Ghetto Vet [Alex, Nelliel]

Most of the time, when it was later in the night in Vastime, Alex would just sort of hang out on the couch, watch some TV with Vegas before he tucked her into bed, and then go help Nel with whatever overnight stuff needed to be prepped for work tomorrow before they hit the hay. Tonight, though, his mind wasn't really on all that. He sat outside, cigarette in hand, and just stared at the moon.

Call it a hunch, but he didn't think you were supposed to be so willing to kill your mom. He knew if he'd let Elyss keep going, she'd have just tried to hack Ulv to bits. Maybe that might've even been a good thing, if you asked most people. But it'd have been real bad for her, you weren't supposed to wanna do that.

"Psh, I'd have done the same thing five years ago. Guess I can't say much."

With one final pull, he tossed the butt of his cigarette into the trash and headed back inside. These cool nights were nice, though with summer around the corner he knew all too well it was gonna start being real fuckin hot soon. Just great. Alex made his way into the kitchen, figuring if Nel was anywhere, it was probably there. It was still not really in his nature to talk about his feelings, but hey, maybe he should start.

He was noticeably absent from his evening routine and she also was no fool. She knew from the moment she appeared in Minatumi to come and get him and Elyss that something had happened, how could it not be so obvious? Rather than invading his own privacy though she left him to his own devices. Spending the evening with Vegas while listening to everything she had done at school that day.

She reached down into the sink and scrubbed, not caring how the water splashed against her bare stomach or left damp spots on her clothes. Doing the dishes or housework wasn't as bad as she thought most people made it out to be, it was nice thinking time.

"Hmm. You're back from your brooding, do you want to talk now?"

Finishing up the dish she was doing and turning around, Nel was fully aware of whatever went on in this house. Not much could really get by her with how accute her perception was but she turned around regardless and leaned against the bench to look at him with a smile, maybe a joke wasn't appropriate at the moment but it didn't do well to let the mood stay all serious and gloomy like this.

"Ah, c'mon babe, don't do me like that."

Despite his mood, he couldn't exactly help but lighten up just a little bit from how she'd greeted him. It might've pissed Alex off if it'd been from anyone else, but Nel was far from anyone else. Some things just seemed different when the girl you loved said 'em, and besides, he knew she wasn't being mean about it. Honestly, she was kinda right.

"Yeah, that sounds nice. Just gotta figure out where I wanna start, I guess."

Idly running a hand through his hair as he thought about it, Alex pulled up a chair and sat down. Well, maybe he should just say whatever came to mind. That worked, right?

"Why's everyone make everything so fuckin' complicated, babe? Am I just like, retarded? Feels like everyone I know's got an essay and a half in their head about whatever they believe in, and then I'm just like... I'm just some guy."

She did in fact do him like that while she kept herself comfortably on the bench and let him organise his thoughts. Honestly, she didn't think he'd really hit her with something like this. Maybe because she'd spent so much time herself pondering the nature of things when she had the time on her hands but she felt happy in the conclusions she had drawn.

"No. It's a matter of perspective, really. Everyone's different in their beliefs and they're not something easily summarised sometimes. People with feelings of grandoise aspirations will often have a great deal to say, others are happy to be content with what they have and only want to hold onto it."

There was a faint smile on her face while she got a bit nostalgic about the boy she knew that had a very simple belief. Continue with life and hold onto, protect, the people close to him. When life seemed so much simpler for humans back then, Nel could understand why people started seeing higher and higher aspirations while their world got grander.

"I suppose, the most important question is do you yearn for something more? Do you need to relieve everyone in the world of all their sufferring? Do you need to carve your name into history? Do you need to protect the people you cannot see and haven't met across the otherside of the world?"

She gave him a small smile, it wasn't like she was calling him a bad person for not having these grand expectations of himself. The simple life had grown on her, it had always appealed to her but in particular she was quite content to have it when it had been given to her.

"Wanting to live a simple life, it doesn't mean you're simple. I think it speaks far more to your character than someone who gives themselves impossible standards to reach."

It always sort of caught Alex off guard, when Nel started to hit him with serious questions. He knew she was smart, it wasn't like he thought she was stupid. It just sobered him up every time it happened.

"I've never really wanted anything bigger than this. I mean, shit, I didn't even realize I wanted all this until I met you, babe. I'm not some big hero who can keep everybody safe, I can't just go around protecting everyone. I'm not that kind of guy. As long as you and Vegas are safe and happy, that's all I care about."

