the punchline to the joke is asking "someone save us"

[traumatizing]

STILL HERE, HUH?

Looks like you're still on Tera. By choice, or maybe you missed your chance to get home. Doesn't matter really, you're here now and you gotta deal with the fallout one way or another. Here's hoping that works out for you.

Comments

[notahobby]

[Maxxie follows Terry up, stuffing his hands in his pockets nervously.]

S'okay.

[He shrugs.]

Just thought we could go lay down or something.

[There's a hopeful but hesitant smile on his face.]

[traumatizing]

Yeah-- Yeah.

[Terry returns that hesitant smile, looking down and away a little bashfully.]

That sounds good.

[notahobby]

[The look on Terry's face gives him a touch more confidence, enough for him to reach out and take his hand, biting his lip. This is a different kind of nervous that he had before he saw Terry; now he's just worried Terry doesn't want to be with him the same way. Not after he left.]

Good. Let's go, then.

[traumatizing]

[Terry's quiet the whole way, just focusing on the feeling of Maxxie's hand in his, staying close to soak up some of his warmth.]

[The penthouse is quiet and empty and barely used save for empty coffee mugs all over the surfaces, and his bedroom is a mess. Clothes littered all over the place and more cups on the nightstand and the desk. He's so used to it at this point that Terry doesn't even register it as strange or embarrassing, laser focused on laying down instead.]

[He drops his bag and sits on the edge of the bed, looking up at Maxxie. Suddenly uncertain and worried all over again.]

[notahobby]

[It's a mess, and Maxxie's not surprised. The state of him is telling and Maxxie's not about to judge him for what all of this looks like. They've been through a great ordeal.]

[He swallows and sits down beside Terry, turning to look at him as he brings his hand up to Terry's hair.]

I thought about you every day.

[traumatizing]

I missed you so much.

[He feels his eyes stinging again and he blinks back the tears, looking down at his hand on the bed between them as he chews his lip.]

I thought... I thought I'd never see you again, but I... [He takes a shaky breath] I thought "at least he's at home," you know? "At least he's safe." But it never made it any easier.

[He's rambling now, he wants to stop but it's like he's opened the floodgates and it's impossible now. He ducks his head a little, pressing the heel of a hand to his eyes to wipe away tears that haven't fallen yet.]

It hurts. I didn't know-- [His voice catches in his throat and he shakes his head, willing himself not to cry again even with the lump in his throat and the way his eyes and nose are stinging.] I didn't know you could miss someone so much that it hurt like that.

[notahobby]

I didn't either.

[He lets out a soft sob as he speaks, breathing in slow to try and stop his voice from breaking.]

I honestly tried, I thought... I thought that was where I was supposed to be. I kept telling myself that I was meant for that life and maybe I am, I don't know, but... I was meant for you too.

[traumatizing]

[God he feels something lurch in his chest and he reaches blindly for Maxxie's hand.]

I love you.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie takes Terry's hand and leans in a bit.]

I love you too.

[traumatizing]

Can we lie down?

[please]

[notahobby]

Yeah.

[Maxxie shuffles back on the bed, holding Terry's hand the whole time as he backs up towards the pillows. He's ready to just hold Terry for hours and hours and never let go. It's never felt this good to have someone this close before.]

[traumatizing]

[Terry follows and lays down facing Maxxie, just... looking at him. He wants to be closer but he's also scared. He's just scared of everything right now, that he'll go to sleep and Maxxie won't be there when he wakes up.]

[notahobby]

[Maxxie picks at the sheets between them nervously before he shuffles closer, just an inch.]

I was afraid you'd be mad at me.

[traumatizing]

What? Never.

[Terry frowns and looks at Maxxie's face.]

I was sad about it, but I wouldn't be mad.

[notahobby]

I know.

[He gives Terry a half-hearted smile.]

I wouldn't have blamed you though.

[traumatizing]

[Terry shakes his head.]

You don't need to worry, that's about the last thing I'm feeling right now.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie responds with a little nod, looking down at his hand. He's gathering courage, swallowing and then leaning forward to quickly but gently kiss Terry.]

[He lingers but it's still very chaste. He just needed to experience that again, to remind himself how it feels. Judging by the fact that his heart in his throat when he pulls away, it's even better than he remembered. So much of Maxxie's emotional connection to Terry manifests as a physical one too and being this close to him again and getting to kiss him again is overwhelming.]

[traumatizing]

[Terry closes his eyes when Maxxie leans in, almost calm for once at the feeling of something so warm and familiar and missed. He almost complains when Maxxie pulls away, but stops himself, eyes still closed for a moment]

I love you.

[It's been like three seconds since he last said it, but it bears repeating. Eyes fluttering open as he looks at Maxxie, taking it in that he's here and real. He's spent so many nights awake in this bed wishing for just this, to open his eyes and see Maxxie looking back at him.]

[It's overwhelming and it's perfect.]

[notahobby]

I love you too.

[He brings his hand up to Terry's cheek, brushing his thumb over the stubble on his jaw.]

I didn't even realize how tired I am 'til now.

[traumatizing]

You had a long trip.

[He lifts his hand to Maxxie's side, hesitantly scooting a little closer.]

[notahobby]

I can't tell you how many times I imagined you were there, when I was falling asleep.

[His voice falls to a soft murmur, like he's embarrassed to admit all of this and saying it quieter will soften the blow.]

[traumatizing]

I couldn't sleep at all, at first.

[He says that as if it's not still the case, but Maxxie doesn't need to hear about what a hard time he's been having. It's not that Maxxie's absence is the only problem, but god it would've helped if he was here.]

[But his eyes flick up to Maxxie's face with a bit of a smirk.]

Not without your snoring to lull me to sleep anyway.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie's smile widens and he shuffles in closer.]

I guess it's good you have that back, then.

[traumatizing]

It is. It's good.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie leans in for another kiss, quicker this time but a little more demanding. He wants to get back to feeling comfortable enough with Terry to just be the way he wants to be, unnecessary levels of affection and all. Right now he still feels a little hesitant but excited to be lying in bed with him again.]