Fic: Botanical Abomination (Roswell NM)
Nov. 15th, 2025 10:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
impala_evolvedTitle: Botanical Abomination
Pairing: Max/Liz/Kyle
Rated: Teen
Word Count: 2,295
Summary: A killer alien plant shows up in Max's yard right when Liz is trying to work out how she feels about Kyle.
A/N: I started this forspook_me (and I didn't finish on time) but I posted it for the RIP Roswell event on Tumblr.
Fic on AO3
It's after 5 o'clock on Thursday, and Kyle, Liz, and Max are sitting in the Crashdown, talking about their weekend plans. Max had gotten there first, and Liz followed soon after. She'd already made them all milkshakes by the time Kyle showed up, looking triumphant. Liz is eager to hear about whatever went well at work that gave Kyle that look, but Papi comes over with a big plate of fries before she can ask.
Papi puts the plate down and slides into the booth next to Kyle after saying hello.
"Mi hija, tell me you have time to work a shift this weekend."
"Sure, Papi," she replies instantly. She's always got time for him.
"But hopefully after the farmer's market? We need to get groceries tomorrow," Max reminds her gently.
Papi frowns. "Actually, morning prep is really what I need help with. Javier is going to his kid's soccer game in the morning."
"I'll go with you, Max. I was going to go anyway," Kyle volunteers, before he looks over at Liz. "And don't worry, I won't let him forget the cauliflower you like."
"Thanks," Max says as he reaches for a fry. "And then we can still go to the pumpkin patch after?"
"Definitely," Liz says, as she leans back in the booth and smiles at Kyle. "You want to come?"
"Wow it's that time of year already!" Kyle laughs and shakes his head. "But sure. I could use a pumpkin or two."
Papi raises an eyebrow at Liz and then nods his head toward the kitchen.
"Liz, could you come help with something in the kitchen for a minute?" He sounds worried about something, which puts Liz on edge.
"Sure," she says and goes to slide out of the booth.
Max shoots her a questioning glance, but Liz just shrugs before following Papi into the back of the Crashdown. Once there, Papi puts a comforting hand on her arm and wastes no time getting right to the point.
"You might not want to hear this, but Kyle was staring at you the whole time, mi hija. I think he's still in love with you."
Liz opens and closes her mouth a few times, at a loss for words. She loves hearing this particular observation, because it's outside confirmation that Kyle still cares about her. She knows she'll always care about Kyle, maybe more than she's supposed to. But she can hardly say that to Papi.
When she doesn't speak, Papi continues. "You guys making all these plans - you don't have to include Kyle, you know. And I'm not just saying that becuase I don't like him."
"We like hanging out with Kyle," Liz insists.
It never occurred to her that all the time they spend together might look strange to someone else. Kyle hasn't dated anyone else in a while and they do see him every weekend. But that can't be that weird.
"If Kyle was still in love with me, he probably wouldn't want to hang out with me and my boyfriend," Liz points out.
Papi tilts his head to consider this.
"Maybe. If you're okay with it, I am too. I just don't want poor Kyle to be a third wheel forever."
Liz's face falls as the phrase third wheel bounces around in her head in a confusing cacophony. She never wanted to hold Kyle back from living the life he wants to live. But she selfishly doesn't really want him to start living a separate life, either. She likes feeling close to him.
"I can see I've upset you, I'm sorry. Just maybe tell him he's had enough free milkshakes, hmm?"
This makes Liz roll her eyes as Papi laughs. She knows her Dad has her best interests at heart, and she also knows he's a tad bit biased against Kyle. He doesn't really understand the relationship the three of them share. She shouldn't get annoyed with him.
"Just joking. Anyway, help me bring out these nachos?" Papi asks.
Liz does, but the conversation stays with her.
___
Liz is busy in the lab the next day when Max calls her. For a moment, she worries that he called to talk about Kyle. It's an absurd thought. Max was not there for the conversation with Papi. It's just that clearly she can't stop thinking about it.
She's so lost in her thoughts that she misses out on the first thing Max says.
"You might want to come see this," Max is saying. "It's taller than a person! It's gotta be from Oasis."
"What is it, exactly?" Liz prompts.
"A plant! Popping up overnight. I would know, I was just out there like two days ago and it definitely wasn't there. Now I can see it from my back window."
Liz's curiosity is certainly piqued. "Did you tell Isobel and Michael already?"
"Oh yeah, they're on their way."
"Perfect. See you guys there."
