Work Text:
The night was long and it didn’t seem to be ending soon much to Max’s dismay. For some ungodly reason, David decided to let the ‘Lake Lilac Summer Social’ go on for the rest of the night. It was weird of him to do that since he cares so much about the campers welfare and with a glance inside the mess hall Max understood.
It looked like that pink flower scout girl was threatening him to keep the party going. He can’t hear much from the outside but he can guess why. It’s probably because she hasn’t had a fulfilling dance with anybody and is still waiting for her prince charming. Barf.
“Max! Max! There’s a wolf! I see it!” Nikki’s loud voice squealed across the yard. Max can’t see shit. It was dark out and the only source of light came from the moon and the lights dancing in the mess hall.
“I’m gonna catch it and make it my comrade in war!” She declared proudly before sprinting inside the dense forest that surrounded the campsite.
“Wait, Nik— oh well,” He does not want to deal with that shit. Besides, it’s been her dream to live with the wolves. Who’s he to deny her American dream?
Max sighs and leans on the flagpole, sipping the mildly suspicious punch in his hand. The soft intimate music from the dance muffled by the walls and creaks of the night. A few echoing screams and cawing crows here and there but it was nothing new.
Suddenly, the doors that led to the cabin flew open, the muffled music and mindless chatter escaped for a second or two before the doors closed itself.
He didn’t bother trying to see who it was that interrupted his brooding time, instead hunching his shoulders and tried to stay unnoticed so whoever it was doesn’t initiate small tal—
“Max?” oh. It’s Neil.
Max exhaled through his nose, pressing further against the flagpole like it might make him invisible.
“Your head is way too big to hide behind that flagpole y’know,”
“Speak for yourself!” Max hissed without any ill intent.
He caressed his head, a frustrated complexion. Maybe a bit of ill intent. Just a bit.
Without any prompting, Neil heads towards him and leans against the pole before sliding down to plop on the ground.
“The fuck are you doing out here?” Max asked. “Saw you dancing with that wood scout,”
“Yeah, no, that was— let’s not talk about it,” he said, sheepish. A tint of red on his cheek.
Max rolled his eyes before sitting down next to him. “Loved your moves by the way, where did you learn that?” he teased.
“Shut up,” Neil shoved him, embarrassed which only made Max snicker to himself.
“Didn’t you have the hots for that blue haired girl or something?”
“Nope, I’m over it,” Neil sighed, letting his head rest against the pole. “Are you drinking that?” He nods towards Max’s punch.
Wordlessly, he hands it over to Neil who gladly takes and drinks it.
It was quiet. Max liked it. He’s had enough mayhem for the day. And it was eerily comfortable. As comfortable as this shitty camp can get he supposed. Although his eyes felt heavy, he felt no urge to sleep, Max wonders if it had something to do with the caffeine he spiked the punch with.
Or maybe it’s the vodk— what. Nothing. You heard nothing.
Neil had his arm resting on his knee, he looked like he was thinking about something. Max grimaced, the other always had to think about something. It’s like his head was wired to be working 24/7, to solve equations and solve the world’s mysteries as if it matters.
We all die at the end of the day, what’s the point of discovering shit if you won't live to see it develop. Or destroyed. It’s pointless.
Max pulls his knees closer. Despite it being summer, the nights were cold. Maybe it has something to do with the lake and trees and the sun being gone but that science shit is Neil’s territory.
“Where’s Nikki?” Neil asked. His voice cut through the quiet.
“Exploring her sexuality,”
“What?”
“She’s with the wolves,” Max points towards the forest.
“Oh,” He laughed. “Should we be worried?”
“She’s with her true kind, let her be,” He shrugged.
Not long after, the two of them heard Nikki’s voice from afar: howling, with the wolves accompanying her.
“See?” Max grinned.
“I heard,” Neil smiled, taking a sip of the punch.
“Same thing,” He shook his head.
