Chapter Text
Max wasn’t as oblivious as he made himself out to be. Sure, he could be quick to drop things when asked and or ignore whatever he is dying to point out. But, he isn’t stupid. To some degree. He knows when something’s wrong or when someone is holding in something.
So when Bradley is lost in thought, something he’s been doing a lot recently, he can tell when something is wrong.
It started with Max having been invited to meet his parents and stay over for the holiday. Bradley had been nervous, looking away from Max and wringing his hands together In an unnatural manner as he never appeared so disturbed. Then, after Max had agreed, it was the following days after leading up that Bradley started behaving oddly. Odd in the usual Bradley sense.
Bradley would have hard times paying attention to whenever Max or anyone for that matter spoke. He would stare off at something and become completely unresponsive. Bradley after being lost in thought would sometimes seemingly go on autopilot, acting like a robot as he would only nod along and give simple short answers.
Yet, Max didn’t bring anything up. Thought that if he did, Bradley would likely just write it off or just shut off. Would get angered and then completely ignore the problem.
So yes, Max knew Bradley was stressed. He knew he could chalk it down to the fact Bradley hadn’t seen his parents for a couple months. Only worsened by the fact Max was coming and they had to pretend to be just friends. Of course, Max wasn’t angered about it. He understood that Bradley came from the old money type. The type that would probably scream in horror at the way Max just looked.
Piercings were enough to make many squeamish. That, Max knew. The ones on his lip, septum, eyebrow, and ears were definitely a stark contrast to Bradley’s clean slate of a face.
What he thought might get them was his skin. He was dark in complexion, ooh wow! That’s not what he truly was worried about. Well, maybe, but it didn’t affect him nearly as much as the patches. The varying in size patches of pale skin that seemed like a watercolor painting. Especially the big patch on his face.
It wasn’t like he was insecure. Far from it. Max liked the way he looked and was confident enough to know there was nothing wrong in the way he looked. He was just aware that a good majority would take a double take at him or would stare.
Of course, he used to be. As a kid he would hide himself best he could with long pieces of clothing, despite his dad’s sad looks. He started to wear gloves to hide the large patches on his hands, a lesson from when he went to reach for something during school and a kid just stared in disgust.
Then, when he had come home quiet. His dad had prodded until Max broke out in tears. As much as his dad’s constant reminders that he wasn’t something to be disgusted at, it ended some gloves.
It didn’t take long before his dad wore a matching pair in order for Max to feel less alone. It didn’t even take longer for P.j. and of course later Bobby to wear some after learning why.
Currently, they were off however. Taking them off had been hard, but he realized after the X-Games that they held some sort of pull back against him. So, he took them off. Started to wear them less, especially with the small encouragement from his friends and Bradley.
Bradley never cared what he looked like. Prior anger was from their competitiveness, never from their looks. Never did Bradley look at him like he was something to stare at. Something to gawk and point at on the basis of his appearance. He did tend to stare at the piercings, but he assumed that was because Bradley found them attractive? Max was sure of that considering…more intimate activities.
So yes, Max was slightly worried about those factors which he actively did his best to ignore as he did nothing but talk during the car trip. Besides talking, he observed.
He observed Bradley’s nodding even though he was half listening. How he would stare into space then snap out of it as he would look down at the directions and repeat them. He observed the anxiety gnawing at Bradley. How after Max asked if he was alright, he dismissed it. Dismissed again.
Max wished Bradley would open himself up more. Tell him what was bothering him. To stop dismissing his own feelings or thoughts and tell Max that he wasn’t okay.
He hoped to bring it up at some point. Though he wasn’t sure if that was a good idea considering he didn’t want to make the stay at Bradley’s family holiday home to be even more nerve wracking. Max didn’t particularly wish to bring the issue up in the car either. The idea of making Bradley feel trapped to spill his guts would make Max feel guilty.
Instead, he figured helping Bradley take his mind off his thoughts would serve as a better alternative. Instead of long rants, he switched to asking Bradley questions or talking about subjects that he knew Bradley would put his input in. Content as he watched Bradley switch to his own rant when Max brought up the recent trashy show they decided to watch together.
“I thought she was stupid to go with him in the end. He’s practically harassing her at every competition and then he ends up getting kicked out. Only for her to end up staying with him? It’s as though she has no cognitive skill to see he’s obviously going to disregard everything he supposedly learned.” He huffed, waving his arms around.
“Yeah, but she cares for him. It’s hard for someone to see a person they cared about for so long be anything but what they saw before.” Max shrugged, watching Bradley give him that look. The same look that’s hiding what’s wrong. Max only chooses to ignore it, keep the conversation going before Bradley goes quiet again.
“Though to be fair he’s kind of hot.” Max said, with a small smile as he turned the car to the right. He heard the sound of choking.
“You can not be serious right now? He has the most revolting haircut.” Bradley rasped, clearing his throat as he glared at Max.
