Prison Break ficlet: Waiting for Bellick*
Title: Waiting for Bellick*
Rating: PG
Category: pre-slash
Word count: 604
Summary: Alex and Michael in the car, waiting for Bellick
Spoilers: everything up to 4.07 ‘Five The Hard Way’
Disclaimer: not mine
Author’s notes: I would have liked that scene with Alex and Michael in the car in ‘Five The Hard Way’ to be a bit longer. Not beta’d (English is not my first language - please feel free to point out any mistakes).
I am working on a much longer, much angstier, probably R-rated Michael/Alex story that goes AU during 2.22 ‘Sona’. I’m looking for someone to beta this, especially for characterization and grammar. Might be awhile before it’s ready though, but if anyone’s up for it I’d love to hear it.
*Sorry about that. I suck at titles. *g*
Waiting for Bellick
“I think Bellick would rather be chickenfooted than negotiate with a girl,” Alex says drily.
Michael looks at him, startled, and then he laughs. His whole face transforms right before Alex’s eyes and Alex can’t look away. Michael so rarely laughs. The old attraction surfaces and he lets it wash over him. It’s good to feel something besides despair and hate.
“It’s a good look for you,” he says.
“What is?” Michael’s eyes still sparkle.
“Happiness,” Alex says, his voice serious and his eyes warm.
Michael stares at him. “You’re in a strange mood today.”
Alex smiles, dips his head. His heartbeat picks up. He takes a breath, and another one.
“Of all the things I… all the people… Michael, killing your father is not the worst thing I’ve done, but it’s what I regret most, because it has hurt you.” Alex rubs his face, staring out the window at a woman pushing a pram across the street. There is no baby in the pram. It’s filled with shopping bags.
“So- what I’m trying to say is that I’m sorry, Michael.” Alex looks down at his hands. “I’m sorry.”
For a moment everything is silent. Alex feels Michael’s eyes on him. Suddenly it is so very important that Michael accepts his apology that he can’t breathe.
“I had only met him once, before that day. And then I didn’t know who he was,” Michael whispers.
“He left before you were born.” Alex nods, finally daring to look at him.
Michael’s face is indecipherable for a moment, then the corner of his mouth turns up. “I keep forgetting how much you know about me.”
“From everyone I’ve ever chased I learned the most about you and Shales. That’s because you both made it personal. Or possibly I did.” Alex smiles sadly, shakes his head. “And that’s the only thing you and Shales have in common, by the way.” Alex looks away again. He sighs. “When I first got your case… the first few days, before the Company got involved… I was enraptured. It was so much fun, picking apart the clues you had left behind. I know I should have gone after Bagwell first, but I thought if I stopped trying to figure you out, even for just a few hours, you’d be gone and I’d never find you again.”
“Those were the days, huh?” Michael mocks, but his eyes are kind.
“Yeah,” Alex says. He feels uncomfortable, as if he’s given away too much. Michael is keeping his distance, like he always does. Alex knows he should stop craving his approval, because he’ll never get it. He doesn’t even know why he needs it so much. Michael isn’t a saint by anyone’s standards.
The silence grows thick. “He should have the information by now,” Michael says into it.
Alex grabs the lifeline. ”What the hell is taking Bellick so long?”
As if on cue, Michael’s phone rings. The girl wants more money. Alex sighs mentally. Everyone always wants more, including himself. He reaches for the door handle.
“Alex.” There’s something in Michael’s voice Alex has never heard before. Or maybe he has, but it had always been directed at other people, not him. It makes him turn around, one foot on the pavement already, sounds of the busy street filling the car.
“I’m glad I don’t have to run from you anymore,” Michael says, and for just a brief moment his long fingers cover Alex’s hand. Then Michael is out of the car and into the building, all before Alex’s mind can even begin to process the idea that, perhaps, he’s just been forgiven.