Work Text:
Late July 1993...
"Hey, Lucas, I'm home!" Max calls as she pushes open the apartment door. The ceiling lights are off, leaving only the warm glow of lamps, while golden-hour sunlight pours through the open windows, casting soft rays across the walls.
When no reply comes, Max's brows knit together. He should've been home; he hadn't said anything about going out.
She shuts the door behind her, the soft click echoing in the quiet apartment. Dragging her compact suitcase into the small living area, she leaves it by the couch and pads down the hall towards their room, her steps light but cautious.
Right on cue, the bathroom door opens.
Lucas steps out, a white towel slung low around his hips, droplets of water still tracing down his shoulders. Max barely registers any of that, though; her attention catches on something else entirely.
His hair.
Gone was the style she was used to. In its place were thick, neatly sectioned dreadlocks, still slightly damp, each one defined and carefully parted. They framed his face in a way that made his features sharper, more grown, the ends brushing just past his jaw. A few shorter locs rested against his forehead, softening the look, while the rest fell back naturally, dark and glossy under the warm lamplight.
It suited him, almost too well.
Max blinks, caught off guard, her confusion momentarily replaced with something else entirely.
Lucas's lips curve into a faint smile, his hands lifting slightly as he gives a slow, almost shy spin. "What? You don't like it?" he asks, but Max is still frozen, her jaw slack, eyes locked on him.
He steps closer, closing the space between them, his gaze flickering over her for just a second before settling back on her face. "Hm?" he hums, tilting his head.
Max blinks, snapping out of whatever trance she'd slipped into. "What? No."
"Then what's the problem?"
She exhales, almost like she needs a second to steady herself. "Lucas... you look hot."
He pauses. "Oh."
"Yeah."
"Well... I just wanted to try something new," Lucas starts, rubbing the back of his neck, a little sheepish. "My hair was growing out, and Justin, you know Justin, right?" he glances at her.
"Yeah," Max nods, arms crossing loosely over her chest, already suspicious.
"Right, well... he said it'd suit me. Told me I should just go for it." Lucas shrugs, like it's no big deal, but there's a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Max hums, tilting her head. "And where exactly did you get it done?" she asks, one brow lifting.
"...A salon," Lucas answers, just a little too quickly.
"A salon?" she repeats, slower this time. Her eyes narrow slightly, and Lucas knows he's been caught on something, even if he's not sure what.
He nods anyway.
Max steps closer, closing the gap between them, the smell of shower resedue mixed with Lucas's shampoo and body wash hits her like a strong wave, almost getting lost in it, her gaze drops to his hair again. "By another woman," she says, not quite a question.
Lucas hesitates, then nods again, more cautiously this time, watching her expression like it might explode.
But it doesn't.
Instead, Max reaches up, fingers curling gently around one of his locs, turning it slightly as she inspects it, her touch lingering longer than necessary. "Hm," she murmurs. "It does look good."
Lucas lets out a breath he didn't realise he was holding.
Max releases the lock slowly, her lips pressing together like she's thinking. "I should call Sue."
This time, Lucas frowns. "What, why?"
She looks up at him like it's obvious. "To learn how to do your hair, obviously," she says, matter-of-fact. "I don't want some random woman touching it."
Lucas's brows lift, amused now.
Max shrugs, trying to play it off. "I mean, Sue's fine. Erica too." She pauses, then adds, quieter but firmer, "Just... not anyone else. Alright?"
There's a beat.
Then Lucas smirks.
Before she can react, his hands find her hips, pulling her flush against him. His fingers slide just under the hem of her top, brushing warm and slow against her skin.
"Is that jealousy I hear?" he murmurs, his voice low and teasing.
Max's breath catches, just slightly, but she refuses to back down, lifting her chin. "Don't push it, stalker."
His grin only widens. "How was being at your dad's?" he asks, softer now, the teasing slipping into something gentler.
Max's shoulders loosen, the tension easing out of her as a small smile tugs at her lips. Her fingers drift back to one of his locs, absentmindedly twisting it around her finger, the texture grounding her. "It was good," she says, exhaling lightly. "But two weeks stuck with four annoying little kids?" She huffs a quiet laugh. "Actual hell."
Lucas chuckles under his breath, the sound low and warm. "And your stepmum?" he asks, watching her carefully.
Max shrugs, though it's softer this time. "She's... fine. We're getting along. Kind of." A pause. "She took me shopping. Got me new clothes and everything; it was fun, but it also just..."
"Reminded you of El," Lucas murmurs, finishing it for her without missing a beat.
Max's fingers still. She nods, eyes slipping shut for a moment. "Yeah," she breathes. "I miss her."
