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Daniel wasn’t that familiar with grief. Sure, he lost his grandparents years ago and he loved them, but it was a long time ago. And he wasn’t as close to them as he is to the person resting in the coffin he’s looking at.
Max’s face is covered by a cloth, his body dressed in a suit and flowers in hands. Daniel lifted the cloth and understood why it was here, Max’s jaw was broken, his mouth opened and the roof of it pierced by a bullet. The Aussie swallowed hard and lowered the cloth back down. He felt like crying, or throwing up. Maybe both.
Max died. He killed himself. It was sudden, nobody saw him coming and even if Max never had a perfect life, he wasn’t suicidal. Or did Daniel miss every sign ?
He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around, a woman looked at him.
“Excuse me, I’m Max’s mother. I feel like we have never met before.” Daniel looked at her, she’s the one who left when he was a kid, who apparently never reached out to Max. Why was she here ?
“I’m Daniel. Max’s… boyfriend.” His mother looked a bit surprised but nodded.
“I’m Sophie.” She looked at the coffin of her son and sighed. “I had no idea he was…” She never finished her sentence.
Soon enough, the coffin was lowered in the ground and Daniel looked at the gravestone of his boyfriend. Max Verstappen, beloved son, 30/09/1997 - 07/12/2015.
Dirt started to be thrown on the wooden box, Daniel watched helplessly, people around were crying, Max’s sister sniffling, his father watching with a neutral expression. Everyone left flowers and gave comforting words to Sophie and Jos, the latter never answering.
Daniel put orange tulips on the grave, maybe a bit cliché since Max came from the Netherlands, but he never was big on receiving flowers so Daniel never learned his preference. Everyone started to leave, Sophie and Max’s sister telling him goodbye, Jos leaving without a word.
When he was alone, he pulled out a photo from his pocket and stared at it. Maybe it’s a bit corny but he always kept a picture of Max and him in his coat. A picture where he was kissing Max’s cheek, the other boy blushing.
He smiled at the memory but felt something weird, as if he was pulled into the photo, attracted by it like a stray spaceship to a supermassive black hole.
He got momentarily blinded by a flash, the one of a camera and smelled something familiar. Clean laundry mixed with a perfume he would always recognise. Max’s. Right in front of him was Max, blushing and smiling.
Holy shit. He was back in the picture. Back in his room. The sky was strange though, not looking like the real sky but like weird blobs of light moving. He couldn’t see the landscape out his window either, it was all replaced by that ominous glow.
“Daniel ?” The soft voice of Max rang softly in his ears. He gently grabbed his boyfriend’s face.
“Max. Max you’re alive, holy shit…!” He tilted his head, confused.
“Of course I’m alive, idiot. Are you okay ? You look as pale as a ghost.”
“I-I saw you dead ! You were in a coffin Max ! And they were burying you !”
“Well I’m alive.” Said Max gently, grabbing his hand and putting it on his chest, beating steadily. “And I promise to not leave you.”
“Never…?”
“Never.”
“What the fuck…?” Daniel was snapped back to the present, his eyes fixed on Max’s grave, the picture in his hands. He was shaking, his breathing erratic. Max was dead, the proof was right in front of him. Yet, this felt too real to just be an hallucination. The smell of his boyfriend, his voice, he wasn’t just having a weird dream.
He put the picture back in his pocket and sighed, looking at the grave one last time before leaving. He went back home, his parents weren’t here. He just went to his room and laid down on his bed.
On his wall were many of the pictures he took, some with his friends like Lando, Yuki or Charles, pictures of his family, of his pets, mostly some of Max though. A lot of them. He took a picture of him and his boyfriend a few months ago, Max was sleeping on Daniel’s chest and the Aussie took a picture without the other ever knowing.
He stared at the picture and started to get pulled into it, the same sensation as when he was in the cemetery. The feeling got broken by his mother opening the door of his room, to talk to him about Max’s passing, about everything.
Days passed, Daniel was feeling worse and worse. He kept going to Max’s grave, putting flowers, watering the ones already present. Almost nobody was ever present at the grave, not Max’s family, nor his friends, nobody but Daniel. One day though, as the Aussie was here mourning, he heard footsteps. It was Jos.
Max never let Daniel see his father, he was a homophobe and if he learned his son was dating a man, he would’ve lost his mind. Max was genuinely scared of this man.
Jos put his hand on Daniel’s shoulder.
“You… you corrupted my son.”
“What-“ Before Daniel could say more, he was pushed onto his boyfriend’s gravestone, his head hitting it painfully, the flowers pots breaking in a loud noise.
