Chapter Text
Max is what you might consider an elder brother figure for Mick. They’re only two years apart, but there’s a certain loveliness in the younger’s smile that even Max can’t resist pinching the cheeks off and sheltering from the world.
When Mick first called in tears, Max knew…
Honestly, it had been a long time coming, but with Mick being a hopeless optimist and always putting in that little bit more effort it’s no wonder Nikita stomped all over him…
Mick claims he was the one to end it, but Max doubts it… Surely you don’t cry after breaking off from a toxic ex… He deserves better than this. Deserved better for a whole year… Eventually Nikita’s sweet apologies and whispers of Mick’s beauty wasn’t enough to fix together the shards of the younger’s heart…
Max considers writing a strongly worded message — but that’s not his place. He’s just the ex’s friend…
Mick is at Max’s door, hood pulled up to shield his reddened eyes. The elder sits him in the only cushioned chair, but it’s not enough to heal the soldered frown of the younger’s wobbling lips.
Thinking back, Max never liked Nikita. He thought he was a bit of a tool who was always hopping between relationships. Max never felt entitled enough to outright say he didn’t like Mick’s boyfriend; it was neither his place nor his problem. He did; however, feel it fair to point out when Mick was frustrated or anxious about their relationship any moment they were apart. Mick would brush him off, insisting they were good when they were together, so it was fine…
If Mick is happy, Max is fine with it.
Mick was happy…
They were an inseparable pair — giddy smiles in each other’s arms. Nikita was Mick’s first boyfriend, his first kiss, his first time… all of which he told Max in nauseating detail deserving of a screenwriting Oscar. Mick is a hard worker and an even more generous soul… he often planned and paid for their dates, something he didn’t expect return on. But, as far as returns go, maybe following upwards of 100 porn stars on your public social media page and only ever calling to have sex isn’t the best way to get Mick to stick around…
Hearing how Nikita has since fallen short of the bare minimum infuriates Max… He doesn’t quite know where to comfort and hold as Mick sobs into his shoulder, fists tight in the front of Max’s shirt… When you’ve got a perfect boyfriend, who has stated again and again they’re not comfortable with certain types of behaviour, it’s frankly disgusting to disrespect that… It makes Max want to tear Nikita’s throat out and slosh his lecherous guts across the floor.
Max has to take a few measured breaths, chest humming like a gravel-blocked engine, “That fucking asshole—” He fails at stating anything except the obvious…
“No! It’s not— It’s not like that…!” Mick insists, cheeks drenched in sparkling dew…
Max stands up, shouting at the furrowing of Mick’s pale brows, “He broke up with you?! Who does he think he is?! Fucking cunt! After all the shit he put you through, I’ll kill—”
“Max! I broke up with him—” The younger dabs his cheeks with the back of his hands.
“I’m sorry…” Max leans in front of the younger, gently raising his face with both hands, “Are you okay?”
The corners of Mick’s lips dimple, but his flooding eyes never stop dripping. He grabs for Max’s hand and pulls him back to kneeling in front of the single seater; asking silently for more comfort. Max obliges and re-tucks Mick into the crevice between his neck and shoulder, twisting his arms the full loop around the younger who has tucked all his limbs close to his chest.
Max’s precious ball of sunshine sobs, “I should have— should have listened to you…”
Guilt pierces Max like a thousand sharpened stakes, he whispers into the tangled strands of golden hair, “You did everything perfect— This is not your fault.”
It really isn’t. It’s all that dickwad, Nikita’s fault… If not for Mick sinking comfortably against his chest, vulnerable in his arms, Max would have set out to cut off at least his black tongue.
“Thank you for looking after me, Max.”
Max turns his focus to holding his hurting friend, who is still perfect even with the splits in his glass heart. His Mick who gives the world and deserves the universe back.