A/N: Maybe a bit OOC for those who aren't familiar with the characters or the comics. But this situation isn't something that someone, gay or not, hasn't encountered at least once in their lives. Took some liberty with the material, again this is slightly A/U, so.
Chapter 2
Alex just stands there, transfixed, as if he is frozen in time unable to move or do anything. He wants to look away, at the girl he cares for kissing another girl, but he cannot. As Nico and Karolina laugh and whisper and talk some more, Alex swallows, feels the beginning of tears form in his eyes.
It's not that he's different from the others. It's mostly that he's the most...normal - a word he hadn't dreamt of using til he finds out that his friends are actually the ones who are extraordinary. Gert can communicate with a dinosaur. Molly has super strength. Nico has a powerful staff that can do things with only the power of her mind. Karolina is a glowing girl who shoots energy beams from her finger tips. Hell, even dumb jock Chase isn't so dumb at all - at least he has the sense to invent something like the "Fistigon" - but apparently still dumb enough to name it "Fistigon". And Alex - Alex is a super genius who's into role playing games and video games and hacking and had to be rescued by his friends that time he got kidnapped and is completely useless without his laptop. He realizes that day they ran away that he couldn't even borrow a laptop without being obviously conspicuous. And to top it all off, Nico won't even talk to him, and had literally risked hers and everyone else's lives to rescue Karolina. He doesn't understand why Nico suddenly has this urge to help the girl - they weren't even that close to begin with and yes, if Alex were to be asked, he had been slightly jealous at the worry and concern Nico had shown for Karolina when Karolina had faced off with Jonah and the parents. And sure, no human could've survived an energy blast that strong, and Karolina could have died and she did risk her life for them, but Alex couldn't understand the near manic hysteria Nico displayed when they had left Karolina. If Alex were being honest maybe the reason why he didn't want to rescue Karolina was this growing realization that he might be a little jealous of the attention Nico is showering Karolina, attention that she should be showering on him. Afterall, they hooked up first. He understands Nico. He knows Nico. They were meant to be together. They belong together. Nico is mine, Alex thinks. She belongs to me.
Except after the ledge, when he passes by their room in the cave almost by accident, Alex can see that Nico no longer belongs to him. She belongs to Karolina. She can see it in how easily Nico lets Karolina touch her, kiss her, Karolina lying on top of Nico doing the things Alex used to do, and more.
When Alex watches Nico and Karolina together in what would pass the living room, watches how Nico takes care of Karolina, the growing jealousy inside Alex can't seem to be contained, is about to explode and as Karolina laughs at something Nico says, Alex, who, unknown to the others, had snuck a few drinks in, had drank a few bottles actually, suddenly stands up, emotions swirling to the surface, refusing to be contained, surprising everyone as he says, "Nico can I talk to you for a sec? In private? Outside?" When Nico just stares at him, Alex lowers his voice and pleads, "Please?"
Nico looks at the others who politely look away, refusing to be involved in whatever drama this is going to be, whilst Karolina just looks up at Nico, worry and concern on her face.
"It's ok," Nico assures Karolina, squeezing her shoulder before she follows Alex outside.
They stand in silence outside, in the safety and shade of the huge trees, careful to hide themselves in the twilight.
"So," Alex begins by introduction, hands jammed in his pocket, shoe scuffing at the dirt. Nico looks away from the city for a moment and looks at him. Alex takes a deep breath. "You and Karolina huh?"
Nico doesn't say anything for a moment. Studies Alex. Seemingly debating whether to tell him the truth or not. But Nico thinks maybe the time for lying has long passed and it's time to tell him the truth. At least she owes him that. She shrugs, nonchalant. "Yeah," she confirms. "It wasn't something we planned or anything. It just...happened..."
"It just happened," Alex repeats the statement, flatly.
Nico nods. "Yeah."
"It just happened," Alex says again. "So,so one minute you're all over me and the next minute you're all over some other person...some girl?!" He sputters.
"That's not what this is..."
"Well, then tell me...explain to me how you could be into me one minute and then into another person the next," Alex says.
"It's...it's hard to explain... And it's...Karolina...you wouldn't understand..." Nico's voice falters, lamely.
"No, you're wrong, I do understand," Alex says. "You're, you're just using Karolina to get back at me, aren't you?"
"What? No. No. No."
"What, because I lied to you? Because I kept something from you?" Alex continues, seemingly not hearing what Nico is saying.
"Hey, that's not fair, Alex, and you know it."
"What's fair, Nico? That you led me on? That you made me think you liked me? That you're now punishing me by going with Karolina instead?"
Nico stares at him in disbelief, growing irritated herself. "What the fuck is your problem dude?"
"My problem, dude, is how 'convenient' this all seems to me," Alex says growing angrier by the second. "You're straight when it's convenient. You're gay when it's convenient. I mean, pick a side why don'tcha?"
Nico just stares at him, not saying anything before she calmly says, "You need to stop and you need to stop now before you say something you're going to regret and ruin what we had..."
"And what exactly?" Alex asks. "I mean what does Gay Tinkerbell have that I don't, Nico?"
Alex inches closer to Nico. Nico steps back.
"Alex, you're creeping me out a bit there," Nico says trying to lighten the situation. "Not really used to this jilted alpha male shit you've got going... And are you drunk? Because what the fuck seriously…"
Before she can finish her sentence, Alex lunges towards her, enfolds her in a tight grip and roughly kisses her.
"Fuck, Alex, let me go," Nico says, struggling to let go. "This isn't funny."
"C'mon,Nico, this is how you want it, right?" Alex says, kissing Nico on her neck. "You like it rough, right?"
Nico finally breaks free and pushes Alex back roughly, Alex landing with a thud on the ground. "What the fuck, Alex?! What the fuck's wrong with you?!"
Alex seems to have come to his senses then because when he looks up he sees Nico. "Oh, my god, Nico I don't know what came over me, I'm sorry..."
He gets up and moves toward Nico. "Nico, please..."
"Get away from me!"
Suddenly, a ball of light zaps Alex from behind.
"You heard my girlfriend," Karolina says, calmly. "Back off Alex."
Alex is sprawled on the ground, coughing up dirt and leaves as he gets up. "I'm sorry, man, I don't know what happened."
Karolina looks at Nico, concern and worry etched on her face, the glow from her body subsiding. "You okay?" she asks softly.
Nico nods. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine..."
"What's going on here?"Karolina asks.
Nico shakes her head. "It's nothing. It's nothing. We just had a...misunderstanding..."
"That didn't look like a misunderstanding..."
"Karolina, it's fine, can we talk about it later? We'll talk about it later..."
A voice from behind says, "Enough teen drama, kids. Someone tipped us off to the police. We gotta go now."
They turn and it is Gert, accompanied by Chase.
"It's not safe, you guys, cops are here, we need to go and we need to go now," Chase says.
But then, Molly comes up to them, huffing and puffing and says, "Too late, they're here now..." As the distant police sirens get closer and closer.
