How to Love an Alien [1/?]
Title: How to Love an Alien: Lesson One
Fandom: X-Men
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Marvel. I just tweak them.
Rating: none
Feedback: It keeps writers going.
Author’s Notes: This is going to be a series of short ficlets on Ric and ‘Star and their friendship. I’m not sure how many will be in the series, however many lessons I can come up with, I guess.
Julio was awkward around the others. He may have known Sam and Tabitha for a long time, but it had been awhile ago, and he’d just been fighting opposite them. He wasn’t sure X-Force was going to forgive him for his youthful rebellion so quickly.
So he mostly spent his time watching television, keeping to himself.
Sometimes that strange man, the alien, Shatterstar, would come join him. The first time he did so, and started changing the channels at the blink of an eye, Julio had flipped out. The man drove him crazy! He had absolutely no consideration for anyone else, he was selfish, he was arrogant, he was… alien.
The second time they had watched television together, Shatterstar had asked for the remote, and changed the channels much more slowly. Julio had still left, aggravated.
The third time, Shatterstar kept his hands off the remote. He’d fidgeted a lot, though. After awhile, his fidgeting had gotten to Julio, and he’d left yet again.
Now he was watching a high action movie, lots of explosions, lots of half dressed girls. He wasn’t really surprised when Shatterstar joined him. The man slid onto the couch comfortably, and stared intently at the television.
“What are we watching?” he asked.
“Not sure,” Julio replied. He glanced over at him. The man’s eyebrows were creased, focusing on something--withholding his urge to flip through the channels? Probably. “We could watch something else, if you want,” he suggested idly.
He held out the remote. Shatterstar gazed at him curiously, and reached out to accept it. Another long look, and he started flipping the channels.
Julio settled back against the cushions, the barest hint of a smile on his lips. If Shatterstar could compromise his needs for this… this what? Teammateship? Was that even a word? Well, if Shatterstar would try to suppress his urges to drive everyone crazy, Julio could give back a little. A reward for good behavior.
He watched him carefully out of the corner of his eye. Shatterstar may not be human, but he certainly had some very human characteristics. Julio smiled, shook his head, and left the room. He felt Shatterstar’s eyes on him as he went, disappointment.
A minute later, however, he returned, armed with a bag of chips and two Cokes. Offering one can to Shatterstar, he watched the change in his expression. He hadn’t even known Shatterstar’s expression could change, it always seemed stuck on ‘fierce’. But now there was a slip, and for a brief moment, happiness seemed to flit across that gorgeous face.
It would be a lot of work, Julio realized. ‘Star was alien, and Julio was, well, Julio. But it couldn’t hurt to try. It had been a long time since Julio had had a friend.
Fandom: X-Men
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Marvel. I just tweak them.
Rating: none
Feedback: It keeps writers going.
Author’s Notes: This is going to be a series of short ficlets on Ric and ‘Star and their friendship. I’m not sure how many will be in the series, however many lessons I can come up with, I guess.
Julio was awkward around the others. He may have known Sam and Tabitha for a long time, but it had been awhile ago, and he’d just been fighting opposite them. He wasn’t sure X-Force was going to forgive him for his youthful rebellion so quickly.
So he mostly spent his time watching television, keeping to himself.
Sometimes that strange man, the alien, Shatterstar, would come join him. The first time he did so, and started changing the channels at the blink of an eye, Julio had flipped out. The man drove him crazy! He had absolutely no consideration for anyone else, he was selfish, he was arrogant, he was… alien.
The second time they had watched television together, Shatterstar had asked for the remote, and changed the channels much more slowly. Julio had still left, aggravated.
The third time, Shatterstar kept his hands off the remote. He’d fidgeted a lot, though. After awhile, his fidgeting had gotten to Julio, and he’d left yet again.
Now he was watching a high action movie, lots of explosions, lots of half dressed girls. He wasn’t really surprised when Shatterstar joined him. The man slid onto the couch comfortably, and stared intently at the television.
“What are we watching?” he asked.
“Not sure,” Julio replied. He glanced over at him. The man’s eyebrows were creased, focusing on something--withholding his urge to flip through the channels? Probably. “We could watch something else, if you want,” he suggested idly.
He held out the remote. Shatterstar gazed at him curiously, and reached out to accept it. Another long look, and he started flipping the channels.
Julio settled back against the cushions, the barest hint of a smile on his lips. If Shatterstar could compromise his needs for this… this what? Teammateship? Was that even a word? Well, if Shatterstar would try to suppress his urges to drive everyone crazy, Julio could give back a little. A reward for good behavior.
He watched him carefully out of the corner of his eye. Shatterstar may not be human, but he certainly had some very human characteristics. Julio smiled, shook his head, and left the room. He felt Shatterstar’s eyes on him as he went, disappointment.
A minute later, however, he returned, armed with a bag of chips and two Cokes. Offering one can to Shatterstar, he watched the change in his expression. He hadn’t even known Shatterstar’s expression could change, it always seemed stuck on ‘fierce’. But now there was a slip, and for a brief moment, happiness seemed to flit across that gorgeous face.
It would be a lot of work, Julio realized. ‘Star was alien, and Julio was, well, Julio. But it couldn’t hurt to try. It had been a long time since Julio had had a friend.