“I saw that photo of you two, freaks !” Jos was about to punch him so he defensively held his right arm out. The time seemed to freeze once again, just like when he was staring at photos. Then, everything rewinded, Jos went backwards, the small bloodstain on the gravestone that appeared when Daniel hit his head washed itself away, the flower pots repaired themselves and when Daniel lowered his arm, the time moved normally again.
Daniel was shaking. He turned his head to the right and saw Jos, walking. He didn’t notice him yet so he scrambled up and ran away from the graveyard.
Daniel was in front of the Verstappen house. It was surely empty since Jos was at the graveyard to do god knows what, maybe pissing on his son’s grave. Daniel though was here to take Max’s belongings, to find the photos he took, to see them all, to not leave them to the freak that is Max’s father.
He went to Max’s room, it was just like when Daniel last saw it, race cars posters on the wall, a Dutch flag hanging from the ceiling, his computer turned off and under his bed, the box where he kept all his photos and memories. He took all of it and went back home, making sure to not get caught.
He felt like this day was never ending, too eventful. He couldn’t understand what was happening anymore, so he went to sleep.
In his dreams, his pillow was replaced by Max’s lap, whispering soothing words in Dutch. Daniel looked up at him, they were in a field on a warm day, wind blowing gently, pretty flowers surrounding them. The sky was blue with a few clouds making the sun a bit filtered. Max smiled at Daniel and leaned down to kiss his forehead before cupping his cheek.
“Don’t let him find the photos.” He whispered.
“What…?”
“If he sees them under my bed, he’ll-“ Max was cut off by his blue eyes falling on Daniel and his face melting, like in a horror movie, blood dripping onto his lover, like his corpse would do if he was left rotting in a coffin.
Daniel woke up with a scream, panicked. It woke up nobody in the household, he often woke up after nightmares while screaming in panic. He tried to calm down but his hands were shaking.
“What was that…?” He breathed deeply a few times and thought about what Max said. Do not let him find the photos. Do not let Jos find the photos. It was as if the pictures in the box were screaming at him to do something, to go back in time, that his new and strange power could have consequences for the best. That he could change things. That he’s not powerless and that for once he’s the only one who can do something.
Daniel sat on his bed. Max organised all the pictures he got by when he got them, which means if Daniel finds the one Jos saw and never gives it to him, his father will never find it, and he will survive.
The first picture was them at a park near the school, both of them close. He focused on it and was dragged in the memory.
The flash burned his eyes and the photo came out of his Polaroid camera. He shook it slightly to make it dry and looked at it. Max leaned over his shoulder to see it.
“It’s pretty, can I keep it ?” Asked the blonde. Daniel swallowed hard.
“I… I’d like to keep the original. But I can scan it for you if you want.” Max smiled at that.
“Sure.” Daniel never made a photocopy and kept the picture.
Back in the present, he called Max. His phone didn’t even ring. Max was still dead. Daniel looked at all the pictures. He went back in the past again, and again, photo after photo. His head was dizzy, his nose started to bleed but he’d do everything to save Max.
He went through his best memories, pictures at the park, at his house, of them kissing, hugging. He either didn’t give them to Max or pretended the picture was blurry and tore the Polaroids apart.
He was trapped in that nightmare, feeling dizzy, looking at the picture he destroyed, one of his favourites, a picture that Max took when he didn’t know of him sleeping on his boyfriend’s lap. He felt sick. Would it even work ? Did Max have more pictures that he didn’t know about and that his father could’ve seen ?
He was thrown back in the present, the pictures he destroyed now gone and grabbed his phone. He called Max. It rang. Daniel felt his heart drop. The phone answered.
“Daniel ?”
“Max…” He replied in a small voice. He felt the blood trickling from his nose down his lips. “Max I… I missed you so much…” He said, starting to cry.
“Woah. Dramatic much, we saw each other yesterday.”
“What…?”
“Was the edible I gave you that strong ?” Daniel let out a watery laugh, he couldn’t believe it. Was everything normal ?
“I need to see you… please.”
“Sure. I just woke up though.” Replied Max playfully.
Daniel’s favourite song played in the car as he stopped in front of Max’s house. The boy was waiting for him and smiled before opening the passenger door.
“Hi, love.” It felt so normal. Daniel was stunned, looking at the perfect face of his boyfriend, his blue eyes, his blonde hair and soft smile. He is so pretty. He was snapped out of his thoughts by Max passing his hand in front of his eyes. “Daniel Joseph Ricciardo, are you with me ?” Max was grinning at him.
“Oh. Yes. Yes I am, Max Emilian Verstappen.” He replied teasingly before starting the car and driving towards the beach. It was the middle of December yet they liked to go there, just to watch the waves and spend time together. They sat on their favourite bench and watched the sea. Max leaned on his shoulder.
