Continuation from TFLN - (for thenewnormal)

[neverlooksaway]

He doesn't reply because he's spotted Alex, and, yes, he's eager for whatever they end up doing, but he really is a tiny bit concerned Alex thinks he doesn't want people to know, like he's ashamed of it or something. He's a bit confused, still, because it's so new and nothing he had any inkling of he started noticing Alex, but he's not ashamed of it.

It's just...theirs. And in the Summer of Awful, he needs something good.

Still, his smile is bright with relief that Alex isn't really upset with him, as he pulls up next to him, and reaches across to open the passenger door.

"Wanna go for a ride?"

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[neverlooksaway]

Michael didn't quite believe him, because people always left or sent you away, but he had to be content with it for now. He'd work on convincing Alex that there were other ways to stand up to his father. For now, he could trust that Alex wasn't going to just run off behind his back, at least. Hopefully.

So he nodded a little. "Maybe the free clinic will do one without too many questions? Or lab work?"

Because otherwise, he's not sure how to actually get one--he's not going to the ER. There are too many pieces he can't control there.

[thenewnormal]

"“We could always try making our own?” Alex suggested. “That’s what the internet is for. I bet there’s a Wikipedia article or something about it.” Well, maybe not Wikipedia, but he was sure he could come up with something that would at least look enough like a cast to pass muster. And with enough luck, his father wouldn’t question it. And no one else would.

He took a little breath and it helped steady his nerves. Because there was some kind of plan. They were doing more than just going in circles. They needed to fix Michael and then make it look as if he weren’t fixed.

And only then could they figure out what they were going to do next. Maybe by then he could convince Michael that getting some kind of training was the best option."

[neverlooksaway]

"That could work." Relief flashed in Michael's eyes, even as he kicked himself for not thinking of it first. Yeah, they'd both had a lot of upheaval today, but Alex was thinking clearly, apparently, and, technically, he'd been the one to get a lot thrown at him.

"Okay. We should...get back to town, then?" He was a little disappointed by that idea, when they'd come out here to be alone, but. Once his hand was healed, they wouldn't have to be so careful, either.

Though he'd have to figure out what and how much to tell Max.

[thenewnormal]

"Yeah, that's probably for the best. You have to deal with your hand and I need to do some research." And figure out how he was supposed to tap dance around his father. Because as soon as he father realized that Alex wasn't going to join the military, Alex was pretty sure that he was going to get kicked out. But that was a problem for another day when he could figure out what he was going to say. Maybe he'd tell his father he wanted to get his degree before going into the military.

Or maybe, by that point, he could just run away with Michael in tow.

"Where are you staying, now?" Since he couldn't be staying at the shed anymore.

[neverlooksaway]

Michael leaned in to brush a kiss over Alex's lips before shifting back and wrapping his good hand around Alex's more firmly. "Okay. So. Back to town..."

Even though he was reluctant to leave the cave, even for that. But the sooner his hand was fixed and they dealt with this part of it, the better they could think about the future. He just had to figure out what he was going to tell Max. Not that he'd told Alex, surely; at least, not right away. Max would have a fit, might not fix his hand just to punish him or something. (Not that Max had ever punished him, but it was an automatic thought and reflex).

His smile was a little crooked as he led Alex back out and answered his question. "At the junkyard."