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Chapter Text

Max sat at the back of the bus next to Lachlan. He sported his usual blue hoodie and jeans; a scowl covered his face. Lachlan had his arm around Max, reading some book about old people. "I still don't get why we had to come here." Max huffed.

"Yeah, you do." He replied, not looking up from his book. His circular pink-yellow ombre-tinted glasses fell down his nose. Max pushed them up for him.

"I just wish we could've stayed home..." He leaned into him. Lachlan held him closer.

"Haven't heard you call it a home before." He commented, finally looking up, he took off his glasses.

"Well, you know what I mean. It's called a group home, ya know." He emphasized the 'home' part. He sighed. "What are you reading anyway?" Max asked.

"Great Gatsby." He answered, placing his glasses back on and staring at the page.

"I've heard he was only a pretty good Gatsby." Max smiled.

"You might be right about that one." Lachlan laughed, planting a kiss on Max's head. "Will you be okay seeing your friends again?" He asked, looking back up.

"I guess. Will you? With... you know... hiding this..." Max asked.

"Not anything new, is it?" He smiled.

"No, no, I guess not." Max pondered for a moment. "We can be less careful though..." He suggested.

"Oh?" Lachlan had a cheeky smile as he pulled Max even closer than he already was.

"Alright, alright, keep it in your pants." Max chuckled as they sat normally again. "I mean we can actually be affectionate without the other foster kids fuckin' narking on us. Without the staff being dicks."
Max always liked physical affection from Lachlan. He didn't like being affectionate himself, but he couldn't get enough of Lachlan's touch.

"Being dicks? You mean putting us in different group homes?"

"Exactly."

"Okay, good to know." He smirked. "What about your friends? What if they question us?"

"We're just guys being dudes." He smirked back. "It's not like we're gay." He snickered.

Lachlan leaned in. "Yeah, we're just really good mates." He closed the gap and kissed him. "Love you." He whispered.

"Love you too, Locky."

They felt the bus stop and the quartermaster mutter "Kids are here."

Max held Lachlan's hand down the aisle of the bus before disconnecting once they reached the door. Max groaned as he saw who was waiting for them.

"Well, hello Max! It's been too long!" David yelled in his usual cheery greeting voice. "And a new camper! You must be Lachlan! Welcome to Camp Cambell, I'm David, one-half of your camp counsellors for the next three months." He reached out to shake Lachlan's hand.

"Jesus, you weren't joking." He whispered to Max as he shook his hand. "Yeah, hi, good to meet you. Heard a lot about you." He smiled. "All good things, all good things."

"Gee that's good-" David began.

"Alright, enough of the greetings, camp man. Where is our tent?" Max interrupted. "Also, uh, does anyone know I'm here?" Max muttered.

"I thought it would be a neat surprise for the campers, so I asked Gwen to not say anything." David grinned.

"Lovely." He said sarcastically. He didn't really know what he would have preferred. Either way, explaining where he's been and why he went radio silent was gonna be a pain in the ass to explain. Lachlan put his arm around Max's shoulder and leaned into his ear as they walked behind David.

"Stop worrying, love. I've got you." He pecked his cheek. He was good like that; it was like he could read his mind.

"Over here is your tent, Lachlan." David pointed. "You'll be sharing with Harris-"

"No, we're sharing a tent." Max interrupted; annoyance laced his voice.

"Well, Max I thought you'd want to share with Neil," David spoke.

"You thought wrong!" Max shouted. His anger issues still apparent.

"Max, love. It's alright." Lachlan said, his hand that previously hung off his shoulder now weaved in his hair. Max sighed into the touch.

"Right, sorry." He mumbled. "Sorry, David." He apologized.

"Uh, yeah it's okay." He stumbled, confused by the sudden turnaround.

"Is there a way we can switch and share a tent?" Lachlan began. "I get nightmares and Max helps with it, it's on my file." He decided to take the bullet and admit that so they could stay together. He still cringed at his honesty.

"That's understandable, I'll just have Harrison move to Neil's tent." David smiled wide. "While I get that sorted how about you show our new camper around, Max?"

"Yeah, sure. Thank you." Max muttered, grabbing Lachlan's hand and pulling him to the forest. Once they got there, Max made sure they were out of sight. He pulled Lachlan down to his level to kiss him. He sighed happily into his mouth. He spoke once they parted. "I need a smoke."

"Bacci or wacky?" He smiled.

"I should be sober when I see the gang," Max explained.

He handed him a cigarette. "Sharsies, we gotta ration." They handed the cigarette back and forth for a couple of minutes before spraying deodorant on themselves.

"I'll show you around camp if you want." Max shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Nah let's just stay here for a bit." Lachlan leaned Max against a tree.

Max laughed. "Yeah, this is a way better idea." He smiled as they connected lips.

Chapter Text

They detached from each other after around 10 minutes to return to the campsite. "I suppose you ought to show me around now," Lachlan suggested. His fingers loosely intertwine with Max's as they walk.

Max groaned. "You know how much I hate nostalgia." He leaned into Lachlan resulting in him moving his arm around Max's shoulders.

"Yes, but if I'm going to be staying here for 3 months I'd rather know where I eat and shit." He replied.

"Yeah, I guess." Max sighed, grabbing earphones and an iPod nano from his pocket. He placed an earphone in his and Lachlan's ear and played Tears Over Bears by Modern Baseball.

"Your music taste isn't helping those arsehole allegations, you know." Lachlan laughed.

"People think I'm an asshole regardless." He smirked back.

"You're right about that, I like you though."

"Obviously," Max replied. "Alright, so here's the activity place, also known as outside." Max led him through the campgrounds. "That way is the stage." He pointed.

"You're such a good guide." He commented sarcastically.

"This ugly building we are standing in front of is the mess hall." Max ignored his comment. "Over there is the lake and the tents." He vaguely points in the direction of the location.

"Wow, that was underwhelming." He chuckled.

"Yeah, you get used to that feeling here." Max smiled cheekily.

"So, are you ready to stop stalling and see your friends?" Lachlan asked.

"I wasn't stalling..." Max kicked some dirt, looking down. "Alright, maybe I was."

"It'll be fine." He smiled reassuringly.

"Everyone's gonna comment on your accent," Max said. "It's gonna piss you off."

"It'll piss you off more than anyone, love.

"Well, if people weren't so fuckin' nosy we wouldn't have a problem." He shoved his hands in his hoodie pockets. "Let's just get this over with." He took off the earphones and separated slightly from Lachlan. "Stay by me, okay?" Max asked.

