Chapter Text
Max woke up to the smell of coffee and the sun trying to bleed into every single tiny rip in the shitty tent he shared with Neil.
“Happy birthday, Max.” Neil was hovering over him with two steaming mugs, offering one to him.
“Whoa. Breakfast in bed?” Max took the mug with a raised eyebrow. It wasn't his NOPE mug. That one sat cleaned and turned upside down next to their coffee machine. This was new; there was a tiny ribbon tied to the handle, painted with bright red letters spelling out F U C K.
“Finally. A useful fucking birthday present.” He blew on the steaming liquid before taking a few careful drinks.
“Are you gonna be okay today?” Neil asked, having sat back down on his cot with his own coffee.
“Yes?”
Neil stared down into the depths as if that could tell him what Max was thinking. “It's just... you don't like attention unless it's...”
“Unless I'm causing trouble?”
“Something like that.”
Max contemplated his own death liquid. Then he shrugged. “Yeah, but this is the first time...” The first time I'm actually happy to be alive on my birthday, that I'm actually celebrating it with people who are happy I'm here. “... I've had... a proper celebration... Um. I think.”
Neil tilted his head. He really wasn't sure how to talk to Max these days. Well. He supposed that wasn't true. He stopped figuring out how to talk to Max sometime after they set those boxes on fire last summer. Something about the way the firelight made Max's eyes glint...
“We're all here to make sure you have a good day, okay?”
Max rolled his eyes, hiding his grin behind another sip of coffee.
“MAX!”
And good moment gone.
“Nikki! Jesus christ!” His t-shirt was covered in coffee now, but at least he hadn't dropped the mug.
With a huff, he pulled off the dripping article and threw it to the corner. The secret was out, no need to hide what was going on any more. He could tell they were trying not to stare as he pulled on a fresh camp shirt. It smelled like David, which kind of made him embarrassed. Did that idiot seriously use the same laundry soap at camp and at home? He had to settle into the fact that it made him feel comfortable.
“Max, don't forget your hoodie.” Neil said.
He shrugged at his friend. “I don't think I need it today.” Max waited with Nikki while Neil got dressed. The nerd was far more shy about his perfectly normal body than Max was about his marred one.
“It's about time!” Preston yelled when the trio pulled the mess hall doors open. There were streamers dangling from the ceilings and balloons everywhere. Max cringed. It was so tacky, but part of him loved it so much.
“Preston!” Nurf smacked the actor on the back of the head.
“You guys waited for m-”
“Whoops, careful... careful...”
Max swiveled his head to the entrance to the kitchen. David, Gwen, and even Mr. Campbell were carrying plates stacked high with waffles, and the tables were filled with all sorts of toppings and sides and fixing.
“I... I-I...”
He had twelve pairs of eyes staring at him and he had no idea what to do or say. They literally made him a waffle... breakfast... sundae bar. For his birthday breakfast. Just for him. David planned this for him.
Gwen sat down on a bench and leaned back with a sigh. “Well? What are you waiting for, you little birthday shit?”
“Bitch.” Max replied, wiping his eyes.
“Happy birthday, Max!” David was standing in front of him, looking anxious. “Is... is this okay?”
Max took a deep breath before giving an affected shrug. “I don't know, man. I just woke up. Fuck.”
David just chuckled affectionately and patted his head.
“Okay, seriously.” Nurf said. “Can we please eat now?!”
“I think Spacekid is dying.” Nerris said, pointing.
“Yeah, yeah.” Max finally approached the food-laden table. “Everyone grab a fucking waffle and shut up. It's my birthday and I'm in charge.”
“You are not.” Campbell said. “And your present from me-” the ladder to his attic bedroom clattered down and he climbed it, closing it with a snap.
“Breakfast bar AND no Campbell?” Max loaded chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, whipped creamed, strawberries, maple syrup, gummy worms, and sausage links on his plate while he spoke. “Damn. Wish my birthday was every day.”
“Almost like being alive isn't too bad at all, huh?” Gwen muttered, only to herself. It was nice to see Max looking so... well, she wasn't sure if he did “happy,” but he didn't look ready to kill so she'd take it.
David sat down next to her, blinding her with his beaming smile. “Oh, look at him, Gwen! I'm just so proud!”
“You know. I am too.” She knew from her psych classes that it was hard for survivors to come forward. This process had only just started, and Max would have to tell his story again and again, but today wasn't for that. Today was for Max to relish in his childhood while surrounded by people who loved him.
“I feel bad that I got him such a small gift.”
