Chapter Text
“Daniel.”
“Max.”
Max barely restrains himself from rolling his eyes.
“What are you doing here, Dan?”
“Please just listen to me.” And. Yeah. This is exactly what he was afraid of. Right in the face of his neighbours, in the middle of the night.
“I’ve been thinking,” Daniel starts. Max flexes his hand on the door handle, his eyes flicking briefly inside the house before snapping back to Daniel as he speaks.
“I miss you so much, Maxie.”
Oh God, Max thinks. Please don’t do this to me again.
“It’s been torture without you, Max! I- the cats miss you-,” Daniel adds. Right.
“I can’t stop thinking about you, sweetheart. I can’t stop thinking about us. You were everything i had, Max. And now I have nothing. Without you, there’s no meaning in my life-”
Max shifts uncomfortably, his bare feet cold against the concrete. His eyes dart back inside the house, as if he’s trying to hear something.
“Please, Max,” Daniel pleads, “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’ll do better, I’ll be better. I-...what's wrong?”
“Huh?” Max blinks, noticing Daniel’s furrowed brows fixed on him. “Oh, um.”
“Are you okay?” Daniel asks again, concern mingled with confusion.
Max stammers. “Oh, no, I mean-” He shakes his head quickly.
Daniel keeps staring at him, like Max is the strange one in this scenario. Like it isn’t Daniel showing up unannounced to ramble about lost love late at night, where even the neighbors can hear him. Not that it's the first time this has happened. But it's the first time it happened while he is in the house.
Max sighs, pressing his lips together. “No, it’s... nothing,” he finally mutters. He closes his eyes briefly, trying to gather himself. When he speaks again, he uses a much softer tone for the man, “It’s been months since we broke up, Dan. I don’t know what to tell you.”
How did he used to talk to Daniel again? His voice alone might just give him a headache.
“But I miss you.”
Max can’t do this. No, really, he can’t. He’s barefoot, wearing the shortest shorts imaginable, and the cold is biting at his legs.
And, above all, he sure hopes he isn’t listening.
“Listen,” Max tries again, leaning toward Daniel. He pulls at the door behind him, inching it closer to keep them from being so visible.
Daniel’s face lights up at that, and Max immediately regrets it.
“You need to leave,” Max says firmly.
Daniel’s face falls. “Max-”
“He’s right.”
Max freezes.
The low, smooth, and painfully polite voice.
Both of them glance inside instinctively.
Charles stands just inside the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. Unlike max, who's still flushed from the cold night air, Charles looks effortlessly composed in a fitting shirt and sweatpants. There is no indication he just rolled out of bed.
“Charles” Max murmurs, voice suddenly going shy, “I didn't want to wake you.”
Charles steps forward, his gaze softens as it shifts from Daniel to Max, lingering a beat too long on his bare legs. “You know I don’t sleep deeply when you’re not next to me, cheri.” He reaches out, his hand brushes down Max’s back in light touch.
Pressing through his thin shirt, just enough to make him shiver.
Max feels the heat bloom on his cheeks.
“I-I didn’t mean to suddenly disappear,” he stammers, his voice barely audible.
Charles leans in “I know, beautiful,” his fingers trace a slow, deliberate circle at the small of Max’s back before pulling away.
Max’s knees feel unsteady as Charles finally steps past him, his attention on Daniel.
Lost in the lingering warmth, it takes him a second to notice both men silently stare at each other.
“Oh!” Max blurts, shaking himself out of it and rushing to bridge the moment, “Charles, this is Daniel,” he says, emphasizing the name as he looks pointedly at his ex. “Who was just about to leave after saying hi, weren’t you, Daniel?”
Daniel, to his credit, looks completely out of his depth. Like he didn't realise Max would keep someone in his house whose not in their shared circle of friends. His gaze flickers between Max and Charles, his usual confidence faltering under a new person who doesn't offer him a warm welcome.
“Who are you?” Daniel finally asks, his voice hesitant but laced with defiance.
