Chapter Text
The doorbell rings at the house of the Thundermans, and before the door gets opened, you hear people say
Barb Thunderman: Max! Open the door!
Max Thunderman: Why do I always have to do it?
Hank Thunderman: Max, listen to your mother!
Max Thunderman: Why can't Phoebe open the door? She has the longest elbows, that would make more sense.
Chloe Thunderman: Well, somebody better open the door or that person ringing the doorbell is gonna be real mad, baby!
The door gets opened.
Max's boyfriends stand in front of the door... He is shocked and quickly ushers them outside.
Max: What the—what are you doing here?
You hear Max's family shout in the background.
Hank: Who was it?
Phoebe: Was it a salesperson?
Nora: Did they bring cookies?
Billy: I'll put bets on a door-to-door salesperson! I like the ones that sell the fancy watches!
Barb: Yeah, no, they only come twice a year. Billy, what are the chances that we get two door-to-door salespeople within the same month?
Billy: Well, ma'am, I'm not actually sure about the salespeople statistics, but if you have a calculator I ca—
Hank: Billy, no. We're not using a calculator to count the salespeople.
Billy: Oh man, this is so unfair! I never get to use the calculator!
Phoebe chimes in.
Phoebe: No one gets to use the calculator, Billy. It's for taxes.
You're telling me the only reason we bought that calculator is for taxes?!
Billy:
Hank: Yes, Billy, we bought a calculator for taxes. We're adults. This is what we do.
Max answers.
Max: Yeah, it was a seller of, uhhh, sunglasses. Sent them away.
Nora chimes in, excited.
Nora: Sunglasses guy? Did he have the extra fancy ones?
IDK, buzz off. He disappears outside again to talk to his boyfriend.
Max's family is confused.
Phoebe: What was that?
Chloe: Who was with Max?
Hank: Who was Max talking to?
Barb: I don't know, but let's not spy on Max's conversations, you guys. It's not respectful.
Hank starts to get paranoid.
Hank: What are you all talking about? I wasn't gonna spy on Max. I was just curious, is all.
Phoebe: Dad, you are the worst liar in the world.
Hank looks offended.
Hank: You know what, Phoebe? I am a great liar. I could lie to you right now about anything and you'd have no idea!
Phoebe and Barb exchange looks.
Phoebe and Barb: Try it.
Hank crosses his arms, clearly not expecting to get into this.
Hank: Okay, fine. How about, uh… I don't know, let's see… the mailman is actually an alien!
The rest of his family look at him, bored.
Chloe: Dad, no one thinks the mailman is an alien.
Hank: Okay, how about… the city mayor is actually a supervillain!
(Back to Max now; the rest of the family continues the conversation.)
Max is outside trying to chat with his boyfriend and is being a tad overdramatic.
Max: This was a bad idea, babe! My family is suspicious and they are 100% gonna find out about us! We needed to be more sneaky!
Boyfriend: I know that, Max! I'm sorry for—
Max sighs, frustrated.
Max: It's just like, they're all over me all the time, and if they find out about us, it's game over! They won't let me out of the house for a month!
Boyfriend puts a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
Boyfriend: Hey, hey now, relax, Max. Everything is gonna be alright. We'll just have to be even sneakier, alright?
Max nods, starting to calm down.
Max: Yeah, you're right, babe. We can do this. I mean, it's just my family. How hard could it be?
Boyfriend chuckles, gently poking Max to tease him.
Boyfriend: You know, it's cute when you get all dramatic like that.
Max blushes, smacking his hand away playfully.
Max: Shut up, you dork. I do not get dramatic!
Boyfriend laughs again, a smirk on his face.
Boyfriend: Sure you don't. Now c'mon, you're worrying too much. Your family isn't gonna find out about us, I promise.
Max sighs again, but he seems reassured by his boyfriend's words.
Max: Alright, alright, you win. But if we get caught, I'm blaming you, you know that, right?
Boyfriend laughs, putting his arm around Max's shoulders.
Boyfriend: Of course, blame me all you want. I can take it. I'm the boyfriend, it's my job.
Max leans into his touch, feeling better now.
Max: Yeah, and that's the only job you have. Taking the blame.
