Chapter Text
Car rides with Max are always Nat's favorite. Not only does he get to spend privileged time alone with Max, but he can spend all his time gazing at him without anyone making fun of him or disturbing him. It feels like a suspended and peaceful bubble of time. Just the two of them, some music playing in the background, a little chatter about anything and everything. They also laugh and sing a lot, which makes the moment so perfect.
Nat gets to watch, admire, contemplate, scrutinize, ogle, and take in all of Max. He doesn't look forward, preferring to rest his cheek against the back seat, facing Max and watching him as he drives them around. Nat's eyes travel from the strong hands wrapped loosely around the steering wheel to the broad shoulders, following the veins on Max's arms as he looks up. Golden skin and strong muscles that Nat knows are soft to the touch, on full display in a sleeveless shirt.
Max hasn't worn this one for a while, it's big, even on him, and the sleeve hole is bigger, giving Nat a nice view of his ribs. He doesn't linger too long on his body, his eyes traveling back to his face. A beautiful side profile that Nat could look at for hours. So much of Max is soft, his nose, his plump lips, his eyes as they look at Nat.
It's easy, comfortable and reassuring. Nat smiles as he listens to Max, watching his hands move a little and his mouth form the words. As usual, he licks his lips between words. Nat can't help but blush when Max turns to him at a red light. It's not the first time he's been caught staring, far from it, but instead of looking away, Nat now holds his ground and Max's gaze.
It's different now. After the confession, after the kiss, many kisses, after every touch. The blush still creeps in, but Nat doesn't have to hide anymore, doesn't have to guard how much he loves and longs and yearns. And Max, Max is good at giving back, at reassuring, at showing that he's fully on board.
Max grabs his hand, kisses it gently before placing it on his thigh. A quiet squeeze in acknowledgment, a smile, and they are back on the road, approaching their destination and the end of their journey together for now. Nat would like to stay in the car for a few more hours, but duty calls. He is glad that Max is driving him instead of taking a company car. No matter how far, no matter how much traffic, if Max could drive him, he would.
Ker is already waiting for him at the entrance when Max drops him off and parks right in front of her. Nat does not hesitate. He unbuckles his seatbelt and jumps forward, his lips falling right next to Max's mouth. Unexpectedly, Max grabs his chin, holding him in place as he turns slightly, bringing their lips together.
Nat expects a chaste kiss, not the hand pressing him closer, nor the tongue seeking entrance. He loses himself in Max's everything, allowing him access and humming into his mouth. Fingers reaching for hair find nothing, Max's hair currently too short for Nat to grasp.
A whimper in protest of Max's withdrawal leaves his lips. Another peck before Max pushes him away completely with a wink. "Be good and text me if you want to go home."
A nod is all Nat can manage while his foggy brain still processes Max kissing him in public. A full, deep kiss. In front of an AR. Ker's laughter rings in his ears as he stumbles dazedly out of the car.
Maybe Max will pick him up at 1 a.m. without complaining, and maybe Nat, even in his drunken and hangover state, will thank him properly the next day.
[***]
The first time Max woke up naked in Nat's bed, he almost freaked out. Not because he was naked by Nat's side, but because they were at Minburi's house and he had just dreamt that Nat's dad walked into the room unannounced. Who wouldn't panic a little at the thought of their father-in-law stumbling upon them cuddling their son naked in bed?
He was glad that he had pushed Nat to be open about the change in their relationship, it made him breathe a little easier. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to come to Minburi. The shame and guilt of loving Nat was long gone, and he didn't want to hide their relationship from their closest friends and families.
The fear still takes over every time he wakes up at the Minburi mansion, but it's gotten better over the past year. It's a little silly because no one has ever entered Nat's room, especially unannounced, but brains work in mysterious ways.
Once the second of fear has passed, he can enjoy the view to the fullest. No matter how they are dressed or where they are, waking up next to Nat is always a sight for sore eyes. Today is definitely a treat. The sun slips through the cracks in the curtains and lands directly on Nat's body. A golden ray shines down his back.
Max can't help it. He turns on his side, elbow on the mattress, head in his hand, facing Nat's half-naked body. His fingers twitch, longing to reach out and touch the beautiful skin on display. Debating where to start, he lets his hand fly over Nat's back before landing on his right shoulder.
