Our Little Nowhere [mxm]

Out of the Woodwork

Two Years Later

Micah parked his motorcycle in the dirt lot of the shop and put the kickstand down. He turned off his bike and pulled off his helmet, ruffling his shaggy black hair while walking towards the door. Someone outside made him stop, though.

Micah swore to himself and was prepared to go inside and pretend he knew nothing, but Alexander had already spotted him.

Alexander's eyes narrowed in confusion before realization spread over his face. "I know you!" He pointed accusingly. "I've seen you..." he trailed off blankly.

"Piano recital," Micah admitted tightly. That had been two years ago, and Alexander still remembered him? Not even that, but... "What are you doing here?"

"I'm on summer vacation," Alexander said, looking down at his hands. He had bandage tape wrapped over his knuckles, and his fingers looked bruised. "I found some papers in an old box of my mom's..." he looked up at Micah with wide, green eyes. "She never told me I had an older brother."

"Half-brother," Micah corrected him with a sigh. So he'd found out and had come on a mission. "Does she know you're here? Seeing me?"

"Well... she knows I'm on vacation," Alexander answered vaguely. "Why didn't you say something before?"

Micah shrugged helplessly. "I didn't know how to explain it really. I only went to see you, and I accomplished that, so... and your parents were coming over—I had to go. I didn't want them knowing I was there."

"She didn't put you up for adoption because she didn't want you, you know," Alexander announced. "She was sixteen, and it's not like they had MTV reality shows for that kind of thing back then..."

Micah snorted and tucked his helmet under his arm. "I know, it just would have been even harder to explain it then. So you're visiting?"

"Yes. I'm staying at a hotel south of town, pretty cheap," Alexander informed.

Micah raised an eyebrow in disdain. "Not The Palace?"

"Yes, how'd you know?" Alexander asked innocently.

"Because that's the only by-the-hour hotel by the truck stop..." Micah sighed. "You don't want to be using that one. Look. I've only got a one bedroom apartment in town, but I can take the couch and you can have the bed." Micah was sure Alexander's parents would throw a fit if they found out he was staying in a seedy motel like that. Even on vacation, Alexander's clothes still looked extremely nice and expensive.

Micah combed his fingers back through his hair again, this time out of stress. "Let me stop in really quick. I'll be back out." He pointed towards the shop before ducking in.

"Yo, you're late!" The owner, John, accused jokingly.

"I need the day off," Micah informed.

"Why'd you show up if you were going to ask to leave?" John complained with a frown, hanging himself over a tattooing chair in boredom. "Who will I talk to?"

"Something... family came up," Micah admitted. "I didn't know till just now. And call in Vic to cover me or something, and talk with her."

John rolled his eyes dramatically. "Fine. Bye, then."

"Owe you," Micah said on his way out the door.

"Tomorrow, be here at eleven!" John hollered after.

Micah pretended not to hear as he met up with Alexander back outside. "Hungry?" Micah asked.

"Yes," Alexander agreed, but shot a worried look at the motorcycle Micah had arrived on. "I don't think I'm allowed to ride one of those..."