Prison Break fic: Where Blueprints Meet Mnemonics

[out_there]

Title: Where Blueprints Meet Mnemonics
Fandom: Prison Break
Pairing: Michael/Alex
Rating: NC-17
Notes: Written after watching sdwolfpup's vid Like A Stone. *fans self* Thanks to aurora_84 for checking details and encouraging a public posting.

Summary: Mahone's interest, obsession, whatever you want to call this, is all about that first escape. Michael's skin is a puzzle, a way for Mahone to pull his mind apart and work out what makes him tick.


Alex takes his time. There's a part of Michael that hates it: hates the slow trail of fingers down his chest the same way he hates the endless heat of Sona; hates the sliding warmth of Alex's mouth like he hates the endless filth here, dirt on his skin and under his nails, ground all the way down to his bones like it'll never wash out. But he understands.

Of course he does.

Mahone's interest, obsession, whatever you want to call this, is all about that first escape. It's wrapped up in the lines across his torso, twisting down his back. His skin is a puzzle, a way for Mahone to pull his mind apart and work out what makes him tick. So he bears the careful explorations, catalogues inside his head where blueprints meet mnemonics, where measurements meet codes.

He lets Alex run his tongue down the upstairs corridor of Fox River, past the guard's post and pausing at a cell.

"I never," Alex says, lifting his head but keeping sharp eyes focused on Michael's chest. "This one. I never worked out what it meant."

One long finger taps an inked triangle etched into his bottom right rib. Michael doesn't even have to think. He just raises a hand, turns it palm-up and lines the matching triangle on the inside of his forearm against the one on his chest.

"The door in the main guard post. Opened to less than that angle, the alarm wouldn't sound." Michael doesn't lift his head from the floor. He stays where he is and watches Mahone trace the two marks, eyes staring hungrily at Michael's skin.

Mahone feathers fingertips along Michael's wrist and wets his lower lip.

"Your sins engraved upon your flesh," Alex says, head shaking for a second before he looks up and meets Michael's gaze. "Did you even consider something less permanent?"

Closing his eyes, Michael says, "Wouldn't have worked." He doesn't admit that he never really thought about it, never investigated other options. He'd been too busy investigating every other aspect of the plan.

"Wasn't important enough," Alex says. Sometimes, Michael thinks Alex doesn't need the schematics, the tattoos; he already has the map for inside Michael's head.

Michael forces himself to smile, to make this a joke. "Vanity wasn't a high priority."

Alex raises an eyebrow. His answering smile is sharp and pitying, but at least he doesn't call Michael on the almost-lie, on side-stepping what Alex actually meant. Instead, he leans down and traces letters with his tongue, pushes one hand down Michael's stomach. His fingers move with certainty, nothing slow and restrained now, until he wraps fingers around Michael's too hard cock.

He jerks Michael off hard and fast. Still mouthing tattoos, thankfully ignoring Michael when he groans, when he can't stop a yes or a please from escaping, Alex keeps those long fingers moving.

Until Michael buries his head against Alex's shoulder, claws fingers into the muscle of Alex's back and bites down hard as he comes.

Comments

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

I only watched an episode or two, so I can only just picture characters, but wow, that is gorgeous.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

*beams* Thanks, Signe.

[aurora]

Still as hot as the first time I read it. And the second. And the fifth. \o/\o/

[out-there.livejournal.com]

*beams*

[sarkastic.livejournal.com]

I love the imagery in this. Mmmmm, very hot. :)

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

(And, heh, you have no idea how great the timing was on receiving this comment. Right now, I'm watching a PB vid on my TV and toying with the idea of trying to write something else for this fandom.)

[junalele.livejournal.com]

In my humble opinion - completely spot on. From Alex obsession and genuine freaky insight into Michael to Michael deeply ingrained lacking sense of self-worth and. Yeah. This is great.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

completely spot on. From Alex obsession and genuine freaky insight into Michael to Michael deeply ingrained lacking sense of self-worth

*beams* It's kind of funny, because those would be the defining characteristics that I see in each character. Alex's obsession and ability to read Michael is both unhealthy and utterly fascinating to watch, and it was the thing that first made me interested in Mahone. Likewise with Michael's lack of self-esteem (although, no, it's not that he thinks badly of himself, just that he doesn't seem to think that he *matters*): it's fascinating to me because it's both bizarrely illogical given Michael's abilities and also a very understandable psychological reaction, given his childhood.

