"...Who's been saying you killed your parents?" He asked slowly, that particular remark catching his attention more than anything else. He didn't remember his birth parents, or anything from his home planet whatsoever. The first memory he really had was waking up in Maxwell's mother's arms, being cuddled and fed. Even though he never referred to them as his parents, they were the only parental figures he had, and he loved them as though they were his own. Their deaths had come as a huge shock to him, especially when it was his first real experience with losing someone he cared deeply about, other than a few hedgehogs he kept as pets during his childhood. To be told that there were accusations made that Maxwell had killed them was personal to Milo - it not only insulted the people he felt were like parents to him, but it insulted Maxwell too. He felt he had every right to be furious about that.

"Max, this isn't cool. I want you to show me whose been saying that. Show me on that Facebook site, or Instagram, or whatever it is you use. Point them out to me and I can have a word with them-- just a word. It won't be another Ricky scenario, I promise. I'll just politely tell them to keep their words to themselves and not to insult you. I mean it, get your laptop and show me, Max."
 
“It’s fine, it’s not that big of a deal,” he attempted to protest though paused, deciding to be a little selfish. These people had hurt him so why not have them bechurt in return? The accusations cut hard and just the thought sent Maxwell into a panic attack that caused him to run home from campus to cry, completely indifferent to the cuts and bruises he earned from it.

Setting his laptop down, he easily logged on to Twitter to the many tweets that mentioned the idea. It was there that the bulk of the comments came from plus a few Facebook profiles, but he knew the tweets were enough evidence as he anxiously nibbles on his nails. “I’ve been dealing with this for over a week.”
 
"And you didn't think of telling me about it? I know we argued but this shit goes above that. This is serious, Max. You should have told me, I... we're basically family. I want to defend you and I'd expect you to do the same for me if I had this sort of crap posted to me. Just-- I'm not angry at you, promise. I just wish you'd told me sooner. I guess it's my fault for being such an ass that you felt you couldn't tell me about it," he grimaced, scrolling through the various Tweets, his grimace growing at the volume of the hate sent to Maxwell. He wasn't perfect, but he didn't deserve to have vitriol sent to him without any real motive behind it.

"...I'll sort them out, I promise. We'll enjoy tonight and I'll... sort this out," he promised, making a mental note of the names. He assumed they were all at the university with Maxwell, so tracking them down wasn't going to be impossible. He had made friends with people there, so he could ask around and eventually find the people responsible. "...I won't lose my temper either. You won't let me out the house again if I show myself to other people, huh~?"
 
“I didn’t want to involve you because you seemed pretty content on staying out of my life so I stayed out of yours,” he explained quietly as he nervously tapped his fingers against the table. After a proper scroll, he quickly closed the laptop with a sharp inhale. It was disturbing to see for him, naturally, hence why he hadn’t been on Twitter for the last week unless he was absolutely forced to. Pushing the laptop away a tad, he shrugged.

“I know it’s a huge surprise but I’m... not very good at this, Milo. I can’t handle the pressure of this all, I guess. I don’t want to drop out but it’s getting really tiresome, having everyone look at me weird or be rude to me. I know I fucked up but I don’t think I fucked up that bad...?”
 
"Don't you dare drop out, you worked way too hard to let them ruin your education, Max. I could always come to your university and spend lunchtime with you or just hang during your breaks? So you're not alone. I don't mind doing that. You're my best friend and you're like a brother to me, I'd do anything for you. You know that," he sighed, his brows furrowing at the conversation. He wanted to make things less depressing for Max, not continue how shitty he apparently felt about himself.

"...Hey, let's go and take a bath. That always makes you happy. A nice hot bath with some candles, I know you like that. Your Mom always told me you liked to have these fancy baths, so we should go and do that together. I'll probably take up most of the room after that growth spurt, but that's not a problem, right? I'll just hug my knees to my chest or something," he shrugged, moving to the fridge. The ideal situation would be to have some wine, but he eventually settled on pouring two glasses of chocolate milkshake instead. Getting drunk wasn't something either of them needed, after all.