Hearing her words, at first, had almost made Alex feel bad. He knew she was a lot nicer of a person than he was, and he wondered, if only for a second or two, if he was even really the kind of guy who could actually make Nel happy. Fuck, he'd softened up so much. That was a stupid question to think about, they were getting married, weren't they? He shouldn't be doubting her like that, quit being a baby.

"Feels like everyone's got all these big expectations for me. Hayden's out here asking me to fucking protect people as he's dying, Ulv wants me taking over her stupid-ass town, Elyss is probably pissed because I wouldn't let her just cut Ulv in half. I never asked for all this."

"Right, well my response to that is. It's pointless doing something if you aren't dedicated to it. That's why you stopped going to South America, right? It's not fair for your friends to force all these responsibilities on you when they're on the way out, especially when some of these people have no right to ask for your help after they've let you down.. Well, in regards to Ulv I suppose. The others are their own matters."

She pushed off the bench and walked over to gently massage his scalp and get him to relax.

"Hayden had lots of people around him that can carry on those wishes, you stopped Elyss from doing something she'd regret. In regards to Ulv.. if no one will carry on those wishes for her, I assume there's a reason for that to have become like that. You do still have a choice in your life, Alex."

There was a playful grin while leaning down to hover so the lower half of her face was in his view but her eyes were looking over his head, she thought she should add a little extra on the end of her next line to tease him and keep the mood a bit on the lighter side. She didn't want to sound to serious here.

"You should prioritise what you want, that's what will make me happy. Also, a former Espada like myself is quite capable you know."

Pointless. See, that was the sort of simplicity Alex could understand, that he didn't get fucking annoyed by. Everyone could drop all the words they wanted on him about how much they felt something, or how important it was, or whatever, but it didn't work half as well as something as simple as that. Nel really did get him.

"I know, babe. I guess that's just the hard part, having to accept all that. That helping them's not helping me, you know?"

Her touch, and her smile, were both very much a help for Alex to relax. He had to wonder how he'd even manage shit like all this without her around, but then again, he didn't really care. She was here, so why think about if she wasn't?

"What I want... I dunno. I've never thought much about what I want, least not in any real big picture way. Right now, I just wanna tuck Vegas in and take you to bed."

He grinned just a little bit, Nel's lighter demeanor certainly having helped. Honestly, Alex didn't even really know just what he wanted out of bringing Nel to bed, whether it'd be cuddling or fucking or both or what. But he did just wanna be with her right now.

"That's right. I'd love to help my race, but that's too idealistic and to pursue it is only going the route of a tyrant which I couldn't do. Chasing after grandoise fantasies are not something I'm really good at, I'd rather just play a game of tag for all eternity."

She laughed at her little joke, though it was entirely true. It did depress her when she was left to wonder where her fraccion had gone. Were they safe? Every now and again she went out to try and seek them out but it was always to very little fruition. Still, she hoped she'd see them again soon. They were like her family after all.

"Well, you're a bit late. I've already tucked Vegas in, you're not going to wake her up just to put her back to sleep again are you?"

Nel eased herself down to sit on his lap while cocking her head and giving him a grin in return. There were still a small amount of dishes but they could wait until the morning, instead she wanted to enjoy the more simpler parts of her life. The present, not the past. It'd be hypocritical of her to give him this advice and then brood herself.

"I guess you're just going to have to tuck me into bed instead, right? I'm just sooo tired though, I don't think I can even walk there."

How unfortunate, he'd have to carry her. Guess there was no way around it.

"Hey, that doesn't sound so bad..."

Alex may not have understood the full scope of what Nel had said, but he did at least understand the basic principle of it. She was right, there were some things you really just couldn't do, even if you wanted to. Accepting it was just sort of part of being a big boy, and he'd sure had to grow up these past few years.

"Damn, I really missed a lot brooding out there, huh? Well, guess the least I can do is make it up to you."

Of course, he was all too happy to carry his lovely lady right to bed, and he hefted her right into a bridal carry as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Most guys would have had a little trouble with that, and shit, he could remember having trouble carrying her like that himself not too long ago. But hey, he had it in the bag now. Alex was a pretty cool guy like that.

"Yep. You sure did. I told Vegas I'd give you a kiss for her."

Nel was pretty happy to just be carried like this, all the way to the room before using her own impressive physique to swap from a horizontal bridal carry to holding herself up vertically with her legs in the blink of an eye.

"Also, tell me more about how you stopped Elyss from cutting someone in half."

She asked while leaning back and coaxing him towards the bed to lay down with her. She liked a good story, especially one around something so selfless like that. Well, if he could handle telling that story while she was all over him. She was only so patient after all.