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After having spotted Charles on the other side of the bar, Max had politely nodded in his direction. Charles had shot him a smile before focussing back on the conversation he was having with the guy sitting next to him.
Max too went back to chatting with the people around him. He had gone to the bar with the intention of getting to know someone. There were a few people he had chatted to, but none of them were his type.
Charles wasn’t having any more luck apparently. When Max glanced over again, he heard the guy Charles was talking to ask if he wanted to go home with him. Charles was quick to decline the offer.
Max raised an eyebrow at that. The guy was handsome. There was no way around that. He wouldn’t be surprised if the guy turned out to be a model. Or a pornstar, his mind supplied. Maybe that’s why Charles didn’t want to go with him. Max chuckled at the mere thought.
The guy asked again. And once more Charles declined. He was polite about it. Way more polite than Max would ever be.
The guy reluctantly ordered another drink for both himself and Charles. But the Monegasque immediately told the bartender he’d rather have a glass of water. Apparently the guy wasn’t agreeing with that, but the bartender seemed to have Charles’ back and put a glass of water in front of him.
“Come on. We are getting along. Why wait for another date if we can just go back to my apartment and have some fun?” the guy tried again.
“I am not really that type of guy. It’s a no for me,” Charles said calmly. He had the patience of a saint, Max noticed.
The guy rolled his eyes ever so slightly before placing a hand on Charles’ arm. “Come on, just this once,” the guy said. The tone he used immediately got under Max’s skin.
Before Max noticed what he was doing, he was on his feet. With big strides he made his way over to the two. "Do you have trouble with your hearing or something?" he asked as he stepped up to them.
The man turned around, having sensed that the question was meant for him. "What?" he asked, his eyebrows pushed together in a frown.
"I asked if you had trouble with your hearing. He clearly said no to you multiple times. So, fuck off," Max said. He crossed his arms over each other as he tapped his foot against the floor in an impatient manner.
Charles was watching him with wide eyes, but Max wasn't paying attention to him. Instead, Max had his eyes trained on the man in front of him. They had darkened quite a bit. His eyebrows furrowed making his expression even more intimidating.
"And what gives you the right to decide what I do?" The man growled. He looked Max up and down, eyes lingering on his clenched fist.
"The fact that you don't seem to have any decency and apparently don't know what the word consent means," Max said, voice calm and low. It sent shivers down Charles’ spine and the words weren’t even meant for him.
From the corner of Max’s eyes he saw that Charles looked around the bar. Only then he realised that most conversations had fallen silent. All eyes were on them. Charles nervously shifted in his seat. His eyes briefly met the bartender’s. The girl seemed to be on the phone with someone, but didn’t keep her eyes off Max and the guy either.
"Max, it's okay. Let it go," the Monegasque mumbled, trying to diffuse the situation as best as he could.
For the first time, Max turned towards Charles. His expression softened a bit as he looked at the Monegasque. "No, Charles. It's not okay. You were clearly uncomfortable and this guy is just an oblivious idiot," Max said, voice a lot softer as he addressed the fellow driver.
"What did you call me?" The man asked as he got up from his chair, towering over Max. But the Dutchman didn’t back down. Instead he straightened his back and kept eye-contact with the man.
"Looks like you have a problem with your hearing after all," Max said, his voice growing colder with every word that he spoke.
"You son of a bitch," the man said as he swung his fist towards Max, punching him in the face. Max’s head snapped sideways by the impact. He could hear a gasp coming from Charles. When he looked over, Charles was getting off his chair to make his way over to him. Instead, Max pushed him back to his seat without looking.
When he knew Charles was out of the way, a growl left Max's lips as he launched forward, giving the man similar treatment.
"Just leave him alone," Max hissed just after his fist made contact with the man’s face.
"That's for him to decide, not you," the man said as he took another swing, but this time Max ducked just in time.
"He already told you 'no' several times. I think that's a very clear decision," Max said as he dodged another blow.
The man turned around and grabbed Charles' wrist so tightly it hurt. He started pulling Charles to the exit. But before they could get halfway across the bar, Max was in front of them again. He landed a punch to the man's nose.
The man's hands shot up to his face. Blood was already seeping through the gaps between his fingers.
With his newfound freedom, Charles hurried to get away from him. Max grabbed his arm, albeit a lot softer than the man had done, and pulled him to stand behind him.
The man looked up at Max as if he was ready to start fighting again. Just as he raised his fist, security rushed in. They forcefully pulled the man’s arms behind his back before dragging him out of the pub, leaving a trail of blood behind.
Max looked at the security guard and nodded towards the door, silently asking if he should follow.
“He is a known troublemaker. We’re sorry this happened,” the bodyguard said before following his colleagues out of the pub.
Slowly conversations started again and Charles let out a relieved sigh.
Max’s eyes didn’t leave the door for a few seconds.
Then he turned to Charles. “Are you okay?” he asked as he looked Charles up and down, checking to see if something was amiss.
Charles opened his mouth before he closed it again, brows knitted together. “You are asking me if I am okay?” he asked, unbelief coating his voice.
