Reading between the lines

double dates send Max spiraling

Again, I promise I love Danny irl. I swear. 

And Max is going THROUGH IT. 

TW: abuse (past and present), self-harm, panic attack


***

"Oh my god, why is it so cold?"

"Because it's fucking autumn in England, Lando!" Max groaned, watching the younger man wrapping himself in his thin coat. One of those that were more for show than actually keeping the cold out, explaining all the shivering Lando was doing.

Lando cast him a dark glare, making clear that an actual answer was the last thing he wanted. The way his eyes slid down to the scarf around Max's neck and lingered there, made the Dutchman sigh. Of course.

With a more than grumpy expression on his face, Max slowly unraveled the scarf, already regretting it when the cold air hit the sensitive skin of his throat. He glared at Lando, who had begun smiling like it was Christmas morning, and then handed him the damn thing.

"Thank you!" Lando giggled, quickly wrapping the scarf around his own neck, almost drowning in all of the fabric.

"Yeah, yeah. Shut up now." Max rolled his eyes as he began walking faster, now more than eager to make it to Charles' and Oscars place as quickly as possible. "Bring your own one next time."

Lando seemed to be in a funny mood, skipping along to catch up to Max, buried up to his nose in the scarf. Max couldn't see it, but he was very sure that the Brit was grinning widely.

"I don't own one."

"What? How can you not?"

"You know, scarfs are kinda gay, mate."

Lando's voice was dripping with sarcasm, yet Max couldn't not snap his head around, his icy blue eyes fixating on the younger man. Something in Max was starting to actually get annoyed with him.

"Lando, you are ga-" He'd gotten a bit too loud, almost flinching when Lando patted him on the back.

"I know, mate. I was just joking around. Geez." Lando laughed, grabbing Max by the sleeve and dragging him along. "Now hurry up, grandpa. I want to see my boyfriend."

"Yes, yes..." Max whined.

Two days. Two days since Lando had gotten into a relationship and yet he'd managed to use the word 'boyfriend' so much, Max wanted to hang himself every time he heard it. Truly a skill only the Brit possessed.

Of course he'd had to tell everyone at work too, somehow managing to sneak his new relationship to Oscar into each and every conversation with customers, who of course had all been very happy for Lando. And after closing he'd gathered the whole team to share the happy news with them too.

To say Seb had been excited would have been an understatement. Their boss had barely been able to contain his excitement, holding Lando by the hands as they danced around in circles. Max even believed to have heard Seb say something about a wedding and kids.

Lewis and Daniel, while not having exactly as enthusiastic reactions as Seb, had been happy for Lando too, hugging him once their boss gave them the chance. Max had just stood on the side lines, watching them with a smile.

That had been until Lando mentioned the double date situation.

The feeling of two eyes boring into Max had made his smile turn forced, his focus on the conversation now including him strained. He hadn't even needed to check to know who it had been. Having Daniel pull him aside a moment later, grip around his wrist tighter than necessary, had only confirmed Max's suspicion.

Briefly Max had glanced towards the others to see if any of them had noticed, but their backs had been turned towards Max, Lewis and Seb caught up in whatever Lando had been talking to them about. Max hadn't been able to hear him over the ringing in his ears and he'd turned back to Danny.