"It'll be cute, I think. Not that you can get any cuter, Max. You've always been cute. I was really jealous of you when we were kids, you were so cute and I always felt weird."
 
“Look At you, Milo. You’re georgeous,” he insisted with reddened cheeks as he watched the alien move. He wasn’t very good at admitting his feelings, obviously, so admitting something as simple as that made him flustered. The compliments didn’t help and sent him into flustered snorts and a smile. Hiding said smile with the sleeve of his sweater shyly, he decided to offer a nod.

“Yeah, that sounds nice. I mean, you don’t have to with me but it’ll be better than taking one alone. I’ve been taking showers and you know I hate it,” he grumbled, the sleeve blocking his voice a tad. “... yeah, you should eat lunch with me. It’ll be nice and you can go outside, right? You could come to class, I’m sure - my professors don’t care. If they did you could say you’re, like, a nurse for me.”
 
"I can come to your classes? I would love that. I'm not smart -don't even try debating that- so it'll be worthwhile. Plus, I can keep an eye on you. You could tell people I was your bodyguard," he cooed playfully, grabbing the two classes and motioning for the other to follow as he headed out and up the stairs to the bathroom. There was no hesitation to suggest they share a bath together, even though he was slowly starting to work out that Maxwell's feelings might not be as platonic as he always assumed they were. He wasn't the quickest, but even he couldn't ignore the raging blush, and he didn't have the tact to approach the topic gently.

"Do you have a crush on me?" He asked outright, sitting on the edge of the tub after starting the water. "...Seriously, Max. I thought you liked Ricky? I know you don't speak but he's at your uni, right? You could still like him, I just assumed you wouldn't stop, even if he's a prick."
 
“I-I-“ he stammered in shock, his cheeks reddening at the accusation. Looking away bashfully, he fiddled with his sling to avoid Milo’s eyes. Locking on the clasp as he tried to undo it, he only seemed to mess up now that Milo was staring at him.

“Well, Ricky stopped talking to me. Like, completely. He avoids me and blocked my number so even if I wanted to talk to him I couldn’t. You kind of fucked up all chances with him,” he explained with a soft chuckle. “Besides, I... I mean, like you said, he only had bad intentions, right? Plus I told you, I haven’t hung out with anyone...” he murmured before reluctantly looking over at Milo with pursed lips. “And what if I hypothetically did have a crush on you? I mean, I know you like Georgia or whatever.”
 
"...Georgia and I have been having issues and I don't know how to solve them. I don't think it's working that well to be honest. I like her a lot but we're better as friends, I think she'd agree to that. It was... a fling, I think that's the word. It should have just been a one-time thing and then just a friendship after that," he admitted, tugging his clothes off in mid-conversation without any sense of nervousness or awkwardness. He had never really felt embarrassed about unchanging in front of Maxwell, having done so almost all of his time at the other's house. Sharing a bath with him was normal when they were kids, so not sharing felt more weird to him.

"Hypothetically, maybe I'd be alright with that. I'd wish that you told me sooner but I'd be cool with it. Maybe I'd even see how far it could go? You know me better than anyone, you're my best friend really, so dating you has more going for it than me dating anyone else. Besides, you're cute and smart and funny and that's... kinda perfect. But this is all hypothetical, is it? It's not how you really feel?"
 
“I’m not funny,” he quickly denied with a snort as he took his time getting dressed both out of the pain of moving his arm and his growing anxiousness to be naked with Milo after the hints of an admission. He had to do it eventually, though, and carefully held his arm to his chest.

“Well, hypothetically, it isn’t because you feel guilty, right?” He confirmed with a small smile as he sat opposite with his knees pressed close to offer the alien room. Taking in the scene, the scent of the cinnamon and clove candles that dimly illuminated the bathroom hid his growing blush at what he thought was a romantic sight, though he kept his mouth shut.
 
