For Maxxie

[reformingfury]

It's strange to be on the receiving end of flirtation after what he's done to Maxxie, but right now, Dave will take it. Even if he really does think he needs to pay the dancer back from the crap he pulled when he lost his memories. It might not have been his fault that the island made him forget the past three years, but it is his fault that, at any point in his life, Dave decided to stop being a decent person for the sake of popularity and normalcy.

He's just glad that Maxxie doesn't actually think that he deserves punishment beyond what he chooses to put on himself. Maybe. Dave isn't exactly a master at figuring out someone's intentions every time.

"So, what do you think retribution tastes like? Breakfast foods, pasta or stir fry?" he asks the other boy as he goes through what is available in the pantry. His cooking knowledge is still pretty limited, but at least he's improving with lessons. Before it was a pick between making a sandwich, frying eggs and praying they don't burn or microwave dinners.

Comments

[reformingfury]

"Not as bad as it could have been. He just asked if that's what all the shit with Kurt was about and said he's glad I was able to be honest with him. Even if it was a bit late." He clearly pauses after flipping the new pancake. "My mom was the one I was worried about, actually. She cried and locked herself up, but... she said she'd try."

[just_dance_it]

Maxxie winces and doesn't bother trying to hide it.

"Sorry, dude," he says gently. "At least she said she'd try though. That's.. more than some people would do."

[reformingfury]

He nods. "...Anderson showed up from stuff after I had arrived here. I can't shake that something bad happened and he's not talking. Kurt said it probably is just me, but I dunno."

He turns back to his cooking, finding this one a little burnt around the edges. Dave makes a mental note to take that one. "I appreciate mom for saying that she'd try, but I wonder if she managed to. She's all... super religious."

[just_dance_it]

Maxxie stares at the skillet, the pancakes, Dave's hands, once again chewing on his lip before he speaks.

"My best friend, back home. He's Muslim. Not that it really mattered most of the time. He drank and he smoked and tried fucking desperately to get laid. If he wasn't passed out or had a bad hangover, he'd tried to get up for prayers." Maxxie pauses and turns his gaze to his hands in his lap.

"Then one day he decides it matters. Just the part about being gay, though. That it's sick..." Again, he pauses, shutting his eyes now and rubbing his forehead. Remembering Russia and everything that happened there is a big headache. The only reason he's telling Dave right now is because he thinks it matters, might matter, even if the religions are different. Because it's his mum and that's important.

"Anyway, we fell out for like... weeks. I didn't go to his birthday party, even though he wanted me to. I just sort of.. stood outside, waiting for him to apologize. His dad's like... legit Moslem, super religious. But he's always liked me and he came out while Anwar and I were talking. And I just blurt it out, you know? 'Cause I'm tired of Anwar backing out. And he just says, you know... there's things he doesn't get. Things in the world that he doesn't understand. But he just lets 'em be because he knows one day his God's going to explain them to him. So he didn't care. He still liked me. He still wanted me to be friends with Anwar. I can't imagine that's easy for him but... it's not impossible, you know?"

[reformingfury]

Dave listens to Maxxie's story and, selfishly, wonders if that would be him and Az if he ever came out in Lima. Wonders if he got that support after Anderson's story. He hopes it is, though he highly doubts it, and he envies Maxxie while being glad for him.

"You are so lucky in that. I take it you and Anwar patched things up after that? 'Cause if he didn't, he's totally missing out."

He flashes him a small smile, finding that he's liking more of Maxxie with how open they're being about their pasts. Bay is wonderful, but her story, while hard, will never run parallels to his experiences. And Kurt is too much of a linked history, he doesn't want to burden the boy. But Maxxie is opening up a lot here and he's beyond appreciative. If he could punch himself and make a point to the guy he used to be for the shit he pulled against the dancer for no good reason, Dave would do it in a heartbeat.

[just_dance_it]

Maxxie catches sight of the smile and it warms him, relieves some of that tension that comes from retelling a difficult story. He smiles back, falling into his usual easy-going cheerfulness.

"'Course we did," he says, playing at a confidence he never, ever felt when fighting Anwar. "He's not stupid enough to miss out on this as a best mate."

He shakes his head. "We were even going to move in together. Me and James and Anwar, in London. How's that for a turnaround?"

