August 13/Running into"old friends"/Ended

[andou]

Characters: SAX
Time: After this thread
Location: Court yard thinggy of the mall...somewhere outside but in the mall....help

This bro date was starting to look a lot like a real date. Sora had helped pick out a phone -- a simple silver one -- just like in one of those dumb girl comics that Sora had picked up once in a while. Girls went crazy for that shit right? He would be a bad male citizen if he didn't read a bit of it, most of the material was genius. Would that stuff work on Max too? The thought flew through his mind and startled the boy. What the fuck was that? Of course that shit wouldn't work on Max, he was a straight boy -- just like me.

Max confused him, in a way that was both frustrating and pleasurable. He was a guy, they were only good to stick it in, not to actually get feelings for. Feelings were for girls. Strictly for girls. Then why did looking at Max, flip his stomach. Why was it that every time Max's brown eyes meet his blue ones he was the first on to look away? Sora knew the answer, but refused to accept it. Not without a fight at least.

He looked up into the sky for some other answer, it was now a dark pink, swirling with deep violets and navy blues, the brink of twilight. There had to be another answer, an answer that didn't point to liking Max romantically. There was none. Frustration twisted his gut, and forced air out of his lungs.

Bring his eyes back to Max's chestnut colored hair he spoke, "So what do ya wanna go eat?" He smiled, nudging his 'friend' with his shoulder, "Remember, I'm buying."

[Max]

Max turned his new phone over in his hands, several times, looking at the ground as he walked with Sora. Their night had gone great until they mad their way outside -- Max still wearing Sora's jacket and feeling worse about it every moment. Don't you dare try and give it back. Max groaned inwardly --, both boys had suddenly grown quiet, thoughtful.

He slipped his new phone in to the pocket of his jeans, his nervous habit of toying with things tended to annoy people, and, now, it was annoying Max himself. Sit still, you idiot.

The blonde was looking at the sky, Max noticed as he glanced up at his friend. Sora sighed heavily, and Max suddenly got the feeling that his roommate didn't want to be there -- with him -- as much as he had earlier. That terrified him. Max didn't want Sora to leave, nor did he want him to have to force himself to hang out with the brunette.

His stomach stopped flipping nervously, and began to gnaw at itself. Max wanted to blame that on being hungry, but, glancing up at Sora again, he understood that that couldn't be the case any longer. He couldn't quite name the feeling, but it wasn't a mere feeling of 'friendship' anymore. Something stronger. Admiration, maybe?

"So what do ya wanna go eat?" Sora asked, pulling Max out of his thoughts while the blonde's easy, carefree smile made a comeback and he nudged Max's shoulder with his, their hands nearly touching at Max's side. The brunette looked up at him. "Remember, I'm buying."

A half-smile tugged at Max's lips as he looked at his friend. The teen hummed noncommittally. Max wasn't a picky eater, which probably came from the fact that he was used to eating only once or twice a day, but now, nothing was coming to his mind. "Uh, wherever you want, I guess, I mean, since you're buying, you should pick, right?" He babbled, the nervousness that had dissipated coming back to him at an alarming speed.

The shorter boy could have sworn he heard someone calling his name again, but he didn't dare look away from his roommate, just in case there actually was someone shouting for him. Max wasn't going to let his paranoia turn the night in the wrong direction. Max liked being with Sora, and he would do whatever he could -- even battle with his own conscious about more than one subject -- to make sure neither of them were uncomfortable,

Reaching up to tug lightly on Sora's sleeve, Max said, "Let's go over there," nodding to some fast food joint that looked out of place in the mall, but Max didn't care. He wanted to be somewhere out of the open, he wanted something to get rid of the dry feeling in his throat, and, more importantly, he wanted to be with Sora.

[andou]

"Uh, wherever you want, I guess, I mean, since you're buying, you should pick, right?" Max sounded a little nervous.

Sora raised an eyebrow to the nervous tone. Was he still afraid of those guys showing up? You shouldn't be because I'm here. He almost said the words out loud, but thankfully held it in. If those guys did show up, Sora was ready to take them on. He was almost completely healed from Ren's beating, and already in tip top shape. The bruises on his face were gone, leaving it brand new. Some of the bruises on his body were still healing, but they didn't hurt when you touched them.

