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[just_hex]

It was so silly, he knew, but he loved that he could get chicken any time he liked now. He could get chicken for lunch. He could get chicken delivered.

That was the best.

Max had had a thing and Nyx was busy, too. Hex had jumped on the opportunity to get online and play a bit, only pausing when the door alert went off. He left his headset and answered the door in his shorts, a smile on his face for the driver.

Except the driver wasn't there. Not a trace. Just the food stapled shut in a paper bag.

"That's odd," he said as he gathered it all up to bring it in.

Comments

[just_hex]

"Alright," Hex nodded. "Thought for a second I was going to have to fight him, too."

He grinned at that, then realized he hadn't shown Max his contract. Wiping his fingers, he reached for the envelope.

"I got a great deal for this exhibition," he said. "I know I said I wasn't going to fight anymore, but I can't pass this up."

When he handed it to him, he showed Max the final payout.

When Hex had seen it, he'd held it together, then had gotten a bit sick as soon as he was alone.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max saw the number, and his stomach dropped. That was moving out and up money. That was new life money.

That was I don't need you, money.

"...Oh. Um, I mean, that's great, Hex. Congratulations," he said softly.

[just_hex]

Hex smiled and nodded.

"We'll be set, yeah? Chicken every day," he said.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Not my money, Hex," Max said gently. "That's all you, yeah? You earned it."

[just_hex]

"I ain't earned it yet. Until it's in me account, it's just numbers on paper," he said.

He knew how quickly money could come and go with promoters. He knew that.

"Be nice if I see...half, no, a third. Nice if I see a third of that."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"You're owed it all," Max replied. "Just wish you didn't have to fight. I worry about you, yeah?"

But the fact that Hex was so bloody good at it was something to admire.

[just_hex]

"There's nothing to worry about," he scoffed lightly. "I"m good at it, yeah? No one can touch me."

He was confident in that, too.

"Do you want to be there?" he asked. "I could get you a front row seat."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Don't know. I don't like seeing you hurt," Max said softly. "Don't like blood. I've seen plenty."

[just_hex]

"I won't make you watch," he promised. "You might have to work, anyway. Jack has you in at odd times, sometimes, yeah?"

He was burning with curiosity about Max's job, but so far he'd learned little.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Yeah, yeah sometimes we end up working late, or we have to leave the city, you know? But, I try not to be gone too much, yeah?" Max said.

[just_hex]

"Do you enjoy...it?" Hex asked. "...Whatever you do?"

He finished what he wanted and set his plate aside, Max now holding his entire attention.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"I dunno, I think so. It's nice, feeling like I'm doing something productive. I like streaming, I do, but this- I dunno, it feels like I'm accomplishing something I guess," Max admitted.

[just_hex]

"It's nice when you can see you've done something," he nodded. "You know when you've done good patching someone up, yeah? Stream's a lot easier, though."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Yeah, people just burn money it feels like. Half the time they're just asking for a hello at this point. ...It's easy, but I don't think I like doing it alone," he admitted.

[just_hex]

Hex was quiet a moment, something squirming uncomfortably in his gut.

"But...you like it together?" he asked, just to be sure.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"...Yeah," Max admitted. "I dunno, I like being with you, and I feel safer with you with me. ...I wouldn't ask you to do it with me all the time though," he added quickly. "I know you have a lot going on."

[just_hex]

He very nearly blurted out that that would be alright...

And then he remembered Jack and Greg and Nyx and he decided he should keep quiet.

"You can say," he told him instead. "If you want me, I'll make time for you. I...I like it, too."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Thanks, Hex," Max said, though he knew he'd only ask on nights the man seemed free. "It'll be nice tonight, streaming again."

[just_hex]

"I'm done for now. I can go change the bed. Make it nice," he offered as he took his plate to the kitchen, talking as he walked away.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"Oh, it should still be set up from my stream last night," Max said, bringing his plate through. "I bought new sheets, they're silver, looks nice on camera. I meant to show you, but you were out, and then I left so early this morning... It looks good though," he promised.

[just_hex]

"Silver? Bang gon, let me see," he said, honestly excited by that.

He left the plate and headed for the bedroom to look at it. Max was right, it looked great.

"What you bought will look so good laid out on that," he smiled at him.

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

"You think? I'll get changed then," Max decided, smiling. "Want to set up the camera?"

[just_hex]

He kind of didn't, honestly. One time, he'd like to have Max to himself...except he knew that wasn't really possible. THe whole point was being on camera.

"Alright," he nodded. "I'll be quick about it."

[511v3r_h4mm3r]

Max grinned, nodding and wandering off. It didn't even occur to him that he could be with Hex without the camera. Surely the other man wouldn't want that. This was business. ...And friendship. Nothing more. ...Right?

He returned wearing his new clothes, adjusting the pants a bit.

[just_hex]

Hex was adjusting the contrast when Max walked in and he looked up and stopped.

Simply froze.

Except his gaze, which raked over him appreciatively.

"You look...good," he said, his mouth a bit dry.