Neil steals a few glances towards the other boy who had his chin in between his knees while his hand was pulling out grass from the ground. He hears the muffled music from the party and idle chatter, a few more recognizable than most.
David, still hosting it with a cheery demeanor. Although his sunken eyes betrayed him. Neil stares at the events inside through the window where everyone seemed to be a bit out of it actually, some wobbling around more than others, and a few of the kids already sleeping on the dance floor.
The few people still slow dancing weren’t exactly ‘dancing’ and more like hugging and wobbling mindlessly.
Now that he thinks about it, he feels a bit out of it too. His thoughts were slurring slightly, not as clear and cohesive and systematic as it used to be. Maybe he’s just sleepy. It is way past the time they were supposed to go back to
The only one that seemed to have energy inside was the flower scout girl… Sasha? That’s her name maybe. She was zooming around the area, flirting with boys he deemed good enough to dance with her. It was… sad. Seeing her so desperate isn’t a good look.
Still, the song’s nice. The rhythm makes him sway to the melody, his feet tapping to the melody.
Eyeing Max from the corner of his eyes, the other was still in his own world, the colourful LED lights outlining his hair and small figure. If he ever said that out loud he’d probably get cussed out. No, he definitely would.
He took another swig of the punch.
Neil shook his head, trying to come up with something to fill the silence. Or maybe he should just let it be? It wasn’t that uncomfortable, in fact it felt peaceful. Which was rare in this shithole.
Max seemed to like it too. He didn’t say any snarky remarks or said something about how life has no meaning and death is just an empty void where you’ll feel nothing, think nothing, and forget everything! So Max was probably in a good mood. He doesn’t wanna ruin it and feel his wrath.
His eyes never left the boy to his left, he seems to do that a lot lately.
Is his hair as soft as it looks? Are his pupils sharp like a cat’s or was it just his imagination? He thinks that hugging Max would feel nice. Like a teddy bear.
Neil blinked. Then, without thinking, he chugs the rest of the punch.
Speaking of teddy bears, Neil was always curious to how Max came up with the name ‘Mr. Honeynuts’ for his teddy bear.
Without realising it, Neil looked to be leaning closer and closer towards the oblivious other, who was distracted by who knows what. This close, Neil caught the scent of wood smoke, a warm and earthy tang that reminds him of the campfires they’d have every night before bed. Pine needles and grass, that made him reminisce of the time the three of them rolled down a hill while running away from Gwen and a sharp sting of cheap bug spray.
It was all very Max. Neil smiled and tilted his head, inching closer towards the other.
Finally, Max noticed him. His head turned his way as his eyes widened and pupils shrunk—they were really like cats’—taken aback before eventually blinking in confusion.
Max stiffened. “Um, dude, personal space?” He cringed, leaning back. “You good?”
“I'm fine,” Neil reassured, nodding wobbly.
An expression of sudden realization washed over his face. “Oh shit, is it the vodka?” he mumbled to himself. “I didn’t even put in that much!”
“Hm? What vodka?”
“Uhh, nothin’,” he pressed his lips. “Nothing at all,”
“Yeah?”
“Mhm,” Max grinned.
“Ok… well, anyways I wanted to ask you something,” Neil hummed, massaging his forehead as if trying to remember what he was about to do.
“Well, better hurry up because I want to head back to the tents,” Max avoids eye contact, his hands were fidgeting a lot. Actually, every part of him was fidgeting a lot— like he did something wrong but was still trying to act nonchalant.
Not that Neil noticed though. He was busy trying to figure out if Max’s eye colour is blue or green. Or maybe something more pretty like a jade or an emerald.
Oh and he wanted to ask Max something.
“Do you want to dance with me?” How did you come up with the name Mr. Honeynuts?
A lengthy pause.
“What.”
Then, silence embraces them that seemed to stretch for hours, just staring dumbfounded into each other’s eyes. Both of them unaware of what’s going on.
Out of nowhere, Neil’s eyes shot open— his face flushed red and steam exuded out of him with how red his complexion was.