"Course."

They opened the doors to the mess hall to be met with chaos. Everyone was older yet still acting like the same little kids he once knew—no new campers in sight.

Gwen was preparing to catch Spacekid who was on the shoulders of Nikki who was on the shoulders of Nerf. They appeared to be trying to catch a gecko from the ceiling. Neil stood by them with a look Max recognized as his 'Mad Scientist' look. He whispered while clasping his hands together. "Get the specimen." Gwen looked stressed as usual as she tried to stop the hijinks. David stood freaking out next to Gwen.

Harrison appeared to be sitting with Nerris arguing about something, Preston watched them as if he were studying them, taking notes every so often. Max figured it was for a play he was working on. Dolf accompanied them silently drawing. Ered leaned on the wall scrolling on her phone, giving Max a simple nod.

Max grumbled. "I hate nostalgia." he let the door close behind them. Lachlan simply laughed at the chaos.

That was enough to alert the room of their presence. The room stared at them in shock and confusion. You could hear a pin drop.

"Max?" Neil finally said.

"Max!" Nikki yelled in excitement tossing Spacekid off her shoulders and into Gwen's arms as she flipped off of Nerf's shoulders. She ran up to Max to hug him. "Where have you been!?"

The rest of the campers aside from Ered who kept leaning against the wall walked up to Max and Lachlan. "Did you know about this David?" Neil asked.

"Why yes I did, Neil! I figured it was a good surprise for you all!" He replied cheerfully.

"I seriously have no idea why you thought that." Max exhaled.

"Where have you been, Max?" Nikki repeated.

"Around." He answered curtly. Neil had a somewhat hidden frown on his face as he crossed his arms.

"It's good to see you, man," Harrison spoke.

"Is it?" Max joked and fist-bumped him.

"Who's this?" Nerf asked, referring to Lachlan.

"I'm, uh, I'm Max's friend. Lachlan, pleased to meet you all." He explained.

Nerf had a look of confusion on his face. "What the fuck language are you speaking in?"

"You what?" Lachlan asked, smiling in shock.

"I- I have no idea what you are saying," Nerf responded.

"Ignore him." Max groaned. "He's an idiot."

"Hey!" Nerf yelled offended.

"What's 3 times 7?" Max quipped.

"Whatever." Nerf quieted down.

"Where are you from, Lachlan?" Gwen asked.

"Sheffield." He replied.

"Where's that?" Spacekid asked. "Like Texas?"

"Does he sound like he's from Texas, dumbass?" Max squinted annoyed at Spacekid.

"Language, Max!" David scolded.

Lachlan put his hand on Max's shoulder. "It's South Yorkshire." Confusion still shrouded Spacekids face. "England." He concluded.

"Woah! That's so cool!" Spacekids eyes lit up.

"Not really, but I like your enthusiasm." He chuckled.

"Alright enough questions, David have you sorted the tent situation out?" Max asked.

"Not yet, I was just about to talk to Harrison and Neil about it."

"About what?" Neil asked, skeptically.

"Well, as you know, Neil, I gave you a tent to yourself. I did that so you and Max could share when he got here. However, he thought he would be sharing with Lachlan so we will have to move Harrison into your tent, who was going to share with Lachlan." David explained.

"What?! I was enjoying having the tent to myself! Shit!" Harrison complained.

"Sorry dude, I mean you would have had to share with someone either way." Max slapped his shoulder. Neil grumbled quietly. "Alright, we need to put our stuff away, so move your shit, Harrison."

"Yeah, alright." He sighed. Max, Lachlan, Neil, Harrison, and Gwen went outside to sort out the tent situation.

"It's good to see you, kid." Gwen smiled as she walked with them.

"Yeah, it's good to see you too," Max spoke genuinely. Once they reached the tents Neil begrudgingly let Harrison in his tent. Max and Lachlan moved to Harrison's old tent. "Alright, fuck off." Max waved them off as they stepped in and closed the tent.

"Dinner is in an hour!" Gwen called.

"Whatever!" Max called back.

"So, what now?" Lachlan asked sitting on his camp bed.

"We deck this place out," Max smirked, pulling his bag off his shoulder. "So, here's what we got..." Max pulled out an array of items. Fairy lights, a portable CD player/iPod speaker, and a bunch of CDs in plastic sleeves. "All our favorite Beatles albums, right here, burned or stolen of course" Max tossed them to Lachlan, receiving a satisfied "nice." from him. He pulled out Mr. Honeynuts, a small wooden lockbox with a key attached to a chain necklace. "For the weed and cigarettes." He shook the box. "Necklace is for you to wear."

"Ooh pretty." He smiled. "Thanks."

"Yeah, whatever." Max continued pulling things out for the tent, leaving his clothes and toiletries in the bag. "I brought you hypoallergenic pillowcases 'cause I knew you'd forget," Max mentioned, still searching his bag.

"Oh, thank the lord. I was freaking out on the bus 'cause I forgot, and I knew I'd break out in a rash on my face." Lachlan laughed. "Thank you."

"Yeah, it's no problem," Max grumbled, blushing. "And finally, two bottles of vodka."

"Is that going to last us all summer?" Lachlan questioned.

"No, but I'll show you something after you unpack." Max smiled slyly.

"Alright, here's what I got." While Lachlan went through his bag Max changed the pillowcases and hung the fairy lights up. Lachlan pulled out a first aid kit, a packet of incense, a large assortment of candy, snacks, and a number of books from a separate bag he was carrying seemingly just for books and a vinyl of With The Beatles by The Beatles. "I think our rooms are pretty much empty back at the home." He commented.

"Good. You know what happens when you leave shit, gets fuckin' stolen." Max continued setting up the area, hiding the bottles by wrapping them in a hoodie and shoving them under the bed along with the lockbox before placing the stack of Lachlan's books in front of them under the bed.

"Yeah, however, I'm now realizing no one would be there. They made everyone attend a summer camp." He spoke.

"Can never be too careful, those staff members are always eyeing my CDs, and it took me years to get these." Max reasoned, removing the sleeping bag from his backpack and unzipping it all the way to make a blanket to make his bed. He moved the CD player in between the beds. "Also, I've been meaning to ask you... What the fuck is that attached to the top of your backpack because that is not a sleeping bag." Max laughed.

"Oh yeah, it's a carpet." He unhooked it from the bag and placed it on the floor. It was a small red, patterned rug that fit perfectly in the small tent.