When Liz hangs up, the first thing she wants to do is call Kyle. She refrains, though. She doesn't want it to look like she's desparate to see him or anything. And this is alien business. He doesn't have to be invited. They can fill him in later.
Liz sighs. She doesn't like that Papi has gotten to her. But she doesn't want to make things weird for Kyle either.
___
The plant is bigger than Liz had expected. Although Max had actually been pretty clear on the phone, now that she thinks about it. It's definitely taller than a person.
It also has two thick green leaves that stick out of the sides on sturdy stalks, with tendrils laying along the ground. The leaves are a strange shade of green and they shimmer with a distinct otherworldly glow. There are no visible veins like normal plant leaves. Its single stem is almost but not quite as thick as a tree trunk. There is a bulbous head at the top, the same color as the leaves. Liz can't tell if it's supposed to flower or not. It actually looks menacing for a plant, but maybe that's just because of its sheer size.
"Fascinating," she murmurs, staring up at it.
It doesn't look like any plant she's ever seen. The shimmer on the leaves and its ultra smooth-looking texture seem unnatural. But there is only one way to determine if it is actually alien. Luckily she brought her supplies with her. She carefully uses a scalpel to scrape some skin from the stem into a plastic container.
As she finishes collecting the sample, the plant moves. It seems to lean over her, just enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She straightens up and stares. Nothing else happens for a moment. She almost believes she imagined it, but then out of the corner of her eye, one of the tendrils starts to shake. It's a fast, jerking motion that reminds her of a creature spasming before it dies. She hurriedly steps back, and the movement stops.
"Did you see that?" She turns to Max, flabbergasted.
"See what?" Max asks, squinting his eyes.
"Dude, I definitely did." Michael nods his head, his eyes wide. "Let me try."
Michael steps up to the plant, even closer than Liz had. He reaches out his hand.
"Don't," Isobel hisses, trying to be sensible.
But she's too late. Michael's fingers graze the plant. It seems like everyone is holding their breath, Liz included.
It doesn't move. Liz blows out a breath. Maybe they're overreacting and the plant has no malicious intentions. But they'd been so focused on Michael that no one notices Kyle show up until he's right behind her.
"Oh my God," Kyle gasps.
Liz nearly jumps out of her skin as she whirls around, grateful when she sees that it's only him.
"Wait, what are you doing here?" She asks, amused.
Kyle shrugs. "Max called me."
It looks like she wasn't the only one that thought to call Kyle. She doesn't have time to unpack what that might mean, because Kyle is walking towards the gigantic plant like a moth drawn to a flame.
As Michael steps back, Liz asks him, "What did it feel like to touch it?"
"Rubbery, but not like a tire. Maybe like really thick skin? And it was cold. Really cold."
Kyle gets even closer, just as close as Michael had been. He stares up at the top of it with a hand on his hip. "You know, it kind of reminds me of a Venus fly trap."
Just as Kyle speaks, the bulbous head shifts downwards. If it had eyes, it would be looking right at him.
"Kyle!" Liz shouts, but it's far too late.
A tendril shoots out to wrap around Kyle's leg just as the head of the plant opens up to reveal a shimmery orange and purple mouth and two rows of gleaming sharp teeth.
Kyle has his heels dug in to the desert, but the plant is strong enough to pick him up. He shouts and uses his arms to cover his face as the plant pulls him close to its teeth.
Liz catalogues all this as she runs, but she can already tell she won't make it in time before this stupid fucking alien Venus flytrap bites into Kyle's face. All she can think is that she never got to tell Kyle how much she means to her, to her and Max. She'll never forgive herself for making Kyle think he was just a third wheel.
Liz is mid-stride when the plant's head bursts. Chunks of shimmering green plant matter are flung through the air. The charred and stinking viscera land in her hair and on her shirt as she freezes in surprise.
Kyle drops to the ground and lands on his knees at the foot of a stem that no longer has anything attached to it.
Liz whips her head around to look at Max. His palms are open at his sides, his chest is heaving, and his face is flooded with relief. She looks around at Michael and Isobel, and they look the same. All of them had obviously used their powers, and luckily that had been enough to stop the abomination.
Then she's running to Kyle again, to gather him up into her arms.
Kyle starts laughing, the sound so joyful that Liz can't help but laugh too, even as she's wiping a tear from her eye. She feels someone approach them and drop to the ground next to her, and when she looks up, she meets Max's worried gaze. She tilts her head towards Kyle, and Max wraps his arms around them both and gives them a comforting hug.
"Well that was way too close," Michael says, breaking the silence that had briefly settled over the desert.
