"I hate your room so much, dad. It's so plain and boring. I thought you'd have at least a poster or something." Max said as he and the older man entered David's room. Max instantly face palmed, but before he could say anything, David spoke.
"Dad...?" He questioned.
"Shut up! Just...Shut up! You're so stupid." Max said, hoping that would distract David. A light blush had made its way onto Max's face. David either didn't notice, or he did and just wasn't responding to it.
"Now, Max, that's not a very nice thing to say. I need you to help me he-" Max cut David off.
"I know," Max said. "I need to help you help me. But I don't fucking want to. It's not like you can help me anyway. I can't be fixed. I'm permanently broken."
David frowned at that. He picked Max up and carried him to his bed. Max opened his mouth to speak, but David stopped him by pressing a finger to his lips.
"I don't agree with that at all Max! You aren't broken. Why would you say that you can't be fixed?" David asked, concerned. Max looked straight into David's eyes.
"My shitty excuses for parents told me. They said I'm a waste of time, space, and money. They've both said that they wish my mom would've had an abortion on multiple occasions. The whole reason I'm here is because they have better things to do than take care of a worthless little shit, a.k.a. me." David felt his heart shatter into a million pieces as Max said that. The worst part was, David could tell Max believed every word he said. He leaned forward and hugged Max tightly.
"I'm so sorry, Max." David said softly. Max just shrugged.
"Don't apologize for something you can't fucking fix, okay? What's done is done. It'll happen again when I go back home. It's not like they torture me or anything. They just hit me and yell at me when they get mad, which is pretty much every fucking day. It's no big deal, David. I'm used to it." He replied, gently pushing David away from him. David's eyes widened.
"They hit you?" He asked, shocked. Max looked confused.
"Don't all parents hit their kids? I mean, not everyday. Like, occasionally. When they're bad or something?" Max questioned in response.
"Do they hit you hard?" David asked, ignoring Max's question.
"Hard enough to leave a bruise. I still have a lot of them. They hit me in the same fucking places every time." Max answered. He seemed to hesitate before pulling up his hoodie and the shirt underneath. A large, dark purple bruise was splayed across his side.
"Take your shirt off." David said, trying to keep his voice steady. David had to see how much damage Max's parents caused him. He thought of Max as his child, and the fact that Max's real parents would hurt him made him mad.
"What? No. I don't see why you even care. Why can't you be like everyone else? It would be so much easier for both of us." Max said, looking out the window at the setting sun. Suddenly, his arms were being lifted and his hoodie was being tugged off.
"What the hell, dad?! Shit! David! Your name is David!" Max yelled angrily. David didn't respond, he just pulled Max's shirt over his head and laid it down next to his hoodie. With a soft sigh he examined Max's chest and stomach. He then turned Max around, his mouth falling open at the sight. Scars of all shapes and sizes littered Max's back, along with many bruises. David turned Max back around and hugged him again. Max leaned against David limply. David didn't even realize Max was crying until his tears started seeping through David's shirt. He started to pull away, but Max clung to him tightly.
"No, I don't want you to see me." Max said softly, tears streaming from his eyes. David stayed silent and gently rubbed his back. Max buried his face in David's shirt, inhaling and memorizing his scent. He smelled...nice. Safe. Like cheap cologne, different types of trees, and the warmth of a fire, if that were a smell. He smelled the way Max thought a da- A camp counselor should. It was comforting. Slowly, Max pulled away, his eyes red and puffy from his crying. David wiped away a stray tear.
"Max, I care about you, okay? I know you don't like me all that much, and that's fine. I just want you to know that I'll always be here for you. I won't let anyone hurt you. If I could take care of you everyday for the rest of my life, I would. I'll find a way to help you. I promise." David said. Bright aqua eyes met his dark green ones, searching for even a hint of a lie. Max found none, and he sighed softly, looking down. When he looked back up, he was crying again, but he had a smile on his face. He yawned and hugged David.
"Thanks, dad." Max said before he fell asleep.
"You're welcome." David replied, laying the child on the bed. As he tucked Max in, only one thing was on his mind.
Adoption.