“Seriously? David, you gave him a phone-” A home “-and a big fucking birthday breakfast-” and a home “- and you helped make his cake-”
“Okay, I get it, Gwen.” David was having a small breakfast, not being one for sweets so early in the day now that he was older. “After this I think a water gun fight is the only thing that's gonna get rid of the stickiness.”
Gwen smiled. “Agreed.”
“And it was awfully nice of the Quartermaster to clean up today.”
“Kids definitely love not having to do chores on birthdays.”
After a long breakfast that resulted in every single plate being licked clean, it almost seemed as if all ten campers were ready to take a nap. Nothing says sleep quite like a big meal and some summer sun. But if Max knew David, then the day was far from over. He watched as he and Gwen quietly slipped out of the building while they were still eating.
He was, again, struck with a strange feeling in his chest. He was examining it in his mind, trying to figure out what it was.
“Neil, help me out.” Okay, so Neil wasn't like. An emotion guy, but he was better than Max.
“O...kay.”
“I feel really...” Max mulled over the thought. “... warm. Right here.” He rubbed his chest. “And it's tight, but it doesn't feel bad. And I wanna cry, but I'm not sad. Everyone is being...” He scowled. “Nice.”
“Dude, I think that might just be gratitude.”
“Well, it's disgusting.”
Nikki had been listening with her mouth full because David had banned her from talking with her mouth full of food. “You like it, don't you?” She asked, after swallowing.
“This is the best feeling I've ever had.” He admitted with an eye roll, but of course he was smiling.
“Come on, campers!”
“I thought I was in charge, Davey!” Max called back.
“No, you aren't!” That one was Gwen.
The other kids looked at Max expectantly. He totally was in charge. He shrugged and stood, surprised and amused that they really subconsciously made him their leader.
“Let's go see what this asshole has planned.”
He was confident when he opened the doors, but the moment he did he was immediately blasted with the strongest Super-Soaker water gun he had ever been hit with.
“What the fuck!?” The pressure had knocked him over and drenched him. “David?!”
Max didn't think he had ever seen that look on David's face. It wasn't the only thing different about him. Sticking out from the leg of his shorts was a prosthetic leg. Suddenly, Max's face morphed into a look very similar to his counselor's. Oh, yeah. It's on.
The kids barreled out of the mess hall to claim guns and the water fight began. Gwen and David had teamed up to take out the kids, but Max was quicker, nailing both of them in the face before rushing off. Nikki and Neil were right on his heels while the rest of the group split off.
“Ack! It's so cold!” Rudy cried as he was betrayed by Nerris. “How could you?”
“There's only winners and losers here and I can't afford to not gain XP!” She called back, dodging an attack from Harrison, only for Ered to nail her square in the face.
“Everyone knows I have the best aim!” She gloated, rolling into a somersault before dashing off.
“That's not true!” Nurf argued, twisting his weapon over this shoulder to hit Gwen in the stomach with a manic cackle.
Max watched the chaos from a tree. Nikki had to help him up, but for once, he wasn't embarrassed for it. Neil opted to stay on the ground. Rookie mistake. With wicked grins, Max and Nikki opened their water canisters and dumped them all over Neil. They scrambled down as quickly as they had climbed, leaving him to sputter indignantly.
“We gotta hurry back to get more ammo.” Max was panting. His energy was the highest it had been in a while, but he was still easily winded.
“Gimme your gun and hide!” Nikki suggested. “I'll refill it for you.”
“Hell no!” It was really hard to talk while running, but they were almost there. “I can't have you betraying me!”
They rushed the kitchen, ignoring the complaining Quartermaster, and started filling the water guns back up. It was still total anarchy outside; David's hair was completely plastered to his forehead and Gwen was wringing out her ponytail. Each camper had turned on the other with cries of vengeance, reconvening in the middle of the activities field. Max and Nikki were the last to arrive, turning the space into a near one-for-all battle for supreme dampness. Until...
“Argh! Nikki! What are you doing?!”
The girl cackled, a crazed look in her eye. “This has been the plan all along, Max!”
“Finally caught you!” Neil was wheezing and paused to puff on his inhaler.
Max glanced around and saw the entire camp creeping closer, closing gaps. He shot his water gun with wild abandoned, but they just kept coming, keeping their ammo to themselves.
“No...” Max was still trying to back away. “No, guys. Come on. It's my birthday. You wouldn't do this to me on my birthday?”
David was right in front of him, chuckling darkly. “This is exactly what you deserve on your birthday. Ready...”
“David-”
“Aim!”
“Guys, please!”
“FIRE!” David roared and the nine campers and two counselors unloaded on Max with the fury of the world's biggest water slide.
Max collapsed in a shaky, laughing heap, continuing to be sprayed until every gun was empty. He looked like he had just been fished from the lake. He was out of breath, but happy. Really, truly happy. Then he heard a growling noise.