"You brought a rug? Jeez, you're extra." Max continued to laugh. "Why'd you bring that?!"

"I swiped it from some store the day before we left, it's a quality fake Persian carpet!" He answered. "And I'm extra? You brought fairy lights!" He giggled.

"Alright, alright, you have a point." He put his hands up in defeat. "So, you didn't bring a sleeping bag?"

"Well, I knew I'd just sleep in your bed anyway." He justified.

"Fair point."

Lachlan put the rest of his stuff under his bed. "So, what did you want to show me?"

Max smirked. "Oh, you're gonna love this." He led them out of the tent and to the forest behind the tent site. "Should be around here somewhere..." Max looked around some bushes while Lachlan watched. "Aha! Locky get over here." He waved him over.

"What the fuck?" Lachlan chuckled in surprise at an old cooler that had 5 bottles of vodka in it. "Whose is this?!" He shook Max's shoulders in excitement.

"I took these from Spooky Island like 5 years ago when I was here last. I stashed them here. I can't believe no one has found them!" Max grabbed the cooler and began walking back to the tent.

"Spooky Island? What the fuck is Spooky Island?" He asked.

"That's an adventure for another day." Max held his hand. When they entered the tent, they quickly realized they weren't alone and separated hands.

"Why are you guys in our tent?" Max asked as he put the candy on Lachlan's bed in the cooler and placed it under his bed.

"We figured we should catch up just us! The original gang!" Nikki explained. "You guys really decorated, it looks so nice in here!" She complimented.

"You guys really made this place cozy," Neil said, staring at the floor.

"Sure did," Lachlan replied. "We are very extra." He smiled.

"Evidently." Neil exhaled.

"Okay then..." Max said, feeling awkward. "We'll see you guys at dinner." He ushered them out before lying down on his bed, Lachlan following suit and lying next to him, intertwining their fingers. "Neil is being weird." Max sighed.

"Probably because you haven't spoken to him in 5 years." Lachlan clicked his tongue.

"You make it sound like it's my fault!"

Lachlan pulled Max into a side hug. "It wasn't your fault, but he has no idea what happened. Cut him some slack. Think about his perspective." He kissed his head.

"Yeah..." He muttered. Lachlan leaned in to give him a proper kiss.

"It'll work out, don't worry, Max." He smiled at him.

He sighed. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's get some dinner." Max connected their lips quickly before sitting up.

"Let's have a cheeky smoko first." Lachlan grinned.

"Wacky or tobacci?" Max smiled knowing the answer.

"Wacky, obviously." He pulled Max down onto his chest to give him another quick kiss.

Chapter Text

Their tent was hotboxed with smoke as they lay lazily in each other's arms, passing a second joint between them. From the moment they met, they had the habit of cuddling. In a totally heterosexual way, they had convinced themselves for a while. It wasn't until Max knocked on Lachlan's door one day in their first group home when they were fourteen that their cuddling became more intimate. When he had opened the door Max engulfed him in a hug, Lachlan had felt his tears on his neck where Max had buried his face. He had heard his quiet sniffles and felt his hands scrunch in his hair. Lachlan rubbed comforting circles in his back.

"Why didn't he want me." Max had whisper-sobbed.

Lachlan quietly invited him into his room, careful not to wake his roommate. They laid down in his bed, Max softly crying into Lachlan's chest as he hugged him.

"I'm sorry, dear." He knew this feeling all too well, after a while of pushing your feelings down and ignoring the heartache you feel from the abandonment it all bubbles up one day when all the dust has settled. He knew there was nothing he could say to truly comfort him. "Hey." He began, lifting Max's face. "Hey, look at me." He cupped his cheeks. "He was a tosser, you know. Utter garbage, human excrement." Max laughed softly. He kissed Max's forehead softly and murmured. "One day I'm going to take you to Scotland, and we'll buy a farm, and we'll drink whiskey all day and smoke a thousand cigarettes on our porch." He smiled. "We'll have every Beatles album on vinyl, and we'll ride horses, and have a dog, and you'll never think about your wretched father again. Wouldn't that be nice?" He wiped a tear from Max's eye with his thumb. They stayed quiet staring into each other's eyes. Max finally spoke.

"Would there be sheep?" He smiled as he whispered.

"There would."

Max leaned closer to his face; their noses brushed together. Lachlan gelt as though time had ceased. Max retained eye contact, looking out for a sign to stop. His movements stuttered as he slowly closed the gap and pressed their lips together. After that moment, they came to the conclusion that their bond was never fully heterosexual, and they were okay with that. It wasn't anyone else's business what they did. It was just Max and Lachlan's business.

Lachlan spoke after exhaling a cloud of thick smoke. "You want the stinging roger?" He asked, holding the practically finished joint in front of Max. He shook his head permitting Lachlan to finish it. "Shall we go to dinner, then?" He pushed Max's shoulder lightly. "Hmm?"

"Yeah... Yeah, I guess we should." Max replied after a moment. He let out a dramatic groan as he sat up. "I am not looking forward to this." He stated, rubbing his hands over his eyes.

"Evidently." Lachlan chuckled softly. Max was sat on the edge of the bed, a hand in his curls. Lachlan squatted in front of him. "What're you thinking about?" He asked.

"My mom, " he sighed. He put his hand on his cheek, and Max leaned into the touch. He leaned in for a quick chaste kiss before pulling them both up. He sprayed deodorant on themselves to get rid of the weed smell and exited the tent.

They walked into the mess hall and sat down at a vacant table; Max rested his head in his arms on the table. "Did you want me to get you food, darling?" Lachlan gently petted his hair. Max didn't say anything. He carefully placed earphones in Max's ear and played his comfort playlist. 'Julia' by The Beatles played. He listened to it every time he thought of his mother. He got up to get a tray of food for each of them. No one had seemed to notice their presence, all too engrossed with their respective conversations. That was until David noticed Max from the serving table.

Lachlan began filling their trays with food when David spoke up. "Is Max okay, Lachlan?"

"Yes." He gave the automatic response.

"Is he sick? Maybe I should take him to the medbay." David asked worriedly.

"No," He let out an annoyed huff. "I'm handling it." As he walked away, he whispered a quick "Wanker." under his breath. When he reached their table again, he sat snug next to Max with his arm around him. He slouched down to rest his chin on his shoulder. "Max." He wanted to make him feel better, there wasn't any way to do that other than distraction.

"Locky." He mumbled.

"Can you look at me?" He asked.

Max lifted his head. "Yeah?"

"I love you." He smirked, his high evident in his tone.