Sora's hands were still in his pockets, he leaned back keeping his cool demeanor, "Eh, I'm really not in the mood for anything in part--" Sora whipped his head around at the sound of Max's name being called. His body went into fully alert, scanning the crowds for the source of the sound, "I could have sworn I just heard your name being called." His voice trailed off, when he saw Max completely ignoring it. The name had been called loud enough, Max definitely heard it, but... he was choosing to ignore it. Sora wouldn't ruin that for him.

A shock of electricity ran through his body as Max tugged on his sleeve. The gesture was so adorable that Sora had to take a second to recover, not hearing anything Max had said. The blonde's feet followed Max's lead and followed him. His heart was beating loudly in his ears and he knew, Fuck. I like him don't I? Sora wanted to smack himself but, what was the point? He hated lying, especially to himself. If Sora liked Max... it wasn't that big of a deal right?

There was something wrong though. The sound of quickly approaching feet behind them was starting to annoy Sora, spinning on his heel he turned to face the strangers who were obviously following them. All nice guy drained from him, "Can I help you ladies?" He growled, standing tall. The glint in his eyes was deadly, and he was almost hoping for them to be who he thought they were. His fists were itching to be pressed into their pitiful grins.

[Max]

The brunette tore his eyes from Sora upon hearing his name again, glaring at the floor. He wanted to die, curl up in a ball and die. The boy couldn't move, couldn't think. Max's heart on the verge of pounding out of his chest, and that was for a number of reasons. Sora, so close, people shouting at him, for him, there was a rushing sound in his ears and he suddenly felt very uneasy. Ignoring it all, the boy continued forward, Sora slightly behind him, but still close enough for Max to know he was there.

That's all I ask. Just... stay.

Running footsteps sounded behind the two boys as they walked in the direction of the fast food joint Max had pointed out. Sora spun around to face the people behind them, straightening his back. Max paled, turning around slowly, half of him hidden behind the blonde boy. "Can I help you ladies?" Sora snarled. Peeking around him, Max saw the blonde's narrowed eyes.

His gaze moved at an agonizing pace to look toward the people that had approached them, praying to whatever Gods were listening that they would be a bunch of random classmates, but a part of Max knew better. A part of him expected this, sooner or later, he would have to face those two, Satsuki and Takashi, but no amount of preparation would have readied Max for something like this.

The boy's breathing picked up again as he looked at them, trying to find the words to confirm that it really was them, and Max wasn't simply going insane. "T-Taskashi... S-Satsuki... I-I..." he stuttered, reaching blindly for Sora. His fingers clutched at the fabric of his roommate's shirt, trying to tug him away, far away. from the two boys standing in front of them.

Satsuki remained silent, a smirk that made Max want to throw up stretching across his lips -- the same smirk that he wore when... oh god --, while Takashi cocked his head at Max, wholly ignoring Sora's presence. "It's been a while, Max," Takashi said, his voice dripping with something sickeningly sweet and arsenic.

Max stepped forward, pressing the right half of his body to Sora's back, his hand still clutching at the taller boy like he would disappear at any moment. The brunette wanted to tell him that they needed to run, leave, quickly and not look back, but the only thing that left his mouth was a quiet whine. He was terrified, and the two boys staring them down knew that.

"S-Sora..." Max said. He bit down hard on his bottom lip, nearly drawing blood. There was already a bad taste in Max's mouth, but the taste of blood, in this moment, would have made the boy vomit.

[andou]

"T-Taskashi... S-Satsuki... I-I..." Max's voice trembled from behind him, his hand suddenly at his back. So these were the bastards. Their very presence was enough to make Sora's hands clench into fists. his blood simmering. How dare they show their faces? Sora was meant to be here today. Teach these dick heads who not to mess with.

"It's been a while, Max." the light haired one spoke. Sora's eyes narrowed, and he took a protective step in front of Max, as if to be a wall between Max and the two enemies. Sora's stomach turned with hatred, the sizzling taste of rage lingering in the back of his throat. Max's terrified cry for him was the sign, it was okay to beat the shit out of them.

"Don't fucking talk to him," Sora warned, his glare only intensifying. "Talk to me. I'm Sora, and I would say it's nice meeting you but I'm no good at lying." Taking a confident step forward, Sora grinned madly and looked down at the two punks.

The dark haired one spoke up now, "Who's this kid? He your boyfriend, Max?"

"And if I am? What the fuck are you going to do about it?" Sora took another step, the wild grin splitting his face. All of his nerves were jumping. He wanted to hurt them so bad, repay for the bruises they left on his Max.

