by Anne
Author's notes: This was written for the 5sentence_fics community on LJ, using table four prompts.
Disclaimer: The Tomorrow People belong to Roger Damon Price, Thames/Tetra and ITV television. I promise to return the characters in one piece, more or less, when I'm finished, but hold no liability for any physical injury or psychological trauma sustained by them in my fiction. Alex belongs to Kevin and he's very possessive and overprotective so don't touch or even think about it.
#01 Goodbye
One of Kevin's fears is of being rejected because he has failed. His family rejected him because he failed them as a son, and couldn't live up to their expectations. He has already failed Alex because he promised to keep him safe and couldn't. While Alex has reassured him many times that he would never leave, not matter what, and that Kevin is not a failure, it does not stop Kevin's fears completely, but merely holds them at bay, even though he does believe his husband when he says he will not leave. On those occasions when Kevin's fears are triggered, Alex holds him and repeats his vow over and over both aloud and telepathically for ever long it takes.
#02 Sundown
Alex's mother had always said that in a relationship it was important to reconcile any arguments before the sun went down and although she does not approve of their relationship, he has always thought the advice was sound. He and Kevin rarely fight but when they do, it is very loud and either or both will lose their temper. Often there is slamming of doors or one of them will port to the island before words are said that will later be regretted. Both are very stubborn, but usually the act of leaving triggers the initial steps into trying to find a compromise. The thought of not being together, or being able to sleep without being close both physically and telepathically is frightening and whatever the argument was about pales into insignificance beside it.
#03 Blue Skies
The beach by the ship is very peaceful, and when Alex was at uni he often came there to study. It was somewhere he found he could focus and ignore everything else. He particularly enjoyed it in winter, a place to escape the cold while he still lived in New Zealand, and after he had moved to Colorado to be with Kevin. But his favourite memories are of him and Kevin making love on that same beach, blue skies above and the warm sand beneath them. And of Kevin whispering 'more' as they lay together naked in the sun, wrapped around each other both physically and telepathically.
#04 Broken Wing
When Alex was a child his brother, Jamie, found a Tui under the large Pohutakawa tree in their back garden. With much care, the bird was nursed back to health, its broken wing finally healed, and set free in a local wildlife sanctuary. Often, while cradling Kevin when he is upset, Alex is reminded of that memory. Like the bird, Kevin is healing so that he will be free, his wings broken by what his parents did to him. But, despite his hopes to the contrary, Alex fears that Kevin's healing may take a lifetime.
#05 High Octane
Breaking out at nearly sixteen, Alex already had his learners permit and had begun taking driving lessons. His brother, Andrew, couldn't figure out why Alex was so very determined to continue with those lessons once he had learnt to teleport, reminding him of the money he could save on petrol and car maintenance, especially with rising costs. Alex just shook his head and changed the subject, not wanting to admit that although he could teleport he was finding it difficult to master the ability, and that at least if he could drive, it would be something he could do right. The financial cost was not important when compared to the sense of achievement and independence that he so desperately needed. Years later, driving his and Kevin's blazer around Colorado, he remembers his brother's words, and although he does now have the option to teleport, the journey itself is a reminder that often it is not mastering a skill which is the achievement, but the route he's taken through life to do so.
#06 Silver and Gold
Kevin gave Alex a set of silver plated dog tags after he told his family that he and Kevin were together; they had belonged to Kevin's grandfather, one of the few links left to his past. Alex has never taken them off; to him they are a part of Kevin that he wears close to his heart, the same way that Kevin is a part of his mind. When they were captured by Galt, Alex kept focusing on the feel of them against his skin, telling himself over and over that as long as he could feel them, Kevin would never be completely lost to him. Now he and Kevin wear matching gold wedding rings, a sign to the world of their love for each other and their commitment for life. But, as well as those, is something very personal that Alex gave Kevin as a Christmas present, a set of silver dog tags to match his own inscribed with the words ' property of Alex MacDonald'.
