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[silverhammer]

Max can't find his fucking phone.

After a while, after he's finally remembered and checked the pockets of his slacks and his coat, he realizes he probably dropped it. But he's sure as shit not going back near that bookstore to look for it. He's still on edge, even though he knows whatever happened down on that part of Park Avenue probably wasn't as big a deal as he thought it was.

He needs to head home though, needs to make sure he was just seeing things and it wasn't Pru there, as crazy as that is in the first place.

Somehow, though, he ends up at Brian's instead. He doesn't always call ahead, but today, it's not exactly an option. He knocks, running one hand through his hair as he leans against the door frame and tries to calm the hell down again.

Comments

[minimumbullshit]

"I know you can," Brian said, and for once, it wasn't flippant, it wasn't a dismissal. He truly believed that Max could handle it. Maybe not alone, and maybe not right away, but he never would've bothered with someone he didn't have at least some faith in.

"I never thought you couldn't."

[silverhammer]

This is the stuff they usually don't talk about. Or at least, the stuff that Max doesn't, because pretending it's not there's a hell of a lot easier. Or at least, pretending he's not pissed the hell off about it all.

Max says the words, says he can deal with it, but there's not a lot of conviction there. Mostly because days like today, he wonders if everything below the neck working just fine is enough to get by on. His expression softens as he looks up at Brian, and he sighs.

"I should probably go buy a new phone," he says, "My sister's gonna try to call once she hears about Pru."

[minimumbullshit]

It was bullshit. Max could've easily called from Brian's phone and gone out to get a replacement later, but if he wanted an excuse to get some fucking air, Brian wasn't going to stop him.

Nodding, he said dryly, "Well, if you decide to come back, we've got a rousing evening planned. Sesame Street, mac and cheese, Mega Bloks."

With Gus still babbling in his arms, Brian leaned down, pushing a hand through Max's hair and tipping his chin up into a brief but warm kiss. Lingering only for a second, he stepped away, heading into the kitchen to get Gus a snack.

[silverhammer]

Max only just took off his jacket, but he pulls it on again before pushing to his feet. He needs a cigarette or a joint. And he'll definitely go looking for some place to buy a new phone while he's out, even though he knows it's something that can wait. Brian's got a phone— and he thinks Lucy probably has the number— and from what Brian's said, Pru's fine.

But Max still needs a minute before he feels like a person again, and not just pieces of himself put back together the wrong way.

"Yeah. I'll be back," he says, "Maybe save me some macaroni?"

[minimumbullshit]

"Maybe," Brian agreed, glancing up from his search in the fridge to flash Max a grin.

Lifting one of Gus's hands in a wave, Brian said, "Say bye-bye, Sonny Boy." Waving enthusiastically, the kid let out a string of sounds, hitting on buh at least a few times.

"Close enough."