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“And where are you going?”
Max flinches before turning to face the source of that annoyingly charming voice. As if it wasn't bad enough that he got caught, of course it's Luis who's watching him with his arms crossed. He knew he should have just sucked it up and asked Hazel to cover for him.
“No, I-- this isn't what it looks like,” he says, putting his hands up.
Luis’ expression is unreadable. “What does that mean? What do you think this looks like?”
“Like…” He sighs, letting his arms flop back down to his sides. “Like I'm sneaking off to set up some evil scheme.”
Luis’ mouth twists into a grimace. “Okay, I can see where you're coming from. I totally would have said something like that before.”
Max has to run that back a few times in his head. “Before?”
“Yeah,” Luis says with no further explanation. “So what are you actually up to?”
He chews on the inside of his cheek. Luis wouldn't believe him, would he?
“I'm…” Max turns his head so he won't have to watch Luis’ reaction. “I'm going to get the Oraculum.”
“By yourself?”
“Yes. I mean, you saw how it went before. With that… madhouse,” he spits. “If I lead you guys into another trap, no one will believe me when I say it was an accident. I'll go to my father's cottage, grab the Oraculum, and show you once and for all that I'm on your side.”
Luis is quiet for a moment, and Max can't help but look over at him again. His lips are pressed tightly together. Finally he parts them to say, “I get it, but it's still too dangerous to split up. Your dad and that freaky little alebrije of a cat have been doing nothing but attacking us and trying to pit us against each other. If you go there alone, who knows what they'll do to you?”
Max goes to argue, but he finds it difficult against such solid logic. “That's… actually a good point.” He smirks a little. “Hey, look at that. You can have brawn and brains sometimes, huh, Madrigal?”
Luis levels a smirk of equal caliber back at him. “You of all people should know better than to judge people by their parents, Hatter.”
Max sobers. “You're right. Sorry.”
Luis steps closer and elbows him lightly in the ribs. “I'm just messing with you, man. It's fine.”
Max rubs at the spot, still feeling a bit meek.
“Anyways,” Luis says, putting his hands on his hips, “let's stick to the original plan. Tomorrow, all of us will go get that Oraculum. Together. And if anything happens…” he shrugs. “I'll back you up.”
Max gapes up at him. “Why would you do that?”
His expression softens. “Because I can tell you're being sincere.”
Max's brain stalls for a second.
“Come on, let's get some sleep for now,” Luis says, taking hold of Max's arm and starting to lead him back to the house. Back to the other HK's who wouldn't have been so understanding if they'd been the ones to find him out here.
“I--” Max shakes his hand off and takes a step back. “Sorry, I… Even if I'm not going to the cottage, I don't know if I'm ready to go back there just yet.”
Something clicks in Luis’ eyes. “Need a little more fresh air?”
“Something like that,” Max mumbles.
“Okay.” Luis takes a seat on one of the many giant mushrooms lining the path. He pats the space next to him.
Hesitantly, Max sits down. The mushroom bows slightly under their weight but doesn't break. He tips his head back, staring up at the stars, and takes a wavering breath.
They're both quiet for a few minutes, but eventually Luis speaks up again. “This isn't about fresh air, is it?”
Max has been trained not to show weakness by his time on the Isle, but he shakes his head anyway.
“We've been berating and accusing you this whole time. But you still want to protect us. You still want to prove yourself, and make everyone see the real you… even if there's a chance they never will.”
Max tilts his head back down so he can shoot Luis a sneer. “Jeez, go right for the heart, why don't you?”
Luis chuckles quietly. “Sorry. It's just--” he shakes his head. “You really are a good guy, aren't you?”
Max's painted nails dig into the fabric of his trousers.
A second later Luis adds with a snicker, “I mean, besides the klepto tendencies.”
Max doesn't quite laugh with him, but he does exhale sharply through his nose. “Well, yeah. That's what I've been trying to tell you guys.”
“Sorry I didn't listen to you sooner,” Luis says with a frown. “But I'm seeing it more and more, ever since we got to this place.”
“Wonderland tends to have that effect,” Max sighs.
“Really?”
“Yeah. It can help you notice things that were already in your subconscious.” Truth be told, he's probably spent more time at Auradon Prep than here at this point (He'd wanted to live here so badly, but the stares and whispers were even worse than they are in Auradon), but it's something he knows in his bones. Wonderland is an intrinsic part of him, even if he wasn't born here.
“Interesting,” Luis hums. He looks around at the multitude of colorful plants that seem to breathe in time with the two of them. “I think I know what you mean.” He glances back down at Max. “Have you been noticing anything?”
Plenty. Max has been noticing Luis’ arms, his eyes, his lips. His laugh. His genuinely kind nature. He already knew he was weak to all of those things, but he's normally so good at ignoring them. After all, there's no point in wishing for something that will never happen, because shooting stars aren't meant for villains.
“I guess,” Max says, a non-answer that still reveals too much.
“Like what?”
“N… nothing. Don't worry about it.” He ducks his head and starts picking at the hem of his fingerless glove. If he stares at the frayed stitching, Luis won't be able to see the panic he can't keep off his face.
“Max,” Luis chides anyway.
He grits his teeth. “It's fine, Madrigal. Just--”
A large, warm hand lands on his thigh. He freezes like a borogove that's been spotted by a predator.