"Good for you!l The one that he guessed was Satsuki grinned, -- Fuck. Sora wanted to slap that grin off his face. "He's good at sucking dick, especially if you force him, he doesn't bite or anything. Isn't that right Max?"

That was it. Before Sora could even think, his fist connected to the shorter kid's face with a loud crack. Everything Sora saw was more vivid, adrenaline pumping through his veins. The thought of Max being forced to do something like that made his blood boil. His body was on fire, ready to throw more punches. Even though the punch he just threw was a doozy for even him. Opening his hand slowly, he shook it off, and clenched it again. Taking another step Sora smirked at the boy -- now on the floor. "Are you going to shut the fuck up and leave? Or am I going to beat the fucking shit out of you?"

[Max]

The words coming from Sora were jumbled when they registered with Max, despite how close he had wedged himself to the blonde boy. "Don't fucking talk to him. Talk to me. I'm Sora, and I would say it's nice meeting you but I'm no good at lying." Sora growled again, his tone final. Max had never imagined that Sora could sound like that. If the roles were reversed -- one of them clinging to the blonde and Max trying to make a scene out of a past discretion... No. The mere thought of Satsuki or Takashi laying a hand on Sora was out of the question for Max.

If he wasn't such a fucking coward, Max would step in and fight them off himself -- or give it his best college try. The brunette knew he wasn't capable of fighting those two again... the last time had nearly killed him. Sora took a step forward, and Max's grip loosened, his hand sliding slowly back to his side.

"Who's this kid? He your boyfriend, Max?"

Sora answered immediately, taking another step forward. "And if I am? What the fuck are you going to do about it?" Max wanted to follow him, to back him up, but his feet wouldn't move. All of the poking and prodding from his conscious mind couldn't get him to move. Max was frozen, about to witness his best friend risk life and limb to protect him.

The teen's stomach leapt to his throat.

"Good for you!" Satsuki said, grinning like a madman. Max could tell he wasn't completely in his right mind. "He's good at sucking dick, especially if you force him, he doesn't bite or anything. Isn't that right Max?"

Max inhaled sharply, "Fuck," his eyes darting hurriedly to Sora. When they had swapped stories a few days earlier, Max hadn't divulged the part that involved Satsuki... shoving himself into the brunette's mouth and claiming it to be the 'final test.' Not long after Max had rinsed his mouth out with an old, half-empty Vodka bottle had he hit the dark-haired boy so hard his mouth bleed.

There was a loud crunching sound, followed by something hitting the ground. Max blinked, clearing his eyes of the pooling tears that he wasn't even aware existed. Crumpled in a heap on the ground was Satsuki, clutching his jaw, Takashi standing near him, looking at Sora like he had just murdered the dark-haired boy.

"Are you going to shut the fuck up and leave? Or am I going to beat the fucking shit out of you?" Sora asked. Another step.

With a dark, liquid chuckle, Satsuki pulled himself up from the ground. He never refused a fight. Please, let him have forgotten the gun today. Max pleaded silently. Coherent thoughts were finally coming back to him. The brunette stepped forward after Sora, close enough that, if necessary, he could pull him out of the way and take off running.

Thankfully, running wasn't Satsuki's strong suit.

"Still can't fight your own goddamn battles, huh, Max?" Satsuki asked him, spitting a mixture of blood and saliva onto the concrete below him. "You're fucking pathetic. And, you blondie," he never knew when to shut up. Everything that popped into his head in moments like this needed to be said out loud. "Where the fuck do you get off? This kid" -- he gestured to Max -- "doesn't need a damn babysitter! He needs someone to teach him a lesson."

Takashi remained silent next to his friend, smirking fiendishly and chuckling at the spar in front of him. He never spoke a word when things like this unfolded around him -- not then and not now -- only watched on with mild curiosity. His eyes were sparkling with something akin to jealousy, and, right then, in that moment, Max had never wanted to see someone he once considered a friend in pain so badly.

[andou]

"Still can't fight your own goddamn battles, huh, Max?" Satsuki said. Sora beamed in pride as the boy spat up blood. The maniac grin on Sora's lips only grew deadlier and wider as he kept talking. Keep fucking talkin'. he thought in amusement.

"You're fucking pathetic. And, you blondie, where the fuck do you get off? This kid doesn't need a damn babysitter! He needs someone to teach him a lesson."