Max heart sinks as he catches the subtle twitch of Charles eye, the barely there flex of his fingers at his side.
Charles smiles. But it doesn’t match the look in his eyes. “I’m Charles,” he says politely.
“And you,” he continues, “must be the past Max has been kind enough to leave behind.”
The tension thickens, and for the first time, Max notices Daniels discomfort, not the kind born entirely out of jealousy, but also something closer to fear.
“I just-” Daniel starts, his voice faltering as he glances toward Max, “I just wanted to talk-”
Charles tilts his head, the faintest quirk of his brow daring Daniel to finish.
Max steps forward, closer to Charles. Softly, but firm enough that Daniel doesn't take further initiative he says, “Daniel, it’s late. Please.”
But Daniel is stubborn, whining “But Max!” he looks close to begging now. Max doesn't know how long he can take this. He can already feel the neighbors gossip about this for the next two weeks. He just knows George from 63b is listening to this with his ear pressed against the window, always the one delighted to find flaws in Maxs life.
“How about we talk outside, mate? Hm?” Charles offers, already stepping out before Max has a chance to block him.
Max frowns, “Charles, it’s fine. He was just leaving.”
Charles smiles at him, “I insist,” he says. His hand rests on Max’s waist briefly, reassuring him.
Daniel hesitates, caught off guard, “I- uh, sure,” he stammers, his eyes flick nervously toward Max as if silently asking for help.
“Perfect,” Charles replies, clapping Daniel lightly on the shoulder as he steps outside. The gesture may seem friendly to an onlooker, but Daniel stiffens under the touch. It's almost comical that Daniel, who is taller and broader than his current lover, is getting intimidated by these actions. The effortless confidence and authority Charles exerts throws him off completely.
“Wait,” Max blurts. This is so unnecessary. His recent lover with his ex? Thats asking for trouble. What if Daniel says the wrong thing and Charles starts second guessing what they have? Max really doesn't want that when they have just started being serious.
He calls Charles again, brow furrowed, “You don’t have to-”
“Just a quick word, cheri,” Charles says over his shoulder, his tone unbothered, “I’ll be right back.”
Max falters, unsure of what to reply to that. Something about the moment feels wrong too, but Charles’ calm demeanor soothes his concerns just enough to let them go.
The door clicks shut behind Charles and Daniel, and Max finds himself rooted in place for a moment. There’s a slight chill from the night air seeping in, or maybe it's the unease curling in his stomach. He shouldn’t feel like this. Charles is just...handling it for him, isn't he? Being polite, as always.
Before he realizes it, Max is moving toward the window. He hesitates, then pulls the curtain back slightly, just enough to peek through.
Charles and Daniel stand a few paces away in the dim glow of the porch light.
It looks like a casual conversation between two men. Max would almost think they were friends.
Charles stands with his hands loosely in his pockets, posture relaxed, his head tilted slightly as he listens. Daniel, on the other hand, is stiff. His shoulders are tight, even his hands fidget at his sides as he explain to Charles why he's here.
Max bites his lip nervously, gaze flicking between them. He can’t hear what they’re saying, but there’s a rhythm to Charles’ words. Measured, calm, but deliberate. Daniel shifts on his feet, glancing toward the house, then back at Charles, movement jerky.
Something about Daniel’s body language unsettles him. He’s seen Daniel mad before, jealous too, but this isn’t that. He's looks completely out of his depth.
Charles takes a step closer to Daniel, his movement too smooth. His hand lifts, clapping Daniel lightly on the shoulder. Max flinches, even though the gesture looks friendly enough.
Then Charles leans in, speaking low.
Max’s fingers tighten around the edge of the curtain fabric. A part of him wants to open the window to catch on what's being said, but he can’t bring himself to do it.
Daniel shakes his head slowly, his mouth moving as he says something in response. He tries to take a step back, but Charles follows, closing the distance in an instant. His hand stays on Daniel’s shoulder, holding him in place.