Daniel knew now. Max died only if his father found the pictures, it means that Max didn’t kill himself like everyone said. Jos killed him, for being gay. Daniel swallowed hard.
“Why did you sound so panicked on the phone ?” Asked Max, looking up at him. The Aussie swallowed hard and looked straight ahead at the crashing waves. How could he tell Max everything without sounding insane ? Should he tell him the truth or lie ? His nose started to bleed again.
“Shit…” Max sat up when seeing the blood and handed him a tissue from his pocket. “Max… I… I saw you dead.”
The Dutchman raised an eyebrow. “Sure. And I saw you with wings.”
“I’m not joking. I swear I’m not.” Replied Daniel.
“…What ?”
“Max. Can you promise you won’t think I’m crazy ?” He asked. The other raised an eyebrow.
“I already thought you were crazy before-“
“Seriously. Please I’m not joking.” Max frowned, sensing Daniel was serious. Too serious. “This is why I never gave you the pictures I took. If I did, then you’d be dead !”
“I don’t understand…” Replied Max.
“If you took them home, Jos would’ve seen them and he would’ve killed you, and he would’ve made it look like a suicide !” Shouted Daniel.
Max just stared at him and shook his head. “I know my dad’s homophobic but he wouldn’t have done that… would he ?” Both men stared at each other. Daniel wasn’t really serious usually, but right now, he was. Max shook his head again. “And how would you know that ?”
“I know it sounds impossible but I can go back in time.” Max frowned. “I swear it’s true. I promise you.”
“How ?”
“Even I don’t know, but I did everything to bring you back, and you’re here…! It’s amazing. It truly is…” Said Daniel, holding his boyfriend’s face. Max was frowning slightly, his skin felt too real for this to just be a weird dream.
The next hour and a half was Daniel proving Max that his powers were real, guessing what he had in his pockets, at what time a bird would land on the ground and other stupid things to show Max he could really rewind time. Both of them were now equally freaked out.
Max was alive now. Daniel still never gave him the pictures, just in case. They slept at Daniel’s house quite often, Max never came out to his father but he didn't want to risk it, too scared by what Daniel saw, too scared to break his heart again.
The Aussie was now frequently struck by nightmares of their town flooded because of a tsunami. Realistically, it was impossible. How could it even be ? Yes they were close to the sea but no tsunami ever was recorded around here. His dreams were terrifying, shouting, everything was destroyed, everyone panicked while watching in the dark of the night the wave coming, everyone trying to run away unsuccessfully, then drowning, feeling your breath run out, an invisible force throwing you around and squeezing your throat. Things floating around you, bikes, peoples, animals, random objects, newspapers, all indicating the date. 11/02/2016.
Daniel woke up in a cold sweat, it was the middle of the afternoon, Max was napping at his side, his whole family was out of town for the weekend, the sun shining softly and the window opened to make fresh air come inside. A butterfly flew in the room and landed on his knee, it was as blue as Max’s eyes. The Aussie turned around to see what time it was on his phone. 5:33pm, 11 of February 2016. If there was a tsunami, it would be tonight, when everyone would be asleep or occupied. He felt sick, he had no clue what to do. When Max woke up, the butterfly flew away.
That evening, Daniel forced Max to come with him for a car ride on a hill pretty far away. The Dutchman tried to refuse but Daniel begged him before explaining. “I’ve been having those weird dreams, the town, swallowed by a wave…”
Max frowned. “It was probably just a silly dream-“
“No, Max. It was a vision, I know it, I’m sure.”
“How could you be sure, Daniel ?” Asked Max. Daniel shook his head. He can’t, he can’t be sure until it happens and he rewinds, then he can know it for sure.
“You’re right. Maybe it was just a silly dream.” He said, looking at Max. His boyfriend kissed him and they got cuddled in bed to watch a movie.
Daniel couldn’t sleep at all, anxiety tugging at him. Max could feel it, so he stayed awake with his boyfriend, anxiously waiting for something. The Aussie kept watching out the window, even when the lights were out in the street and only the moon was reflected on the sea. Or it was supposed to. The water was too far away from the shore, unnaturally so, but nobody outside seemed to notice, teens were hanging out late in the streets, couples coming out of their dates, holding hands and laughing. Daniel felt blood trickling down his nose again. He pressed a tissue against it and kept watching.
Max stayed at his side, half asleep. The nightmares started since he was alive and Daniel destroyed or hid the pictures. He never had those visions before.
That’s when it happened. Both boys heard the screams in the streets and Max woke up, they looked out the window, a massive wave was coming towards them, Daniel looked at the time. 11:46pm, 11 of February 2016.