Sora stared at the boy with dark amusement -- you really want to do this. Keeping his blue eyes smoldering toward them, Sora unbuttoned his vest and shrugged it off, "You must have a fuckin' hearing problem. Didn't you hear me tell your little friend over there not to speak to Max? What?" Sora cackled, as he rolled up his sleeves, "Did you think you were exempt from that rule. Look, fuckface, I don't think you know who you're talking to."

He pulled off his beanie and pushed it gently into Max's hands. "Keep that safe for me, Maxxie." He said low enough for only Max to hear, his voice returning to normal for that split second, before he turned his attention back to the bullies.

Sora walked right up to Satsuki, they're chests inches away from each other, and glared down at him, the sick broken smile alive and well, "I'm Sora Takahashi. The one that's going to teach you a lesson." His voice dripped with venom.

The blonde was a good fighter, he had beaten bigger and better opponents than these jokes. Sora giddily grabbed Satsuki's shoulders and pulled him closer, as he slammed his knee into the kid's groin. "Now there's nothing to bite down on." He hissed into the kid's ear, before throwing him into the ground. Of course Sora forgot about the other kid. By the time he had remembered to look in his direction, the fist had already connected to his cheekbone.

Sora wavered, taking a step backward and laughing. He wiped the blood off with the back of his arm and looked at the other kid, "That's all you got?" He spat before taking another punch to the face. As the boy recoiled, Sora took his arm and twisted it behind the boy's back. They were starting to cause a scene, and people were beginning to gather but Sora could really care less. In fact, the crowd pumped him up. This rage was exhilarating. He could feel every nerve tingling, every single one told him to break this kid's arm in two.

[Max]

The blonde pulled at the buttons of his vest, pushing it off of his shoulders. "You must have a fuckin' hearing problem. Didn't you hear me tell your little friend over there not to speak to Max? What?" Sora laughed maniacally, and Max would have been frightened of him had he not been on Sora's side of this fight. "Did you think you were exempt from that rule. Look, fuckface, I don't think you know who you're talking to."

He took his grey beanie off next, turning to Max, all traces of malice gone from his voice for a moment, the regular Sora returning as he spoke to Max in a low voice, handing him everything he had just taken off. "Keep that safe for me, Maxxie."

"Wait, Sora -- !" The brunette tried, but he wasn't quick enough. Maxxie.

Sora moved forward until he nearly bumped chests with Satsuki, who was still smirking around a mouthful of blood. "I'm Sora Takahashi. The one that's going to teach you a lesson." The blonde sounded completely sinister, yet another thing Max wouldn't have expected could come from his roommate. If Max ever managed to anger the blonde like this -- please God, let me be unable to do so -- it would be like living that last night at the warehouse all over again.

The real fight began out of nowhere, Sora grabbing Satsuki's shoulders and kneeing him straight between the legs. He whispered something in the black-haired boy's ear then tossed him to the ground like trash. A second passed before another loud crack was heard, but this time it wasn't Sora's doing. Takashi had launched himself forward, his fist slamming into Sora's cheek.

Taking a step backwards and wiping at his mouth, Sora asked, "That's all you got?" Another hit connected with the blonde's mouth, but Sora was quick to react, snatching Takashi's arm and bending it behind the other boy's back. Max let out another strangled cry. How many times was he going to have to see Sora hit?

Help him. Help him!

Max was screaming at himself, but nothing he did would make him move. There were people all around them now, watching, some recording it. Sick fucks! Max hated that he could do nothing other than stand there and hold on to Sora's stuff -- his knuckles going white as his grip intensified --, he felt useless, swaying where he stood as he watched Sora fight for him -- yet another thing he had no idea would happen in a situation like this.

The black-haired boy was pulling himself up of the ground again, shaking in what Max assumed was anger. There was no way Satsuki was going to back down any time soon, but what Max didn't understand was why. Just leave me alone! Leave us alone. But that would never be the case. All of this -- the blood on the pavement, the eventual bruises overlapping with the already-healing ones on Sora's cheeks, the war between the three old "friends" that would never end -- all of it was Max's fault, another weight on his shoulders.

"Sora, look out!" he shouted as Satsuki moved forward toward the blonde. His voice sounded faint behind the rushing sound that flared up in his ears again. Max refused to take his eyes off Sora as he fought, something wild in the blonde's eyes -- a fierce kind of protectiveness -- that kept Max from looking away for even a moment.

