A/N:
Helloooo!!!
Enjoy the chapter! <3 ^_^
Charles' POV:
When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the unfamiliar softness of the bed beneath me, the weight of warm blankets cocooning me. My eyes fluttered open, heavy with exhaustion, as I squinted into the dim light. It couldn't have been later than 5:30 a.m. The room was still cloaked in darkness, a soft blue hue creeping through the curtains.
It took me a moment to register the warmth against my back and the steady rise and fall of a chest behind me. An arm was draped protectively around my waist, the gentle weight sending a flood of warmth through me.
I turned my head slowly, my heart fluttering when I saw Max's face, relaxed and peaceful in sleep. His arm stayed wrapped around me, holding me close as he dozed, his lips parted slightly.
I couldn't help but smile. Max looked so different like this, so vulnerable. His usual guarded demeanor was gone, replaced by softness and serenity. My head throbbed slightly as fragments of last night flickered through my mind. My eyes wandered to my arm, realizing I had no jacket on, the white bandage stark against my skin.
The memories flooded in. Last night could've been my last.
The realization made my body go cold, my chest tightening as tears threatened to spill. If Max hadn't been there...
I swallowed hard, pushing the thoughts away. I couldn't let myself go there, not now. Instead, I turned to face him fully, carefully shifting in his arms. His scent, a familiar, mix of cologne and something distinctly Max, wrapped around me, soothing the ache in my chest.
I rested my head in the crook of his neck, breathing him in, trying to anchor myself in the moment. The steady rhythm of his breathing calmed me, each inhale and exhale reminded me that he had saved me, saved me from myself.
Max stirred slightly, a soft grumble escaping him before his eyes slowly fluttered open. He blinked, a lazy smile spreading across his face when he saw me. Without a word, he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Good morning," he whispered, his voice rough and deep from sleep, sending shivers down my spine.
I blushed, my heart fluttering. "Good morning," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
Max's gaze softened as he looked at me, his hand gently brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "You look beautiful this morning," he murmured, his eyes warm and sincere.
I shook my head, a shy smile tugging at my lips. "You're the beautiful one," I whispered, my cheeks burning.
He chuckled softly, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand. "I love you," he said, the words simple yet filled with so much care it made my chest ache. "I love you too," I whispered back.
Max stretched, reluctantly sliding out of bed, and I followed, the cool air hitting me the moment I left the warmth of the covers. He glanced out the window, frowning slightly. "What time is it? It's still so dark outside."
I reached into my pocket, surprised to find my phone still there. I pulled it out, squinting at the screen. "5:16," I said quietly.
Max's eyes widened. "Why are you up so early?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.
I shrugged, looking down. "I... I don't know. I guess I couldn't sleep." My fingers brushed over the bandage on my arm, and I hesitated before asking, "What happened last night? After you... after you wrapped this up?"
Max's cheeks flushed, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "We... uh... we kissed," he admitted, his eyes meeting mine.
I felt my face heat up, a shy smile spreading across my own lips. "Yeah," I whispered. "I remember that part. What happened after?"
Max rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks still pink. "You laid down and fell asleep almost immediately. You were exhausted." His eyes softened. "I took off your jacket. I didn't want you to get too hot." He glanced away, a little sheepish. "And I also threw it in the wash. I noticed you'd been wearing it a lot at school."
His thoughtfulness made my chest tighten. I swallowed hard, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Max smiled, stepping closer and wrapping his arms around me, pulling me into a gentle embrace. "You don't have to thank me Charles," he murmured. "I'm just happy you're still here."
I felt my cheeks flush, the heat creeping up my neck as I whispered, "I'm sorry." My voice fragile as it escaped my lips. Thoughts of yesterday, the dark thoughts that continued to haunt me, they were clawing their way back.
Max stepped closer, his eyes softening as he tilted my chin up with a gentle touch. "Hey," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "Why are you saying sorry?"
Tears blurred my vision, my chest tightening as the words found their way out. I leaned into him, burying my face in his chest, my hands clutching desperately at his shirt. "I l-looked at you yesterday," I choked out, my voice barely more than a breath.
"And I told m-myself it would be the last time I'd ever see y-you." My throat felt constricted, the guilt almost too much to bear. "I almost-" My voice broke. I couldn't finish the sentence.
Max held me tighter, his arms strong and steady around me, like a forcefield against everything I was trying to escape. "Shh, Charles," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "It's okay now. I'm here, and I love you so much. You need to understand that."
