A couple people have expressed concern that Neal and Alex may be moving too fast and I agree. However, I wrote it the way I did to help show that they are attracted to each other, even if they aren't fully certain as to why.
On a side note, I have to express my complete bafflement at the response this story has gotten. Over thirty reviews in two chapters. I am astounded. Thank you everyone who has responded so far, be it through review, alert, or favorite. I'm flattered.
anonymous reviewer: Kaisaan
my response: You make a valid point and I do understand what you're saying and if they were American I would mostly agree (when your mom is seventeen when you're born and your dad twenty-four, age gaps don't bug you all that much). Regardless, it will be sometime before there is any progression to intimate physical acts. That isn't something that I really want to write (not in this story anyway – and I don't think I could write it anyway). The main reason Alex at sixteen and Eagle at twenty-three works is that, in Great Britain, age of consent for heterosexual relationships is sixteen, provided the elder isn't in a position of trust such as a teacher to a student or a guardian to a ward (at least, that was the law the last time I checked – being American, I'm not fully certain. Does anyone mind clarifying for me?).
03
Alex ducked back into the living room before the blond stood in the doorway could see her.
"What the bloody hell is taking you so long Neal? Did you forget, again?" the man asked, a soft Scottish lilt to his voice.
There was a pause before Neal started to stammer out a response. "N-no. Well, yeah, but… I didn't mean… It wasn't… There were cupcakes and… Well, first it was the Tube… Then the coffee shop and –"
"Neal, shut up," the man cut in.
Alex thought she heard the click of Neal's teeth as he closed his mouth.
"James is irritated so I hope you have a better reason than that jumble," the man continued.
"…I met a girl," Neal answered the hint of question, his tone soft and hopeful and gentle.
"…Normally I'd ask what the big deal is this time, but you seem to like her quite a bit."
"Oh yeah. She's very different," Neal spoke, tone turning to excitement. "She's funny and witty. She can take care of herself, that's for sure."
"She slap you?"
"No. I accidently put my arm around her on the Tube and caught an elbow to the gut."
There was soft laughter. "When did you meet her?" he asked when he calmed.
Alex could imagine the sheepish look on Neal's face as he answered. "A few hours ago."
"What? And you're this over the moon already?"
"We're going to take it slow."
"I remember the last time you said that. If you've forgotten, it only took you four hours to be sh-"
"She's here," Neal interrupted.
Alex took that as her cue to step into the hall. She studied the blond (another member of K-unit –Snake) as he turned toward her. The smile on his lips faltered when he saw her, something most normal people would have missed.
Neal took Alex's hand when she stopped next to him. "This is Alex. Alex, this is my friend David."
Alex smiled. "Hello."
David shook her offered hand. "Pleasure to meet you." He glanced at Neal, annoyance well hidden in his eyes. "How did he manage to talk you into going out with him?"
She glanced at Neal too. "He claimed that the train car wanted us to get coffee together. Unfortunately, he managed to get covered in cupcakes while we were waiting."
David nodded with a blink. "I see."
Alex cocked her head slightly. "Is Neal always so..."
"…Idiotic?" David supplied.
She laughed. "I was thinking more along the lines of exuberant," She replied, ignoring Neal's protests.
David shrugged, saying, "Same difference." He studied her, hiding it well. "Please excuse my bluntness, but how old are you?"
Alex met his eyes. "Sixteen."
David nodded slowly, looking at Neal. "Could you excuse us for a moment miss?"
"Sure. I should be getting home anyway. Don't want my guardian to worry, you know?" Alex turned to Neal as she reached into her bag. "I'll give you my number. Don't call before four thirty on school days, alright?" She scribbled down the phone number and gave it to Neal, smiling brightly. "Even though your pick-up line was lame, I'm happy you tried it. And it was a pleasure to meet you sir," she fairly gushed, half-turning to David before kissing Neal's cheek and bouncing out the door with her things.
"….The hell?" drifted after her as the door shut.
Alex bit her lip to avoid laughing out loud. "I can't believe how much fun it is to act like that," she whispered to herself as she headed down the stairs.
"….The hell?" Neal breathed out, voice slightly higher from confusion, as both men watched the door close.
David rounded on Neal. "What the hell are you thinking? She's seven years younger than you! You can't just–"
"Dave! I know, alright? It's not like I'm going to push it. Hell, even if I tried, she'd probably be able to kick the shit out of me. And thank you for your vote of confidence." Neal turned on his heel to stalk into his kitchen, back stiff.
David sighed and followed Neal. "That's not the way I meant it and you know it. I just don't want to see you get in trouble over this… or worse, and have her screw you over. Ben and James would be the same, even if James wouldn't admit it." He sighed again and ran a hand through his hair. "Look. Just… be careful, okay?"