“I— I mean— Whu— I don’t mea— AGHGHHHH!!!”
Neil screeched and crawled away, his words fall flat and a stuttering mess, avoiding contact with Max as his head spun with chaos he didn't know how to handle.
“OH MY GOD I DON’T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME I JUST— I DON’T— I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE— I—”
Neil’s breath catches in his throat, his eyes locks in on the sight in front of him— Max, with eyes wide from shock and a slack jaw, frozen in his state as slowly, heat crawls it's way up his features— his cheeks a bright red that complemented the blush on his ears.
Oh god.
“What. The fuck.” Max mutters, frozen from the sudden bomb.
His head was empty. It was void. It was nothing and everything. The voices in his head were silent for once.
All of a sudden, Neil was stepping closer towards him, his face a tint of red but a determined look was read in his expression. Max blinks rapidly, his voice strained in his throat. What was he supposed to do? Every step Neil takes makes his heart beat more intensely than before. Is he sick?
Holy shit he’s going to die because Neil asked him to dance that’s so embarrassing what the fuck.
“D— do you want to?” Neil stuttered, crouching down to his level, who was still sprawled out on the ground. “Dance? With me?”
Sirens blared inside Max’s head. It was a clear—
“NO!” he hissed, a blushing mess. “FUCK NO! WHY WOULD I— NO!”
“Oh come on,” Neil drawled. “That’s just hurtful! Do you not want to dance with me that badly?”
“I’d rather be caught DEAD than dance with anyone!” He seethed, scrambling further away.
“Max, you don’t have to worry about people seeing you!” he tries to reassure him, his tone shaky and nervous.
“Dancing is weird! I don’t— I just— I don’t know!”
“Hey, it’s not that serious! We can just— sway together or something,” Neil huffed, caressing the back of his neck.
“The fuck you mean sway together!?”
“Like— MAX THERE’S NO WAY YOU DON’T KNOW HOW SLOW DANCES WORK!!!”
“FUCK YOU!”
“I— I can teach you? You obviously don’t know how to,” He taunts. It isn’t effective.
“I DON’T WANT TO DANCE, NEIL!” Max exclaimed, his eyebrows pressed tightly. Neil worries his skin is going to permanently contort.
The two of them stuck in an intense staring contest, none of them thinking of backing down. Neil isn’t sure why he wants to dance with Max. But the thought of it makes his stomach flutter and well, he just wants to experiment. Totally. Yup.
He wants to give in to this urge, and slow dance. With Max.
Meanwhile, Max thinks the alcohol is messing with Neil’s head because why the fuck does he want to dance with him.
God, he shouldn’t have spiked that punch.
“Look, Neil. You’re— you’re drunk,” Max grumbles, ruffling his hair.
“I am?”
“Yes! I spiked the punch!” He blurted. “You’re— you’re not in your right mind—”
“But that doesn’t change the fact that I…” Neil trailed, looking away. “I want to dance— with you,” he scratched his cheek awkwardly, his eyes drifting to meet Max.
Max groaned, gripping his hair out of frustration.
Out of the blue, a warm hand was on his ankle and Max’s breath hitched. Hesitatingly, he meets Neil’s eyes. The two of them brushed with a tint of red as the quiet stretched with Neil holding onto Max’s cuffs.
Eventually, Neil sighed. “I get it, you don’t know how to slow dance and you don’t want to embarrass yourself,”
“Excuse me???” Max snarled, a spark ignited in his eyes and Neil instantly knew he won.
“No, no, it’s fine if you don’t want to,” He shrugs. “I was just surprised that you’d be so scared to embarrass yourself in front of me,”
“I’m not— I’m NOT scared—”
“Then dance with me,”
“FUCK YOU! You think that just because you danced with three people— THREE. It makes you a pro or something???” Max shoved three fingers into his face.
Neil deadpans and pushes his hand away from his face. “Wouldn’t you like to find out?”