#07 Too good to be true
Curled around Alex in the early hours of the morning, the sun creeping over the sky to welcome in a new day, Kevin enjoys watching his husband sleep. Often he will reach out with a telepathic caress or brush Alex's hair from his forehead gently so not to wake him. Both are not only signs of affection and love, but also to convince himself that this is reality now, not the dream he once thought would never come true. The first time they met, in a riverpark in New Zealand, Kevin knew that he was attracted to Alex, but he denied it for a very long time, trying to dismiss it for various reasons but his heart refused to listen to logic, fate conspiring time after time to remind him of the attraction until he could no longer ignore it, even though he had thought he would never be able to act on it. Even now, as Alex wakes blurry eyed with a mumbled 'I love you', and Kevin replies with a kiss and 'more', he still regrets that he was not able to be the one who finally found the courage to act.
#08 Tangled and dark
Alex loves to thread his fingers through Kevin's hair when they make love, especially first thing in the morning. It is dark, thick and tangled, damp against Alex's lips as Kevin arches up under his husband's touch. Kevin is very calm and controlled in public, but it is when they are together alone that Alex sees what others do not. A passionate, caring man who loves with everything he is, and who is loved the same in return. Stroking Kevin's hair as they lie together tangled in sweat soaked sheets, Alex clings to Kevin, never wanting to let go, because he knows if he does, he will be giving up a part of himself that is worth more than, and is, his life.
#09 Best served cold
Revenge, it is said, is a dish best served cold. But then, regret and pain is supposed to fade with time too. Although Galt is now dead, Kevin cannot help but fear that someone will still take his place, especially as it has been a while since the Hunters' last attack. Lately he has had the feeling of someone watching him, but wonders if it is just his imagination. Maybourne's frequent visits to the SGC have also done nothing to quell those feelings but what disturbs him more are the comments Galt made to him and Alex, inferring that they were less than human, and the fact that those like him will do whatever it takes to rid the Earth of the plague they call the Tomorrow People.
#10 Running on empty
In the months between Alex turning eighteen and when they bonded, Kevin felt as though he was running on empty. Knowing that if he touched Alex, he would not be able to stop, he began to distance himself, bit by bit. Alex had a family who had accepted him still, despite being a Tomorrow Person. Even if he was gay and attracted to Kevin, something which Kevin couldn't allow himself to hope for, asking him to put that acceptance at risk was too much to ask. But, as the months passed, and Kevin buried himself in his work, determined to do the right thing by the man he would always love, it never occurred to him that Alex was fighting the same attraction for fear of losing a friendship he valued above all else.
#11 Slow Hand
Touch is something that both Kevin and Alex cannot get enough of, whether physically or telepathically through their bond. Even before they were a couple they were very touchy feely around each other, although Alex always put it down to something that close friends did, it not occurring to him that what he felt for Kevin had always been something far deeper than just friendship. Now, feeling Kevin's hand slowly caressing him, leaning into that touch, needing it, craving it, Alex knows that what they had before, although a solid foundation for their future together, was never going to be enough to satisfy either of them. Moaning into Kevin's kiss, their tongues exploring each other's mouths, their bodies moving together, he knows he has found the person who makes him complete. He just wishes he hadn't taken so long to realise it, and even longer to act.
#12 Double Vision
Alex has worn glasses since he was a child; he is as blind as a bat without them, and insists on using that analogy despite Kevin's insistence that bats are not blind. He attempted to wear contacts but they made his eyes itch and were not worth the trouble. While at school, he was often teased by the other kids as having double vision, which did nothing to help his growing poor self-esteem. However, the look in Kevin's eyes as he watches Alex more than makes up for all of it. For Kevin sees him and accepts him for who he is, less than perfect vision, and all.
#13 Paradise
Paradise means different things to different people. For Kevin it was finally being able to take Alex into his arms, admit his feelings, and make love to him. It had been a very long two and half years since he had accidentally walked in on Alex in the shower, and a mere few weeks since Alex had teleported dripping wet into Kevin's office. Both instances had fueled erotic dreams that he never thought would be more than that. But, the first time they made love in the shower, wet and slippery, Alex groaning under Kevin's touch, he knew those dreams had been nowhere near as fantastic as the real thing.