The touch is delicate, feathery, as he traces Nat's shoulders from the furthest side to the closest. Nat doesn't even stir, still deep in sleep, his face turned to the other side. Max can't see his expression, but he bets it's completely relaxed, maybe even smiling.
His hand wanders, tracing a constellation between each mole on Nat's back. Max has mapped them all, knows by heart where each dark spot is on the milky skin. He has spent hours discovering them, kissing them, biting them. Especially the little one on his right shoulder. It's too small for him to see right now, but he knows it's there, right at the top, so tiny it's barely noticeable.
Following the spine, he gets lower, to the dip that drove him crazy the first time he saw it. The perfect place for his hand to rest, to claim, to press. It may be one of Max's favorite parts of Nat's body.
The sheets rest over Nat's ass, low enough that the slope is noticeable. Nat's body proportions are fascinating. He's slim, toned almost everywhere except for his meaty butt and fluffy cheeks. Nat's perfection still surprises Max, the exquisite blend of cute and sexy. He switches so easily from bold, irresistible little devil to disarmingly sweet cutie that Max is always on the edge of his seat, never knowing which version to face or how to resist.
He can't get enough of him, his scent, his smile, his beautiful doe eyes that look at him with so much love, his body that fits perfectly against his own, his soft and delicious lips. He loves every bit of him, from his obvious jealousy to his loving clinginess. Whether it's his sunny personality shining through or the tempestuous naughty man, Max is a simp for Nat and all of his versions.
All he needs is the two of them together to be happy. Mornings like this are the best. He usually wakes up early, works out and prepares breakfast before Nat joins him. Today he wants to enjoy it, savor it, bask in Nat's warmth, wake him up with tender touches and sweet words. Maybe even make love to him.
He takes his time, gentle fingers brushing, caressing, painting the expanse of Nat's back. He writes a whole love letter on his skin, waiting for his partner to wake up. Hours like this wouldn't have been a problem, but he senses the exact moment Nat escapes his dreams to join the world of the living. The change in breathing pattern is obvious to Max, who knows him so well, but he lets Nat pretend to sleep a little longer.
Using this to his advantage, he starts writing nonsense on Nat's skin, wondering if he'll be able to understand it. Short jokes, strange words, he tries everything until he finally gets a reaction out of Nat. A small chuckle escapes his lips. It's barely audible, but Max is so focused that he doesn't miss it and smiles.
Doing his best to make Nat understand, he carefully traces the words. Phi loves Nat. Simple. Easy to understand. So true that it still feels a little scary sometimes.
Head still in hand, he traces a small heart to finish it, waiting for Nat's reaction. He doesn't have to wait long before his head turns towards him, a sleepy smile on his face, his hair almost completely hiding his barely awake eyes. The epitome of cuteness. And he belongs to Max.
"I love you too," Nat says in his soft, hoarse morning voice.
Max can't believe how beautiful Nat looks right now. The glorious nudity, the gentle smile, and the loving doe eyes are too much to handle. So he does the only thing he knows will help him cope with Nat's beauty. He leans in, his forearm pressing against the bed as he reaches Nat's shoulder. He drops a little kiss, right there on top. He turns his head, changing the angle, peppering Nat's face with kisses until he is giggling and wriggling so much that he ends up on his back, out of breath, reaching for Max's neck to pull him in.
Lazy mornings with Nat become Max's favorite treat. Something he indulges in rarely, but with great pleasure. When work or life gets a little too much, spending time with the person you love most can improve your mood exponentially.
[***]
Waking up to the smell of fresh food has got to be one of the best feelings in the world. Nat opens one eye and sniffs the air, trying to pinpoint the smell. As he does almost every morning, he stretches, pulls on a T-shirt two sizes too big because it belongs to Max, and shorts, and tiptoes happily humming into the kitchen.
Nat is pretty sure that Max has decided to kill him. Finding Max behind the stove isn't surprising, it's been their routine since they moved in together six months ago. He wakes up, works out, showers, and starts breakfast, waking Nat with food ready to be served. Today isn't much different, except for the fact that Max is clearly not wearing a t-shirt or anything else on his upper body.
The sweatpants hang very low on his hips, so low that he's probably not wearing any underwear as far as Nat can see. He stops a few feet away, admiring the back muscles at work as Max moves. Who is he to turn down the ton of golden skin at his disposal?