A smug smile on his face, and yet internally he was having a meltdown, spiraling, freaking out— you name it; he was going through every form and expression of panic.
Max seemed to think very deeply about this, his eyes kept darting around the area— everyone was inside, and Nikki wasn't coming back any time soon. His ego, complex, and the more rational side of him is screaming at him to refuse— stab him if he has to but— but he was curious.
There lies a desire that pulls him to accept it. To see what would happen if he takes Neil’s hand, what his expression would be, and how it’d feel to have someone’s warm embrace.
“...I hate you,” Max grumbled.
Begrudgingly, he stood up and stared intensely at Neil’s eyes who held a subtle disbelief. Max brushed off the dirt on his pants before crossing his arms, his face pinched all throughout, eyes narrowed and clenched tests before eventually sighing and—
And offered his hand.
“I’m doing this out of pure spite,” Max hissed.
Neil sends a crooked smile and takes his hand, pulling himself up before patting himself off. The two of them stood to their full heights, Neil towering over Max. Hand still intertwined.
“I’ll lead?” Neil tilts his head.
Max glanced at their joined hands, it was warm. Still, he could feel both of their hands trembling slightly. It was likely from nerves but he’s gonna say it’s because it’s the middle of the night.
Max huffs and nods stiffly, eyes looking up at Neil with clenched teeth and furrowed brows.
The music that seeped through the mess hall didn’t show any signs of ending soon, it was a slow, intimate melody. It made their hearts race, their faces getting warmer every second passed. The colourful lights traced Max’s features, and the moonlight wove in perfect harmony with the contrast.
Neil couldn’t stop staring at those sharp eyes, a unique, hypnotizing hue as it overlaps with the variety of lights. It was stunning.
He takes a deep, shuddering breath.
“Give… give me your left hand,” Neil mumbles, slipping his right hand out of Max’s grasp to intertwine it with the other. “Yeah, like that,”
“Your hands are sweaty,” Max chuckled as Neil’s hand wrapped around his.
“Oh, shut it,” he glares.
Max swallowed. God, why does this feel so… tender? Affectionate?
Neil’s free hand loops over his right arm, firmly planting it on his upper back and in doing so: pulling him infinitely closer.
Ok Max will now SHORT CIRCUIT—
“Wrap your um— your hand, around my back,” Neil urged. His voice slightly above a whisper. It sends Max over the edge.
He huffed shakily, teetering his hand through the gap in Neil’s left arm and fitting it on his back— why the fuck is he so tall???— Max grips his shirt, attempting to get some sort of… control over the situation. They were so close, he could feel Neil’s heart; beating.
He tried to lean away as much as he could but when he attempts to step away and create distance between the two of them— Neil’s hand on his back trails slightly lower and pulled him in, making him stumble over his feet, heat creeps up his neck.
Embarrassed, Max sharply glares at the other above him.
“No one is gonna know this EVER happened,”
Neil hummed, a grin still in place— as if trying to hold in a laugh.
“I’m serious, Neil!” And since the opportunity was given to him— Max pinched him on his back.
He shrieked from the sharp sting and he narrowed his eyes down at Max before sighing… fondly? “Okay! Ok, I got it, relax,” He rolled his eyes.
The soft melody that floats in the air encourages them to start moving. To dance with the soothing rhythm and faint music instead of standing there awkwardly staring at anywhere other than their partner’s eyes.
Neil clears his throat. “Ok, Max?”
“What.”
“I’m gonna move now— just try and follow, yeah?” Neil hummed.
Slowly, their intertwined hands were raised. Neil barely hums along with the music before he starts to sway, bringing Max along with him. In each other’s arms, their warmth spread in rebellion of the cold night.
As they move with the music, as Max studies the steps Neil takes— he eventually gets the hang of it. Neil couldn’t help but feel just a bit proud. He tries his best not to overthink the fact that holy shit they’re actually doing this.
As if time slowed down, they dance under the moonlight, surrounded by trees and the lake’s breeze.