Max laughed at the randomness and softly shoved him. "Stop being all soft, people may begin to think you're mentally sound."

"But I can't help it, my love!" He exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Max dramatically. Max giggled relentlessly as Lachlan kissed his cheeks, nose, eyes, basically his whole face but his lips. They were in their own inebriated world, completely unaware of the slight attention they had drawn to themselves. "You've turned me into a right sop, you know that?"

A few campers noticed their behavior, and just as Lachlan was about to kiss Max's lips, they heard Nerf yell. "Faggots!" from the table next to theirs. He snickered, trying to get others to laugh too but all he got was utter silence as the attention to everyone in the room turned to Max and Lachlan, cozied up together practically sitting on one another.

They both turned to him. "The fuck did you just say!?" Max stood up, walking over to him. "C'mon say it with your chest now." Max sneered.

"Oh, fuck, this is gonna be good." Lachlan gave a wicked smile and banged on the table with his fist. He joyfully skipped over to the confrontation.

"I called you guys faggots." He stated point blankly, almost as if he was confused about why he was asked to repeat himself.

David was frozen from the conflict. Gwen was in the kitchen. There was no stopping the beatdown Nerf was about to receive.

"Yeah, that's what I thought you said." Max began cracking his knuckles, making piercing eye contact. Nerf looked at them confused; he had never had a camper confront him physically. Max threw the first punch at his nose, blood splattered onto his hand. Nerf remained on his feet, finally understanding what was happening, he lifted his arms to throw a punch back but was caught off guard by a left hook from Lachlan hitting his cheek and knocking him to the ground.

"Max! Lachlan!" David began to run over.

"Ah shit, coppers," Lachlan joked, turning to Max who was on top of Nerf pummeling him erratically, drawing more blood from his nose and bruising his own fists.

"Fuckin' 'ell, Max," Lachlan smiled. "Alright give me a turn, freak." He laughed endearingly. Max got off him as Lachlan kicked Nerf's side a few times. "Mighty good work you did here, darling." He poked a passed-out Nerf's bloodied and swollen face. David stared at them in horror. He began to tend to Nerf while shouting and crying about what they had done. They ignored his cries. "My, my, your poor hands." He held Max's hands in his, carefully kissing his knuckles. "I bet that's the last time he shouts slurs." He smirked, Max smiled back.

"Probably not." He chuckled.

"Clean up this mess buddy boy, we have business to attend to of the utmost importance!" He shouted to David in a posh accent. Max laughed at his daft behavior.

They walked out of the mess hall, Lachlan bringing a cigarette to his lips. "Man, I love a good scrap, shame he didn't get any punches in." Max laughed at Lachlan as he took Lachlan's smoke.

"Yeah," He held Lachlan's hand. "Reminds me of when we first became friends."

Back in the mess hall, the campers all looked at the scene left behind. Various "What the fuck just happened?!"'s were heard as David called out to Gwen to help him carry Nerf to the medbay. Gwen was shouting obscenities about how David could let this happen. In his defense, he hadn't expected this. With Max gone for so many years, there hadn't really been any major havoc. Neil and Nikki looked at each other wide-eyed completely in shock from the commotion.

Chapter Text

"Max, wait up!" Neil shouted from behind the two boys a little ways away from the mess hall, Nikki following suit. Max and Lachlan turned around and waited for them to catch up.

"What's up?" He asked nonchalantly.

"What the fuck do you mean 'what's up'?!" He asked dumbfounded. "You just beat Nerf to a pulp for no reason!"

"It wasn't for no reason, Neil? God, didn't you hear how the fight started?" Nikki asked.

"Well- no. I was reading." He replied.

"That's what you get for being a nerd, you miss all the action!" She formed a fist. "He calls them f-"

"Oi!" Lachlan interjected. "It's unimportant what he said, the point is he deserved it."

"Well alright then." Nikki smiled.

"So, is that it?" Max asked.

"No- uh, I, well, we, wanted to catch up. I mean how long has it been?"

"Five years give or take," Max said.

"Exactly c'mon let's go to your tent." Neil smiled.

Max looked at Lachlan before turning back to Neil. "Yeah alright." He muttered.

Neil sat on Lachlan's bed while Nikki sat on the floor. Lachlan sat beside Max on his bed with a hand on his knee, stroking it lovingly with his thumb to calm his post-fight jitters.

"So how have you guys been?" Max asked, lighting up a joint. Lachlan put on a CD and grabbed a bandage tape for Max's hand.

"Yeah, we've been alright- Oh actually crazy story: Our parents dated and nearly got married!" Neil laughed.

"What really? I thought they were just fucking." Max and the gang laughed along, Lachlan still attentively wrapping Max's hand.

"Well apparently not, but my mom ended up leaving his dad at the altar." She giggled.

"Okay, that part is less funny." Neil coughed.

"No, no that's the funniest part! I wish I could have seen it!" Max chuckled leaning into Lachlan, passing him the joint. Lachlan kissed Max's knuckles after he finished wrapping them and took the joint.

"What about you? What's happened since we last saw you?" Neil inquired, trying to ignore Lachlan's affectionate nature.

Max looked down and coughed. Lachlan put his arm around him, trying to comfort him. "Uh, nothing. Yeah, not a lot has changed." He forced out, still facing the floor.

"What about you then? What's your story?" Nikki pointed her question to Lachlan.

"Oh, um. I'm pretty boring. Not much to say about me, really." He answered. Max let out a laugh knowing that wasn't true at all. Lachlan offered the joint to the other two receiving quick rejections.

"Why'd you move to America?" Neil asked.

"My dad moved here, won custody, then subsequently lost it." He chuckled.

"Oh, shit, how old were you?" Neil spoke.

"Uh, I think I was twelve, I don't know-"

"Thirteen." Max cut him off.

"Well, you have a finer memory than I do, love." He smiled at Max affectionately.

"Yeah, because you've done every drug on the goddamn planet," Max replied, laughing.

"Not true!" Lachlan grabbed Max's hips pulling him into his lap and tickling his sides. Max burst out in giggles before quickly pinning Lachlan's hands down above his head with his arm and tickling him back. "Okay! I yield! I yield! He shouted.

"Not until you say sorry." Max smiled fiendishly.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry darling." He grinned.

"You should know better than to start fights you can't win." He replied still holding his arms.

"Aye, but that's half the fun innit." He smiled cheekily. They sat like that for a few seconds before hearing Neil clear his throat and Nikki giggling. Max quickly moved off of him and coughed awkwardly. "Uh, where were we? Right, moving to the States. Yes, I was thirteen, I met Max shortly after my dad lost custody." He quickly spoke.