[reformingfury]

He's glad for that and turns back to the little but of pancake batter left in the bowl, still listening to Maxxie as he finishes up.

"James?"

[just_dance_it]

"Boyfriend," Maxxie supplies. He huffs out a dry laugh, not really amused but not really melancholy either.

"First one and I lost him in coming to this place."

[reformingfury]

"Oh, shit. I'm sorry, dude." Dave has yet to ever have a biyfriend, so he can only imagine how pissed he'd be in Maxxie's situation, arriving here. "This fucking place, man..."

[just_dance_it]

Maxxie shakes his head and shrugs.

"It's alright. We'd hadn't even been together two months. It was just the.. the novelty of it, you know? Lot of little disappointments when I came here. But some awesome things too so... I can't really complain."

And he means that, too. For as much as the island hassles them and for as much as Maxxie wants to be back home living his life, what he's got here isn't so bad either. So he won't complain without acknowledging the good in the same breath.

[reformingfury]

"Yeah, I get that." In spite of getting hit with the whole thing with the hallucinations and his amnesia, and finding out that even in an alternate universe, Kurt will probably never even consider dating him, the island has been good to him in many way. "Hell, I still miss my folks, but even with the bullshit, this place is still lookin' better than fucking Lima. Just needs more ice."

[just_dance_it]

Maxxie huffs out a soft laugh and says, "That's what the beach is for, mate."

His gaze drifts down as he thinks of his own parents. God, how he misses them. Shaking his head, Maxxie pushes away the thought before the ache crushes down on his chest.

"More I hear about Lima, the more shit it sounds."

[reformingfury]

Dave laughs when he realizes hus lack of clarity. "Didn't realize people skated on water. Maybe someone can show me how?"

He divides the finished pancakes, sliding the less burnt ones to Maxxie.

"Honestly, I'm kinda dying for it to be winter here. Danny's told me about the snow and shit, and that actually has me a little homesick. Even if not many people would be willing to play hockey with me, I'd just be happy being in a pair of skates again."

Part of him wants to say it isn't likely as bad as he and the clerks make it sound, but then again, they don't call people there Lima losers for nothing.

"We make due. And I'm sure there's a lot fucking worse out there. But it ain't. Easy if you're not at the top or part of the norm, that's for sure."

[just_dance_it]

Maxxie blinks and takes a second to make sense of Dave's comment, then huffs out a soft laugh. That wasn't at all what he thought he meant, but he gets it.

He slides off the counter and grabs the plate obviously meant for him. After setting it down on a table, he spins and moves to the fridge.

"It ain't easy anywhere if you're not like that. D'you want anything to drink?" he asks, opening the cabinet that hides the glasses and mugs.

"I'd play hockey with you," Maxxie adds with a smile. "I'd be utter shit at it, but I would."

[reformingfury]

"If you see any juice in there, I'll have that. But I'll get coffee if there isn't."

Dave grabs their utensils and looks around for the honey he knew he saw earlier. When he finds it, he sets it on the table with the flatware and napkins.

"I mean... I know it'd be tough anywhere, but at least other cities have a bigger idea of what the 'norm' is, right? Boston totally doesn't have the same ideas that Lima does about what's cool and shit."

He smiles at the idea of Maxxie joining him on the ice. Dave wonders how well the other boy can skate. He knows how well the guy can dance, so he's got good balance for sure. But it's hockey, and it's him, so he raises a brow. "You sure there, dude? I mean, that'd be totally awesome, but unless you're on my team, I'm definitely checking you."

[just_dance_it]

Maxxie grabs a jug of something brightly colored -- guava, he guesses -- and pours them each a glass.

"'Long as you don't go to the wrong parts of Boston," he says, shrugging. He's got no clue what Boston's like, of course, but everywhere's got its rough spots. People are people. But he's not arguing with Dave's point. Anywhere's gotta be better than Lima, just like he thinks London would be better than Bristol.

He sets the glasses down on the table, then sits down himself, pulling one folded leg up onto the chair. "Sure I'm sure," he says with a grin. "Checking me. That's like checking me out, right?"

[reformingfury]

Sitting down himself, Dave tries the juice and finds it sweeter than what he's used to, but not at all unpleasant. He'll just have to go easy on the honey.