Lucas's hands tighten just slightly at her waist, his thumbs brushing slow, comforting circles against her skin. "Yeah," he whispers. "Me too."
Silence settles between them, but it isn't empty; it's full of shared memories of someone who still feels close even when she's not there.
"But she'd be proud of us," Lucas adds quietly. "Of you."
Max opens her eyes again, lifting her head to look at him. The golden light spilling through the windows catches in his deep brown eyes, making them glow soft and steady like something she can hold onto. "I'm glad I have you," she murmurs.
She leans into him, tucking herself beneath his chin like she belongs there, her fingers slipping to the locs at the nape of his neck, gently playing with them.
Lucas's expression softens completely, something unguarded and real settling in. "Me too, Max", he says, voice barely above a whisper. "I love you."
Max smiles against him, small but certain. "I love you too."
-
A few weeks later...
Max had been completely obsessed with Lucas's hair for the past few weeks, whether she was twirling a lock between her fingers, tracing the edges as it framed his face, or simply admiring it from afar. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't get over it.
His hair had become her secret stress reliever. Whenever anxiety crept in, her fingers inevitably found their way to it, twisting, tugging, or just tracing the textured strands. The rough, tangible feel grounded her, pulling her out of her spiralling thoughts.
Lucas had noticed, of course. Every time she got lost in it, he would press a soft kiss to her forehead or nuzzle close, wordless comfort in his arms. Max may or may not have learnt to use this to her advantage.
But this morning, during her usual habit of admiring Lucas the moment she wakes, Max notices just how much his hair has grown in the short amount of time. The roots have stretched out, in need of a refresh, and a few dry flakes still cling to his scalp.
Her gaze drifts down to his face, buried against her chest as he sleeps, his body draped across hers. The weight of him is warm, grounding, and comforting. She runs her fingers softly through his hair, tracing the new growth, and can't help but smile at the little light snores that press against her skin, tickling her as she soothes him with gentle scratches along his scalp.
She presses a soft kiss to his forehead before tapping his shoulder lightly, just enough for him to notice she needs to get up. But Lucas has other plans, his grip around her waist tightens, pulling her closer. He buries his face deeper into her clothed chest, humming contentedly.
Max huffs a laugh, shaking her head. "Lucas, I have to get up and make breakfast."
He shakes his head, eyes still closed. "It's the weekend... sleep in," he mumbles through a yawn.
"But I'm hungry," she protests, lightly pushing his arms aside. Lucas groans, finally rolling off her and curling up into the cold pillow he'd left abandoned for her in the middle of the night.
Max smiles, brushing a hand over his hair before planting a quick peck on the top of his head. She slides her feet into the fluffy slippers waiting besides the bed and pads towards the bathroom to freshen up.
After brushing her teeth, she opens all the blinds, letting the morning sun flood the once-dark apartment. The warm light spills across the counters as she moves into the kitchen, her movements soft and lazy in the quiet.
While she's finishing breakfast for the both of them, a familiar warmth presses against her back. Lucas's strong arms wrap around her, his nose nuzzling the crook of her neck, and she can't help but lean into him with a small, contented sigh, her fingers brushing a stray lock against her palm as she leans into him.
"You know..." she murmurs, twisting it lightly, "I was thinking... maybe it's time I do these roots."
Lucas hums against her skin, a teasing grin in his voice. "Oh really? Finally putting me in your hands, huh?"
She smirks, glancing over her shoulder at him. "You know I told you I don't want anyone else touching them. So... I guess that means I get the honour."
He laughs quietly, the vibration against her shoulder making her shiver. "Honour, huh? Don't make me regret it."
"I won't," she says, her voice soft but confident, still fiddling with his hair. "I'll take care of you."
Lucas leans back just enough to let her play with his locs, stretching his arms around her waist. "Alright, Mad Max...let's see what you got."
Max smiles, brushing her fingers through the textured strands.
"I just need to make a call later," Max winks.
-
Lucas had been lounging on the couch, a book resting in his hands as he flipped through the pages absentmindedly, not really taking in a single word. After breakfast, Max had disappeared into the bathroom, leaving him alone in the quiet of the apartment.
He barely has time to look up before she’s back, determined, focused, and already reaching for him.
“Okay,” Max announces, a little breathless, grabbing his arm and tugging him up. “I just called Sue, and she said the first thing you need is a clean scalp, so c’mon.”
Lucas blinks, letting himself be pulled along despite the confusion written all over his face. “Wait, right now?” he laughs, stumbling slightly as she drags him towards the bathroom.
“Yes, right now,” she shoots back, glancing over her shoulder. “This is my first time doing your hair; I don't know how long it's going to take." Lucas just scratches his scalp harshly in reply.
The end