"Why would I admit to thinking you were attractive just because I felt guilty? I don't understand that. Honestly, I think I'm doing okay with this human stuff but you guys are so hard to understand sometimes," he teased, holding his knees as tightly against his chest as he promised, noticing just how tight the space was in comparison to a few weeks prior when they last did this together. Deciding to simply shut up and not moan about the not inconsiderable discomfort he was in, he offered another bright grin to the other.

"I'm not against going on a date with you. It might be awkward at first but if there's a spark, it'll be great. It's worth trying, isn't it?"
 
“I’m just worried that you’ll get so uncomfortable that you’ll leave again,” he admitted, pressing their legs together so he could at least lean back a tad. He wouldn’t say it but the proximity was something he needed.

“You want me to be honest, right?” He cojfirled quietly before moving for the soap. “I’ve liked you since we were kids. I mean, you’re perfect, you know? How could I not like you?” He murmured with a laugh.
 
"I think me not being human is a major reason why you might not have liked me romantically. Georgia doesn't know I'm not, but you do. I would have thought that would be a... turn off or whatever. I'm not a bad person, obviously, but I've seen all those fucking sci-fi movies. They don't really paint... aliens in a good light, do they?" He pointed out, leaning back and resting his arm on the side of the tub whilst the other reached for his glass. He had often been taught as a young child, whenever he was in pain, that a good bath could solve a lot of problems in life. He knew now that it was something he was told to comfort him, but sitting in the water with Max was almost therapeutic for him, and clearly something they both needed.

"I dunno, I didn't think you'd like me because of that, but I guess you're probably used to it by now-- it must have scared you as a kid, though. I remember your parents spending a good week tiptoeing around me in case I was a danger to you and them."
 
“Well, I didn’t really realize you were different when I was younger,” he admitted as he leaned back as well to just ease his muscles. “I just thought that you were from somewhere else, like Canada or another country. It wasn’t until I was in, like, middle school that I realized that you weren’t ‘normal’. I was spooked, sure, but I obviously got over it when I realized not only were you sick but even if you weren’t, you wouldn’t hurt a fly,” he admitted with a soft groan as his back cracked.

“They did their best,” he whispered after a pause. “They... did their best for what they were given between the both of us. You were sick and I was an idiot, not the best combo when it comes to children,” he murmured before exhaling. “I miss them. I know we were supposed to grow up and be adults but I didn’t want us to be thrown into this so early, you know? It’s... scary, aha. Plus school is harder than I expected.”
 
  • Love
Reactions: potassiumboron
"...Well, I miss them too, but I still have you, right? They were basically my parents as well. My birth parents clearly didn't want me, or they wouldn't have sent me away from wherever the hell I'm from when I was just a kid. Your parents were like my own and it sucks, but I have you so it's not that bad. If you weren't here, I'd be a mess," he confirmed easily, having no problem admitting just how much he relied on Maxwell. For all his talk of independence and freedom, he knew that he couldn't completely cut away from Max, and only now did he realise that, really, he didn't want to do that. He wanted to be able to do things on his own now and then, but moving away had proven to be a disaster; sticking with Max was evidently the best place for him.

"God, this is getting depressing, yeah? We're fine, Max. You'll be alright at school when I come with you, then you'll get a great job and maybe we can travel together and do lots of cool stuff. Maybe I'll get a job too. It'll all work out fine"
 
"You mean a lot to me, you know?" He commented in response with a small smile. "Like, a lot. Obviously. I clearly can't do anything without you, it's just... strange. I grew up taking care of you and making sure you were okay and now I can't live life healthily without you. As for traveling, that would be amazing. I would like to go somewhere simple, like Canada. I don't know how you would, though, you know? I would have to somehow completely fabricate a passport, which I don't know how I'd do that, but... I dunno," he babbled before sipping the juice.

"Yeah, you can come with me to class. I'm sure everyone'll flock to you. I mean like I said, you're amazing. You're naturally popular, so maybe it would get people to leave me alone when I walk home. Seriously, I just want to be left alone for the most part - with you being the exception. People are... gross. Like, super gross. I'm gross for fuck's sake."
 