"Right..." Neil shifted uncomfortably.

"So, what about you mom?" Nikki asked, trying to move the conversation along.

"My mum? What about her?"

"What was she doing?" She tilted her head.

"Ah, well she's a heroin addict, she is still back in England, we talk every so often." He smiled fondly. For all the bad his mother had done he could never find it in his heart to hate her. He knew that she was sick, and she had to leave, he knew that she wanted the best for him, and he knew that she loved him. He still remembers her curly auburn hair and her chestnut eyes. He remembered her singing songs and dancing through their small house. 'All I've Got to Do' by The Beatles was her favorite. She would always drag him to their living room when she put on a vinyl, making him listen, and showing him, how beautiful music could be. She would spin around the room, curls flying everywhere. She taught him how to dance, how to move freely, she taught him everything he didn't teach himself. She sold most of the vinyl before she lost custody. She had made sure to keep Lachlan's favorite, 'With The Beatles'. She gave it to him when he left England.

"Oh shit," Was all Nikki could say.

Neil followed it with a, "I'm so sorry."

Max gave Lachlan a cigarette, a subtle gesture of comfort. He spoke once he lit the smoke. "Ah, don't be sorry, if I was her, I would've been an addict myself." He joked.

"Dude you are an addict." Max quipped back.

"Only in the literal sense." He smiled around his cigarette.

They sat for a while in comfortable silence, finally able to relax in each other's presence. They told occasional jokes and stories; it wasn't until the CD stopped that Neil and Nikki decided to head off to bed.

"I like your friends," Lachlan said, cuddling up beside Max and wrapping his arm around him after putting on a new CD. "Very charming people."

"Yeah."

"You okay, love?" He asked.

"It's just... how are you able to just talk about what happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"You just talk so easily about your fucked up life, I've never been able to do that." He sounded small.

"Well, I just sort of- I don't know, you know I've never been any good at pretendin'... I think I also just have trouble caring anymore." He whispered. "You don't have to tell them what happened, you know?"

"I feel like I do though... Fuck, I also want to tell them. They were my best friends, my only friends. I just-" He let out a heavy sigh. "I don't even know anymore."

"Yeah, yeah I know." He held him tighter. "Go to sleep."

"G'night Locky."

"Goodnight, Max."

They drifted off to the sound of 'Here There and Everywhere' by The Beatles.

Chapter Text

"Locky," Max whispered, slightly shaking the whimpering boy awake. Lachlan stirred with a grimace on his sleeping face, still asleep. "Locky," he whispered again. Tears dampened Lachlan's cheeks. His eyes were still squeezed shut, deep in a dream. Max gave him one more shake. "Wake u-" He was cut off by a gasp. Lachlan opened his eyes, breathing heavily. He began feeling what was around him, grasping the sleeping bag, his own clothing and eventually Max. Max quickly got their iPod from under his pillow whilst Lachlan was grabbing his arm, looking ahead with a 1000-yard stare. "What song?" Max asked. "Lachlan." No reply. "Who was it about?" Lachlan was fully dissociated, unable to capture his surroundings. "Your mother?... Father?... Was it your sister?" Max felt Lachlan squeeze his arm. "Elizabeth?" Lachlan engulfed him in a hug, eyes wide, brows knitted together in concern, still unaware of where he was. "Shh, shh, shh." Max soothed, rubbing his back, he put the earphones in Lachlan's ears and played her favourite song 'Girl' by The Beatles.

After a long while Lachlan came back to earth, he sniffled before speaking. "Sorry... nightmare." He explained, taking out an earphone to hear Max better.

"Yeah, I got that." Max smiled comfortingly. "What happened?"

"Same as always," He sighed. "I watch through the hole in the wall as she puts a bullet in her mouth." He sucks his tongue between his teeth. "I can still smell that gunpowder... I still hear the shot ringing in my ears." He spoke with no evident emotions in his voice, almost as if he was describing a nonsensical dream that had no bearing on reality. Max remembered when Lachlan came back from a doctor's check and told him he had tinnitus, the doctor was astounded he wasn't diagnosed after the incident. "You would've liked her."

"You've said that." Max smiled.

"She was an edge lord like you." They both laughed. He sighed once more before lying back down. "What a good start to the day."

"Yeah," He laid down beside Lachlan, cuddling up together. "What time even is it?" He asked.

Lachlan checked the clock on the iPod. "5 am," He replied.

Max groaned. "We gotta get up in like two hours."

"Well, I'm getting up now." He pulled himself up and walked over to his backpack. Max sat up on his elbows and watched. Lachlan pulled out a wallet.

"Pill wallet?" Max asked. "Downers or uppers?"

"Downers, my heart rate is still going mad." He swallowed the pills and put the wallet away before grabbing his coat and his signature orange glasses. "I'm goin' out for a fag, go back to sleep." He shook his packet of smokes.

"Yes sir," Max mumbled already climbing back under the covers.

Lachlan walked to the fire pit whilst listening to music. As he lit up his cigarette he sat down on a log. He couldn't stop thinking about Elizabeth. She had hair like their mums but more vibrant red. You could barely see the blood in her hair that day, but it was there. Lachlan shook his head and took another drag, waiting for this downer to kick. It would take around 40 minutes as it was a slow release. He almost began thinking again until he heard footsteps. "For fuck's sake." He muttered.

"Aren't you a little young to be smoking?" Gwen sat next to him.

"Aren't you a little old to be a camp counsellor?" He shot back.

"Touche." He offered her a smoke from his pack. "Thanks." She mumbled, reaching for her lighter from her pocket. "What are you doing up?"

"I woke up, couldn't go back to sleep." He answered, staring ahead.

"Couldn't or didn't want to?"

He looked at her inquisitively. "So you've read my file." He breathed in more smoke.

"Yeah, I did, pretty fucked up shit in there." She confirmed.

"You're tellin' me." He sighed. They sat in silence smoking for a moment until Gwen spoke up.

"So what's the deal with you and Max?" She asked.

"That's an awfully impertinent thing to ask." He retorted, side-eyeing her. "Forgive me for being indelicate but, what the fuck does it matter to you?" He spat.

"Look, kid, you don't need to be a dick, I was just curious. Haven't seen him in a while and he acts different with you than anyone I've seen him around." She explained carefully.

He pondered for a moment. "What was he like back then?"

"A piece of shit." She said simply.