This close, without thinking, Neil rests his cheek on Max’s head— his hair feels so soft— and Max in return, lingers for a moment before sighing and leans into the taller. Their racing hearts colliding with one another. Neil smiles to himself, humming pleasantly.
He holds Max tighter and closes his eyes, moving together with no casualties as Max’s tension eases into a more comfortable state as he nestles himself in Neil’s shoulder. Their chests brushing against each other.
“Now that you’re not hunching, you’ve gotten taller,” Neil teased.
“The hell?”
“Maybe the reason your growth is stunted is because you keep hunching all the time,”
“Neil. Shut the fuck up,” Max hissed.
Neil ignores it. “You’re too young to have back problems, Max,”
“Maybe the reason I’m so short is because of my severe depression, insomnia, anxiety, and more!” Max snaps with an attitude. Neil wasn’t fazed though.
“Yeah, that seems more likely,”
They sway together hand in hand, Neil holding the smaller more firmly against his embrace and Max— Max begrudgingly leans deeper into it. A wordless apology from Neil that Max decided to pity.
The noise from the mess hall settled into something more quiet and subtle. The blaring lights slow down and the faint music is left to dance with the two of them.
Every breath Neil takes, Max could feel it shudder across his body— making him shiver.
Still, he’s a bit smug at how fast Neil’s heart rate is. Despite how confident he’s looking right now he's a crazy mess inside.
Max doesn’t know what compels him to say this but—
“Your heart’s beating way too fast, idiot,”
Neil holds his breath.
“That’s not gonna help,” Max snorts.
Neil says something, and the smaller could feel it reverberate through his body.
“Well you’re not any better,” was what he said. Neil then brought their outstretched hands closer to them, creating space between them and Max involuntarily mourned the loss of warmth.
They lock eyes, the two of them flushed with warmth in their cheeks. And then Neil nods his head towards their laced hands.
“You’re shaking,” Neil huffed.
“You’re sweating,” Max bites back.
“You keep stepping on my feet,” he narrows his eyes.
“You’re messing up my hair!”
“You’re gonna ruin my shirt with that grip!”
“You’re breathing too much—”
All of a sudden, all way too sudden: Neil gives a slight smirk before raising their hands and SPINS HIM.
Max’s jab cuts off, his world twirling around him before eventually crashing into Neil’s body and they dance together normally— as if Neil didn’t just FUCKING SPIN HIM???
“You ASSHOLE—”
Neil steps back and twirls the smaller once again before holding him close and sways effortlessly.
“NEIL—”
And again.
By this point, Max knows what’s happening. The second he tries to speak up, Neil’s not going to bother and spin him around again. A bit pissed off, Max pinched Neil’s back again— that earned him a squeal.
“Ok— yeah I deserved that,” Neil laughed lightly, tightening his embrace and leaning deeper into Max’s head.
“Fuck you,” He mutters, but it lacks bite. His head still spinning and the heat in his face showed no signs of stopping from its steaming.
Neil chuckles and holds him closer.
Instead of saying anything else, or twirling him again, Neil keeps guiding them. Slow and steady, as the music drifts on.
“This is stupid,” Max cuts through the silence. “Why do people do this again?”
“Because it’s romant—"
“You finish that sentence Neil and I’ll break your kneecaps,”
“See, the thing is— a threat is something people say they would do but don’t do it,” He hums. “But in your case, I know you can and will,”
Max grins. “You know me so well,”
As the chain that binds them eventually loosen, they move more smoothly. The awkwardness long gone as they hold each other, as they send jabs back and forth, as the music makes their bodies sway together in perfect harmony.
Now light on their feet, they smile softly against the warmth of the other’s hold.
“I’ve always liked how the stars look here,” Neil muttered. “There’s no pollution and shit,”
Max hums, sending shivers through Neil. “That’s one good thing about this forsaken camp,”
Neil smiles and shifts his view above, where the millions of stars shine brightly, illuminating this planet we call earth. They glisten and sparkle in contrast to the dark night sky, making anyone who takes the time to look, immersed.