Of course Max heard him come in, he was way too loud not to be heard. As usual, he waits for Nat to make the first move and say hello first. Maybe one day Nat would make him wait a long, long time, but today definitely isn't that day. Not when he looks so good in the morning light shining through the big windows of their house.
Nat plants a kiss on the top of Max's spine. He slips his arms under Max's, wrapping them around his torso as he whispers, "Good morning, babe," against the golden skin.
Still warm from his workout and shower, Max's body is burning hot. Nuzzling closer, Nat tightens his grip and purrs like a cat, his cheek pressed against Max's strong shoulder.
The smile in Max's voice is clearly audible as he replies, "Morning, baby," while squeezing the wrapped arms.
Max continues to move, undeterred by the clinging person sticking to him like glue. The feeling of the muscles at work awakens Nat a little more with each passing second. The sound of food sizzling on the stove is the only thing that breaks the silence.
The recently showered scent of Max can't hide the muskier and saltier version of just Max that is abusing and overwhelming Nat's nostrils. His fingers trace lazy patterns along Max's firm stomach, feeling every ripple and curve of muscle beneath his fingertips.
Nat's arms squeeze Max tighter when he feels a larger movement, not wanting to let go just yet. He nuzzles his cheek against Max's bare back, humming a contented sound when the man chuckles and reaches for the spatula that was a little too far for him to grab without moving.
When he manages to twist his body enough, Max plants a quick kiss on Nat's head before returning to his task. The more time Nat spends pressed against the warm body in front of him, the hungrier he gets. But not for food.
It's not always easy to live with a man like that. Especially when he takes advantage of your weaknesses by spending time half-naked in your house while he cooks you breakfast. How can Nat resist his charm? How can he resist the temptation to reach lower and lower on Max's stomach?
He starts high, reaches the shoulders, grabs them from behind before beginning his slow descent. His mouth settles on the slope of Max's neck, leaving wet kisses as his hands move lower. Warm, velvety skin under his fingertips, hard muscles responding to the touch, shivers spreading, Nat is so close he can feel it all.
"Nat," it might sound like a warning if Max wasn't leaning into the touch, almost imperceptibly leaning back into Nat, tilting his head to make more room for Nat's lips.
The tension rises, Max's body hardening as Nat's fingers move lower, reaching his belly button. He presses even closer against his back, hoping Max can feel him through the fabric of his sweatpants. Thickening member just by touching his partner, that's the effect Max has on him, even after a while.
Max's fingers grab his wrist just as Nat reaches the waistband. Tasting the skin of his shoulders, he moves lower, aiming for the left bicep, which he's far too eager to lick and bite, his teeth ready for a whole chunk. The grip on his wrist doesn't loosen, but Max doesn't remove his hands from his waistband, and Nat grins against his skin.
"Breakfast is ready," Max hums breathlessly.
We should stop and eat, are probably Max's thoughts, but Nat can't stop now. "Maybe I'm hungry for something other than food," he murmurs. He knows he has won when his breath hits Max's ear and the man shudders, the grip on his wrists loosening.
[***]
More than a decade of knowing each other and working together. Years and years of dating. And yet Max is still in awe of Nat's sunny personality and amazing skills. The whole crew is gathered around him for the last day of shooting. Max has prepared some snacks for everyone, but Nat is the real entertainer.
Guitar in hand, he plays and sings a few tunes, getting the crew to sing along, clap or dance. Max sees it all, the smiles on their faces, the joy of finishing ahead of schedule and enjoying some free time before packing to go home. Instead of a stressful day with a packed schedule, it turns into a celebration.
Max stands back for a while, admiring the scene, arms crossed as he leans against the door frame. Nat looks happy, in his element and surrounded by love, the way Max always wants him to feel. He would give anything for Nat to be like this all the time.
Somehow Nat always knows when he is being watched. He turns a little to the side, finds Max's eyes and smiles at him as he starts a new song that Max recognizes immediately. They have heard it a thousand times on the road.
He comes closer and closer, their eyes locked and the same smile on their faces. Max joins in the chorus. He still rarely sings in public, but he knows Nat likes it and they both love this song. Indulging his baby is still one of his favorite pastimes.
They sing about belonging together, lost in each other's eyes, in their own little world while everyone else around them watches with a smile on their face.
If happiness had a face, Max is sure it would look like Nat's.