"No shit," Isobel teases. "That thing did NOT like you, Valenti."
Liz and Max untangle themselves and stand up. They both put out their hands so that Kyle can hold on, and then they haul him to his feet. The three of them are covered in plant matter, and Liz wipes her cheek to get some of it off.
"Now we can get plenty of samples, at least," Kyle jokes, but his voice is a little shaky.
"We'll get the samples, you need to take a minute." Isobel shoos Kyle toward Max's house. She raises an eyebrow at Liz and nods her head towards the house.
Liz mouths thank you at her before she takes Max's hand, and follows Kyle inside.
Kyle has barely settled himself on the couch before Liz and Max speak at the same time.
"I have something -"
"We should talk-"
Kyle looks between the both of them with a sly smile on his face. He crosses his arms, and waits.
She doesn't want to let this moment pass without saying what's been on her mind. Liz blows out a breath and looks at Max. When he doesn't speak first, Liz decides she'll have to beg for forgiveness if he's not on the same page. This thing between the three of them feels too urgent, too important.
"You're not just a guy we hang out with, Kyle. You're not a third wheel to me. You almost died just now and I hated the fact that I hadn't told you sooner."
Kyle's mouth opens and closes a few times, like he's stopping himself from speaking. Or maybe he doesn't know what to say. Maybe he thinks Liz is totally off-base here.
Then he prompts gently, "And Max? How do you feel?"
Max bites his lip, and turns slightly away from them while shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. She can tell Max is embarrassed, so she's grateful that Kyle is being patient. They both wait a moment for Max to gather his thoughts.
"Being with a guy would be new for me. But I care about you. I want you with us. Like Liz said."
Liz's heartbeat is pounding in her ears as Max speaks. Elation floods her, and her body feels lighter than air. She wasn't just imagining it. It wasn't just a one-sided thing. The three of them really have a connection. They really could be something. Together.
"So I had to get almost-eaten by a killer plant for you two to bring it up?" Kyle jokes, his grin genuine.
Max winces. "Everything has to have a silver lining?"
Kyle guffaws, his head back against the couch.
"I guess so. Being near death really makes a guy feel alive, you know?"
"I'll drink to that," Max says as he claps his hands and heads off to the kitchen.
Liz feels so fucking happy she could burst. She looks down at her soiled shirt and thinks, well, not literally.
Pairing: Max/Liz/Kyle
Rated: Teen
Word Count: 2,295
Summary: A killer alien plant shows up in Max's yard right when Liz is trying to work out how she feels about Kyle.
A/N: I started this for
spook_me (and I didn't finish on time) but I posted it for the RIP Roswell event on Tumblr.Fic on AO3
It's after 5 o'clock on Thursday, and Kyle, Liz, and Max are sitting in the Crashdown, talking about their weekend plans. Max had gotten there first, and Liz followed soon after. She'd already made them all milkshakes by the time Kyle showed up, looking triumphant. Liz is eager to hear about whatever went well at work that gave Kyle that look, but Papi comes over with a big plate of fries before she can ask.
Papi puts the plate down and slides into the booth next to Kyle after saying hello.
"Mi hija, tell me you have time to work a shift this weekend."
"Sure, Papi," she replies instantly. She's always got time for him.
"But hopefully after the farmer's market? We need to get groceries tomorrow," Max reminds her gently.
Papi frowns. "Actually, morning prep is really what I need help with. Javier is going to his kid's soccer game in the morning."
"I'll go with you, Max. I was going to go anyway," Kyle volunteers, before he looks over at Liz. "And don't worry, I won't let him forget the cauliflower you like."
"Thanks," Max says as he reaches for a fry. "And then we can still go to the pumpkin patch after?"
"Definitely," Liz says, as she leans back in the booth and smiles at Kyle. "You want to come?"
"Wow it's that time of year already!" Kyle laughs and shakes his head. "But sure. I could use a pumpkin or two."
Papi raises an eyebrow at Liz and then nods his head toward the kitchen.
"Liz, could you come help with something in the kitchen for a minute?" He sounds worried about something, which puts Liz on edge.
"Sure," she says and goes to slide out of the booth.
Max shoots her a questioning glance, but Liz just shrugs before following Papi into the back of the Crashdown. Once there, Papi puts a comforting hand on her arm and wastes no time getting right to the point.
"You might not want to hear this, but Kyle was staring at you the whole time, mi hija. I think he's still in love with you."