#14 In the Dark
Hindsight is often 20/20. Alex looks back at the time between first meeting Kevin and when they bonded and is embarrassed about how naοve he was in not recognising his feelings for Kevin for what they were. But, although on occasion he does regret the wasted time, he is determined to make the most of the time they do have together. With their bond comes a commitment for life, in the very literal sense of the world. Alex, although raised a Catholic, no longer practices but still clings with everything he has to the belief of life after death, and that this life is not the only one, because the thought of death being the end is a darkness he does not dare contemplate.
#15 Personal Space
While Kevin and Alex spend a lot of time together, they are also very aware how important it is for personal space within a relationship. Kevin socializes with the people from the SGC he works with, playing softball with them during the summer months. He also runs to keep fit, often taking Natalie with him, and he and Megabyte try to still spend quality time together although Alex and Jade are amused by the way even years later, their husbands still manage to egg each other on. Alex discovered, after working at St Marks, that Rob shared his interest in hiking, and his need to discuss work over a drink with someone who understands the frustrations and joys of teaching. But, what Alex really looks forward to, although he claims it is not an addiction, are the couple of evenings a month that he and Megabyte join a group of fellow gamers to escape into the fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons.
#16 Stormy Weather
When Alex was growing up he used to turn to his brother, Jamie, to help him through the storms of life. Now that Alex has found more self-confidence both in himself and his abilities, he feels more able to offer that support to Jamie in return. Alex will never forget the time he found Jamie and Kevin together talking and joking, Kevin relaxed enough to allow Jamie a glimpse of the man his brother had fallen in love with. Jamie had always supported Alex and Kevin's relationship, even standing against Mrs. MacDonald to show that support, and Alex was determined to do the same for Jamie one day, especially as he felt responsible for what had happened with Lisa. However, all the good intentions in the world couldn't prepare him for his reaction when he discovered that Marissa and Jamie were together, and all he could manage was a spluttered 'shit'.
#17 Wax paper
The first birthday Alex had after he and Kevin bonded, he arrived home with a square shape wrapped in wax paper. Muttering under his breath, he dumped it down on the kitchen counter and stalked off into the bathroom. Sighing, Kevin waited a few minutes and went in after him, deciding that whatever this thing was, that it was better for Alex to tell him rather than look himself. After a fair amount of prompting, Alex admitted that it was a birthday cake his mother had baked for him. She had left a message for him to pick it up, pushing it on him with a comment that she still loved and supported him, even though she still prayed for the day he realised that it wasn't too late to admit he'd made a mistake and settled down with a nice girl.
#18 Sentimental Journey
Most people relive memories through the pages of a photo album or by talking about the past. Being bonded, Kevin and Alex also have the option of allowing each other to literally see the actual memory as they recall and relive it. This is something they choose to ask permission for, rather than presuming, as with no shielding between them, they rely on trust and the respect they have for each other's privacy. Sitting on the couch one night, cuddled up together under a blanket, Kevin finally showed Alex a glimpse of his childhood. Having met the Wilsons, Alex wasn't expecting a sentimental journey showing a child who was once loved until bit by bit, his life began to unwind as, in his eyes, he failed his parents so completely to the point that they made him choose between them and a future he knew he couldn't ignore.
#19 Perfect Balance
One of the reasons that Kevin and Alex's relationship works is that they balance each other. Kevin is able to offer strength in the areas of Alex's life that he has difficulty dealing with and vice versa. However, they are under no illusions and are very much aware of each other's weaknesses and short comings. Loving someone means accepting them for who they are, and not trying to change them, as much as some aspects of their personality might be as annoying as hell. Asked about it once, Alex just grins and says no, Kevin isn't perfect because that would get boring very fast and their relationship is anything but.
#20 No worries
The thought of having no worries in life is tempting, but unrealistic. As Tomorrow People, Kevin and Alex are very much aware that they have to be very careful about revealing who they are, or their abilities, to the world. Alex struggles with the knowledge that he will always have to hide a part of himself from those he thinks of as friends as he hates lying to people, especially those he knows trust him. However, one evening, when he, Kevin and Megabyte were gaming with the couple of friends that Alex had kept in contact with from school, that decision was taken completely out of his hands. Losing his battle to remain calm, and ignoring the shocked expressions on those friends' faces, he placed himself between his fellow Tomorrow People and the Hunters who had tracked them down and told their leader to fuck off.