"I don't think I'm naturally popular. One girl took an interest in me; Ricky hated me, right? I'd say I'm average, which is fine. I don't want to be popular. I just want a few friends and... to socialise with you at my side, so we don't drift apart. That isn't too much to ask for," he decided, hugging his knees up closer to his chest. However annoyed he got with Maxwell and his over-protectiveness, the last few weeks without him had been miserable. The relationship with Georgia hadn't exactly gone to plan; he was sick and ill most of the time and, above all, he just missed the person he had grown up never being without.

It was inevitable that over the course of several months, all of his energy went into mending his friendship with Maxwell - though it also went into seeing if there was anything romantic ready to grow between them. Having had a major falling out with Georgia that led to her leaving the city to attend college elsewhere (or so he was told), he had every fibre of his being focused on making something work with Maxwell. If a relationship didn't work out, he wanted there to be that good friendship that had formed just days after his arrival into the other's home all those years before.

There was no rush to enter a relationship, in Milo's mind. He was perfectly content with the little moments of affection between them, whether it be sharing the bath or cuddling up in bed on a cold night to settle down for the evening in front of the TV. That, along with adventurous kisses and longer hugs, was perfect when he realised that he did have blossoming feelings for him. Going further than a make-out session was on his mind, sure, but he never pressed for it. In his head, there really wasn't any reason to rush forward with anything, so waiting for Maxwell to decide wasn't an issue.

The surprising simplicity of the last few months didn't last too long after Milo was informed by Georgia's friends via social media that the girl hadn't left town to pursue her education in another city. Instead, she had returned home to Indiana to be back with family to prepare for the birth of a child she had refused to tell Milo about. After their heated argument, during which she learnt he was pursuing a relationship with Maxwell (a fact she wasn't entirely comfortable with), she had no intention informing him what she was going through, even when she slowly felt like she was on her deathbed as the months progressed. She had absolutely no idea what Milo was, after all, so wasn't aware of the serious ramifications being pregnant would cause for her. However, even as she slowly grew sick, she refused to contact him with the information - the only way he found out was through her worried friends in Indiana who decided to get in contact with him on her behalf.

As soon as he got his head around everything, and after seeking advice from Maxwell, Milo left for Indiana in the effort to help as much as he could. Inevitably, despite his sincerest hope that Georgia wouldn't freak out once the child arrived, Milo arrived in Indiana just in time to witness the girl on the verge of hyperventilating at the sight of the baby who seemed to take entirely after Milo and his real form. The only saving grace was that she'd had the baby at home without anyone present besides Milo, it happening far too quick for her to even contemplate calling for help. A week drifted by from that point, with Milo trying his best to assure the woman that everything was fine; that he, and their daughter, weren't monsters. Eventually, and perhaps unsurprisingly, she decided she wanted nothing to do with them and all but forced them to leave, caring more about herself in that moment than anyone else.

Not that that particularly upset Milo. During that week, he had spent every single moment doting on the baby, often doing everything for her. With his car stocked with essentials he had bought, as well as cute toys he couldn't help but splurge his limited money out on, driving back to Chicago wasn't a stressful occasion. All of it had been sprung on him and he wasn't sure where he could get money from to support the baby, but he knew he would work it out, simply because he had to.

"Max? We're home-- do you wanna come see her in person? She's really tiny, though," he called out the moment he stepped back into the house, having carefully covered the baby up to shield her from public view during the short walk up to the house. Even if it was a mere few seconds, just one passerby noticing the alien hybrid would have caused chaos, and Milo could obviously do without that.

"I send you a ton of pictures, but she's cuter in person, if that's, like, even possible or whatever. I don't even have a name yet. Georgia didn't really care enough and I didn't want to make a decision without your input, 'cause you're so much better at thinking up stuff than I am," he began as he flopped down onto the couch, grinning over at his boyfriend. "...I kinda like Star? Is that too cheesy, though? I thought it was cute."
 
