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The training field had mostly emptied by late afternoon. The last few students were gathering their equipment and making their way back toward the dorms, chatting among themselves as they left. The wide stretch of grass, which had been filled with sparring matches and shouting only an hour earlier, had gradually grown quiet. Now the only sounds left were the occasional breeze rustling through the nearby trees and the dull thud of training equipment being moved across the ground.
Luis Madrigal stayed behind, just like he usually did.
He had always preferred finishing his workouts after everyone else had gone. It was easier to concentrate without classmates asking if they could borrow his weights, challenge him to another round of sparring, or insist that he demonstrate some ridiculous feat of strength. Working out alone gave him time to clear his head before heading back to the dorms.
With a quiet grunt, he lowered another heavy training dummy onto an already impressive stack. He straightened slowly, rolling one shoulder to work out the stiffness before wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm. His shirt clung slightly to his back after more than an hour of training, and a few loose curls had escaped across his forehead.
He had just reached for another piece of equipment when a familiar voice carried across the field.
“Well...”
He paused immediately.
“If that isn’t the nicest view I’ve seen all day.”
His hands slipped.
The training dummy tilted dangerously before he caught it at the last second, letting it fall onto the pile with a heavy thump. He closed his eyes for half a second, already knowing exactly who it was before he even turned around.
Sure enough, Max Hatter was leaning casually against the wooden fence surrounding the training field.
His hands were tucked into the pockets of his purple jacket, one ankle crossed over the other like he'd been standing there for a while. There was an unmistakable grin on his face—the kind that usually meant he was about to become a menace.
The brunette sighed, but he was smiling a little anyway.
“Max.”
His voice came out somewhere between fond and exasperated.
"I thought you had detention."
“I did,” the Hatter boy said, pushing himself off the fence and walking closer without rushing. “Managed to leave it slightly less painful than usual.”
The taller boy raised an eyebrow. “That’s your explanation?”
“It’s part of it.”
The purple-haired boy stopped a few steps away and looked him over in a way that was very obviously not subtle. His eyes moved from the brunette's shoulders to his arms and stayed there a bit longer than necessary.
“I got bored.”
The Madrigal boy crossed his arms. “So you just left detention?”
“More or less.”
Then the VK hesitated for a second, which was unusual enough that the taller boy noticed right away. He rubbed the back of his neck briefly before looking at him again, and his expression shifted slightly, like he was trying not to make it obvious he was being serious.
“…And maybe I missed you.”
The brunette blinked.
The admission caught him completely off guard.
He opened his mouth, ready to answer, but the purple-haired boy tilted his head with a grin that immediately warned him the sincerity wasn't going to last.
"...And watching you work out is a very nice bonus."
The Madrigal boy let out a small breath and looked away.
“I knew there was another reason.”
“There are always multiple reasons,” the Hatter boy said, stepping a little closer.
The distance between them was already small, but he closed it anyway, stopping just close enough that the brunette could notice the faint smell of his cologne and whatever tea he probably had earlier. The purple-haired boy tilted his head slightly as he looked at him again, like he was thinking out loud.
“I don’t think it’s fair, though.”
The taller boy frowned slightly. “What isn’t?”
“That you get to look like that after throwing heavy things around for an hour.”
The brunette glanced down at himself almost instinctively.
His hair was a mess after over an hour of training, dark curls sticking to his forehead from the sweat. His shirt clung uncomfortably to his back, and there were faint grass stains near the hem where he'd knelt to adjust one of the training dummies earlier. He was also fairly certain he'd managed to get dirt on one sleeve at some point.
He looked exactly like someone who had spent the better part of the afternoon throwing heavy equipment around.
"I probably look like a mess."
The Hatter boy didn’t answer right away. He kept looking at him, very openly, not even pretending to hide it.
Then he nodded once.
“Yeah. You do.”
The brunette stared at him for a second.
"...Wow."
He let out a short, disbelieving laugh and folded his arms across his chest.
"Thanks."
“I’m not done,” the purple-haired boy added immediately, raising a finger like he was making an important point.
Then he looked again, slower this time.
“It’s still really attractive.”
Luis immediately regretted making eye contact.
Warmth rushed into his face so quickly that he could practically feel it spreading across his cheeks. He looked away with a quiet groan, rubbing the back of his neck as though that might somehow hide the obvious blush.
“You say things like that too easily.”
Max stepped a little closer.
"You're blushing, big guy."
“I’m not.”
He poked Luis's cheek once, then again, clearly enjoying himself.
Luis caught his wrist before he could do it a third time. He didn’t squeeze it, just held it there to stop him.
“Stop that.”
Max looked down at where he was being held, then back up at him.
Instead of pulling away, he turned his hand slightly so their palms aligned, and then, without much hesitation, he slipped his fingers between Luis's.
Luis paused for a second, looking down at their hands.
The purple-haired boy noticed immediately and grinned.
“You never actually let go when I do that.”
“I could.”
“But you don’t.”
