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Things had gone south quickly. Michael had gone in first, because he didn't want Alex caught in the crossfire of whatever was about to go down. 'You don't have powers' had been his parting words, as he hung up and left Alex to figure out where he was and how to get there before Michael got injured.
Alex was frustrated and hurt by the rejection. He thought they were past this. Hadn't the fight against Jones proved they were stronger as a team?
In the end Alex had made it just in time - needing to come to the rescue. A fact he probably would have felt smug about if Michael hadn't looked like that.
"It looks worse than it is," Michael offered, clearly seeing what was on Alex's mind, "You should see the other guy..."
Michael was pensive, his guard already up.
"I did, remember?" Alex shot back before stopping himself.
Alex didn't want to fight. He had been worried to death. Ready to burn the world down - like promised - if anything had happened to Michael. But now he just felt relief. Thankful that Michael was still alive.
"I'd have preferred seeing him before he got around to doing this to you." Alex said carefully, avoiding any accusations.
He gingerly brushed a finger over Michael's cheekbone, next to the ugly bruise that was forming there.
He desperately wanted to feel Michael, reassure himself that they were safe.
Michael didn't pull away. Instead he leaned into the touch, his guard coming down.
Finally Michael grabbed Alex shirt and pulled him closer,
"Next time we go in together alright? We're better together."