"Not much has changed then." He chuckled.

"Nah, I think something has." Gwen disagreed.

"Yes, well, I suppose that's true." He smiled fondly, looking at the dirt. "He's my best friend, that's the 'deal' with us. He's helped me through a lot of shit and vice-versa."

"Are you dating?" She asked.

"You gossipy bitch, you may not have a file but I know all about you. Max has talked about you."

"What has he said?" She looked offended.

"Like I said, that you were a gossipy bitch." He snickered. She huffed, crossing her arms. "And that you were like a sister to him."

"Wha- really?" Her brows raised in surprise.

"Don't tell him I told you that, you already know I can fight like a crazy person and I don't discriminate against women." He lied, he had a stringent moral code when it came to violence, but she didn't need to know that.

"Yeah, Imma be real, Nerf deserved a good punch or two, but David's not gonna see it that way." She spoke. "He'll be lenient because it was your first day and your file, but if you keep causing shit we are legally obligated to call your guardians."

"Yes, I've heard it all before." He exhaled.

"That also means being careful with the cigarettes and drugs."

"What drugs?"

"David may not recognise the signs but I sure as hell do. Stop hotboxing your tent."

"Sir, yes sir!" He sat up straight and saluted.

They finished their cigarettes before parting ways. Lachlan rolled back into bed, holding Max close and drifted off once again, hoping he wouldn't reach REM sleep.

Chapter Text

"Good morning campers! It's another beautiful summer day here at Camp Campbell! Breakfast is being served at the mess hall and activities will commence in one hour! And remember, Campe Diem!" The boys heard over the loudspeaker.

"C'mon dear, our food awaits us," Lachlan grumbled while getting out of bed.

"I need a drink." Max rubbed his eyes.

"It's seven in the morning, darling." He squinted at him.

"Coffee." He responded.

"Ah, yes, be a doll and make me one, will you?"

"Remember when I hated those nicknames?"

"I remember you saying you hated them, but I also seem to remember you blushing every time I called you 'darling'." Lachlan teased.

"Yeah, whatever, dick." He groaned. "Let's go shower, no one else should be in there this early, then I'll make coffee."

"I'll meet you there, just gotta do something."

"Alright," Max said as he left the tent, Lachlan reached under the bed to grab a bottle of vodka, downing three shots with a groan. He quickly walked over to the shower rooms.

He snuck up behind Max and hugged him. He whispered in his ear. "Wanna shower with me? I'm feeling awfully randy,"

Max sniffed. "You fucking hypocrite. What happened to 'It's seven in the morning darling.'" He mocked in a fake British accent.

"Don't shower with me then." He crossed his arms and walked into a stall. Max ran after him muttering a series of "No's" while Lachlan cackled before joining him in the stall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the mess hall, Max and Lachlan sat drinking their coffees and munching down on some dry toast and soggy scrambled eggs. They chatted for a bit, Lachlan still buzzed from his drinks, until Nikki and Neil joined them.

"Did you hear Nerfs out today?" Neil asked.

"What do you mean?" Max replied with a hand on Lachlan's bouncing knee.

"He's in the infirmary, gets to skip out on activities for a few days." He explained.

"We didn't hit him that hard." Lachlan scoffed. "I broke my nose and wrist in a fight once and went to work with blood still on my face."

"That's not something to brag about Locky." Max scolded. "Your wrist is still fucked from that."

"My point still stands, love. He's fine."

"Hey, so what's with all these nicknames? 'Darling' 'Love' 'Dear', are you just really British or are they just for Max?" Nikki laughed.

"Yeah, I'm surprised doesn't beat the crap out of you." Neil mentioned, poking his food.'

"It's both I guess, and Max gave up on pretending to hate it." He snickered.

"I do hate it!" Max sneered. Lachlan laughed in response.

"You didn't seem to hate it in the show-" Lachlan was cut off with a hand to the mouth, that hand being Max's.

"Behave yourself, or I'll take away your vodka." Max threatened before slowly removing his hand.

"You cheeky bastard, you have no control over my beverages."

"I do when you pass out after snorting fuck knows what." Max's victory smirk was soon wiped off his face when Lachlan footy tackled him. Max landed with a heavy 'oof'. Lachlan sat on top of him with a goofy grin. "Jesus, fuck! You are so out of pocket, I swear you have some kind of illness!" Max feigned annoyance. "You're causing a scene you unpredictable fuck!" Nikki cheered Lachlan on whilst Neil watched with slight irritation.

Lachlan leaned into Max's ear, breathing huskily. "Since when do you care about that, my love?" They began to tackle and scrap with each other drawing watchful eyes to their shenanigans causing a few giggles and cheers. "And you know for a fact that I'm insane! Exhibit A: My parents!" Lachlan laughed as he pulled Max into a headlock.

"Exhibit B: Your need to take every drug on the goddamn planet!" Max strained as he flipped Lachlan over, disarming his headlock. He had Lachlan pinned to the ground, his right arm over his neck and his left arm holding down one of Lachlan's arms.

"I'm a psychonaut, what can I say?" He chuckled, squirming slightly.

"Don't you have to meditate and do yoga every day to be called that?" Max questioned. "To become quote-unquote 'enlightened'?"

"Aye, that's exhibit c, ain't it? My chronic commitment issues." He smiled cheekily.

"You seem pretty committed to me," Max smirked and squinted.

"Like you said, I'm unpredictable! Inconsistency is my middle name!"

"You don't have a middle name." Max pointed out, getting off Lachlan and offering him a hand up.

"However I am very committed to you, darling." He said, grunting as he stood up. "In case you need a reminder." He squeezed Max's hand before letting go.

Max smiled before acting annoyed. "Jesus you're clingy." He scoffed.

"I was abandoned as a small child, can't exactly blame me, can you?" He said sitting back at the table.

"I guess not." Max snickered.

"Okay guys seriously what the fuck was that?" Neil asked incredulously, Nikki had gone off to chat with Nerris.

"What?" Max barked.

"Why do you let him be so touchy with you? It's kind of weird." Neil pointed at them with his fork.

"You what?" Lachlan questioned. "You callin' me a fuckin' queer?" He joked.

"It's not weird, and don't speak like he's not here dick." Max spat.

"It's not like you guys do that to me," He mumbled sarcastically, poking at his food.

"What was that? Speak up lad, don't be shy now." Lachlan stated.

"You're an unnecessary addition to the friend group! There, I said it." Neil huffed. "The dynamics have all shifted and it's unnatural."