#21 Chasing the Wind
One thing that Alex loves about autumn is watching the wind blowing the leaves in their different shades of red, brown and fading green. Sometimes, he and Kevin will take Natalie to the riverpark, stand together, arms around each other, and watch her chasing anything and everything that moves. He feels safe there; it is a place special to both of them, and somewhere he comes when he needs to think, often sitting by the river skimming stones across the surface while he tried to calm himself and make sense of whatever is disturbing him. When Alex was younger, Jamie told him a story about the leaves being dreams and the wind chasing them and a boy running to catch them, but never quite managing to. Leaning back into Kevin's embrace, Alex looks up at his husband, happy and content in the knowledge that he no longer has to chase his, and that any further dreams either wants to pursue, they will support and help each other to do so.
#22 Blown Away
Alex hates his edge power. After appearing briefly when he and Adam were captured by the Hunters, it took another two years before it manifested itself properly. Alex will never forget Kevin being caught in the backlash of an uncontrolled telekinetic shield and being picked up as though by a strong wind to be smashed against a wall, falling limply to the ground to lay still and unmoving. He still wakes from nightmares seeing it replaying over and over, and is terrified that it is only a matter of time before his fears become reality. When he feels his ability kick in, usually when he loses control of his temper, he turns to Kevin, hoping desperately that the calmness his husband projects through their bond will be enough, but with each time comes the knowledge that one day he will either have to find a way to control or permanently suppress it, because the cost of the alternative could be Kevin's life, and with it, his own.
#23 Crusade
When an enemy is motivated through greed and power, it is easier to reason with them and there is always the hope that they might just listen and be swayed by a better offer. However, the Hunters are on a crusade to cleanse the earth of those who are different, and to save them, and the next generation, from that which taints them. The Tomorrow People are not human, they claim, and therefore have given up any rights associated with that. After having been told that over and over while a captive of the Hunters, and already struggling with low self-esteem, Alex feels that although it doesn't apply to Kevin and the others, because they have control over their abilities, he is different. And, even though for the most part Kevin has persuaded Alex otherwise, often when something bad happens that he feels responsible for, the words of his tormentors come back to haunt him and he cannot wonder if maybe they were right.
#24 In chaos
Alex finally worked out he was in love with Kevin after they had visited the alternative reality where Adam and Megabyte had not survived their first encounter with Barlium. Sitting at Kevin's bedside in the SGC infirmary, and unsure whether he would ever regain consciousness, Alex realised without a doubt that the feelings he had were not friendship but something far deeper. Trying to sort through the chaos of his current emotional state, it hit him that he had been attracted to Kevin right from the beginning. In an attempt to figure out what the hell to do about something he could no longer deny, and not wanting to lose his friendship with Kevin, Alex talked to Sam, and Kevin's Aunt Ruth. But finally, even after he had made his decision to tell Kevin, after months of frustration and fighting what he now knows was their telepathic bond trying to form, the final push came from two people he never would have suspected Joe and Methos.
#25 Rising Tide
Kevin loves wet sex, or more specifically wet Alex, naked and needy. Throughout their relationship, or more specifically while he desperately told himself that Alex was only ever going to be a friend and that he was too young and naοve for Kevin to want sexually, he was taunted by Alex wet, dripping and very obviously not the kid Kevin tried to convince himself he was. Upon discovering this, after they became a couple, Alex offered Kevin the chance to relive those moments but as though they happened the way he originally wanted; a rising tide of first times and desires become real. Reliving accidentally walking in on Alex half naked in Aunt Ruth's bathroom would not be a problem, but wet sex in Kevin's office was another matter and deemed too risky. That was until his husband pointed out with a slow smile that the thought of getting caught was something that should be high on Kevin's mental list for 'the things that drove Alex crazy'.
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