Luis didn’t answer right away. His thumb moved slightly against Max's hand without him really thinking about it.
“…I wonder why.”
Max looked way too pleased with himself.
Before he could say anything else, Luis stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him.
It wasn’t slow or dramatic. It was just sudden. Max froze for a second, clearly caught off guard, and then relaxed almost immediately. His arms moved around Luis's waist like it was natural, and he leaned his head against his shoulder without hesitation.
The teasing expression faded a little, replaced by something quieter.
He let out a small sigh that Luis felt more than heard.
Luis smiled to himself.
Moments like this happened more often than either of them ever talked about.
For all of Max's endless flirting and dramatic comments, he was surprisingly affectionate once someone hugged him first. It was almost like somebody had flipped a switch. The sarcastic comments disappeared, his shoulders relaxed, and suddenly he was perfectly happy to stay exactly where he was.
Luis honestly found that version of the Hatter boy just as adorable.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
The field stayed quiet around them, with distant sounds of students and wind moving through the grass, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. Max started lightly playing with the side of Luis's shirt while the brunette rested a hand on his back.
After a while, Max spoke, but his voice was lower than usual.
“I was actually looking for you.”
Luis tilted his head slightly.
“Yeah?”
Max shrugged a little, still not pulling away.
“I hadn’t seen you since class.”
He paused again, a little longer this time. The usual teasing energy that filled most of his sentences wasn’t there to cover it up, so the silence felt more noticeable than usual.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, almost under his breath.
"I missed you."
Luis blinked slowly.
For a second, he didn’t respond at all. Not because he didn’t know what to say, but because the words didn’t really fit the version of Max he was used to dealing with. There was no smirk attached to it, no joke at the end, no quick escape route out of the moment.
It just… hung there.
And somehow that made it feel more real.
A small, almost disbelieving smile formed on his face before he could stop it. It softened his expression in a way that made him look less like he’d just finished training and more like he’d completely forgotten where he was for a second.
Luis exhaled slowly and started gently rubbing Max's back.
“You could’ve just said that.”
"I know."
Max’s voice came back more normal now, though still softer than usual.
“But it’s less fun.”
Luis let out a quiet laugh through his nose, still keeping his hand moving gently across Max's back. The sound stayed low, almost private in the space between them, like it didn’t really belong to the empty training field around them. He gave a small shake of his head as he looked down at him with an expression that was equal parts fond and resigned.
"I should've known."
"You should've."
Max stayed where he was for a moment longer instead of immediately pulling away or jumping to his next comment like he usually did. That alone already felt slightly unusual.
Normally, he would have used the silence as an excuse to escalate into another joke or change the subject entirely, but instead he just tilted his head slightly while still leaning against Luis, looking up at him from close range.
"...Although..."
Luis immediately narrowed his eyes, the reaction automatic at this point, his shoulders tightening slightly even though he didn’t move away. He already knew exactly where this was going.
"No."
"What?"
"The look."
“That tone means you’re about to say something stupid.”
Max blinked at him innocently for a second too long, holding the expression like he was testing whether it would work, before finally shifting his weight slightly in Luis's arms.
“I was just thinking…” Max tilted his head innocently. “Carry me, strong boy.”
Luis closed his eyes and exhaled slowly through his nose, the kind of reaction that came from experience rather than surprise. His grip on Max adjusted slightly just to keep him steady while he processed the statement.
"There it is."
“What? I’m serious.”
“I’m sure you are.”
Max leaned back just enough to look at him properly.
“I’m just saying, what if I took my jacket off first?”
There was a short pause after that, not dramatic, just long enough for Luis to fully understand the direction this was heading and decide he wanted no part of it.
"..."
Luis looked at him flatly.
“…Why would that change anything?”
Max raised his eyebrows.
“It helps the idea.”
“It doesn’t.”
Max didn’t argue. He just kept looking at Luis like he was considering it seriously anyway.
Luis stared at him for another second, then shook his head slowly, like he was physically trying to reset the entire exchange in his mind.
"I hate you."
Max grinned instantly.
"No you don't."
Before Max could continue, Luis shifted his hold slightly and covered his mouth with one hand, not rough, just instinctive, like he was trying to stop the conversation from escalating further rather than actually silence him.
“Stop talking.”
Max looked up at him through his lashes with exaggerated innocence, completely still for half a second, as if considering whether to behave.
Then he leaned forward and licked Luis's palm.
Luis froze immediately, his entire body locking up for a beat as his brain visibly failed to process what had just happened. His hand stayed in place for a moment longer, completely unresponsive.
Slowly, very slowly, he pulled it back, his expression shifting in real time from confusion to disbelief to something like resignation.
"...Did you just—"
Max nodded once, very seriously, very proudly.
That was all it took.
Luis made a sharp, startled sound and yanked his hand away properly, staring at it like it had betrayed him. His shoulders tensed as he tried to process the situation while the Hatter boy immediately doubled over laughing, his balance giving out as he leaned instinctively into him to keep from stumbling. His laughter came in uneven bursts, like he couldn’t decide whether to breathe or keep laughing.