[junalele.livejournal.com]

*nods enthusiastically* Couldn't agree more. And yes, this weird connection between Alex and Michael... That scene in the elevator? That tilt of Mahone's head? The close-up on Michael's eyes? Holy fuck. Intensity at its strongest. Awesome dynamic. It's weird how to me Michael has more a more intense connection to like everybody else but Lincoln. He clicked with Sucre, in a very twisted way even with T-Bag. And Sara, I guess. But the bond to Lincoln? Never really felt it all that strong between the actors. *shrugs*

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. I wouldn't agree with that -- only because I can remember moments of utter joy in S2 when the two brothers seemed close to freedom -- but there's a very different vibe with Lincoln as opposed to pretty much everyone else Michael meets.

I think it's to do with being the younger sibling. When Michael relaxes around Linc he... well, he relaxes. He smiles, he steps back, he doesn't struggle so clearly to convince people and manipulate them into what he needs. (Which he does with Sucre. As much as Michael genuinely likes Sucre, he's also used him when needed.) I think Linc is the one he doesn't struggle with so the bond feels less intense, if that makes sense.

Mind you, there's also a huge amount of responsibility in that bond, so I don't know how much of it is emotionally based on how much Michael cares for him (as opposed to how responsible Michael feels for him/his situation).

That scene in the elevator? That tilt of Mahone's head? The close-up on Michael's eyes? Holy fuck. Intensity at its strongest. Awesome dynamic.

So true. Pretty much any scene either of them is in? Keeps me rivetted. When they appear together, it's really mesmerising television.

[junalele.livejournal.com]

Mind you, there's also a huge amount of responsibility in that bond, so I don't know how much of it is emotionally based on how much Michael cares for him (as opposed to how responsible Michael feels for him/his situation).
Never really thought of it that way but absolutely. That sounds very plausible. Very very.

I think part of me not feeling the bond between the brothers emotionally has to do with the fact that I can't really stand Lincoln so I might be a bit insensitive there. And maybe it's also due to the different vibe the actors have with eachother. I don't really feel it between these two as compared to i.e. Wentworth and Amaury seem to get along well. Or Wentworth and Bill - no idea but I can so see enjoying flexing their actory muscles together. Or as you put it:

When they appear together, it's really mesmerising television.
Holy YES!

[ender24]

yes, yes, guhh, and gorgous!
you captured their brains as much as their bodies :D

[out-there.livejournal.com]

you captured their brains as much as their bodies :D

*beams* Thank you. With these two characters, their brains are almost more attractive.

[amodalie.livejournal.com]

A beautiful little scene between these two, that perfectly captures Alex's obsession on the one hand, and on the other Michael's attraction. Great!

And PS: I like your snickering!Ianto Icon! :D

[out-there.livejournal.com]

This is by cowboyhd. Sometimes, it's perfect for fandom. (And hee for your icon!)

A beautiful little scene between these two, that perfectly captures Alex's obsession on the one hand, and on the other Michael's attraction.

Thank you!

[sdwolfpup.livejournal.com]

BOY HOWDY, am I glad aurora-84 convinced you to post this publicly! Super-hot, and you totally managed to capture them in a short time.

Sometimes, Michael thinks Alex doesn't need the schematics, the tattoos; he already has the map for inside Michael's head.

Guh. I love this, especially.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

*beams* I'm so glad you like it, since it was your songvid that made me start thinking about these two. *stares at your icon for a while*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

And this is hot too. *happy* I love how you write them.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Hee! You know, I completely forgot about this little thing when you mentioned prison porn. It's amazing how you can be surprised by stuff you've written.

[nemonclature]

I love the way this says a lot, without saying anything outright, not spoken between the characters, nor in an internal thought. It puts the reader right inside their little mind-reading bubble, which is awesome.

[out_there]

It puts the reader right inside their little mind-reading bubble, which is awesome.

Thank you! It was lovely to check my email this morning and find all the PB-love waiting in my inbox.