Neal didn't respond for several minutes, just stared into his open fridge. When he finally did, it was as he tossed a soda to David. "Yeah, I know," he said, voice soft. "I'm worried too. 'S why we're going to move slow. She's just as unsure as I am, if not more so." He looked at his teammate with a wry smile. "She thinks there is no reason for me to be interested in her."
David blinked. "Really?"
"Yeah. She claims she isn't attractive and, yeah sure, she's not supermodel grade, but she is cute… And she's got something that just… pulled me in, you know?" Neal looked down in thought before he started laughing.
"Geez. Now what?"
"Apparently she's as bipolar as I am. That… thing before she left was nothing like the rest of the time we were together."
David shook his head and rolled his eyes at the same time. "We need to meet up with Ben and James. On the way, you can tell me what you were on about with the cupcakes."
"Jack! I'm home!" Alex yelled, accompanied by a door slamming and followed by the twin thuds of shoes being kicked off.
There was a return yell of "Upstairs!" that echoed down the hall.
On her way up, Alex nabbed a soda. Even nearly running into the redhead that had just stepped from one of the rooms didn't cause the smile that had been on her lips since leaving Neal's to fade.
"Whoa! What's the rush?" the woman asked, American accent clear. "And what has you so cheerful?"
Alex's smiled turned a little sheepish. "Sorry. I just wanted to get up and call Tom. Well, after finishing my homework and telling you that I met a guy."
"Okay, that's good. I'll toss a pizza into the oven while you work," Jack replied and started down the hall. Alex smirked, silently counting down. At one, Jack stopped and turned back. "Wait. You did what?"
"I met a guy," was the amused answer.
Jack blinked a couple times before dragging Alex back downstairs and into the kitchen. "Sit and spill."
Alex laughed then proceeded to tell her friend and guardian the afternoon's events.
"Let me get this straight: you know him from… your job, you didn't get along, he doesn't recognize you, and you've agreed to go on a date with him? Just when did you find him attractive?"
Alex nodded to the first question, chewing on a biscuit. At the second though, she paused. "I'm not sure. It definitely wasn't when I was fourteen… At fourteen, I thought Ben was the cute one."
Jack nodded herself, setting the timer before crossing her arms. "Don't have anymore cookies," she ordered absently. "And speaking of Ben, you said he knows this guy?" At Alex's nod she continued. "Well, maybe you should call him and let him know."
"Sure. Once he gets home," Alex said with a shrug. "According to Neal, the unit is getting together for paintballing… Hopefully they'll camp too. I am not looking forward to Ben yelling at me." She half-pouted at Jack. "Why'd you have to suggest it?"
"Why should I make things easy for you?" Jack countered with a smile. "If you prefer, I could tease you about thinking Ben is cute… I thought so. Now, tell me more about this Neal."
Thwack!
"Ow! What the hell?" Neal yelped, rubbing the back of his head as he glared at his friend and teammate, Wolf (who looked more amused at said glare than anything), or James as his name was.
"Where the hell have you been?" the last member of the group, Fox – or Ben as Jack knew him – asked.
To the surprise of all three, Neal turned faintly red. "Well, I met a girl, we went to get coffee, I got covered in cupcakes and frosting, we went back to my place so I could clean up, then Davie showed up."
They blink. " 'Covered in cupcakes'? How?" Ben queried.
Neal's blush deepened. "Uh… Well… I tripped."
Dave's smile reappeared as James smirked and Ben laughed.
"Cleaned up, huh? How long did that take?" James asked, an eyebrow raised in suggestion.
"Nothing happened!" Neal cried, indignant. "I wouldn't!"
"Why don't you tell them how old she is?" Dave suggested, smile gone.
Neal scowled at him then sighed and turned back to the other two. "She's sixteen. And before you say anything, yes, I know that's young, which is why I wouldn't. To be honest, I don't think she's dated before."
"…Well, as long as you're careful. I don't have the inclination to break in another team member," James said before shooting smirk at Ben. "Once was enough."
Ben punched James' arm in response. "I'd recommend you not take her back to your place again, just in case."
"She doesn't seem the type…"
"You said you met her today, right? That's not much time to know. And some women can be pretty damn conniving."
Neal nodded then hung his head. "I can't believe that I'm getting advice rather than giving it."
"At least we're sensible," Dave shot back.
Neal's mouth dropped open. "That wasn't my fault! How the hell was I supposed to know that you were making some super Molotov cocktail when you couldn't be bothered to tell anyone?"
James and Ben exchanged looks as the other two argued and shook their heads.
"We've got a game to play. Let's go," James broke in, walking away with Ben on his heels. Once the other two were moving also, he threw out one last comment. "Just, don't give us reason to say we told you so."