Max winks and pokes his boyfriend's side, making him laugh.
Boyfriend rolls his eyes, pretending to be offended.
Boyfriend: Hey, I have more jobs than that! I also do hugs, and cuddles, and telling you that you're adorable 24/7.
Max blushes again, loving how cheesy his boyfriend is.
Max: Okay, fair enough. You're damn good at all of those jobs.
Max grins and ruffles his boyfriend's hair affectionately.
Boyfriend laughs, smoothing his hair back down only for Max to mess it up again.
Boyfriend: Stop that! My hair's gonna look awful.
Max chuckles and finally stops, instead just hugging his boyfriend and resting his head on the boy's shoulder.
Boyfriend wraps his arms around Max, holding him close. They stay like that for a few moments, just enjoying each other's presence.
Boyfriend: See? Everything's gonna be fine. I promise.
Max: Okay, but next time just knock on the window of my room or something. Anyone could have opened that door...
Boyfriend nods, understanding.
Boyfriend: Yeah, you're right. Sorry, Maxi. I should have thought about that. I just... was looking forward to seeing you. But I promise next time I'll just knock on the window, alright?
Max smiles, comforted by his boyfriend's words.
Max: Alright, I guess I can overlook it. Just don't scare me like that again.
Max pulls the boy into another hug, burying his head in the crook of the boy's neck.
Boyfriend laughs softly, holding Max close to him.
Boyfriend: I won't scare you like that again, I promise. From now on, I'll stay away from the front door.
He plants a gentle kiss on top of Max's head.
They kiss.
Max and his boyfriend share a tender kiss, expressing their love for each other. Max feels a mixture of warmth and relief, grateful for the reassurance his boyfriend brings him. As they break away from the kiss, Max gives a soft smile, feeling better about the situation.
Boyfriend: See? Everything okay, right? No need to be dramatic, Maxi.
Boyfriend pokes Max's nose lightly, teasing him once again.
Max playfully bats his hand away, rolling his eyes.
Max: Oh, hush, you dork. I'm not dramatic, okay?
Max crosses his arms, trying to act annoyed, but the corner of his mouth twitches up in a barely concealed smile.
They wrap up, and Max goes back inside.
Max makes his way back inside, trying to act casual as if nothing happened. The rest of the Thundermans family is still sitting in the living room, discussing their earlier conversation about the mailman and the city mayor.
As Max enters the room, all eyes turn to him. Hank and Barb exchange a quick glance, as if they had an inkling that something was off. Phoebe, being perceptive as usual, studies Max's expression.
Nora, blissfully ignorant, waves enthusiastically at Max.
Nora: Hey Max, we were just talking about the mayor being a supervillain! How cool would that be?
Max forces a laugh, trying to play along.
Max: Oh, uh, super cool. Yeah, definitely. The mayor as a supervillain. Sounds like a plot of a movie or something.
Billy chimes in next.
Billy: Hey, do you think he'd team up with the mailman? They could take over Hiddenville together!
Max shakes his head, still trying to act normal.
Max: Yeah, sure, why not? The mailman and the mayor, a dangerous duo.
Phoebe continues to watch Max, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observes his behavior.
Chloe, finally catching up to the conversation, joins in by poking Max's leg.
Chloe: Wait, do you think they'd recruit you as their secret weapon?
Max looks down at Chloe and ruffles her hair.
Max: Me? Nah, I don't think so. I mean, I'd make a pretty lame secret weapon.
Hank and Barb exchange another glance, their suspicions growing.
Phoebe chimes in, the sharpness of her intuition cutting right through Max's facade.
Phoebe: You seem unusually calm, Max. Not your usual overdramatic self.
Max swallows, realizing he's been caught off guard.
Max: What? Me, calm? Pfft, nah. I'm as dramatic as ever. Just... feeling a bit lazy today, y'know?
Anyway, I'm off. Y'all are boring. He slides down his slide into his room and texts his boyfriend.
Later that night, Max dresses up kinda. Puts on his leather jacket and his coolest jeans, some gel in his hair, and sneaks out to go on a date with his boyfriend... Phoebe sneaks into his room and realizes he's gone... She checks his computer, but all that she can find that isn't encrypted with 100 layers of software is some messages with X. Who is X? Does Max have a date???