He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes. His thumb traced the tear-streaked path down my cheek, his touch was so tentative, so gentle, I felt my heart lurch.
I nodded, the weight of his words sinking into me, but the guilt still treaded at the edges of my mind. His love felt like a light I didn't deserve. Max leaned down, pressing another soft kiss to my forehead, and for a moment, the world quieted.
He stepped back, walking over to his closet and pulling out a shirt. As he slid his pajama top over his head, I caught a glimpse of his toned chest, and my cheeks burned even hotter. I tried to look away, but my eyes stayed fixed on him, drawn to the warmth and strength he seemed to carry so effortlessly.
Max caught me staring, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips before he pulled a clean shirt over his head.
My heart was racing, as my cheeks flushed a dark crimson. "Do you want a jacket?" Max asked, turning to me with an easy smile.
My eyes widened. "You'd let me wear one of your jackets?"
He chuckled, pulling a jacket from the hanger and tossing it to me. "Of course I would."
I slid it on, the fabric soft and warm, the sleeves hanging far past my hands. It smelled like him, like safety, like I had his arms wrapped around me.
Max turned around and laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It looks massive on you!"
I smiled, a rare, genuine smile that felt strange on my face. "Hey! Stop laughing," I said, my voice soft but playful.
He stepped closer, closing the distance between us, his hands gently cupping my cheeks. "It's amazing to see you smile Charles." He said, his voice sincere. I looked down, overwhelmed, but he lifted my gaze back to his, his eyes searching mine.
He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to my lips. I placed my hands on his waist, as I felt him deepen the kiss. His lips were so warm against mine, it made me melt.
When he pulled back, he whispered, "Do you want to go for a walk before school starts?"
I nodded, unable to find my voice after our lips had connected. Max took my hand, his fingers lacing through mine, and led me out of the room. His grip was steady, anchoring me to him.
As we walked, our fingers stayed intertwined. The soft golden hues of the sunrise painted everything in a gentle, warm glow. The air was cool, crisp with the early morning chill, but Max's hand in mine kept me grounded, the warmth spreading through my veins.
I glanced down at our hands, my thumb tracing the edge of his. It still felt so surreal, like something out of a dream I was afraid to wake up from. My eyes wandered up to his face, catching the way the light danced across his features, highlighting the soft curve of his smile and the quiet strength in his eyes. My heart fluttered, a mix of awe and fear pressing against my ribs.
"Max," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. He turned his head slightly, giving me his full attention, his eyes soft but searching. "At school... are we... are we going to be open about this? About... us?"
He stopped walking for a moment, his hand tightening around mine as he turned to face me. His expression softened, the corners of his mouth lifting into a small, reassuring smile. "Of course, we are," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "Why wouldn't we be?"
I looked away, biting my lip. "I don't want to... I don't want to embarrass you."
Max's chuckle was soft, almost disbelieving. He reached out with his free hand, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear before his fingers lingered on my cheek. "Embarrass me?" he repeated, shaking his head. "Charles, you couldn't embarrass me if you tried. You're... you're incredible. Far from embarrassing."
I felt my cheeks flush, the warmth spreading down my neck. "But-"
He cut me off, his voice firmer now. "No 'buts' Charles. You don't get to think that. Not with me." His eyes searched mine. "You're not a secret, and you never will be. I'm so happy I'm finally getting to say this to you" he said, lifting our joined hands slightly.
A weak smile tugged at the corners of my lips, but the uncertainty was still with me. "What about Daniel and Checo?" I asked, still whispering.
Max's jaw tightened. He exhaled sharply, a mixture of frustration and resolve. "They can go get fucked," he muttered, his voice low and bitter. "I'm done with them. I don't need their approval or their opinions anymore." He looked back at me, his eyes softening. "I don't need them Charles. I have you."
Something inside me broke and healed all at once. His words settled deep, weaving through the cracks I'd tried so hard to hide. My chest felt tight, "You... you really mean that?"
Max's hand tightened around mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "I've never meant anything more," he said, his voice steady. "They were never really there for me. But you are."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them back, not wanting to fall apart again. I gave a small, shaky smile. "I don't know what I did to deserve you."
"It's not about 'deserving' Charles. Love doesn't work like that." His voice was soft, almost a whisper. "I'm here because I want to be. Because I need to be. I want to help you." I felt another genuine smile creep its way onto my lips.
Max was so kind to me.
A/N:
Thank you for reading! ^_^
<3
- amelia