“Hey.”
Slowly, Max looks up. Luis is closer than before. His dark eyes are all-consuming.
“You don't have to tell me anything,” Luis murmurs. “But if you want to… I'll listen.”
Max would respond if he could remember how to breathe. His traitorous heart hammers away in his chest, but he knows this isn't what he wants it to be. There's no way.
Luis sways another inch closer. There's no way…
“Is this okay?” Luis asks, even quieter now.
Max regains control of his body long enough to jerk backwards.
Luis’ eyes widen. He quickly backs up as well, a hurt look flashing across his face. “Oh. Sorry. I didn't--”
“Wait,” Max gasps, grabbing at his bicep. “Wait.”
Luis blinks, then moves closer once more. “Max?”
He swallows. “It's just… if I'm misreading this, or-- or it's some awful prank…” He shakes his head. “Is this real?”
Luis’ expression is deathly serious. “This is the realest thing I've ever felt about anyone.”
Max's heart stutters. There's no choice other than to lean forward and let his lips brush against Luis’. As soon as he does, Luis eagerly kisses him back. His lips are exactly as plush as they look. If Max is dreaming, he hopes his alarm won't go off for a little while longer.
They part after another minute or so. Even so, Luis doesn't move back very much at all, like he knows the effect his leaning over Max has on him. A half-smile plays across his slightly reddened mouth. Max can't help the way his gaze flicks down to it.
Luis chuckles. “You can kiss me again, you know.”
Max forces himself to look back up, a hot blush rising in his cheeks.
“If you want to,” Luis continues, his grin spreading. It's wide and self-satisfied enough to rival a Cheshire cat.
“Shut up,” Max huffs, but there's no bite to it.
Luis hums thoughtfully. “I mean… I definitely want to. But I want to kiss you all the time, so that's nothing new.”
The words are as shocking and searing as a blade to the heart. “What?”
Instead of answering, Luis cups the back of his head and pulls him into another feverish kiss. Max melts into it with a sigh, because he's a lovesick fool no matter how hard he's tried to hide it until now.
When they break away again, the quiet smack of their lips rings out in the night. Luis’ thumb rubs idly against his cheek.
“You…” Max starts, but the words die on his tongue.
“What?” Luis whispers.
“You really want me?” he croaks. “You want me?”
“Yeah,” Luis says, like it's the simplest thing in the world.
“Why?”
Luis snorts. “Fishing for compliments?”
“No, I…” Max reaches up, laying his hand over Luis’. “I just don't understand. Even other VK’s only tolerate me because they see me as a potential accomplice. People don't like-like me that way.”
“Their loss,” Luis smirks. “Even when I had the wrong idea about you, Hatter, I couldn't keep my eyes off you.”
He will absolutely lay awake later processing that confession, but-- “I'm serious,” he whispers.
“So am I,” Luis says, his voice softening in return. “I wouldn't have kissed you if I wasn't. I'm serious about this. About you.”
Max worries his bottom lip for a moment before daring to ask, “About us?”
A bright smile splits Luis’ face, like the first sliver of the sun peeking over the horizon. “Yeah. About us.”
Max lets out a shaky breath. “Wow. Okay.”
“Okay?”
Max nods dumbly. There's a lump in his throat.
Seemingly content, Luis slides his arms around Max's waist and buries his face in the side of Max's neck. It should be too intimate, too vulnerable, but Max lets him.
The press of lips against his skin nearly makes him regret that choice as he jumps a foot into the air.
“Luis! What-- you can't just--” Max stammers, trying half-heartedly to push him away.
“Can't what? Kiss you?” Luis giggles. “But I want to.”
Max's hands pause on Luis's shoulders. “There you go again.”
Luis sits up, but he looks so love-drunk it's almost sickening. “Hm?”
“I… I'm not used to this,” Max explains nervously. “No one's ever treated me like I was worth wanting. Like I was--” he gestures to the strong yet gentle arms wrapped around his middle-- “something to hold close. Something precious.”
“Then I'll have to change that,” Luis says firmly. “Let me cherish you, cosita preciosa.”
Max flushes again, even if he doesn't fully understand. “I think I can figure out preciosa from context, but…”
“Precious thing,” Luis smiles, resting his chin on Max's shoulder. “My precious little thing.”
“Right,” Max squeaks, eyes darting to the forest floor. “Of course. Toves and mome raths, you're going to kill me.”
Luis laughs at that, deep and full-bodied. Max can feel it reverberate through him from the contact between them. It doesn't help his blush.
They watch as fireflies begin to fill the air, flying in lazy circles around them.
“It's getting late,” Max says reluctantly. “We should probably…”
Luis peers up at him from under his dark lashes. “Do you want to?”
“The others--”
“Can wait,” Luis says casually. “You tell me when you're feeling sleepy, and we can head back.”
“You're crazy,” he says fondly.
“Look who's talking, Mr. Hatter.”
Max feigns at smacking him upside the head.
“Sorry, sorry,” he laughs, not sounding very sorry at all.
“Suuure.” Max traces the contours of Luis’ arm. (Sue him, he's been wanting to do that for ages.) “So… we'll go tomorrow, then.”
“Yeah,” Luis agrees. “Together.”
Max lets himself smile. “Together.”