Liz opens and closes her mouth a few times, at a loss for words. She loves hearing this particular observation, because it's outside confirmation that Kyle still cares about her. She knows she'll always care about Kyle, maybe more than she's supposed to. But she can hardly say that to Papi.
When she doesn't speak, Papi continues. "You guys making all these plans - you don't have to include Kyle, you know. And I'm not just saying that becuase I don't like him."
"We like hanging out with Kyle," Liz insists.
It never occurred to her that all the time they spend together might look strange to someone else. Kyle hasn't dated anyone else in a while and they do see him every weekend. But that can't be that weird.
"If Kyle was still in love with me, he probably wouldn't want to hang out with me and my boyfriend," Liz points out.
Papi tilts his head to consider this.
"Maybe. If you're okay with it, I am too. I just don't want poor Kyle to be a third wheel forever."
Liz's face falls as the phrase third wheel bounces around in her head in a confusing cacophony. She never wanted to hold Kyle back from living the life he wants to live. But she selfishly doesn't really want him to start living a separate life, either. She likes feeling close to him.
"I can see I've upset you, I'm sorry. Just maybe tell him he's had enough free milkshakes, hmm?"
This makes Liz roll her eyes as Papi laughs. She knows her Dad has her best interests at heart, and she also knows he's a tad bit biased against Kyle. He doesn't really understand the relationship the three of them share. She shouldn't get annoyed with him.
"Just joking. Anyway, help me bring out these nachos?" Papi asks.
Liz does, but the conversation stays with her.
Liz is busy in the lab the next day when Max calls her. For a moment, she worries that he called to talk about Kyle. It's an absurd thought. Max was not there for the conversation with Papi. It's just that clearly she can't stop thinking about it.
She's so lost in her thoughts that she misses out on the first thing Max says.
"You might want to come see this," Max is saying. "It's taller than a person! It's gotta be from Oasis."
"What is it, exactly?" Liz prompts.
"A plant! Popping up overnight. I would know, I was just out there like two days ago and it definitely wasn't there. Now I can see it from my back window."
Liz's curiosity is certainly piqued. "Did you tell Isobel and Michael already?"
"Oh yeah, they're on their way."
"Perfect. See you guys there."
When Liz hangs up, the first thing she wants to do is call Kyle. She refrains, though. She doesn't want it to look like she's desparate to see him or anything. And this is alien business. He doesn't have to be invited. They can fill him in later.
Liz sighs. She doesn't like that Papi has gotten to her. But she doesn't want to make things weird for Kyle either.
The plant is bigger than Liz had expected. Although Max had actually been pretty clear on the phone, now that she thinks about it. It's definitely taller than a person.
It also has two thick green leaves that stick out of the sides on sturdy stalks, with tendrils laying along the ground. The leaves are a strange shade of green and they shimmer with a distinct otherworldly glow. There are no visible veins like normal plant leaves. Its single stem is almost but not quite as thick as a tree trunk. There is a bulbous head at the top, the same color as the leaves. Liz can't tell if it's supposed to flower or not. It actually looks menacing for a plant, but maybe that's just because of its sheer size.
"Fascinating," she murmurs, staring up at it.
It doesn't look like any plant she's ever seen. The shimmer on the leaves and its ultra smooth-looking texture seem unnatural. But there is only one way to determine if it is actually alien. Luckily she brought her supplies with her. She carefully uses a scalpel to scrape some skin from the stem into a plastic container.
As she finishes collecting the sample, the plant moves. It seems to lean over her, just enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She straightens up and stares. Nothing else happens for a moment. She almost believes she imagined it, but then out of the corner of her eye, one of the tendrils starts to shake. It's a fast, jerking motion that reminds her of a creature spasming before it dies. She hurriedly steps back, and the movement stops.
"Did you see that?" She turns to Max, flabbergasted.
"See what?" Max asks, squinting his eyes.
"Dude, I definitely did." Michael nods his head, his eyes wide. "Let me try."
Michael steps up to the plant, even closer than Liz had. He reaches out his hand.
"Don't," Isobel hisses, trying to be sensible.
But she's too late. Michael's fingers graze the plant. It seems like everyone is holding their breath, Liz included.
It doesn't move. Liz blows out a breath. Maybe they're overreacting and the plant has no malicious intentions. But they'd been so focused on Michael that no one notices Kyle show up until he's right behind her.
"Oh my God," Kyle gasps.
Liz nearly jumps out of her skin as she whirls around, grateful when she sees that it's only him.
"Wait, what are you doing here?" She asks, amused.
Kyle shrugs. "Max called me."
