DISASTER GAYS: The Miraculous Adventures of Max and Sawyer (NAME PENDING)

Ch. 7 - Sleep

Sawyer's couch, despite the dust and the stains, looks particularly inviting.

"Good night, Soy," Max whispers, kissing his brow softly.

"This is nice," mumbles Sawyer, crawling so he's lying flat on Max's chest. "So soft."

Max presses his nose to Sawyer's hair. "Well, looks like someone smells a lot cleaner. What shampoo brand was that?"

"3-In-1," says Sawyer, almost shamefully. Then, "I fucking hate 3-In-1."

Max chuckles. "I know how much you care about your appearance. But to me, you look good even when you're high out of your mind and haven't showered in weeks."

"Even these fugly pimples, huh."

"I have them too; don't call me fugly," scoffs Max. "I thought I was a pretty boy."

"You are," whines Sawyer dramatically, "Can you please let me wallow in ugliness for a second?"

Sawyer feels his partner's chest heave with a sigh of frustration. "Whatever, Soy. Whether you think you're ugly or not, I'll always treat you like the most beautiful thing in the world."

Sawyer harrumphs with an air of attitude before snuggling up, his nose and mouth pressed to Max's throat. A red mark still remains on the soft flesh and he soothes it, stroking the inflamed skin with the back of his hand. He feels Max smiling into his hair, his breath ruffling it slightly, and the other man rests a chin on top of his head. His scalp tickles from Max's rough stubble.

Sawyer's hand comes up to comb through his partner's loose gray locks, massaging the smooth dog ears. The sweet, low hum of satisfaction that spills from Max's lips tells him that his ears are sensitive enough that he can feel Sawyer's fingers pressing upon the metal.

"Max?"

"Yeah?"

"I know this isn't the best time. But what are we gonna do about RêverEnd? Tomorrow's gonna be same old, same old. For me, at least."

"... Sawyer. My goal for tonight was to make sure you never spared a thought about that awful thing. Please tell me you weren't anxious about this during our time together."

"I wasn't then. I am now."

"Then I'm not being the best boyfriend, am I? Partner's already worrying about how he's gonna deal with tomorrow, rather than how he's gonna deal with me."

"The hell do you mean by that?"

Without a word, Max pulls him in and kisses. Deeply. Unlike RêverEnd's wires, a tongue in his mouth daily is something that Sawyer wouldn't mind working with. Max is slow and patient, moving his lips in sync with Sawyer's, yielding the intensity of the kiss to the other man. He doesn't touch Sawyer's neck and waist until Sawyer manually moves them there, and gives Sawyer multiple chances to break the kiss. He never does.

Max has only been here for a few hours. And Sawyer has never felt so loved.

As Sawyer sighs into the kiss, Max breaks them apart gently, adding another one to the corner of his lips. "There. Now go to sleep. And I'll handle whatever happens tomorrow." And, like nothing had transpired between them, he dims the lamp and dozes off.

For the first time in years, Sawyer sleeps comfortably.

~~~

In the heavy darkness, Max's golden eyes flash wide open with a jolt.

Shit.

He'd forgotten about his mission.

Shakily, Max pries himself from Sawyer's grasp. The other man grumbles something unintelligible and grips his shirt. He swiftly replaces his missing body with a pillow and strokes Sawyer's forearm until it relaxes. With trembling hands, he digs the hidden Tone kit from one of the garbage bags, opening it to reveal a set of portable, emotion-cleansing wires.

The wires pulse, shining faintly, the harsh blue light illuminating Max's widened eyes. He stares at Sawyer's peaceful form.

He's smiling softly, humming and cradling the pillow. Max is numb at the sight of this. RêverEnd's voice echoes in his head. If you don't bring me a sufficient product by the end of the week, you're never seeing that man again. I'm giving you a chance to prove you aren't a coward. Don't squander it.

Oh, God.

Hahahaha, hahaha, ah... Fuck, Max. I missed you so much. It's been so long since I've been happy.

Is he... really in love again?

No, Max thinks. No, I just pity him, that's all.

Sawyer needs to feel even a little happiness, even if Max is going to take it away at the end.

Before he can think of anything else, he quickly shoves the wires into his ears and mouth, feeling the joy from that evening slowly ebb away. Shame floods him a moment later. He is a coward.

Tomorrow, he lies to himself. Tomorrow, he'll complete what he was sent here to do.

A/N: Sooooo do you see what's happening now? 😬 Max... isn't actually completely in love with Sawyer. He was supposed to make Sawyer happy each day, then take that happiness at night while Sawyer slept. Instead, he took his own happiness so that Sawyer could keep his. Oh boy, I hope Max's decision won't lead to unintended consequences in the future...