Chapter Text
By all accounts, Mae’s life was anything but normal. She knew that much, not that she was bothered all that much. At least not in the sense that one might expect. Of course, living and having lived her whole life in Manhattan, Mae seemed to take notice that normalcy was almost a myth and a lie that everyday people told themselves. Then again… Not many people were met with the sights, sounds, and experiences that were the norm for her.
With a rhythmic beeping sound, Mae gave a soft groan as her dreary monologue was interrupted. Her Mother, Max, insisted that it was a habit she must have picked up from her noir-wannabe old man. Not that she disagreed, her Pops did indeed have the habit, so maybe she had picked it up from him. The teenager sat up in her bed, rubbing her hand through her dark brown hair and into her scalp. Giving a large yawn, she placed her hand over her beeping alarm clock, finally hushing the harsh sound. Blearily blinking her eyes, Mae moved her legs to dangle off the side of her bed as she looked to her opened, messy closet. Mulling over her options for an outfit, she heard the muffled sounds and clamoring outside of her door.
The sounds brought a subtle smile to her face as her hand reached to hold onto her freckled cheek. Her parents weren’t exactly the two most quiet people in the morning, or anytime really, even if they wanted. Now stretching out her arms to the ceiling, and stretching her legs out into the air, she felt a joint or two of hers pop before she stood on her own two feet. She wasn’t tall by any means, in all actuality, Mae was quite short for a human, in fact. Only standing at an inch or two over five feet, it was quite easy to quite literally overlook her. Though even at her small stature, she was still taller than her Dad, Max. The poor lagomorph only stood about three feet, though he hardly ever let that stop him from just about anything. On the other hand, her Papa Sam was quite tall. Double her Dad’s height at six feet, he knew how to use his stature to intimidate when needed, though that was really the scariest thing about him. Papa Sam was always considered a big old excitable softie to Mae, at least in comparison to Mom.
Taking a plush, yellow scrunchie, Mae pulled her dark brown hair into a ponytail, letting two longer locks on either side of her ears fall past her shoulders. Mae patted down her chosen outfit in the mirror - she was by no means a diva or fashionista, with a simple denim skirt on top of black leggings, with a baggy green sweater tucked into her skirt. Simple was better to blend into things, Mae didn’t particularly enjoy standing out. Besides, she knew she didn’t need any of those fancy things. In that sort of aspect, she supposed she was mature. Maybe it was just the undying love of her parents, but Mae was quite content with her looks compared to most teens her age. Even she had to admit that her own eyes were captivating. A peculiar hazel-brown color, with lighter flecks, that in the sunlight illuminated to resemble a golden-honey color. It seemed to compliment her darker freckles that splattered over her nose and cheeks, and she caught herself smiling in the mirror again.
There was a large clamor that jolted the girl to reality, and an exclamation of the familiar voice of her mother.
“Ah, SHIT--”
Her head had instinctually turned towards the door, softly laughing and rolling her eyes as she walked out to investigate what her parents were doing. Only having to poke her head around the corner of the hallway, Mae was looking into the kitchen. Sam’s taller, suited figure was hunched over Max, a dishrag being rubbed against the dirtied fur on Max’s chest. She had caught them in the middle of bickering, and the two almost didn’t notice her.
“Dammit, Max, you can’t flip scrambled eggs like pancakes, you oaf.” Her Papa was attentively trying to clean Max’s sullen fur with his pink tongue lolled from his mouth in concentration.
“Well not with that attitude you can’t!” Her Mom retorted, though with no real bite to it. It was an odd way her parents showed their affection, but Mae understood it without really having to be explained that they weren’t ever really mad at each other.
Sam sighed with a smile that was undeniably there on his face. “You crack me up, little buddy.” It looked like he was going to open his mouth to say something else, but his eyes shifted to Mae as she sat down at the kitchen table with her breakfast. He immediately grinned toward her, standing up and setting the rag in his hands on a nearby counter. “Well, good mornin’ little pup! Did’ja sleep well?” Max had noticed her now as well, a paw rubbing over the wet spot now on his chest.
Mae cringed just a bit at that age-old nickname. It was something Papa had called her ever since she was a little kid, and it was always just a bit embarrassing. After all, she was in High School now, she didn’t need to be called his ‘little pup’ anymore.
“Yeah, just the normal amount ya’ get before going to school, I guess.” She talked through a mouthful of pancakes, which drew a raised eyebrow from Sam. Swallowing the food in her mouth before he could scold her for it, she spoke again. “And you know you don’t gotta use those dumb nicknames anymore, I’m almost all grown up now you know.”
“Awh come on! You’re always gonna be our little bitty witty baby daughter! C’mon, humor your old folks!” Her Dad whined, his face scrunching into a bit of a pouted look. Sam laughed, resting one of his large pawed hands on top of Max’s head, rubbing the top of it in a rough pet.
“He’s got a point, y’know. You’re our one and only kid. We’re gonna spoil ya’ rotten because you’re our precious lil’ girl.” Mae almost hated how sickly sweet Pops could get, feeling herself smile wider by the second as she rolled her eyes with a shake of her head.