Phoebe is taken aback by the empty room, but her curiosity is piqued when she sees Max's computer. Without hesitation, she starts snooping through his messages, searching for any clue as to where he could be.
As she reads the messages exchanged with "X," she realizes that her brother has indeed arranged a date. Intrigued, she continues reading to uncover any additional information.
Phoebe reads through the conversation, surprised to see that Max had been planning a date. She couldn't help but be curious about who this "X" person was and how they had struck up a relationship with her brother.
She scrolls through the messages, seeing that they had been planning the date for some time and that Max seemed really excited about it. Phoebe's mind racing with questions, she starts formulating a plan...
She decides to keep tabs on Max and see where he ends up meeting this "X" person. Phoebe quietly leaves the room, closing the door behind her, determined to uncover the identity of Max's mystery date...
As Max heads out into the night, excitement coursing through his veins, he fails to notice that his sister, Phoebe, is tailing him at a safe distance. She keeps her eyes locked on her brother, observing his every move and following him toward the designated meeting spot.
Max arrives at a cozy little café, his heart racing as he scans the surroundings for any sign of his date. Just as he starts to wonder if he's been stood up, Phoebe watches from a nearby bench as a boy approaches Max.
Phoebe's eyes widen as she takes in the sight of Max's date. The boy appears to be around Max's age, and he seems both nervous and excited as he approaches her brother. She can't help but feel curious about their relationship, but she reins in her impulses and continues to observe from afar.
Phoebe watches as Max greets the boy with a smile, and they start talking animatedly. It's clear that the two are comfortable around each other, laughing and engaging in easy banter. Phoebe can't help feeling a mix of surprise and curiosity as she continues to watch the scene unfolding before her eyes.
Max and the boy sit down at a nearby table, immersed in conversation. From her vantage point, Phoebe can see the way they look at each other, their small touches and the intimate smiles they share. It's hard not to notice the chemistry between them...
Although Phoebe is under the assumption Max was straight, she thinks he could just be a new bandmate.
Phoebe silently observes as Max and the boy engage in conversation, her mind trying to wrap around the situation. Max is her brother, and she's always known him to be straight. Seeing him here, with this boy, has rattled her perception of him.
Phoebe's thoughts whirl, coming up with logical explanations for the scene unfolding before her. Maybe they were just bandmates? Just friends?
As Max and the boy continue talking and laughing, their familiarity with each other becoming more apparent, Phoebe starts to sense that there might be more to their relationship than simple friendship or bandmates...
Phoebe leans in closer, trying to catch snippets of their conversation. She sees the way Max's eyes light up when he talks to the boy, and how the boy seems equally enthralled with Max. It's impossible to ignore the obvious connection between them...
After a while of just chatting and having a drink, the two boys go outside. They sneak behind the café, where Phoebe couldn't see what they were doing. Max still didn't know Phoebe was watching them, of course. Behind the café, the two of them kissed.
As Max and the boy made their way outside, they quickly found a secluded spot behind the café, hidden from prying eyes. The moment they were alone, their bodies pressed against each other, and the boy reached up, pulling Max into a deep and passionate kiss, his back pinned against the wall.
Max melts against the boy, his arms snaking around the boy's waist to pull him closer. Their lips move eagerly, their tongues exploring the familiar and delicious territory of each other's mouths. Max savors the taste, the warmth, and the feel of the boy against him, all his earlier nerves replaced by a burning desire for more...
The boy's hands roam under Max's shirt, tracing the lines of his stomach, igniting a trail of fire under his skin. Max responds by tugging on the boy's hips, bringing their bodies even closer together, every touch and caress sending a jolt of pleasure through him...
The kiss deepens further, their lips never separating. Max's hands move from the boy's waist to his hair, tangling his fingers in the soft locks and tugging gently. The boy moans softly against his mouth, the sound sending a surge of want coursing through Max's body...
The kiss ends eventually, and they gaze into each other's eyes.