"Don't you fucking dare speak to him that way! The dynamics haven't shifted Neil!" Max stood up angrily. "The only 'dynamic' is mine and Locky's. I don't know what's got you so cut up about him!"

"We were best friends first! Then you left for five fucking years Max! How do you expect me to react when you've clearly replaced me!" Neil yelled.

"Holy shit is that what this is about?! Jesus fucking Christ you need to grow a pair!" Max scoffed, pulling Lachlan's arm and making him stand up.

"What makes him so much better than me that you up and vanish!"

"You too weren't shaggin' now were you?!" Lachlan whisper-yelled.

"I- What?" Neil stood, eyes wide, mouth agape.

"C'mon Locky," Max pulled him from the table.

Chapter Text

Max was stomping over to the forest, mumbling to no one in particular, struggling to light a cigarette. "God, he's such a fuckin' dick. I knew we shouldn't have come back here. What a pile of dog shit, who the fuck does he think he is?" His lighter still refuses to light. "What is he, my keeper? He has no right to act like that! Especially not to you, I should beat the fuckin' shit out of him just for talking to you like that- God fucking damnit!" He screamed, frustratedly throwing his lighter at a tree with as much force as he could muster.

"Max, love, you need to calm down," Lachlan said with his hand on Max's shoulder. "He's just feeling left out is all."

"I don't need to calm down! What I need is to kick his fuckin' head in!" He growled. "How are you not pissed off at him? He insulted you to your face, you would fight someone for bumping into you when we first met!"

"Oh believe you me darling, I'm pissed off." He asserted, lighting Max's cigarette with his lighter. "However, he is your friend so out of courtesy I won't touch him."

Max scoffed. "He's not my fuckin' friend."

"Yes, he is, my love." He stated as he lit his own cigarette. "He is feeling abandoned, you surely know what that's like, don't you?"

"Okay, me not coming back to camp, which wasn't even my choice, is not at all like my father deserting me after my mother died!"

"Of course, it's not the same Max! But he does feel like he was abandoned!"

"I did not abandon him, I'm nothing like my father!"

"I didn't say that, darling! Of course, you didn't abandon him and of course, you aren't anything like that wanker. I'm just saying he feels left out, and perhaps you should take it easy on him, that's all." He explained.

"I guess." He muttered after a long pause.

"Do you want a downer?" He asked.

"No, no, I'll take coke if you have some."

"Regrettably I don't, I have speed though."

"Yeah, that'll do... Wait do you tell Neil we were fucking?" Max realised what Lachlan had said at the end of the conversation with Neil after his anger had subsided.

"A miscalculation on my part, I will admit." He grabbed the pills from his wallet in his pants.

"A miscalculation?! It would have been easier to beat the shit out of him than deal with him knowing about us!"

"Oh hush, darling, what's the worst that could happen? He stops coming to our tent unannounced in fear of seeing something that would traumatise him. I'd say that would be quite good." Lachlan laughed, opening the pill on the back of his hand and snorting the powder before rubbing the rest on his gums and offering the other pill to Max. "Come on, let's go to our tent, I want to listen to Magical Mystery Tour. Strawberry Feilds Forever is stuck in my head."

"Yeah, whatever... David will come get us for activities in a bit, you know."

"Good thing we don't have those then." He smiled.

Chapter Text

They only spent a short time in the tent before David had so rudely interrupted them. Luckily, they had tied the zippers on the tent together so it couldn't be opened from the outside. David had told them he had to speak to them in the counsellor's cabin before they could join the other campers for activities. Lachlan had so eloquently yelled out to David "Sod off ya insolent prick!" before groaning and pulling away from Max's neck which he had been roughly kissing and sucking the skin of. He gave Max a final peck on the lips and had the final drag of the joint Max was holding. He finally stood up, untying the zippers and grabbing Max's hand. "Where is the counsellor cabin anyroad?" he had asked, stepping out of the tent.

"That way." Max pointed in a vague direction. "We should let the tent air out, don't bother closing it." He said as he led Lachlan to the destination. They let go of each other's hands once they reached the cabin door, Lachlan went to knock but Max stopped him when he barged in the room. "What's up, camp man?" He said as he sat on the couch opposite the chair David was sitting in. Lachlan sat next to Max putting his arm around him.

"Max, Lachlan, we need to discuss the fight that broke out yesterday," David said as sternly as he could, still falling flat. Lachlan's iPod played Something by The Beatles in his ears.

"Oh, Max, remember when you learnt how to play 'Something' on guitar for me?" Lachlan's eyes lit up, immediately getting distracted, half the reason being that he couldn't care less about David and the other half being how high he was at that moment. "You played it perfectly, I wish that guitar wasn't stolen. I miss you serenading me." He looked at Max lovingly.

"Lachlan, can you please remove the earphones-" David attempted to disrupt their exchange, failing miserably.

"Stop acting all soft, freak," Max grumbled, not really annoyed.

"Fine, I know you like it better when I'm hard anyhow." He smirked.

"Holy shit, you are actually such a fucking freak." Max blushed and laughed until he heard David cough and saw his uncomfortable expression. 'Shit, we aren't hiding this well.' He thought. "Alright lay it on us, David. What's up?"

"Well... Uh..." David sputtered as he scratched the back of his neck. "You too need a serious talking to after that fight. Nerf is very hurt because of you two."

"Oh, no, that's dreadful!" Lachlan feigned remorse. Well, I hope you lads can fix the chap up. Send him my regards." Lachlan smiled as he stood up to leave.

"No, no we aren't finished talking." David ushered him to sit back down. "This is really serious boys-"

"So you've said." Lachlan interrupted.

"Lachlan I understand you are a new camper but this behaviour is unacceptable. Nerf could have been incredibly hurt!"

"That was kind of the goal, David," Max spoke up. "Do you even know what started the fight?"

"Y-yes." David stuttered.

"What was it then?"

"He had said something hurtful-"

"No, no, no, he said a homophobic slur." Lachlan began. "And I simply couldn't stand for it, those gay folks deserve to be free from harassment. I was simply standing up for them." Lachlan stated all patriotic like. "I believe it was Martin Luther King who said-"

"Alright take it down a notch." Max nudged him, smirking slightly.

"Thank you, I had no idea where I was going with that." He stage whispered back.

"R-Right, um, I understand that Nerf said some... unpleasant words, but that does not mean we attack each other." David waved his finger.

"Well, we have a difference of opinion on that I suppose," Lachlan remarked. "David, are you really trying to tell us 'violence isn't the answer'? That won't go over well for you where I'm from." He scoffed.