Maxwell couldn’t have asked for a better seven months. Sure there was the stress of school and finances but the stress of being lonely completely vanished, along with the sexual tension that had built up over years. To finally be able to express that without fear with someone he already had a confident relationship with was ideal. Plus, it worked out in both of their favor when he insisted Milo drive him to school and just... stick around for classes with the guise of Milo helping his disability. It meant that Milo could go out and that he not only could keep an eye on the man but also be safe of ridicule, knowing Milo could beat anyone up.

Outside of finances and finals, he had spent the last few months relatively in good spirits. It was only knocked down a tad once hearing the news of the baby. While he wasn’t furious, he was mostly confused and scared. They were still teenagers without any parental advice, not to mention the fact that the baby would somehow be an alien hybrid. It was probably more stressful on Maxwell’s End than Milo just because of his knack for stressing out needlessly. After some very long hours convincing Maxwell to even keep the baby, he decided to use his studies for his approaching finals. It kept him busy, especially in the time he waited for Milo to return home.

He had seen the picture and was able to at least prepare himself for the baby. She wasn’t full alien, obviously, but she still had distinct alien features that were a little startling. Though what bothered him most was how much Milo splurged.

“Why not Soleil?” He offered, having been sitting on the loveseat, his laptop on his lap as he tried to finish his term paper before the very last minute, which he often was notorious for doing. “... how much did you spend? Like, how much do you have left? And... no one saw you, right? I mean, fuck - I’m surprised Georgia didn’t call the cops...”
 
"...She was freaked out but she said she wouldn't tell. She just wanted us gone, which is... disgusting to me, so let's not ruin the mood by bringing her up, okay? And... I had some money left over from when I threatened Ricky, so I used most of that. I didn't use your money or anything, I wouldn't do that. It's all good, I promise. I'll find a way to get money, relax. I don't want to really talk about that either, this is kinda too... important to ruin the moment with financial stress, dude," he pointed out, a small, playful roll of his eyes appearing. He didn't mind the other's concerns, and understood them completely, but discussing them when he had just arrived home after a mere week of being a parent wasn't exactly ideal. He was far too focused on enjoying the moment to ruin it with concerns and worries.

"Soleil is lovely, I like that," he decided easily, nodding his agreement. If Maxwell liked the name, he was all for piping up with his acceptance of it. He wanted to try and make Maxwell more relaxed with the situation, even if that meant letting him choose the girl's name. "I... know this is weird, it is. Like, I only knew about this all a week ago and it's scary and I... I dunno if I'll be good at this but... if it gets too much for you, tell me, yeah? I don't..I don't want our relationship breaking down because you didn't wanna upset me-- just tell me if you're uncomfortable, I'd rather know than not know."
 
“I mean, to be honest the whole fact that you had a baby at all is a bit upsetting,” he admitted, watching as the baby gurgled and babbled on, seemingly surprisingly healthy - at least from what he could tell. For all he knew the gurgling could mean she was in intense pain when it came to Milo’s species, though decided to assume everything was alright for his own health. Setting his laptop to the side, he decided to instead sit beside Milo and take in Soleil himself.

“Look, I’m not upset at you - I mean, I’m a little upset that you didn’t wear a condom, but I mean that I know you didn’t mean for this to happen,” he reassured with a small smile. “I know this is stressful so... I mean, I’m not going to be mean and let you handle this on your own. That being said, I don’t think I’m going to be much help,” he admitted as he leaned back a tad. “You were already a kid when you came to ya so I have no idea what to do, and I assume you don’t either unless some weird paternal switch has suddenly flicked and you know exactly what to do. I’ll have to go and try to fabricate a birth certificate somehow so I can get you a license so you can get a job and whatnot but we’ll figure it out in time, yeah? So, uh... does she like formula? I’ve done a little research and I know about that and swaddling...” He babbled on. It was clear that he had made a genuine effort to help, even if he didn’t really know what he was doing. That was at least something, right? “Ugh... not to sound rude but she hasn’t cried, has she? I do still need to finish up my one paper, plus I have a slideshow presentation I need done on my History of Psych class. I managed to finish up my report for Eastern Civ though, so I can cross that off the list...”