Hiraeth (Maxian)

❝Hello?❞

When Max arrived at the address he was given, he couldn't help but sympathize with Ian, seeing the small apartment. The outside of the house's vinyl siding has been overgrown by ivy and weeds, it was obvious no one has tended to it for quite a long extent of time. Avoiding the overall gloomy and ominous qualities the apartment seemed to possess, Max quickly made his way to the door. The crisp white paint lacked hue and was peeling in thick sheets from its wooden planks, the door was slightly ajar. Max, growing more concerned by the minute, gently pushed open the door, desperately trying to avoid the inevitable squeak the ancient wood made. He knocked slightly on the already open door, and opened his mouth to loudly whisper, "Hello?" but the first syllable barely passed his lips when he saw Ian, slumped into the couch, presumably asleep. He quickly ran over to him and woke him, his main concern was ensuring his safety.

"Ian?" Max gently shook the boy's shoulder, as to not wake him too abruptly. Ian's eyes slowly fluttered open. He grunted at the sunlight flooding his view from the open door.
"M'sorry, I fell asleep again," his words slurred together slightly as he rubbed his eyes, glancing around yet again at his trashed apartment, he muttered, "sorry this place is such a shithole.."
Max's hand lingered on Ian's shoulder as his breathing slowed, "You scared me."
"What, did you think I was dead?" Ian feigned shock, "After all my family is paying for hospital bills I can't go back that quick," Ian smirked at his own crude humor.
Max was less amused, "where's your bed?" he asked, "If all you want to do is rest right now, at least go to your bed."
Ian stared into his lap as he mumbled, "don't have one."
Max was shocked. Ian was bad, he was only going to decline. He couldn't continue living in this, well, shithole.

"Is there anyone you could stay with?" Max was fairly certain he knew the answer, but figured it was worth a shot, "A family member, close friend?"
Ian looked back up at Max with a pair of sad, lonely eyes, "No, Max. I'm totally alone."
Max sighed, that's what he was afraid of. "I'm not entirely sure if it's against the physician-patient rules, but I want you to come stay with me, even if it's just for a few days. The conditions your apartment are in are genuinely unlivable, and I want to be able to monitor you more closely, because I don't want anything to happen to you."

The authenticity of the hope painted on Ian's face was enough of a "yes" to Max as any.
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we got two chapters out today lads! once again i can't even begin to describe my extreme appreciation of all the positive feedback from this story, love you all <3
-xx