He rolls his eyes at Maxxie's teasing question, though he laughs a little dryly. In a fucked up way, checking Kurt into lockers was a way of checking him out. Part of his terrible, homophobic flirting. But he doesn't want to dwell on that.

"Depends. Do people normally check you out by shoving you on the ice against a wall at high speeds? Seems like a hassle when I could just eye you up."

Dave manages to waggle his brows as he cuts up a bit of his food and brings it to his mouth, pleased with how his cooking came out.

[just_dance_it]

Maxxie hides a snicker with the back of his hand, but he's secretly pleased with the reply. He never hides who he is, but around people like Anwar, straight guys who aren't 100% cool with themselves, or people incapable of processing a lewd remark, he tones it down. But it's more fun to flirt, to be open, to play. Problem is, every single guy he would play with, even with no agenda, is with someone at the moment. Completely innocent though it may be, after this last month and his previous experience, Maxxie's not keen to press his luck. He checks some of his comments.

He was a little worried that it was too much for Dave too, that the blushes would never fade. Though Maxxie does like the blushes, he doesn't want to make anyone genuinely uncomfortable. The waggle of eyebrows is, strangely, more reassuring than funny.

"Depends," Maxxie counters with a shrug, cutting up his pancakes. "What would you do with me once you had me pinned? That might be worth it."

[reformingfury]

Dave laughs hard, enjoying the flirtation. Even if pert of him finds it weird after weeks of him being a jerk. It feels... good. And different from when it happened with Neil. It's definitely less tense than he would have been before coming to the island. Probably something else he should be grateful for, even if the place is completely fucked.

"I'm not sure."

There are a ton of possibilities that could happen if that were to actually happen. Dave can't even pretend that he wouldn't be interested in acting on some of those possibilities with Maxxie. The boy is pretty hot, after all. He can feel the blush in his face rise again. Dave tries to not lose his teasing smile as he answers, but his gaze moves back down in slight embarrassment.

"Probably steal the puck and check on you after I score."

[just_dance_it]

"Wanker," Maxxie laughs, managing only the slightest touch of indignation in his tone.

"Are all athletes as heartless as that? Or is it just American hockey players?"

[reformingfury]

"Just on the ice, man. Well, at least for some of us. And I'd come for you, still."

Davee takes a sip of his juice and eyes Maxxie again as he continues.

"Hell, maybe I'd even kiss it all better if I really hurt you. Maybe."

[just_dance_it]

"Maybe," Maxxie echoes, lips curving wryly and gaze latched onto Dave.

"Would I have to look really pathetic? You keep talking about kissing things better, mate, but I don't know if your kisses are that good."

[reformingfury]

His free hand clutches at his chest in mock pain.

"Woah, ouch. You sure know how to get a guy down. How do you know they aren't?"

As soon as the words are out of his mouth, Dave realizes that that could be taken as a challenge. He gulps a little nervously.

[just_dance_it]

In another set of circumstances, Maxxie would be on that. He would be smirking, leaning in, asking for proof. The temptation's there even now, but it's much easier to hold back than it should be.

Most of the guys here aren't like Maxxie. Dave isn't like Maxxie. He's had so many snogs, he can't remember half their names. On the scoreboard of experience, Maxxie's dominating Dave. He's learned from others to tread a little more carefully with that in mind. It matters, too, because Maxxie doesn't feel quite ready. A couple shots of alcohol or another joint would reassure him that he's over Marshall and Tony, but even a second of hesitance makes him doubt himself.

"I don't," he says with an easy shrug, attention dropping to his plate. "But not even my kisses can heal wounds, and they're fantastic."

[reformingfury]

Dave feels a bit of relief that Maxxie doesn't act on his comment. Not that there isn't a bit of disappointment in the mix too, but he knows that's a lot of his frustrated hormones in the mix. He just got his memories back after trying desperately to get over Kurt's rejection. Deep down, he knows he's starting to move on; the way he's acted in the past month made for a nice emotional distraction at the very least.

But he's not going to jeopardize his growing friendship with Maxxie by jumping right into kissing when things are still so uncertain. It was different with Neil. It was fully understood what that was. He doesn't think that he'd handle the aftermath of that with just a little bewilderment.

"Nah, probably not. But I'm sure you'd feel better afterwards, before getting checked on for real. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."