“So it’s the haircut? I have you know I quite like a man who’s hair was cut by a hacksaw and safety scissors. I think you’re jealous.” Max snorted, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.
“I’m jealous of the fact that I can’t harm you without the likelihood of you crashing my car.” Bradley said, crossing his arms.
“You have such a way with words. You make me swoon with every syllable.” Max said, sighing dramatically in admiration.
“Glad I could suffice. Why have compliments when I give full hatred.” Bradley said, flipping open the mirror above to check himself.
“No one could compare to you, Brad.” Max said, looking at him with a smile before cursing. “Shit, sorry.” He said, waving a hand.
“It’s alright. I don’t mind It as much as I used to. Besides, it’s…different when you say it.” Bradley murmured, looking at him then back to the mirror.
Max stayed quiet before smiling like an idiot. “I think I felt my heart skip.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Bradley grumbled. Max only started to laugh, hitting the steering wheel as the distinct sound of ‘Ah-yuck’ slipped in. Causing Bradley to join him in muffled laughs.
The two continued up the back and forth. Bradley giving his unfortunately right opinion on stuff. Sometimes things would remind of gossip, telling Max like it was a sleepover. To which Max would give his own occasional laugh or face of horror. Glad that he was not exactly in the scene of that much gossip considering his own status back at the campus.
This continued for the reminder hour or two to the final destination. A majority of it being them singing to music as Bradley seemed to feel better. It was a welcoming atmosphere that only diminished as it seemed they had finally arrived within a gated area that had other homes scattered.
The two being let in as Bradley reached over Max to talk to some security guy.
If Max wasn’t practically shitting himself, he was now as they he drove slowly by other homes and Bradley was on his phone rapidly texting someone. Only stopping as he pointed to the very end of the road, a hidden house by an abundance of trees. Which, as he drove closer to, had his gawking as their house was the size of what he thinks a castle would be like.
He pulled into the house, Bradley giving a simple wave to another security guard as he let them in.
Max could only watch in perhaps astonishment at the size of the fucking place. There was no reason for the size of this for a mere vacation home. If this was a vacation home, he thinks he’ll lose it at Bradley’s actual home.
The place was a mute white with grey stone for embellishments. The house giving a more antique feel with the architecture. It seemed to be built in a curve, three different buildings attached in a way. He could see a front porch area on the side with seating. He couldn’t see the back from the wall of a house in front but he assumed there was much more behind.
He slowly turned to Bradley with a face or mock horror as Bradley gave him a look before bursting into laughter. Hard laughs so very distant from the maniac cackle he always has. It was a hearty laugh that had him snorting.
“Max- you!” He grins, covering his mouth to laugh more. “You poor thing.” H
e felt as though the poor part was intentional.
“I feel like the poor is radiating off of me.” Max said as Bradley kept losing it, pointing a weak finger at an area with some cars. He followed his hand as the hyena beside him clutched his stomach. “Yeah yeah, laugh it up.” Max said, flipping him off.
Bradley finally stifled his laughs as he rubbed at his eyes. “I’m sorry- it’s just, your face.” He said, stammering with small huffs of laughter. Max shook his head rolling his eyes affectionately. He parked Bradley’s car, the owner in which seemed to finally calmed down as he stared ahead catching his breath.
Max waved him off as he took the key out, looking around the area. “There’s a lot of cars here.” Max pointed out. “Thought it was just your parents?” He said looking back at Bradley. Who of which, furrowed his brows as he whipped his head around. All humor gone from his face as he seemingly had not taken notice of his surroundings.
“Shit.” Bradley cursed, leaning to look at the cars closely. “I did too.” He said, looking at Max.
“Who else is here?” Max said, tilting his head slightly.
Bradley studied the cars for a couple minutes before,“My sisters.” Bradley said after a moment. Swallowing a lump as he stared ahead at the trees. Max gave him a look before looking around, then back at him. “Sisters. Like-wait. You never told me you had sisters? Or siblings for that matter.”
“They never came up.” Bradley shrugged. His leg noticeably jumping up and down. Max scrunched his eyes then shook his head. “It’s- okay. Okay, well I’m sure it should be fine. Right?” Max said, tilting his head down to catch Bradley’s eyes. Bradley effectively looked at him.
“Yeah. Yes, yes.” He murmured, abruptly opening the door. Max sat for a bit as he registered what was happening as he quickly gathered his stuff around the interior. “Wait- hold on.” Max said.
Bradley quickly walked over to the back, Max following as he fumbled with the keys and opened the trunk. Bradley quickly starting to gather their stuff.
“Thought there was going to be some pep talk. Hands in the circle, y’know?” Max said, grabbing his bags. Bradley gave him a quick once over to which Max gasped in mock offense. “You know, I need a boost.” Max rambled, waving his hands lazily due to the weight of the bags.
“Believe me, I need it more.” Bradley muttered, shutting the trunk. Bradley grabbed the keys off of Max and locked it, finally facing him. “That is very, very comforting.” Max groaned, following Bradley as he made a turn to start walking towards the front door.