Work Text:
After another successful date of whitewater rafting paired with laughter and screaming, Magnus drives Max home, the latter snickering all the way. Once they reach a large, lavish suburban house with cleanly-cut hedges, Magnus parks by the sidewalk.
Before he could step out, Max rushes by his side and opens the car door, a cheeky smile plastered on his face. Magnus rolls his eyes fondly. Side by side and in high spirits, they walk up to the Warrens’ porch, shivering against the autumn breeze.
“So,” Magnus starts, “this is it. Thank you for the good time.”
Max breathily laughs, “With you, everytime is a good time.”
They lean towards each other, lips just a breath away…
When the lights above them blink on.
Max laughs, “It’s probably just Mia, trolling us again.”
Magnus is about to reply when a movement by the window catches his attention. He looks at it, making Max follow his line of sight.
Standing there menacingly is Mr. Warren with his arms crossed, glaring at the two of them with fury and a well-known disgust in his eyes. They stand there, frozen, as the patriarch mouths at Max, “Get in. Now.”
"Fuck..." swears Max, "I need to go."
Feeling dejected that Max has apparently decided to omit the fact that he is dating him, Magnus moves to head home. Before he could go, Max touches his cheek, kissing him intensely, passionately, as though this kiss might be their last...
“I…” Magnus tries to say something to help, but fails. “Good luck…”
Max nods solemnly. “Text me when you get home safely?”
With a last embrace, Magnus watches as his partner trudges towards the door of his house. Mr. Warren, with one last glare and a mutter along the lines of “disgusting fag”, shuts the door with a loud bang.
Then it starts.
“So this is what you’ve been wasting your time on? I expected better, Max! You will never see that homo ever again. Do you understand me!?”
“Don’t disrespect Magnus like that-”
“No, don’t you disrespect me!”
Magnus hears the hateful, scathing words thrown back and forth inside the house, filling him with apprehension. Yet he feels powerless as he stands there, listening. With deep guilt, he pulls Max's jacket tighter around himself, then heads home.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's been a day, and Max still hasn't responded to any of Magnus's texts. Tapping his foot against the linoleum floor, he can’t shake off the feeling that something is wrong. That they both might not come out of this unscathed.
A brief knock interrupts his thought. With a sudden burst of energy, Magnus rushes towards the door, hoping it is who he thinks it is.
And it is. “Max!” He breathes out, a large smile on his face to welcome him.
But it drops just as fast as he takes in Max’s appearance. Hair askew, clothes haphazardly put together… He just looked terrible. He looks like he hasn’t slept properly.
Concerned, Magnus reaches out to him. “Max? What happened to you?”
Max almost reciprocates the action, almost. Instead, he stops and steps back, sending a sting to Magnus’s heart. Then, something unexpected leaves his lips.
"I think we should break up."
It takes a moment for the sentiment to sink in.
"No…” Magnus pleads, “Max, please don’t do this…”
"We’re too different. It’d never work out,” is the cold reply.
“After everything we’ve been through, you want to throw it all away now because we’re ‘too different’? You know that sounds ridiculous, Max!” He angrily shakes Max by the shoulders, tears already running freely on his red-blotchy cheeks.
“I knew I shouldn’t have strung you along, but—" Max begins but pauses.
Magnus stares at him, long enough to make Max feel uncomfortable. Remembering the events last night, Magnus looks away and sighs. “This is about your dad, isn’t it?”
“I… no,” Max stammers. “This is about us!”
“I wish I could believe you,” Magnus responds sadly.
“It is about us!” Max retorts. “All this time, you’ve been trying to make everyone and everything fit perfectly in your picture perfect world. But you can’t fix me!”
Magnus draws in a shaky breath and tightly holds onto the doorknob, knuckles turning white. Max, upon realizing what he just said, tries to amend.
“Magnus…” Max starts reaching for him again, but this time, it’s Magnus who stops him.
They stand in tense silence, both holding their breath with their mouths half open as if to say something. To salvage their relationship.
But nothing happened.
A phone rings from the inside, startling the two.
"Just go," Magnus finally says, his tone painfully tight.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” Max tries, though he knew it only sounded pathetic.
With a scornful expression, Magnus says, “I wish your apology was worth something, Max Warren. I am sorry though for thinking that you can prove you aren’t actually an asshole. But in the end, you’re just daddy’s little boy, aren’t you? Now, leave.”
“…Understood.”
Magnus watches him walk away without looking back, and lets his tears run freely.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The dreaded day of the football game comes. The game that'll dictate whether Max will receive a scholarship or not. The game that could finally bring him back into his father’s good graces.
