Halex/McSummers Prompts

Chapter Thirty-Seven:

Person A: I thought you wanted to take pics of the scenery? Why am I always in it?
Person B: No photograph is beautiful without you in it. Now get in the frame.

Chapter Thirty - Seven:

Alex knew he was in trouble.

Why else would Charles and Erik call him into their office? Was it because he keeps on calling McCoy bozo? He thought they were already over that. Hank knows now why Alex calls him that nickname because he never truly had a friend before so how was he supposed to know that's not how you treat a friend? Wasn't his fault that he missed some social cues when he was in prison.

Was it because of that? Did they finally see how much of a criminal he was and want to send him back. No, no Alex won't go back if that is the case, he would rather try to live on the streets then go back to that hell. Do you know how hard it was just to get into solitary in the first place? He was a freaking teenager when he was thrown in, they should have put him in juvie where all the other bad teenagers go but instead he was thrown into an actual jail with adults. It was hard, so, so hard when you are sixteen and you have thirty to forty year olds leering at you with their beady eyes full of lust. He won't go through it again.

It still haunts his dreams.

With his heart pounding and taking deep measured breaths he was taught to keep his mutation under control, he knocks on the door. He heard Charles call him in and he rolls his shoulders back before opening the door and slipping through. "You called me?" He asks. "Yes, why don't you take a seat." Erik suggests and Alex has a thought to say he would rather stand but he knows better than to piss Erik off so he takes a seat and tries not to fidget with his hands.

Don't worry Alex, you're not in trouble.

The blond blinks at the voice in his head and he feels slightly relieved that he knows he isn't going to be sent back. We would never send you back Alex, this is your family now. So if he wasn't in trouble, then why do they want to talk to him? "Don't worry, you're not in trouble. Charles and I have been researching to help you calm that temper of yours." Erik explains and the blond couldn't help but wince at the mention of his temper. It really wasn't his fault that he has anger issues.

He was only seventeen years old and he was just so angry at the world. Angry that the world took his family away from him, angry at the way his eight foster homes treated him, angry at how he was forced to become Todd even though he was fucking dead, hated that he finally got a good foster sister Hailey, and he scared her off even though he freaking saved her from that kidnapper then the justice system barely looked at his file and called him a lost cause and threw him in that fucking prison.

Alex was mostly angry at how the guards didn't even help him, the other convicts taunted at him, threatened him, told him how pretty he was and how they are blessed to have their way with him. Alex learned quickly how cruel the world can be. He tried getting into solitary without using his mutation but it wasn't working and the one time it got out of control, killing the six convicts that tried to pin him and they were quick to label him as unstable and a monster and threw him into his cement heaven.

"We have heard studies that keep good memories in a book have helped." Charles chimes in and Alex raises an eyebrow. "You want me to keep a diary?" He asks his tone flat and Erik winces. "No, I know you will never do that. So we have another idea." He says then places a large book onto the desk and Alex reached out to place it in his lap. The book was empty, what is the use of this? He was completely lost at this point.

"Now I know you're confused, but here." Erik says and awkwardly shoves a box to him. Alex eagerly takes it and turns it over to see that it's a camera? "You want me to take photos?" He asks and Charles nods with a smile. "Research has shown that taking pictures and putting them in an album is quite relaxing. Take pictures that make you happy and put them into the album for safe keeping. Let me know when it's full." He says and Alex nods distractedly as he keeps on studying the camera that was still in the box.