“Nikki? Are you hungry?” He asked. He was still flat on his back, staring at the endless blue sky.
“Oops.” She giggled.
None of them had paid attention to the time, but according to David they had been playing for several hours. Max didn't even notice time passing, something he was always acutely aware of when he was at home. He was constantly watching the clock, always giving himself plenty of time to hide when he knew they would be coming home.
“Come on, let's get you kids fed.” Gwen said. “David, go get changed before you start chafing.”
“Will do, co-counselor!” He gave her a salute before limping off.
“Is he okay?” Max asked, shaking the water off of him while he was right next to Gwen.
She whined in annoyance before answering. “Yeah. I just don't think he's had that much physical activity since the surgery.”
Max bit his lip. “Obviously, we all know he got it cut off. But he never told me anything. I was the first one here, and I sure as fuck didn't ask.”
“Are you asking now?”
He shrugged.
She sighed, stopping Space Kid and taking his helmet off for him before nudging him towards the mess hall. “You should be asking David.”
“But you know.”
She started walking, tugging on Max's wrist to get him to comply. “I do. But it's his story to tell.”
He groaned. “Fine. Have it your way.”
He didn't hate David, of course he didn't. He worried about David, constantly - now, more than ever with his leg gone. He decided to check on him before heading back inside.
He knocked on the cabin door. “David?”
It took David a moment to come to the door. Longer than if he had just been getting his cane. “Hey, buddy, now's not... I'll be in there in a minute, okay?”
“Are you...” The words still felt foreign on his tongue. “... okay?”
“David, for Pete's sake, please just let the boy in. He's gonna meet me eventually, anyway.”
Max muscled past his counselor into the cabin, which was easier to do now that he only had leg. A older woman was standing in the middle of the room. Her red hair was streaked with grey and her eyes were a familiar green color. Putting together that with the freckle spray in near identical pattern to David's...
“Your mom.” And it wasn't even an insult.
“Yes, Max. Meet Ms. Rosemary Acer.”
Ms. Rosemary Acer bent over at her waist to get a better look at Max. She looked exactly like David, if a little more world-weary. Max could tell that she definitely wasn't as smiley as her son seemed to be.
“It's nice to meet you, Max. My son has told me a lot about you.”
“All good, I hope?” He was nervous, why was he nervous? She squished his face with one hand, turning his head this way and that. He really didn't like that.
“Well, none of it worse than anything he's done I suppose.” She finally said.
Okay, it was worth it to see David pouting.
“Um, uh, so why are you here?”
“Yes, Mother, why are you?”
“I'm checking on my son!” Her response was as defensive as his question. “Among other things.”
“I'm fine. I told you in numerous texts that I was fine.”
Max felt so awkward. “Uh. Yeah, he's uh. He's okay, ma'am.” God, what?
She smiled at him and it was like the sun came out from behind the clouds. “Thank you, Max. I'm lucky that you're looking out for him.”
Max squinted his eyes, immediately suspicious, but she didn't appear to be condescending. He also made no mention of how he looked after him.
“Go, eat your lunch.” David said. “Gwen will be worried.”
“Pfft, like I give a shit.” But he did.
“I'd say language, but it's your birthday-”
“FUCK YES!” He ran out without another word.
“DAVID HAS A MOM!” He yelled as soon as he was inside the mess hall.
Neil looked at him with an raised eyebrow. “Most people do. It's kind of how we're made.”
“No, shut up!” He said as Gwen handed him a plate that had his favorite sandwich and chips on it. “I mean she's here!”
Gwen rolled her eyes. She had known about Rosemary visiting soon; she did not expect to be guarding the door to prevent a bunch of pre-teens from harassing a one-legged man about his mother. The things she did for her... CBFL.
“Shut UP!” She yelled, shoving Nurf back a little. “Yes. David's mother is visiting. I will answer one and ONLY one question.”
All them shouted their questions at once. “Okay, fuck it, go eat lunch.”
They groaned and turned their attention to Max, who was going over as much about her as he could remember. This is gonna be worse than when Dad visited, she thought. Especially since...
Luckily for all involved, Max didn't spend enough time with the woman to actually be able to answer any questions about it. Just what she looked like and how she sounded. He still kept all of the attention on him, regardless of how much he actually said about David's personal life.
“Okay, guys!” Gwen clapped her hands. “Finish up! Max, what do you want to do for the afternoon?”
“Uh, take a fucking nap?”
“Duly noted. Free activity until dinner.” She stood back from the door and watched as a majority of the campers flocked to the other cabin to bother David. Max, Spacekid, and Ered wandered in the other direction.