It looks like she wasn't the only one that thought to call Kyle. She doesn't have time to unpack what that might mean, because Kyle is walking towards the gigantic plant like a moth drawn to a flame.
As Michael steps back, Liz asks him, "What did it feel like to touch it?"
"Rubbery, but not like a tire. Maybe like really thick skin? And it was cold. Really cold."
Kyle gets even closer, just as close as Michael had been. He stares up at the top of it with a hand on his hip. "You know, it kind of reminds me of a Venus fly trap."
Just as Kyle speaks, the bulbous head shifts downwards. If it had eyes, it would be looking right at him.
"Kyle!" Liz shouts, but it's far too late.
A tendril shoots out to wrap around Kyle's leg just as the head of the plant opens up to reveal a shimmery orange and purple mouth and two rows of gleaming sharp teeth.
Kyle has his heels dug in to the desert, but the plant is strong enough to pick him up. He shouts and uses his arms to cover his face as the plant pulls him close to its teeth.
Liz catalogues all this as she runs, but she can already tell she won't make it in time before this stupid fucking alien Venus flytrap bites into Kyle's face. All she can think is that she never got to tell Kyle how much she means to her, to her and Max. She'll never forgive herself for making Kyle think he was just a third wheel.
Liz is mid-stride when the plant's head bursts. Chunks of shimmering green plant matter are flung through the air. The charred and stinking viscera land in her hair and on her shirt as she freezes in surprise.
Kyle drops to the ground and lands on his knees at the foot of a stem that no longer has anything attached to it.
Liz whips her head around to look at Max. His palms are open at his sides, his chest is heaving, and his face is flooded with relief. She looks around at Michael and Isobel, and they look the same. All of them had obviously used their powers, and luckily that had been enough to stop the abomination.
Then she's running to Kyle again, to gather him up into her arms.
Kyle starts laughing, the sound so joyful that Liz can't help but laugh too, even as she's wiping a tear from her eye. She feels someone approach them and drop to the ground next to her, and when she looks up, she meets Max's worried gaze. She tilts her head towards Kyle, and Max wraps his arms around them both and gives them a comforting hug.
"Well that was way too close," Michael says, breaking the silence that had briefly settled over the desert.
"No shit," Isobel teases. "That thing did NOT like you, Valenti."
Liz and Max untangle themselves and stand up. They both put out their hands so that Kyle can hold on, and then they haul him to his feet. The three of them are covered in plant matter, and Liz wipes her cheek to get some of it off.
"Now we can get plenty of samples, at least," Kyle jokes, but his voice is a little shaky.
"We'll get the samples, you need to take a minute." Isobel shoos Kyle toward Max's house. She raises an eyebrow at Liz and nods her head towards the house.
Liz mouths thank you at her before she takes Max's hand, and follows Kyle inside.
Kyle has barely settled himself on the couch before Liz and Max speak at the same time.
"I have something -"
"We should talk-"
Kyle looks between the both of them with a sly smile on his face. He crosses his arms, and waits.
She doesn't want to let this moment pass without saying what's been on her mind. Liz blows out a breath and looks at Max. When he doesn't speak first, Liz decides she'll have to beg for forgiveness if he's not on the same page. This thing between the three of them feels too urgent, too important.
"You're not just a guy we hang out with, Kyle. You're not a third wheel to me. You almost died just now and I hated the fact that I hadn't told you sooner."
Kyle's mouth opens and closes a few times, like he's stopping himself from speaking. Or maybe he doesn't know what to say. Maybe he thinks Liz is totally off-base here.
Then he prompts gently, "And Max? How do you feel?"
Max bites his lip, and turns slightly away from them while shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. She can tell Max is embarrassed, so she's grateful that Kyle is being patient. They both wait a moment for Max to gather his thoughts.
"Being with a guy would be new for me. But I care about you. I want you with us. Like Liz said."
Liz's heartbeat is pounding in her ears as Max speaks. Elation floods her, and her body feels lighter than air. She wasn't just imagining it. It wasn't just a one-sided thing. The three of them really have a connection. They really could be something. Together.
"So I had to get almost-eaten by a killer plant for you two to bring it up?" Kyle jokes, his grin genuine.
Max winces. "Everything has to have a silver lining?"
Kyle guffaws, his head back against the couch.
"I guess so. Being near death really makes a guy feel alive, you know?"
"I'll drink to that," Max says as he claps his hands and heads off to the kitchen.
Liz feels so fucking happy she could burst. She looks down at her soiled shirt and thinks, well, not literally.