fic: A Day at the Beach (X-Men: First Class)

[thistlerose]

Title: A Day at the Beach
Fandom: X-Men: First Class
Rating: teen
Pairing(s): Darwin/Havok
Notes: For afrodyetee's request at 1stclass_kink. Considering the year, they’re probably a bit less cautious than they should be. Then again, they have super powers. 4,850 words.

Summary: Alex and Armando spend a day at the beach. They can't escape their cares completely, but

Comments

[realpestilence]

I am practically WEEPING because this won't ever be in the movies, damn it! You caught this...lazy-sweet-edgy-vulnerable vibe and sustained it throughout the fic, which is impressive. You kept up the interplay and the mood between them that makes this feel like a continuation of rubynye's "Sky Turns to Flame", one of my favorite fics for this pairing.

There's enough realism in how people look at them, both racially and gender-wise, that it creeps in around the edges, but doesn't overwhelm the "just us" special time together.

[thistlerose]

Eeeee, being compared with Ruby's fic (one of my favorites too) is a huge compliment (you hear that, Ruby? ♥ ?)!!!

I'm so glad you liked this. I don't usually write like this, posting scenes as soon as they're written, but it was for one of the kink memes and I wanted to try something new. I also wanted to imagine a really lovely day for them, while at least acknowledging some of the issues they'd face as an interracial same-sex couple in the early 1960s. They'd probably have to be just as wary today in some parts of the country. :(

Thank you for your lovely comment! ♥

[realpestilence]

They'd have to be wary, but not just because Darwin's black or they're gay. Alex wouldn't be automatically accepted by everyone they ran into, either-plenty of non-white people don't like white people, and then there's the ex-con thing he's got going on. That could actually help him, in some circles, give him street cred; but it would definitely hinder him, in others.

[thistlerose]

True, he might encounter some prejudice as a white guy (and as a young person). But it would be nothing like what Darwin would have to worry about.

Actually, in a story I'm still brainstorming, Alex spends a lot of time angsting about the fact that his real parents and brother probably wouldn't want him, even if they were still alive, because of who he is and what he's done.

[krisomniac]

eeeee!!! How excited was I to finally get to SEE this and READ it and WALLOW IN LOVE for very word! :D

I adore the unspoken tension and forbidden nature of their relationship (maybe the only good thing to come out of such closed-minded ethos of the time) and Armando's almost brotherly (except when it's so not) affection.

And the HOTDOG! RAWR! Just when I want to smish them for being such woobies, they get all smokin'.

Anyway. Just awesome. Makes me miss New England beaches like woah.

[thistlerose]

Awww, thank you, darling! ♥

That's interesting that you should characterize Darwin's love as being almost brotherly. I see it that way too, though obviously Alex doesn't! But I think Darwin is naturally protective of other people, partly due to his mutation, and also because that's just his nature. Alex is drawn to that, though he doesn't realize it; for most of his life, he's been without a real caretaker (except in the legal sense) and there's a part of him that still wants that very strongly, even though he's about twenty years old here.

I miss New England beaches too. I had pictures of Marblehead in front of me while I was writing this. It's pretty.

[ignipes]

I love this so much! It's such - it's just so summer, bright and warm and loving, and the dark edges of the world all around are just perfect. They can escape for an afternoon into the joy of being wrapped up in each other, but they can never really leave the world with all its problems and ugliness, and the balance works so well. LOVE IT. <33333333

[thistlerose]

Thank you so much! Hee. I started writing it in the middle of summer, so I was very much in the mood. Then I got sidetracked and now I'm in the mood for autumn ... so I'm glad I was still able to capture the right atmosphere!

I'm really glad that you liked this, bb. ♥

[_profiterole_]

OMG, it was so good and lovely and perfect! ♥_♥ I want 20 minutes of the next movie dedicated to this trip!

[thistlerose]

Aw, thank you so much! ♥

And yeah, I'd like that too!

[jax92]

[thistlerose]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad that this worked for you, and that you liked it. :)

Yeahhhh, Armando owes him. (On the other hand, Alex did wake him up very early, and didn't even let him have any coffee before they left the house!) But I don't think Armando will exactly mind paying him back...