Max swapped out his damp clothes for dry ones and went back outside. He knew he could probably stay in his tent until dinner, no one would fault him for it, they would give him space if he needed it. Lately, though he found himself actually wanting to be outside. The fresh air mixed with the scent of pine and wildflowers. He settled down underneath the tree next to the science table and closed his eyes.
“Max. Time to wake up.” It sounded like his mother... but nicer, somehow. Like she was replaced by someone better.
Max blinked the sleep out of his eyes, meeting Gwen's. She was smiling down at him, looking oddly gentle. It was weird. He sat up carefully, climbing out from underneath the table; he must have rolled over a lot in his sleep.
“I can't believe you slept through all that noise.” Neil sounded impressed as he brushed a leaf off of Max's shirt.
“I got to light the grill!” Nikki said, holding out her soot covered hands. Max decided it was best not to ask.
“What...” Max moved past Gwen, Neil, and Nikki to see the rest of the camp. Much like breakfast, there were piles of food on tables. Burgers, hot dogs, ribs... was that steak? Actual steak? Macaroni and cheese, potato salad, a variety of chips and soda and other barbecue fixings.
“Max!” David noticed he was awake and came over. He looked exhausted but happy. “Did you have a good nap?”
“David, what the fuck?” The group winced at the harshness in Max's voice. “I... “ He sighed, scuffing the ground with his foot. “You didn't have to do all this, man. Some pizza would have been fine.”
It felt like way too much. A waffle breakfast with anything he wanted, camp activities he actually liked, and a barbecue dinner? When David celebrated a birthday, he certainly celebrated a birthday.
“Oh, it wasn't my idea!” He replied. “I asked everyone what they thought you'd like! Rudy and Nerris made you a cake, and Neil... uh... well, let's just say he's got some entertainment set up for the night.”
Nikki whispered something in Max's ear, causing the boy to break out into his trademark mischievous grin. “Well, okay then. Let's eat.”
Having slept for so long, Max was one of the last kids to eat, yet everything remained fresh and warm. It was delicious. Max never thought that he would get to have such a good birthday and he was doing everything to make it seem like he wasn't about to burst into tears at the kindness of his friends.
I really am getting soft.
“Here you go, buddy.” David placed a wrapped package next to him with a smile.
“Huh?”
“Presents!” Neil said as Nikki placed another wrapped gift down on the table.
Slowly, one by one, all of the Camp Campbell campers left an offering to their leader. It was the only way Max could rationalized receiving so many nice things. Clearly, it was a bribe to not fuck shit up.
Ered got him some new skate gear, Rudy drew him a picture that he actually ended up liking, Preston got him an annotated copy of what he assured Max was the bloodiest and most violent of Shakespeare's plays, Harrison got him a magic card deck (Max had no idea what that meant), Nurf got him a five pound bag of sour candy, Nerris got him a set of custom made dice (“In case you ever decide to join our campaign.”), Nikki got him some manga, and Space Kid had found a really neat rock that he loved but was more than happy to give it to Max.
“Oh, sweet, a knife!” He opened David's gift, surprised.
“It's a utility knife.” David said, plucking it gently from Max's hands. “It has several useful functions-”
“Can it cut a bitch?”
David sighed, folding it back up and returning it. “Yes, Max.”
He couldn't help but laugh out loud, another real, full laugh. “Okay... this last one is from Gwen...” He unwrapped a pretty purple hoodie that matched hers.
“Awwww.” The campers were like a Greek chorus.
“Shut up.” Max muttered, embarrassed. He really liked it.
“Maaaaax.”
“Um. Thanks, Gwen.” He shoved her hand away after she ruffled his hair, but they still shared a small smile.
Finally, finally, the cake was brought out. Rudy had pulled out all of the stops for it. It was a beautiful three tiered cake covered in blue and black icing. Max had no idea where the kid had gotten black icing, but it looked fucking awesome. But the lettering...
“जन्मदिन मुबारक"
“Janmadin mubaarak, Max!” The camp cheered. The pronunciation was terrible, but the sentiment actually made Max's eyes water.
“Thanks, guys.”
“Make a wish!” Nikki nudged him.
“Okay, okay!”
The eleven candles were lit as Max took in a deep breath. Fireworks began exploding in the air, filling the sky with color. He blew on the candles, putting them all out in one go, making his wish.
As Gwen passed the cake around and they all moved to the ground to crane their necks at the sky, or lay flat on their backs, Max looked to his sides. Nikki and Neil, ever present. He glanced behind and saw David, talking with Gwen. Lastly, he turned towards the sky and thought of his wish, knowing it was bullshit to wish, but desperately needing it to come true.
“I wish I could spend every day like this...”