The Change|| BxB

22. Unexpected Visitors

"That's cute! They're asleep!" Kyle's voice was filled with playful excitement as he tiptoed into the room with Paris, Kyle's girlfriend and Maxs friend who was more like a sister.

"Shhh, they're sleeping," Paris whispered back, her eyes wide with mischief. "Snap a photo really quickly though."

Kyle grinned and pulled out his phone, the camera clicking softly.

"Snap."

Valentino, who had been trying to rest on the other side of the room, was jolted awake by the noise. He turned his head to see Kyle and Paris standing at the edge of the bed, and his face twisted into a scowl. "What the fuck are you two doing? I'm trying to sleep here... and so is Max," Val snarled, his annoyance evident.

Kyle, with his phone still in hand, raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Yeah, okay boss," he said, his grin widening as he looked at Paris, who was holding his hand.

Paris stifled a giggle, clearly amused by the scene. Val got up from the bed with a mix of irritation and concern. As he moved towards Max, who was still half-asleep, he noticed the scratches on his back, a stark reminder of the previous night's events. Max stirred and groaned in discomfort, his shirt halfway off, exposing the marks.

"What is everyone doing here...?" Max moaned, his voice thick with sleep and pain. He turned around slightly, wincing as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Valentine looked down at Max and let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Looks like Kyle and Paris decided to drop by for an unexpected visit."

Kyle's expression shifted from playful to serious. "Just got back from dealing with some unfinished business," he said, his tone a bit more somber. "Had a run-in with the guy who took me. Ended up in jail for a few months. Not the best time, but it's over now."

Max's eyes widened with concern. "Wait, what happened?"

Paris, who had been standing quietly with a bemused expression, finally spoke up. "We're just visiting. I wanted you to meet Kyle, we started dating  last year, but I haven't  met his friends."

Max blinked slowly, trying to piece together the information. "Oh. Well, it's nice to meet you all. I'm... sorry for the mess."

Kyle chuckled. "Don't worry about it. It's been a crazy time for all of us. Just glad to be out and about again. And hey, the scratches on your back look like they were quite the adventure."

Max managed a weak smile. "Yeah, you could say that. It's been a rough few days."

Valentine put a comforting hand on Max's shoulder. "Let's get you cleaned up and then we can sort this out," he said softly, his annoyance fading as he focused on Max's well-being.

Paris took Kyle's hand and nudged him gently. "Come on, let's give them some space. We can catch up later."

Kyle nodded, still grinning, and followed Paris out of the room. Val helped Max to sit up and began assessing the scratches on his back, his focus shifting to making sure Max was alright.

As the door closed behind Kyle and Paris, Val sat down next to Max, a mix of relief and exhaustion washing over him. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Max nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just... a lot to process right now."

Val smiled reassuringly. "We'll get through it. Just take it easy and rest. We've got time."

In the quiet that followed, Max and Val found a moment of peace amidst the chaos. The unexpected visit had brought a surprising twist to their day, but in the end, it was the comfort and support they found in each other that mattered most.

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