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"Max- Hey, yeah, good work mate, c'mon. Breathe for me...Yeah, just like that."
Warm, warm and red. Charles? No, Daniel.
"I told you to come to me. don't be a cunt, Max." His head lolls up to look at the man, his tattoos seem to grow on the tan skin. Max traces the bird climbing up his forearm, it's probably flying, actually.
"Where did you get it?"
"You didn't find everything."
Daniel's mouth straightens into a line. He is pissed, the unshed tears tell that much.
"Liar." Max turns around to follow the voice.
Charles raises a brow, arms folded against his chest. He is mad too but he won't cry. It's easy like that, now.
"It's the bowl cut boy from three lanes down, right? He always liked you."
Max snorts at that, yeah, it's the bowl cut boy. He gives a 30% off and signs every packet with his number.
"Do you know," Daniels is armed with the empty plastic pouch and tears running down his face. It hurts, to see him like this. He doesn't get why Daniel stays.
"Do you know- know how much we love you?" his hands are shaking as he pulls Max up. Charles grins at him as Max settles his head where the butterfly makes it's way up his neck.
"I know. I know.. It's- Dan, I love him so much and." Charles pushes himself off the wall, his hand on Max's head, hands weaving through the hairs.
Daniel sniffles, his wet nose pressed against Max's cheek, "I know. Yesterday, Lando ordered four fries. And- fuck Max, he is gone. So are you."
"Did you tell him, that you see me?" Max leans into his hold, that's Charles. His Charles. They were supposed to grow old together. The cats were supposed to pee on Charles' shoes till the end of eternity and Charles was supposed to adopt Mimi's brother and Max was supposed to drink the god awful espresso that Charles loves. He wasn't supposed to go.
"No. You will go."
The soft calluses caress his cheeks, "I'll forever be there, Max."
No. You are gone.
"Max?"
"I- Dan. He is gone."
Charles presses a kiss to his forehead. Daniel's hands tighten around him.
"We- we were supposed to be forever, Daniel. And he lied. He lied and I don't know what- he lied Dan." Charles kisses his cheeks and Max hides his face in the butterfly.
"He is. We- there was a ring in with socks."
"God, Max. I am so sorry."
It's fine. It's fine, it's fine, it's fine. it's not.
"I-" his chest constricts, Charles would know what to do. "I would have said yes."
Daniel's body wrecks against his. He knows Dan is crying. He knows he is too.
"I just. I loved him so much."
"I know, Maxy. I am sorry."