As the kiss finally ends, their lips parting reluctantly, Max and the boy take a moment to catch their breath. They stand there, faces flushed and hearts pounding, their eyes locked in an intimate gaze that spoke volumes...
The boy breaks the silence first, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Can you believe we're hiding behind a café, just like in a cheesy teen movie?" he joked, his hand still pressed against Max's chest.
Max laughs, the sound low and breathless. "Yeah, I know. We're total clichés." He pauses momentarily, his expression growing more serious. "But... I wouldn't want to be anywhere else with anyone else right now."
The boy's smile widens, his eyes twinkling with affection. He gently pushes a stray lock of hair out of Max's face, his touch tender and possessive. "Neither would I," he murmured, leaning in to press a soft kiss on Max's jawline.
Max shivers at the contact, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment. He leans into the touch, his hand coming up to cup the boy's cheek. "You know, this is probably a bad idea," he mutters, his voice tinged with both caution and desire.
The boy laughs softly, their foreheads touching now. "Yeah, probably," he admits, his breath warm against Max's skin. "But honestly... I stopped caring the moment I saw you walk into the café tonight," he whispers, his hand finding Max's and intertwining their fingers together.
Max feels his heart stutter at the boy's words, a mix of joy and trepidation coursing through him. "You sap," he teases, his voice barely above a whisper. "Who knew you could be so cheesy?"
The boy laughs again, the sound carefree and unrestrained. "Oh, you love it," he teases back. "Can't deny it." He nips at Max's bottom lip gently, his expression mischievous.
Max gasps softly at the sting of the kiss. He pretends to look offended, but the corners of his mouth twitch upward into a smirk. "Ugh, shut up," he mutters, his free hand smacking the boy lightly on the shoulder.
The boy grins, unrepentant. "Make me," he challenges, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You know you secretly love it when I get all sappy."
Max rolls his eyes, but there's no denying the fondness in his gaze now. "Oh, really? You think you're that irresistible, huh?" He leans in closer, their bodies nearly touching now.
Then Max looks at his watch lighting up. "Shit, it's 23:00. I should head home before our alarm gets activated and I can't get into the house."
Max glances at his watch and quickly realizes the time. "Damn, I didn't realize it got so late," he mutters, a sense of urgency now in his voice. The alarm at his house would automatically trigger, locking him out for the night if he didn't return on time.
The boy notices the change in Max's demeanor and nods, understanding the situation. "Right, right. You should probably go then," he says, a tinge of disappointment in his tone.
Max looks at him and grabs his chin. "Hey... same place tomorrow? I enjoyed tonight ;)"
The boy smiles, a mix of relief and desire in his eyes. "Definitely," he replies, their hands remaining intertwined. "Tomorrow, same place, same time."
They kiss one last time before Max heads home. He runs since it's not far.
Max dashes through the deserted streets, his body filled with a mix of adrenaline and anticipation. The run back to his house seems both excruciatingly long and yet over too quickly, his thoughts consumed by nothing but the memory of the boy's touch and their promise to meet again tomorrow.
Phoebe followed Max quietly back home, wondering what they were doing behind the café.
Phoebe followed Max at a safe distance, taking care to stay hidden in the shadows. She was consumed by curiosity, her mind racing with questions about Max's mysterious behavior and the secret rendezvous behind the café.
As she watches Max approach their house, she ducks behind a nearby bush, hiding from view. The house is illuminated briefly as Max approaches, the automatic lights flickering on. Phoebe's mind continues to whir with suspicion as she lingers in the darkness, determined to uncover the truth about Max's secret encounter.
Max sneaks in through a window by his room and closes it as if he never went outside.
Max stealthily climbs through his bedroom window, careful not to make a sound. He closes the window behind him, his heart pounding from the rush of sneaking back into the house. As he stands in the dimly lit room, a sense of satisfaction washes over him, knowing that he had successfully deceived his family and kept his secret tryst hidden.
However, unbeknownst to Max, Phoebe is still outside, her eyes fixed on his open window. Her suspicions are heightened by the stealthy way Max disappeared inside. She remains in the shadows, silently watching and waiting for any further signs of secrecy from her brother.
Apparently, their hero identities are not the only things hidden in Hiddenville.