[andou]

Sora really wanted to break Takashi's arm, and he was just about to but Max's voice pulled him out of his rage. "Sora, look out!" he screamed.

Takashi let out a blood curdling cry as Sora settled for popping the other boy's arm out of place, leaving him writhing on the floor. He turned to approaching enemy, his eyes zeroing in and bracing himself as Satsuki through himself at Sora. They went tumbling to the floor in a heap of battered limbs, Sora ending up on the bottom of the fight.

The blonde spat up into Satsuki's face, as the dark haired boy looked down at him attempting to match his maniac grin. Satsuki straddled Sora, purposely squeezing his knees into Sora's ribs. He held in the gasp of pain, as Satsuki punched him, "Who's going to teach who a lesson?"

Sora's laugh sprayed blood all over his opponent, "I try to warn you and you just still keep coming back for more. I'm still teaching."

Getting out of this type of hold was easy, one of the first things you learn when you fight. Sora blocked the next punch, throwing up he knee on Satsuki's right side, he him tipped over. Fuck. his ribs hurt, he wasn't as healed up as he thought he was. Jumping to his feet, Sora went to end this fight.

He had to blink away the dizziness that came with the pain in his ribs before he grabbed Satsuki's dark hair, pulling him off the ground. He turned his bloodied face toward Max. "You see Maxxie over there? If you're ever even in the same facility of him again, I will fucking kill you." His voice dripped with finality, and murderous intent. Sora wasn't finished though, the fight wasn't over until Satsuki was also writhing.

Dropping Satsuki's face back to the pavement, Sora grabbed a hold of his leg and pulled it back, until he heard the popping he waiting for, the scream following it. Music to his ears. Dusting off his hands, the blonde took a step back, to admire his work.

Turning to Max, he smiled, bloodied and bruised, just like the day they first met. "We should probably go before Mall security shows up." Sora said, in a kind sincere voice that Max could only bring out of him. "Come on." He said lowly, taking Max's hand and dragging him through the crowd.

[Max]

Takashi's screaming echoed off the walls, breaking past the terrible noise of waves in Max's ears. He winced, nearly bringing his hands up to cover his ears against the sound. In the next second, Sora and Satsuki were on the ground, the dark haired boy sitting atop the blonde. Everything looked eerily familiar.

Max could feel everything that he felt that night all over again, the horrible squeezing pain. He tried to shout for them to stop, but, for the third time, the only thing that escaped him was another hurt whine. The brunette took one measly step forward -- his nails digging in to the palms of his hands, wrapped around Sora's hat and vest -- but it wasn't enough.

The blonde spat at Satsuki from underneath him, blood speckling the black-haired boy's face. "I try to warn you and you just still keep coming back for more. I'm still teaching." Sora blocked the shorter boy's next attempt at a punch, flipping Satsuki over so that he was in control now. The blond escaped easily, pushing himself up and pulling Satsuki up by the hair behind him. He turned to give Satsuki a view of Max -- whose eyes were still wide and breathing shallow.

"You see Maxxie over there?" Sora said, nodding at the startled brunette boy. Maxxie again. "If you're ever even in the same facility as him again, I will fucking kill you." Anyone that could see the look in Sora's eyes knew he was completely serious, his tone let that fact slip as well.

Sora dropped the boy, letting him fall back to the ground before reaching down at grab his leg. Another awful popping sound resonated around the group of people. The blonde stepped back, wiping off his hands before turning to Max and smiling. "We should probably go before Mall security shows up." Sora told him, but Max didn't notice that he was being spoken to, his gaze locked on the bruises starting to form on the blonde's body. "Come on." He said, voice low again. Sora took his empty hand, pulling him through the crowd.

The two boys weaved between the people that had gathered around them. Max casting a fleeting glance at Satsuki and Takashi, still on the ground, faces twisted in agony. They were only visible for a moment as Sora tugged him further away. Rounding a second corner, Max dragged them to a stop, standing in front of the blonde.

"Sora..." Max whined, hands shaking. The boy moved to pull Sora's beaning back on to his head. Hazel eyes grabbed on to the gaze of blue eyes and held on for an eternity, or, maybe only a few seconds, but Max couldn't tell. A shaky hand raised to the blonde's face, fingers ghosting over a new bruise on his cheek. "I'm... I'm sorry." The hand dropped away, and his eyes dropped back to his shoes. Useless again. "You didn't have to do that, I could have taken it."

