan softly, a subtle agreement. This was as much for him as it was for Michael. It was reconnecting. It was Alex attempting to prove to Michael that no matter how much Michael pushed him away, he was still going to be there. He would wait Michael’s stubbornness out.
He shifted, pulling Michael hard against his chest, clearly communicating what he wanted from this exchange.
This part was always easy for them. The physical aspect. It was the whole emotional and commitment part that made things difficult. But right now that was the least of Michael’s concerns, far from his mind. All he could think about was Alex’s body pressed against his, the way Alex’s lips felt on his mouth. His hands wandered between them, making their way down to Alex’s jeans, working the button and zipper.
Alex groaned. He pressed against Michael, then pulled back so Michael could undress him. His hands found Michael’s clothes and tugged and pulled, unzipping or unbuttoning what needed done. Before long they were falling together on the bed, reconnecting and communicating the way that was easiest for them both.