"I've read your file Lachlan, and I think you, of all people, should understand that it isn't the answer."

Lachlan stared daggers at him until Max spoke again. "Is that it?" He asked.

"I- Yes that is it, as long as you understand that your actions were wrong."

"Yeah, sure whatever." Max waved him off as Lachlan still stared angrily at David. "C'mon, Locky." He grabbed his hand and walked out the door.

"What a dickhead." Lachlan exhaled.

"He's not that bad."

"No, I know, he helped you a lot. Still a wanker though."

"Okay, he didn't help me a lot. He helped me mildly."

"Wanna snog for a bit until this high wears off?"

"You know I hate that word, you British people ruin everything." Max sneered.

"Suit yourself." He skipped to the tent.

"Fuck, no, wait!" Max immediately caught up to him leading him by his lower back to the tent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They were again interrupted by David from the outside of their tent telling them to go to the activity centre. "Holy shit I'm actually going to murder him." Lachlan groaned angrily. "If this is what it's going to be like all summer I don't think I'll survive."

"I get it, you're permanently horny." Max snickered.

"You love it, don't even lie." He scoffed.

"Nuh-uh!" Max spoke it in a cartoonishly dumb voice on par with Patrick Star.

"God, I'm getting flashbacks to when you were quote-unquote 'not gay'." He shuddered dramatically.

"Only for you. I would kill myself if I had to date anyone else." Max blurted.

"Oh, so we're dating now?" Lachlan sat up on the bed finally, looking at Max who was standing by the tent zippers. "I thought we were just fucking around." He said slyly.

"Well- uh." He began, confidence faltering. They had never put a label on their relationship, it was always just them.

"Oh, no, darling, I was only joking!" He quickly got up and pulled Max into a hug. Of course, we are dating; I love you." He held Max's face gently as he kissed him sweetly.

"Say it again... Please." Max muttered quietly.

"I love you, I've never loved anyone as much as I've loved you." He sometimes forgot that under his edgy personality and harsh persona, he was still that uncertain kid he met all those years ago. "Activity time, right?"

"Yeah, let's go before David comes back." He smiled.

"Okay, let me just- Wait- Where's my,
where's my record?" He noticed his With The Beatles album was nowhere to be seen. Lachlan looked at his side of the tent more thoroughly. "It was right next to my bed, by my books." He began to panic slightly. "Max, I-I can't find it, did you move it?" He asked frantically.

"No, I know better than to touch it." Max began to get concerned. "What, do you think someone took it?"

"I know someone took it and I'm gonna fuckin' gut them." Lachlan stormed out of the tent, Max quickly following suit. He removed his sunglasses and gave them to Max as he stomped over to the activity field. "Oi!" He shouted, capturing the attention of the campers. "Who the fuck's been in my goddamn tent?" The campers had all stopped their activities and stared in confused silence. "Okay, someone better start talkin' before I lose my mind and start battering some sorry cunt."

Max moved to sit on a log in the general area to watch the show. He knew when Lachlan was having a solo adventure. He knew he wouldn't want help with this fight.

Lachlan groaned dramatically and began trudging towards Harrison who was standing by Neil. He pushed him forcefully to the ground and squatted in front of him. "You seem like a good lad, ya mind tellin' me what happened?" He smiled, cracking his knuckles.

"It w-wasn't me, man!" Harrison stuttered, putting his hands up. "I've been here since breakfast, Preston and Nerris saw me!" He yelled, pointing in their direction. They gave a hasty nod when Lachlan looked over. He stood back up, offering a hand to Harrison. "Who hasn't been here? Harrison was it? Mind If I call you Hazza?" He asked. "Good." He said before he got a response.

"Um... uh... I think Nerf, Neil, Gwen, David and, um, Nikki. Yeah, they've been in and out." He answered still stuttering. Gwen soon came out of the Mess Hall.

"Wow, you snitched under barely any pressure." He scoffed and stood. "Remind me not to tell you any information." He laughed before whipping around to face Neil. "Oh, Neil. Neil, Neil, Neil." He sighed. "Out of respect for my dear Max, I refrained from beating the shit out of you the first time you snubbed me." He lightly slapped his cheek twice. "You need to tell me where you put my record, you have no idea what you're tampering with."

"How do you even know it was me, man?!" Neil gulped.

"Probable cause. You have a motive that the other suspects lack."

"This isn't fucking Sherlock, Lachlan!" Max called out from over yonder. "Get on with it!"

"Let me have my fun, Max!" He yelled back. "You know how I love theatrics." He laughed. Preston almost piped up to talk about theatre but Max's death glare stopped him.

"Get. On. With. It." He yelled once more.

"What the hell, Max? Why are you encouraging this?!" Neil asked, outraged.

"It's funny." He shrugged.

"I thought we were friends!"

"Lachlan! I told you not to go making any waves!" Gwen came running over to help Harrison up. "What's going on?" She asked frantically.

"This is between me and Neil." He shrugged her off.

"Neil, what's happened?"

"He's gone crazy, Gwen! Accusing me of stealing his shit!" Neil sputtered out.

"I'm perfectly sane, well as sane as I can be. The point is someone's gone and taken my record and Neil here is my best guess."

"Shit, I think I know who's taken it, come on." She signalled for him to follow her. They walked over to the med bay whilst Neil walked over to Max.

"Dude, what is your problem with me?!" Neil yelled.

"Jesus Christ. I don't have a problem with you." He scoffed.

"Clearly you fucking do! You're even more of an asshole than you were before!"

"You've been pissy ever since I got here! Can't you recognise that I'm only giving you what you've been giving to me!" Max groaned.

"Can you blame me? You went missing for five years! Then show up with a replacement! What the fuck did I- We do to you that made you abandon us!"

"Fuck! Neil!" He snapped. "Not everything is about you! I didn't replace you! Lachlan is my goddamn boyfriend." He said that last part in a hushed tone. "And I didn't abandon you! It wasn't my choice to not come back! Shit hit the fan when I got back home, I didn't have a choice."

"Oh," Neil whispered.

"Yeah. Oh." Max huffed.

"So, I've been a dick."

"Yeah, you have been."

"I'm sorry." He kicked the dirt. "Are we good?" He asked after a beat of silence.

Max sighed. "Yeah, just don't go telling anyone about me and Lachlan."

"Okay." He nodded. "I'm sorry again."

"It's alright. Just stop being so goddamn self-centred." Max laughed.