Max blinked away a second batch of tears, glaring at his shoelaces now. A wrenching pain twisted in his gut. He was the cause of all of this -- Satsuki and Takashi being angrier than they were before, but, more importantly, Sora being bloody and bruised again. Max couldn't bring himself to look at his roommate in that instant. The blonde had done so much for him -- more than anyone ever had -- in a such a short period of time, and Max still had no idea how to thank him. He felt awful, like he needed to be hit, but, instead, Max reached for Sora again, grabbing the bottom of his shirt and making a fist in the fabric.

"I'm so sorry."

[andou]

He had to get Max away from there. If the cops showed up, not only would Sora get in trouble, Max was there too and the last thing Sora wanted was to drag him into this. Now that he was starting to get in control of his thoughts, he inwardly winced at his actions. Maybe he took it too far. He didn't even want to know what Max was thinking about him now that he had seen him go berserk. The blonde hissed almost inaudibly, his free hand gently pressing against his throbbing ribs. Something wasn't right but but he tried to ignore the pain, pushing through the crowds. Farther. Farther. They needed to get farther.

He would have kept going had Max not pulled him back. Winded and wounded Sora looked at Max with drained blue eyes. The raging electricity had left his veins, leaving him tired and in pain -- not that he would ever let Max know that. You never want to look bad in front of the person you like. "Sora..." Max's whine sent a pang through Sora's chest. His hands were trembling as he reached up to him and placed his beanie onto his head, Sora was the frozen one now. A new kind of electricity buzzed through his veins, instead of the exhilarating hype that came with fighting. It was a gentle hum that spread throughout his limbs, warming him up despite the frigid weather.

"I'm... I'm sorry. You didn't have to do that, I could have taken it." Sora blinked. He was sorry? For what? Max's knotted fists at the base of his shirt, and apologized again. His heart lurched at the sight of max's tears as they caused dark circles on his shoes.

"Hey hey," The blonde whispered as gently as he could. He shook out his rolled sleeve and placed it over his hand, using the other one to put under Max's chin bringing him to face Sora. "Why are you sorry Maxxi-- Sorry.. I shouldn't call you that right?" He smiled, licking the blood on his lips. "I wanted to do that to them. Don't be sorry."

[Max]

The blonde whispered something to him, a sudden shaking, and then Max's chin was being lifted up, his eyes level with Sora's again. Through the blonde's soft smile, he looked entirely drained. Another stab hit Max in the stomach. He sniffed, trying in vain to stop the tears from slowly trickling out of his eyes.

Sora looked at him for a moment, causing Max to feel entirely exposed, like his roommate knew exactly what he was thinking. That I couldn't stop him from getting hurt because of me. Max wanted nothing more than to rewind time and step in for Sora. He'd give anything to never see the blonde hurt like this ever again.

"Why are you sorry Maxxi-- Sorry... I shouldn't call you that right?" His smile returned, his tongue darting out to lick the blood from his lips. Max started at him, his tears slowing their fervent pace. "I wanted to do that to them. Don't be sorry."

That was the third time Sora had called him that. Maxxie. Even thinking about it caused a warm, stirring feeling in Max's stomach. He tried to smile at the blonde, but it was an immensely weak smile. The life had been drained from both of them, it seemed.

"You can call me that," Max said, looking directly into Sora's eyes, his weak smile growing slightly. "Only you though." he said, chuckling once. The brunette brought his free hand up and encircled Sora's wrist, lingering there for a small moment before moving his roommate's hand away and placing it back at his side, tugging lightly at the end of his sleeve. "If this hurts, you can stop me," Max told him, a beat of silence echoing between them as he stepped forward and wound his arms around Sora's neck, pressing himself lightly to the blonde.

Max's forehead rested on Sora's shoulder, a few more tears falling to decorate Sora's shirt. He stood like that for a long time, gathering the courage to speak again.

"Don't get hurt because of me," the boy's voice was shaking as much as he was. "It's not worth it, but, thank you, so much." Max pulled away then, locking eyes with Sora again. The tips of Max's fingers brushed over the bruise under the blonde's eye. "That's going to hurt like hell in the morning."

Even though he was trying to hide it -- and had been doing a damn good job of it up until then -- Max saw the pain in Sora's eyes. He winced, averting his eyes for a second. The warmth in Max's stomach seeped upwards, pawing at his heart. The brunette was finally starting to understand what that unnamed feeling was. Attraction. Looking at Sora again, Max knew. He knew that he liked him.

END.