"Oh, your face—"
"I cannot believe you."
"You absolutely can."
He was still laughing too hard to stand properly, one hand briefly pressing against Luis's arm for balance while the other stayed loosely at his side.
The brunette stared at him for a moment longer, his expression caught somewhere between disbelief and reluctant amusement, before letting out a quiet laugh through his nose.
"You are unbelievable."
"I've been told."
Max was still recovering when Luis suddenly bent down without warning, quick enough that he didn’t have time to react properly or finish whatever he was about to say next.
"What are you—"
One arm slipped behind his knees, the other secured behind his back, and a second later he was lifted cleanly off the ground.
There was a brief silence where Max simply blinked, adjusting to the sudden change in perspective.
"Oh."
The taller boy straightened fully, holding him easily as if it required no effort at all, his expression calmer now even if his voice dropped slightly.
"Told you," he said after a second, like he was mildly aware of how this might look if anyone else had still been around.
Max looked up at him, letting out a short, incredulous laugh.
"Well... hello, strong boy."
The corner of Luis's mouth twitched upward.
"You started it."
He began walking across the field at an easy pace, carrying him without hesitation as if it was completely normal. Max, for once, didn't immediately respond. Instead, he looked around briefly, then back up at Luis, like he was recalibrating the entire situation in real time.
The Madrigal boy noticed immediately.
"You've gotten awfully quiet."
"I..."
Max cleared his throat.
He shifted slightly, then stopped when he realized it didn't change anything.
"...This is actually really attractive."
Luis simply looked at him for a moment before answering.
"I know."
That simple answer made the purple-haired boy pause again, like it confirmed something he wasn’t ready to fully process.
Max let out a small, defeated laugh.
"I had a whole speech planned."
“What happened to it?”
“You picked me up.”
Luis shook his head, unable to hide the amused look that crossed his face as he continued walking, the tension from earlier fully gone now.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Without question."
After a moment, Max seemed to get some of his usual confidence back. He shifted slightly in Luis's arms, then draped one arm loosely around his shoulders, settling more comfortably.
"You know..."
"What?"
"I still think you should try carrying me with one arm."
Luis glanced sideways at him, amused.
"You recovered quickly."
"I always do."
They reached the old stone wall beneath the tree at the edge of the training field. The sunlight there was softer, filtered through the branches above, and the noise from the rest of the academy felt distant again, like it belonged somewhere else entirely.
Luis finally slowed down and set him down carefully. Max’s feet touched the ground, but he didn’t immediately step away. Instead, he stayed close for a second longer, adjusting slightly as if reluctant to break contact. Almost immediately, his hand reached for Luis's again, fingers curling around his like it was automatic rather than intentional.
They sat down together without really discussing it, falling naturally into place beside each other. For a while, neither of them spoke. Max leaned slightly into Luis's shoulder, still holding his hand loosely while absentmindedly tracing small shapes across the back of it, while the brunette leaned back against the stone wall, watching the sky shift slowly above the rooftops in the distance. The quiet didn’t feel empty, just settled, like the conversation had paused instead of ended.
Eventually, Luis noticed Max looking at him again.
"What?"
"You have nice shoulders."
Luis sighed, but there was no real annoyance in it.
"I've noticed you have a thing for those."
"I do."
"And your arms."
"I know."
"And your smile."
Luis turned his head slightly.
Max wasn’t smirking this time. His expression had softened in a way that didn’t match his usual teasing rhythm.
"I joke around a lot."
"I've noticed."
"But..."
The Hatter boy squeezed his hand once, lightly.
"I really do like you."
Luis didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he shifted a little closer and leaned down to press a quick kiss to Max’s forehead.
The VK smiled softly.
"You're such a gentle giant."
"That's what you keep telling me."
When he pulled back, there was a small, easy smile on his face.
"I like you a stupid amount too."
Max’s grin returned instantly.
"Good."
A beat passed.
"So..."
Luis looked at him.
"So?"
"...My feet are tired."
The taller boy stared at him.
"They're not."
"They could be."
"Nice try."
Max smiled, looking far too pleased with himself.
"...Carry me?"
He looked up at him with exaggerated innocence.
"Come on, strong boy."
Luis closed his eyes for a brief second, already knowing he was going to give in, before bending down and scooping him up again with practiced ease.
"You are unbelievable."
"It's one of my better qualities."
Max immediately looped his arms around his neck as they started walking again.
"Knew that'd work."
"I can't believe I fell for that."
"You fall for it every time."
Luis shook his head slightly, but there was no real complaint in it.
"...You're making this very difficult to flirt through."
"I'll survive."
"Oh, I always do."
The purple-haired boy settled comfortably against him again, visibly pleased with himself, though softer now too.
"...Not even close to being done flirting, by the way."
Luis adjusted his grip slightly.
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me."
Together, still laughing under their breath, they disappeared down the path toward the dorms.