Chapter Text
When Max hadn’t heard from Bradley that morning, he was a wreck. Any attempt at consoling him would lead to a panic attack.
He would leap to his phone whenever it would go off and cry when it wasn’t Bradley.
Why had he said ‘I love you’ like it was the first and last time?
At around 5:30pm he woke up. He called Max again, and he picked up.
“Bradley? Oh my god, where are you?”
“I’m at a train station right now but I’ll be in Connersville by 4am.”
“I’m coming to pick you up.”
“No, Max. I don’t want you waste time with your family.”
“Fuck, Bradley. I love you too, don’t you get it? I’m coming anyway.”
This gagged Bradley. He stammered out an “Okay.” before hanging up.
His train was in about 20 minutes, and it was an eight hour ride. Adrenaline and the words from Max were the only things keeping him going.
For the first time in his life, he didn’t have anything holding him back. An excitement rose within his stomach and he finally felt fucking free.
When his train arrived, he quickly paid the fair and got ready for a long ride.
At around 1am, Max ran out to wake up his dad.
“I have to use the car, like right now. I need to get to Connersville.”
“You sure are very serious about this boy, are you sure you don’t want me to come?”
“I love him, dad. Let’s go, quickly.”
This took Goofy aback. He didn’t know what his son even knew about love. He got in the passenger seat anyway and buckled in.
“Now son, the gas peda-“
Max sped down the street, going toward the highway.
“Where’d you learn how to drive?” His head was pressed back by the speed of the car.
“Can you call Brad from my phone real quick?”
“Uh, sure, son.”
After a few misclicks, he managed to call the right person.
“Max?” A sleepy voice rung out.
“Yeah, it’s me, we’re on the highway now. Also, my dad’s here.”
“Hi, Bradley!”
“Hi.” He said awkwardly. “Uhm, I’m sorry about-“
“No apology needed, as long as you treat my Maxie just fine!”
“Dad! Anyways, I’ll see you in a couple hours.”
“Max, you really didn’t have to do this.”
“I kind of did, it’s all my fault he saw your hickey anyway.”
“H-his what?” Goofy stuttered.
“NOTHING OKAY BYYE-“
Bradley chuckled quietly, looking at all the other sleeping people on the train.
Max looked over at his dad with red cheeks. Goofy gave him an interrogative eye. Max huffed. “I’m not a little kid anymore. And it was an accident.”
“Whatever you say, son.” He giggled discreetly.
After a while, Goofy smiled again.
“Me and my boy, on the road again. You’re all grown up now, young and in love and-“
“Dad! It isn’t a big deal.”
“When are you two moving in together?”
“Uhm, whenever we want? I’ve been practically living at his place for a couple weeks anyway.”
“Why’s that?”
“I don’t know, Dad.” He said sarcastically.
“Oh, does he have video games?” He concluded he was right when Max laughed awkwardly.
“Yep. I stay over at my boyfriend’s house to play video games.” Max laughed.
Goofy realised and gasped. “Gawrsh, Maxie. You really are all grown up. As long as you’re safe-“
“Oh no, I did NOT mean to start this conversation. We are not talking about this right now, Dad.”
Still embarrassed, Max put the radio on to make his Dad stop.
Before they knew it, it was 3am and they had about 40 minutes to go, then 30, then 20, then 10…
When Max pulled into the parking lot of the station, he sat with anticipation.
The morning was already creeping in and the station was dead quiet.
Max put on the Elton John CD and got out of the car 5 minutes before it was to arrive.
The train pulled in, squeaking in fatigue of its 8 hour journey. Bradley was one of the last people to exit as he looked around for Max. Bradley ran out and stopped just before Max. He dropped his stuff and hugged him tightly. There was a mixture of laughing and sobbing before they finally kissed. Goofy got a photo of it with his polaroid. Their heads were pressed together and they were looking into each others eyes.
When Bradley noticed Goofy, he waved awkwardly. He gave him a thumbs up back.
“Dad, can you drive us home?”
“Of course I can.”
Then Max and Bradley hopped in the back seat and stayed close.
“You’re playing my CD.”
“It’s my favourite.”
“It was mine first, loser.”
They kissed again, and Max did a double take and turned to the front.
“Dad! Leave us alone!”
After he was sure his dad wasn’t going to look again, Max inspected the hickey on Bradley’s collarbone. It definitely wasn’t an accident. Then he grabbed Bradley’s necklace.
“Is this my chain?” He asked angrily.
“Is that my sweater?” Bradley asked back smugly.
Max grumbled swears before Bradley pulled him close again.