“This song's nice,” Max whispered.
“It is,” Neil turns his gaze towards the other in his arms. Despite the stars’ beauty, Neil prefers this view.
“Say what you want, but quartermaster has some good taste in music,”
Neil nods. “I thought he’d be the type to listen to satanic choirs and anthems,”
“He probably does,” Max lets out a small laugh.
He eyes the boy fondly. No words can describe the shit that he’s going through as he gazes at the other.
Stunning.
“You dance pretty well,” Neil says.
“Really? This just feels like we’re swaying like drunkards,”
“Well, you did say I was drunk,” He grinned.
“You’re a fucking lightweight you ass,” Max huffed. “I dumped a GLASS of vodka. A TINY GLASS,” he emphasized the tiny a lot.
“Have you ever considered that I may not be drunk?”
Max scoffed. “Nope. Not gonna cross that line. Nuh uh. You’re drunk. That’s the only explanation,”
“I feel pretty sober,”
“Just shut up and dance,”
Neil’s smile grew bigger. “Who knew you liked dancing with me so much— what was it that you said? That you’d rather be dead than—”
“I know what I said!” Max bites, his complexion flushed red.
He adjusts his hold on Neil’s back, pressing his palm against it and shoving his face deeper in his shoulder.
It was nice.
“For the record… I like it,” Neil spoke up, catching Max off guard. “I like this. Dancing with you,”
Max glares at the other. “Aren’t you embarrassed saying cringe shit like that?”
“I very much am,” he laughed. “I just had to let you know,”
Max continues staring at Neil who was humming along with the music from the party. He grumbles to himself out of frustration.
He muffles against the fabric. “I— I lik— it’s nice,”
“Yeah?” Neil prods.
Max couldn’t say anything and nods stiffly as confirmation.
“I’m glad,”
The two of them continue dancing. Slowly, in a warm embrace under the showers of stars and the loving gaze of the moon that graces them with her light.
The trees rustle, the breeze caressing them in their moment. The faint music in the back of their minds as their heart beats as one.
Unbeknownst to them, other than the trees and the birds and the moon, there were others taking in the intimate sight.
“Gwen, I’m going to cry,” David sniffles.
“So this is the perfect ending,” She smiles, content.
“Gwen, they’re growing up so fast!”
“Don’t ruin the moment, David,”
“Oh, look at Max! He looks so at peace! It’s the first time I’ve seen that expression on him!” David cries.
“It’s nice seeing those two so sweet,"
“Very much so,” he hiccups.
Gwen rolls her eyes and pats his back. “There, there…”
The two of them were inside the mess hall, the party had died down— the kids fast asleep. They were cleaning up the party when they stumbled to see Max and Neil, slow dancing outside.
It’s been ten minutes since then.
“I’m shu’in off the music,” the quartermaster grumbles, heading over to the DJ station.
“—NO!” Both Gwen and David exclaimed.
“Don’t! Just— just let it be!” Gwen stutters as David nods aggressively.
The quartermaster stares intensely at them before eventually shrugging and walks away.
The two of them sighed in relief and turned to eye the two kids outside.
“I usually wouldn’t condone this kind of behaviour, and it's very late but—”
David eyes the campers outside who were bickering with grins on their faces.
“—I’ll let this slide once,”
Gwen smiles and rests her hand on his shoulders. “We’re almost done cleaning anyways,”
He turns to face her with a hum.
“Wanna dance?” She asked, offering her other hand.
He blinked a few times before smiling widely and taking her hand in his.
“Why not,” he shrugs, looping his hold around her waist and the two of them danced in each other’s arms.
Deep in the forest, inside a cave hidden in the bushes and out of man’s sight, lies a pack of wolves in deep slumber.
And with the pile of magnificent creatures, there rests a girl with mint hair and an exterior that screams chaos, wide awake.
She smiles, snuggling with the wolves.
“I’m home,”