Tʜɪs Fᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ Wɪʟʟ Pᴀss(ᴍᴀxʟᴇʏ)

ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴡᴀʟᴋ (sorry for the time skips i suck at fillers 😭)

Tw: abuse, homophobia

It was a bit late when Max decided to go on a night walk to clear his thoughts. He slipped on comfortable clothes and his shoes and walked out the door. Max couldn't stop thinking about his conversation with Bobby. Bobby saying that Bradley might like him back gave him a bit of hope.

Max walked to the park and noticed none other than Bradley sitting on a park bench

Max felt his heart skip a beat as he spotted Bradley sitting alone on the bench in the park. He hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to approach him.

But curiosity and the pull of his emotions got the better of him, and he walked quietly towards the bench.

"Hey," he said tentatively, trying to keep his voice casual, "mind if I sit with you?"

Bradley looked up "sure, I don't mind" Max gave a small smile, relief washing over him as Bradley didn't object to his presence.

He sat down next to him, leaving a small gap between them. They sat in a moment of comfortable silence, the only sound being the occasional cricket chirping in the distance.

Max couldn't help but steal glances at Bradley, admiring his profile in the soft moonlight. Bradley noticed his glances Bradley looked at Max from his side and smiled at him. Max felt a flutter in his chest as Bradley looked at him and smiled. He quickly turned his gaze away, embarrassed to be caught staring.

"I couldn't sleep," he blurted out, trying to fill the silence. "Too much energy, y'know? Decided to go for a midnight walk."

"Yeah I get that" Bradley said as he leaned back on the bench "my dad was being a bit of an asshole and I didn't wanna see him tonight" Max could sense there was more to Bradley's words than he was letting on. He could see the tension in his body and hear the strained tone in his voice.

He wanted to ask more, to offer him comfort and understanding, but he didn't want to pry if Bradley wasn't ready to talk.

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said gently. "Family stuff sucks sometimes." "Yeah it really does.. " there was a big pause after that. Bradley awkwardly placed his hand over Max's. Max's heart thumped in his chest as Bradley placed his hand over his. He stared down at their hands, unable to believe the simple gesture.

He swallowed hard, trying to find his voice amid the swarm of emotions he was feeling. "Are...are you alright?" he managed to ask, gently turning his hand up to intertwine his fingers with Bradley's.Bradley turned his gaze to Max "yeah I'm all right, I think" Bradley said as he squeezed Max's hand. Max felt a pang of sympathy in his chest as he heard the uncertainty in Bradley's voice. He could tell that he was holding something back, that he was wrestling with his emotions. He returned the squeeze, gently running his thumb over the back of Bradley's hand in what he hoped was a soothing gesture. "You sure? You don't have to tough it out alone, you know. I'm here if you need to talk."

"God, I don't deserve this..i don't deserve you" Bradley said as he let go of Max's hand and placed both of his hands on his knees. Max felt a pang of sadness as Bradley pulled away, the absence of his hand on his suddenly feeling like a loss.

He frowned, worried by the self-deprecating remark. "What do you mean? Of course, you deserve this." He inched a bit closer, wanting to offer comfort but not sure how Bradley would react. "You... you deserve kindness, you deserve support. You deserve good things, Bradley."
Bradley wiped the tear away that fell from his eye as he chuckled. Bradley didn't know what the flutter in his chest was "thanks, you goof"

Max's heart clenched as he saw the tear roll down Bradley's cheek. He ached to reach out and wipe it away himself, but he respected the distance Bradley had put between them.