Max doesn’t know why he’s still standing here, why he’s watching instead of interrupting. There’s nothing inherently wrong with what’s happening. But it feels wrong.
And then Daniel looks toward the house again, his face pale, eyes wide. For a fleeting moment, he locks eyes with Max through the window.
Max pulls back like the gaze burned him, letting the curtain flutter back into place. His breath hitches, guilt washing over him. He shouldn’t have been watching.
Fuck, his hearts thudding in his chest.
A moment later, the front door creaks open, and Max quickly moves back to the living room, pretending as he’s been looking for something.
Charles steps inside, expression softening the moment he sees Max, “All sorted,” he says casually, shrugging off the hastily worn jacket.
Max forces a smile, “What did you say to him?” he asks, trying to sound nonchalant.
Charles crosses the room, pressing a gentle kiss to Max’s forehead, “Nothing important,” he murmurs, his tone soothing, “Just made sure he understood it’s time to move on.”
Max lets himself lean against Charles chest, still restless.
He musters up the courage to ask again when they walk back to the bedroom, curiosity at its peak.
“But seriously, what did you say to him? I've never seen him so hesitant.” Max chuckles a bit, trying to get Charles to open up.
Daniels stricken face flashes across his mind.
Charles glances at him, lips curving into a teasing smirk. “Were you watching?”
Max sputters, his face heating up, “What? No! I mean-I wasn’t watching, I just-”
Charles chuckles softly, clearly enjoying his flustered response, “Relax, beautiful. I don’t mind if you did,” Charles is unbothered, his expression calm as he adjusts the covers on the bed, “I only told him what he needed to hear,” he says, and his voice carries that infuriating lit that never gives anything away.
Max raises an eyebrow, tilting his head, “And that was?”
Charles looks over his shoulder and smiles, “That you’re mine now. Simple as that. Perhaps that's why he’s so upset, he lost something very precious and only now realizes it.”
Max’s cheeks warm at the possessiveness in Charles’ tone, even though it’s thinly veiled in tenderness. He fiddles with his hand “You make it sound like I’m a prize or something.”
“You are,” Charles replies, unfiltered.
He doesn’t know how to respond to that, so he looks away, feigning interest in the bedside lamp. “Still, you didn’t have to scare him. He’s harmless.”
Charles’ smile doesn’t falter, “You think I scared him?”
Max hesitates.
“I mean, maybe a little,” Max finally admits, his voice quieter. “He didn’t even try to argue with me, which is weird for him.”
Charles sits him down on the bed, “If he didn’t argue, perhaps he finally realized there’s no point, hm?” he says softly, his thumbs caressing his hand. Max nods silently, watching their hand rest together.
"Does he usually bothers you like this?"
Max looks up at him, "No?" He gives up quickly when Charles raises his brows. If there is one thing he learned about himself in these past weeks, is that he's shit at lying to Charles.
"Okay, fine," Max concedes with a sigh. "He’s been...persistent lately. But it’s not like he’s trying to cause trouble or anything. Daniel’s just-"
"Testing boundaries," Charles interjects smoothly.
Max shrinks a little under Charles’ gaze, he didn't mean the night to go like this, this was suppose to be their day off. They had finally found a day that aligned with both their schedule. "I guess..."
Charles’ expression softens, his hands tightening ever so slightly around Maxs, "Some people mistake kindness for something they can exploit, baby."
“Don’t think about it too much,” Charles murmurs, leaning in to kiss his lips. He hums against them when Max moves in response, “He won’t bother you anymore.”
Max lets out a small sigh, leaning in further. Charles lays him down like that, his hands steadying Max before he begins to undress for the night, unhurried.
Watching him as he folds his shirt and neatly puts it back in Maxs closet, he wonders not for the first time tonight how he made Daniel, someone who had always been confident to a fault, look so shaken.
Maybe this was for the best.
He lets himself sink into Charles’ embrace, head on a sturdy shoulder, unaware of the slight tension still lingering in his lovers posture.
Outside, unnoticed by them, a light in the neighbor’s window flickers off.