Max frowned. “Yes,” he said, “The guy was an asshole to you. Can I see your wrist?” he added.
Charles’ eyes widened a bit before he shook his head. “Max, are you serious? You should be worried about yourself, he roughed you up quite badly,” he said.
Max kept his eyes on Charles’ wrist. He had to know if Charles was alright. He knew he wouldn’t feel comfortable if he left the Monegasque without checking.
He took a hold of Charles’ hand before bringing it up to his face. His fingers were soft as they glided over the Monegasque’s skin.
“That might bruise later. Do you have bruising cream at home?” he asked as he looked at the Monegasque.
Charles still couldn’t phantom that Max was worried about him when the side of his own face was already starting to bruise.
“I do. I’ll put it on later,” Charles said as he waved his hand dismissively. Max seemed satisfied with that answer and let go of Charles’ hand.
He brought his hand up to his own face, pressing it against the side the man had landed his punches.
“Now will you let me be worried for you?” Charles asked and Max shrugged.
“Are you okay?” Charles asked.
Max waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, it's not broken or anything. But it'll probably be a pain in the ass the upcoming few days," he said.
"My place is right around the corner. We will put some ice on it." Charles said firmly as he gently pulled Max towards the exit.
"Charles, you don't have to. I can take care of myself, don't worry," Max said, but he went along willingly.
"It's the least I can do. Come on," Charles answered.
As soon as they were in Charles' apartment the Monegasque got out an icepack. He wrapped it in a dishtowel before handing it to Max. The latter sighed contently at the cold feeling against his cheek.
"You didn't have to do that, you know," Charles said.
"Of course I did. You looked really uncomfortable. And I know you are way too nice to be meaner to him," Max explained as he sat down on the sofa.
"Well... yeah probably. I mean if it got really out of hand I would have," Charles mumbled as he too took a seat.
"Did you know the guy?" Max asked.
"No, I have never seen him before either. Sometimes I recognize people because they have been at the bar before but not this guy,” Charles said.
"I take it you visit the bar often then?" Max asked. He shifted the icepack a bit higher. His eyes closed as he slumped against the sofa cushions. He briefly closed his eyes as he took in the feeling.
Charles lowered his eyes to his lap. "Well, I have to find a partner somehow, right?" he asked quietly.
"But no luck so far?" Max asked. And Charles shook his head gravely. "Most guys at the bar are assholes."
Charles looked back up at Max. "How is your eye feeling?" he asked.
Max shrugged. "I mean it's not nice. But it'll heal quickly. Don't worry about it," he said as he waved his hand dismissively.
"Can I take a look?" Charles asked as he scooted closer towards Max.
Max lowered the icepack. The skin around his eye was already taking on a blue-ish colour.
"Oof, that does not look good. Does this hurt a lot?" Charles asked as he gently pushed down around the eye, trying to figure out if something was broken.
Max winced but shook his head. "It’s fine. It's probably just bruised," he said. Charles let out a relieved sigh.
"I am sorry I ruined your night," Charles said quietly. He started picking at the fabric of his pants.
Max frowned as he looked at the Monegasque. "You didn't ruin my night, Charles. I'd rather hang out with you anyways," he said.
"Really?" Charles sounded unsure. He briefly glanced up at Max.
"Yeah, you are way more fun than talking to strangers. And you don't hit me in the face," Max said before he winked with his unscathed eye.
Charles chuckled.
It fell silent after that, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable one. Max was the one to break it, "But still single then? If you were looking at the bar for someone?"
"Yeah,” Charles started, “I mean I like someone. But I know that person doesn't like me back. He isn't even into men," he added with a sad smile. He still wasn’t meeting Max’s eyes and instead stared at his knees.
Max took the Monegasque's hand into his own as he realised how sensitive the topic was.
Charles took a shaky breath before he continued, "So, yeah, I know that I need to forget about... him. But no one can compare to him."
Max studied Charles’ face for a second. There was something in his eyes Max’s couldn’t quite place.
"You sound really fond of this person," Max said.
Charles let out a shaky sigh. "Yeah," he said dreamily.
Max shuffled a little closer on the sofa until his knee was touching Charles’ thigh.
"Maybe you should try and talk to them anyway. You never know what will happen," Max offered as advice.
Charles immediately shook his head. A bitter smile appeared on his face. "I am afraid I'll throw everything away we have now. I'd rather stay single for the rest of my life and be friends with him than not getting to see him at all."
"Damn, he really got you good, huh?"
"Yeah," Charles admitted quietly.
Max squeezed Charles’ hand softly. "He'd be lucky to have you, Charles. You are a really great guy. And he should be honoured to call you his boyfriend."
Charles had snapped up at that. "You think so?"
Max immediately started nodding, "Yes, I do."
Charles studied the Dutchman’s face for a few seconds, before he opened his mouth, "And what if I told you that you know him?"
"I'd maybe be a little jealous," Max said without hesitation.
Charles’ eyes widened just a little bit. He looked at Max for a few more seconds, trying to figure out if he was serious.
"And what if I told you it was you?" Charles followed up.
Max placed a hand to the side of Charles’ face, "Then I'd be the happiest man on earth."