Reconnecting Threads - Maxley Fluff, Angst and Murder Mystery

14 - Questioning.

Did that last chapter surprise you? I planned a lot of that lol (sorry for shorter chapters btw 😭)

Max stirs awake from his sleep, his eyelids stretching open to the morning sun on the summer morning. He takes a deep breath, memories of the night still clinging to his mind. He knew he couldn't stay mad. I mean. The night before was a rollercoaster. After he let Bradley in they cuddled and ate nachos. There's still cheese on his cheek. After that they had some.. fun. Whatever. He sits up and pulls his boxers back on.

Getting up, he turns the TV onto low so he can have something on in the background. He hates the quiet in the mornings. Especially after living with Goofy for 18 years.

The news flashes on at the ripe time of 8 AM the next morning. It's an emergency announcement to the TVs in the proximity of the Ohio State College. "Good morning and Breaking news. A man known as Tank Braxton has passed away at the age of 21 last evening. The authorities are investigating and are looking further into it. Although it may be an accident police are looking into the chance that his death was intentional. Rest in peace and live updates will be on our websites. Thank you."

Max freezes, dropping the plate in his hand as he was about to make bacon. What. The fuck. Tank is dead?! Really?! Bradley comes out the bedroom half asleep. "What was that loud noise Honey..?" Bradley says mid yawn.

Max slowly turns to face him, hands still positioned like he's holding the plate, twitching. It takes a while for him to actually open his mouth. "Tank. He's dead." He mutters out, hands slowly falling back down to his sides.

"What..? No he's not-" the news flashes on.

"We have gotten more information about the Tank Braxton incident. His death was at 9:13PM. He was found floating in a pool dead at a local frat party. An autopsy is going to take place. Authorities think this is a murder, they are going to question the leading suspects shortly where we will release more news on the case. Thank you."

Bradley freezes too, gulping down the large lump in his throat that only seem to come back. He killed him? Did he drown? Could Tank swim? Was he too drunk? The question soar around in his head, running around and with no answers, it's driving it insane. There's a knock at the door. The two of them in sync whip their heads to the dorm door, clearly shaken up still at the news.

Max snaps out of it before Bradley and slowly walks towards the door, trying to calm himself. At the door is 2 officers, one with a notepad, the other holding up his badge. "Officer Kane and Officer James here. Is this the residence of Max Goof and Bradley Uppercrust?" Officer Kane asks, lowering his badge.

Max nods. "I am he and Bradley is here too." His tone is more cold and disturbed.

"Can we come in and question you about last night please?" Officer James speaks up, getting his pen out and flipping his note book open.

"S-sure." Max guides them in, they take a seat at the kitchen table.

The 4 of them sit. Max reaches out a supportive hand onto Bradley's thigh. He grips it back, clearly very nervous.

Officer Kane starts to speak. "Were you at the frat party that took place at 8PM yesterday?"

Max starts to do the speaking. "Yes. Yes we were."

"Did you see Tank Braxton at this party?" The officer speaks as if he knows what's happened already but he wants to hear what that thought happened.

"Yes. Bradley would you like to tell them what happened..?" Max says, squeezing his thigh to comfort him.

Nonetheless Bradley swallows and tries to act smug. Officer James writes something down into the notebook. "Yeah.. we uh.. he approached me and we had an argument and.." He looks at Max for support, he nods as to say 'tell the truth Bradley.' "He pushed me and he was really drunk.. and I pushed him into the pool."

Both of the officers furrow their brows, Officer James scrubbing the words he states down into the book exactly. "And what were your past relationship with Tank Braxton?"

Bradley takes a deep breath. "He was my.. ex boyfriend.. and he kicked me out the Moo Moo Gamma futurity 2 weeks ago. I decided to.. bring Max with me to show off and things got.. heated.."

"Right." Officer Kane nods. "What did you do after you pushed Tank into the pool"

"I- We- I- I took Max's hand and started to run down the street. We argued because Max doesn't really like when I argued so I got him flowers and nachos and we.. had.. you know."

"No I don't son-"

"Sex. We had sex. All night." Bradley blurts out, embarrassed and tries to change the topic. "The flowers are over there if you want proof." He points to the red tulips, now in a vase.

Officer James continues to write in the book until Officer Kane signals him up. "Thank you for your time. We might call you into the office again for further questioning." And like that the officers disappear as quickly as they came.

Bradley lets out the longest relieved sigh as soon as they leave. Fuck. Max stands up and leans in to hug him. He pulls him into a tight embrace, wrapping his arms around Bradley's waist as he too stands up to hold him closer. He buries his face into the crook of Max's neck. He was so scared. He knows this isn't the end of his questioning but he handled it well.

"I am proud of you for handling that well.." Max whispers into his ear, trying to comfort him.

"Max..." he chokes out, gripping onto the back of his shirt to ground himself mentally. "They think I killed him Max.." he lets out another shaky breath, obviously being accused of murder isn't the easiest thing to go through.

"It was an accident Bradley.. they will understand.. you could count it as self defence.. tell them that.. I'm your whiteness..!" He states in a happy tone, trying to convince him everything will be alright when him himself didn't know. He gently strokes the small of his back and holds him close.

"Okay.." he holds him close too, voice shaking a bit.

"Why.. why don't we cuddle and watch something to calm your nerves, hm?" Max suggests before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.

A smile creeps onto Bradley's face. "Could we go.. to the skatepark.. maybe..?" He lifts his head up from Max's shoulder/neck area.

"Sure. Go get ready."

As they start to walk down the street to the park, they get.. weird stares. Enough to notice, and it really makes Bradley.. self conscious. He grips onto Max's hand a bit tighter, keeping his head hooked on the ground to avoid the stares. Reaching the skate park and starting up at the top of a ramp, Bradley spots a certain shitty group in the corner of the skate park.

The Gammas. They seemed to be circled in a corner of the park. He stops, and moves to the upper bit of the ramp to get a look. It's a.. memorial for Tank. His heart aches. He didn't mean to. He really didn't mean to. For fucks sake of his reputation isn't gone it is now. He killed his ex. He's a murderer.

Suddenly, one of the Gammas turn around and see him. "He's up there! The son of a bitch!" Everyone is looking.

Shit shit. Where's Max.. where's Max..?! He quickly grabs his board, climbing down the ramp as fast as he humanly can when 3 of his ex friend Gammas block the exit.

His ex team partner and Gamma member, Slouch, approaches him. "So you murder our new leader then think it's funny you turn up at his memorial place?!"

"I- I didn't do it okay..?! It wasn't me it was- was-" he has no excuse. He did it and he's a liar. He's stupid. Leave Bradley leave.

"You should be rotting in jail. You piece of shit." Someone yells from the crowd. Everyone starts to hurl abuse at him, left and right. Bradley can't take it anymore, he pushes everyone out the way, trying desperately to leave when just as he's about the reach for the gate handle he gets pull back by the collar.

From here, it's merged into a blur of loud noises, yelling, fists, stomping. Violence. He feels a pair of fists hold him by the shirt and bash into his chest.

Black.