“Okay- Okay! I get it! I love you two, too.” She spoke between little bits of laughter she couldn’t contain with that smile of hers as she quickly finished her breakfast. Noting the time, she was already starting to get up, slinging her already-prepared backpack over her shoulders. Before she could even turn to leave, a large and heavy paw caught her shoulder.
“Hey now, where do you think you’re going? Not even gonna say goodbye?” Sam had stopped her, a look in his eyes that almost looked genuinely hurt that she might have even forgotten. Mae immediately spread an apologetic smile across her face as she wrapped her smaller arms around her larger Pops. She squeezed onto him gently with a small ‘Sorry’ as she poured her genuine love into the hug. She could practically feel his tail startup in a whirlwind, leaning his head down just slightly to lick across the side of her face and hair in a kiss goodbye. Mae’s nose crinkled as she pushed him away, pushing her now slicked hair back down. Of course, giving her Mom the same kind of hug, he pressed a pecked kiss to Mae’s forehead.
“Remember sweetie, noses break easy, and knees are powerful if you have to use ‘em!” Max called out to her, a paw cupped around his mouth.
“I
know
, Dad!” Mae stepped out of the apartment, closing the door as she rushed off to board the subway to get to school.
---
The short lagomorph’s wide grin stayed even as he watched their daughter rush off to school. Sam couldn’t help but admire when his partner would show his affections, especially with someone who obviously held his dearest affections like Mae does. Grabbing his tie and properly tying it around his neck, he idly made conversation with his little buddy.
“You know, the School said that parent-teacher conferences are coming up again soon...” He approached the topic carefully, knowing that this conversation was a risk with Max.
“Oh, are they? It seems like it’s hardly been any time at all.” It was obvious that he hesitated, and his smile seemed more strained as he sat at the kitchen table, poking at his food with a fork. “Well, you’d better make sure she isn’t getting into too much trouble. No more than what we're used to, anyway.”
“Max...” There was a lump in Sam’s throat. He wasn’t sure how to approach this difficult conversation without possibly making it worse on his partner. “Why don’t you come with me this time?”
Max’s eyes seemed to narrow as he jabbed his fork into a piece of sausage, eating it as Sam spoke. “You know why I can’t, Sam.”
“Well, maybe…” Sam hesitated, his eyes searching about as he desperately looked for a solution to their problem as if it would be tangibly there in front of him. His throat ran dry as the evasive answer still wouldn’t make itself known. He bit back a whimper as he mentally slapped himself for even re-opening the wound to Max.
“Stop it, Samuel. You’re not ready, and that’s- fine.” Sam, more than anyone, could read that he was frustrated with the whole situation.
He hated that his little pal had to deal with the brunt of all this mess. He knew that Max hated keeping not only themselves but their little family a secret to most of those around them. Of course, times have very much changed since they first started their romantic relationship, but Sam still couldn’t help his old habit of hesitation. He cared so deeply for Max and Mae, his dearest family, that he felt the deepest urge to keep them safe and protected. Sam didn’t want any more targets on either of their backs any more than their usual excursions provided. Being out to the world that might intend to harm his family was just too much for his sensitive heart to bear. He hardly even cared for what others might think of him, but rather, how others would think of and react to his family. Sam realized that he was looking off to the side, still not having properly responded to his partner.
Max started to get up, taking his dishes to be set into the sink to be washed later. Sam hardly registered getting up himself, picking up his fluffy white partner, holding him close to his chest. Sam heaved a sigh close to Max’s ears, pressing his downward turned muzzle into the side of his head.
“I’m sorry little buddy.” He managed out lowly. There were beats of silence as he felt Max relax and press his head into his muzzle. “Are you mad?”
“Not at you, Sammy.” The lagomorph finally answered. Sam half-considered stepping out of his comfort zone to try coming out as he held his small husband in his arms. There was a small pecked kiss placed onto his muzzle when he spoke again. “Stop worryin’ so much, you know I hate it when you get all depressed like this. You’re no fun when ya’ are, big guy.”
Sam almost wondered how Max knew that he was overthinking again before he felt his soft whimpered whining stop in his throat. Ah, that would have given it away. He still couldn’t help but feel guilty for his lover, especially when he still paid attention to him when it should be all about Max. What on earth did he do to deserve Max? There was a small smile that graced his features as he nuzzled his head and muzzle into Max’s head as he held him close. Pressing a few kisses over his husband’s soft face, he gave a large lick across Max’s cheek, which caused him to recoil as his soft pink nose twitched and scrunched up in disgust. It caused Sam to laugh, smiling wide again at his partner in crime.
“Grody, you’re never this mushy. You better not be goin’ soft you big lug.” Max was obviously teasing him, but Sam couldn’t be happier to see him even somewhat back to his normal state. His tail was wagging enough to possibly be considered dangerous, setting him down.
“Sorry there, little buddy. Now come on, we should get to the office before we’re more late than we already are.”