“What the fuck !?” Yelled Max. They looked at each other, Max was incredibly guilty, his stomach twisting in fear.
“Do you believe me now !?” Asked Daniel, Max immediately rushed to hug him as the wave came closer. Daniel held out his arm just like he did back in the graveyard when standing in front of Jos. Time went backwards, the sun rose again, and everything went blurry.
He woke up again, this time, feeling even sicker. He grabbed his trashcan and threw up in it, waking up Max who rubbed a hand over his back to calm him down.
Daniel was a mess, and when he stopped emptying his stomach, his nose was bleeding and he was sobbing.
“Hey, Danny, what’s wrong…?” Gently asked Max, pushing his curly hair out of his forehead.
“Max… It’s so fucked up…”
“What ? What happened ?”
“I just… I just rewinded, we need to get away from here !” Max frowned.
“Hey, hey, calm down. Why do we need to get away ?” He asked calmly.
“A tsunami will hit the town. I swear I’m not pulling a prank, I’m not crazy either, it’s really gonna happen, I saw it !” Said Daniel between sobs. Max held him gently, unlike last time, he was believing his boyfriend, Daniel was too distressed for him to just invent a lie as big as a literal tsunami hitting the town. “Please you need to believe me-“
“I believe you, I do.” Replied Max gently, Daniel hugged him tightly, relieved he didn’t have to convince Max any further.
That evening, an hour and a half before the tsunami, Daniel and Max got in the car and drove away after they took some of their stuff. They went to a place where the tsunami wouldn’t affect them, a town pretty far away and more elevated. They found a parking spot near a store and stayed there, Daniel watched the time anxiously, 11:46pm hit and Daniel’s nose started to bleed again.
“You’re going to become anemic if your nose keeps bleeding.” Said Max gently. Daniel let out a sad laugh.
“I feel like it bleeds every time I make an important decision…” He replied. The Dutchman looked at his boyfriend, he never saw him so sad, so anxious.
“Thank you.” Said Max after a long pause. Daniel tilted his head. “You did all of this to save me, the pictures, now the tsunami…” Max swallowed hard.
“I can’t live without you.” Said Daniel honestly. “I’d do it again if it meant saving you.”
Max felt tears tickling his eyes. “I don’t deserve you…” Daniel pulled him in his arms, they hugged awkwardly in the car, the gear lever bothering them a bit but they didn’t care, it was a hug they both needed.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, so much.”
After an uncomfortable night sleeping in the backseat, Daniel drove back to their town, he felt sick, everything was destroyed, police officers and firefighters trying to save whoever could be left alive. They drove near Max’s house, it was in pieces, the Dutchman felt dizzy, was his father still inside ? Probably, and now he is surely dead. He looked away as Daniel kept driving slowly through the messy streets. He stopped in front of his own house and saw his parents, talking with a rescue team. His mother looked at the car and rushed over, Daniel opened the window.
“Daniel ! You’re alive, oh my god, my baby…” She hugged him and cupped his face through the opened window, the Aussie was crushed by his mother’s grip but he let her do anyways, she was worried sick.
“I’m okay, mom. Max’s okay too.” He said to reassure her. “We were on a ride out of town when it happened.” He barely had the time to finish his sentence that she kissed his forehead repeatedly, Max chuckled at seeing how embarrassed his boyfriend was when he was showered under his mother’s love.
They spend the night in a hotel, Daniel and Max laid down together in bed, holding hands. Daniel’s parents were asleep in the room next to their but Max couldn’t rest.
“My father is dead.” He said. Daniel didn’t answer, what could he say anyways ? “I know he wasn’t.. like, a good person but.. I’ll still kinda miss him.” The Aussie gently tightened his hold on his boyfriend’s hand to show him comfort. Max cuddled closer to his chest and sighed, Daniel started to play with the blonde hair to show some comfort, maybe to soothe him in an at least comfortable sleep, hopefully nightmareless.
The town was never rebuilt. It was now considered risky, environmentalists were trying to understand how a tsunami could happen in this zone that had never suffered from one before, not understanding the cause might be supernatural.
Daniel often wondered if he was the cause of the natural disaster, and he couldn’t see another explanation, he fucked around with the time to bring Max back and the nature punished him for modifying the future. Maybe it will punish him again. His powers started to fade until they disappeared fully. His life could go back to normal, with Max, as if nothing ever happened.
A butterfly landed on Max’s cheek as he was resting his head on Daniel’s chest, it seemed to look up at the Aussie, almost taunting him, his wings as blue as Max’s eyes and as the water that swallowed their childhood town.