It has been a few days and Magnus has almost forgotten about it. Except Mia pleads for him to come to the game to show forgiveness for Max. To help her brother recover from the slump he's been in for a while.
“Magnus, please,” Mia begs, “Max can’t embarrass himself further! Who knows what Dad will do if he fucks up this game?”
Magnus wants to say no. He feels tired. But because of his feelings that he hopes could still be reciprocated, he finds himself amongst students, parents, and scouts alike. All are eager to see the star player shine on the field.
But Max continues to play badly all-throughout the three quarters.
As he watches the broad back of player 12 get tackled by the red team, Magnus starts to reminisce about their relationship.
His first date when Max brought him flowers, the time he took Magnus river rafting, the time he agreed to play Creatures and Caverns with Magnus’s friends…
“GO HEARST! PUSH ‘EM BACK! PUSH ‘EM BACK!”
The roar of the crowd. The coach’s encouraged shouts. The wild energy that thrummed through the entire stadium. And in the middle of it all was a lone, green figure that Magnus knew so well, getting ganged up on.
The pathetic gameplay made him grip onto his seat, frustrated. This wasn’t the Max he knew. Not the Max that would confidently say he could take on the world head-on. He is but a shell of his former self, and he’s letting the world serve his ass on a platter.
The Hearst supporters groan when the other team scores another goal. The third quarter is now over. There are nervous whispers amongst the audience if Hearst could still make a comeback after the sloppy performance. Magnus watches as the coach angrily waves his arms at the demoralized team.
When the loud buzzer sounds, signaling the start of the fourth quarter, Mia shoots Magnus a pointed glance. “Mags…”
“For fuck’s sake…” he grits through his teeth. Steeling himself, Magnus runs down to the railing and shouts as loud as he can. “COME ON, MAX! YOU CAN DO IT!”
In the field, Max’s head snaps up to that one voice amongst the roar of the crowd. He immediately spots Magnus, who gives him a nervous but determined smile. His heart begins to pump wildly.
The whistle blows, and the game begins again. Max takes on the field with renewed fire. He soon scores a touchdown, and the audience roars with glee.
Magnus leans back into his seat, deciding to watch until the end. But a single glance at how alive Max seems just suffocates his heart. His face falls.
“Mia, I… I thought that I could handle being here, but I really can’t right now,” Magnus breathes out raggedly. “I’m gonna head out.”
The cheerleader nods in understanding. “Thanks for bringing back life into him.”
“Don’t mention it.” With a quick hug, Magnus begins to head out of the stadium.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Max feels exhilarated! It seems that Magnus has forgiven him, even deciding to show up in his most pivotal game yet. A glance to where he last saw Magnus shows him rising from his seat and heading out the stadium. Panic rises in his heart. “Magnus!” He shouts, hoping to get his attention.
When he doesn't turn, Max tosses his helmet off to the side and starts running. “Magnus! Magnus, wait!” Again and again, each call sounding more desperate than the last.
People start to whisper in confusion. Hearst’s coach calls for a timeout, and Mr. Warren steps in front of his son, blocking his path.
Anger flares up inside Max. “Dad, I’ve had enough. Get out of my way.” He shoulders past his red-faced father.
"I’ve had enough of your bullshit! Get back out there! You’re the star of this team, and it’s your job to be victorious. Not to be some- some lovesick fool!”
“No. Julian was the star, until you kicked him out for me," he bites back. “I’m done trying to be your version of who I’m supposed to be.”
He continues to rush up the bleachers, making a desperate grab at Magnus's wrist who just stood there, shell-shocked at the turn of events.
“Magnus-” Max pauses in front of Magnus, catching his breath.
“I’m sorry for everything,” he starts, trepidation running rampant. “I thought I knew who I’m supposed to be. Someone who lives a certain way to meet his father’s expectation and make him proud. But I’m done with that. I just hope I’m not too late, for you.”
“Max…” Magnus whispers, placing a hand on top of Max's calloused one.
“Please,” he requests, eyes glistening with unshed tears “just give me one more chance to make it up to you. I can’t lose you again.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say…” So instead, Magnus pulls him close for a tender kiss. It was short, sweet, and everything he's been longing for. The crowd bursts into gasps and murmurs of disbelief.
After a moment, Magnus pulls away, remembering they have an audience. “You better get back there," he pushes the star gently, a blush creeping up his cheeks. "I'll wait here."
"You'd better," Max smirks. "We’re gonna have a lot to celebrate tonight.” With one final kiss, he heads to the field, spurring the bleachers to erupt in cheers.
Magnus smiles to himself. "Can't wait..."