MJF: So Go Ahead and Drive Me Insane.
pairing: mjfxfem!reader, platonic (kinda, anyway — squint and you’ll see some flirting).
warnings: none, unless you count max being a brat.
summary: after an error that he insists the hotel made, mjf is left without the suite he booked. the reader comes to the rescue.
word count: 1,644.
“Do you know who I am, bozo?” You could hear Max long before you could see him and you cringed. You’d think after years of working together - both on the indies and now in AEW - you would have gotten used to him berating people, especially those lower on the totem pole and not as quick to defend themselves, but it never became less off-putting. Your pity went out to the poor front desk associate on the receiving end of his ire. Lord knows it was an easy thing to have happen. The wind blowing in the wrong direction was enough to send the man into a frenzy, demanding to speak to the manager and swinging his proverbial dick around. It was an all too common occurrence and you wanted no part of it.
For whatever reason, in these more escalated situations, Max had a tendency to seek you out. Sure, you were diplomatic enough to deescalate things but you never got the vibe that he wanted that. It always seemed to you like he just wanted someone to co-sign his bullshit, to play the devil on his shoulder and encourage his bad behavior. That wasn’t your style. Unlike him, you came from the lower-middle class. There were no hands out, no fancy clothes. You worked for everything you had and, most of the time, work meant minimum wage jobs pandering to customers just like him. You knew from first-hand experience that service workers were critically underpaid, overworked and any mistake made was thanks to human error as opposed to malicious incompetence. You weren’t going to be on his side so why get involved?
With his designer suit-clad back turned towards you, you kept your eyes straight ahead and made your way towards the elevator. You were on track for an easy escape when the associate glanced your way, probably hoping for you to save him. Max followed his gaze, whipping his head around and breaking out into a sly grin.
Damn it, you thought, I was on your side too.
“Hey, toots, come here!” Max bellowed at you. Instead of acknowledging him, you ducked your head and continued on your path. Someone with even an ounce of self-awareness would have realized they were being given the cold shoulder. Unfortunately, that was one trait he did not possess. Instead, his voice got louder and his antics more obnoxious. It was the snapping that irritated you enough to come stomping over.
With a heavy sigh, you glanced over at Max before you focused your attention on the hotel employee. “What’s going on?”
“This fucking idiot-” The question wasn’t directed at him, but Max was sure to answer anyway. A sharp look from you shut him up.
“Chill out, I wasn’t talking to you.” Again, you turned towards the employee, offering him a smile as your gaze dropped to his name tag before focusing on his visage. There was no way this kid was even old enough to drink and you were even more annoyed at your co-worker for lambasting him. “Todd,” you said, doing everything in your power to keep your voice even and kind, “What’s the issue?” Help is here now, kid.
“Well, uh,” Todd began, his voice practically dripping with anxiety, “we, uhm...” He trailed off as his gaze met Max’s. The older man was scowling now, chest puffed up and just as agitated as before. Sensing you were losing him, you tapped a manicured nail against the top of the desk, grabbing his attention. You nodded at him to continue. “We don’t have a reservation here under Mr. Friedman’s name.”
Max scoffed. “Bullshit!” He dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “I’ve got the confirmation right here.” He didn’t pull it up, but he still shoved the phone in Todd’s face. “Tell him I should be here! Tell him I’m not some fucking rando, okay? I’m with the same God damn company everyone else who booked a room at this shit hole works for.”
The tirade was going to continue so before Max got the chance, you spoke again. “There’s no available rooms right now?” Reluctantly Todd shook his head. “Okay,” you breathed, wracking your brain for a solution. “What about the other hotels near here?”
“Well, because of the show...” He didn’t even need to say it. Double Or Nothing was a big event. With fans coming in from all over anywhere nearby would be booked too.
You knew you couldn’t just leave Max out here to harass this kid. “Alright, here’s what we’re going to do. I checked in earlier today.” Like he was supposed to, you wanted to add but didn’t. If Max could just follow one single normal procedure maybe this could have been caught before it was late at night and options were slim. “He’ll room with me tonight and tomorrow we’ll see if we can figure something else out, okay?” Todd nodded, confirming he was on board (as if he cared, all he wanted was this maniac away from him) so you looked over at the other member of this confirmation. “Seriously, Max, no more arguing. Let’s go.”
You turned and started, again, towards the elevator but stopped not long after when you realized he wasn’t following. He stood in the same spot, gaze flickering from his luggage to you and then back again. You knew what he was asking without him having to say it. “There’s not a chance in hell I’m grabbing your bags. Get them yourself so we can go.” You paused. “Please.”
___________________________________________________________________
With only minimal complaints from your temporary roommate, you managed to get the both of you not only out of the lobby but in your hotel room. With the door shut and the bags on the floor, you made quick work of grabbing one pillow off the bed and setting it up on the sofa. Playing the good hostess, you looked over your shoulder at Max as you fluffed it. “Let me know if you need a blanket or something.”
“Excuse me?” He was incredulous, almost mocking and you stood up straight, shoulders stiffening as you now gave him your full attention. “I am not sleeping on that thing.” Okay, sure, it wasn’t the fanciest of accommodations. Something you knew he expected and was most definitely used to. But, last you checked, beggars couldn’t be choosers. “This isn’t the suite with a view that I booked. It’s bad enough I have to settle for... this. But now you want me to sleep on the couch? I won’t fit.”
“Jesus Christ, Max! Okay, what do you suggest then?” You’d do anything to placate him so you could end this conversation and get some rest.
“I get the bed and you sleep on the couch.” You stand corrected: not anything.
“That’s not happening. This is my room so it’s my bed.” Maybe you should have left him in the lobby. He could have been literally anyone else’s problem but you made him yours.
“If it’s yours, that makes me your guest, and what kind of monster doesn’t make sure their guest is comfortable?” He shook his head and clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed in you before he kicked his shoes off. Hopping on top of the covers, he leaned back against the headboard and smirked. “Unless you plan on joining me, it’s about time I get my beauty sleep.”
“Fine! Scooch over.” You snatched up the pillow you’d just put down and threw it in the direction of the bed, purposely aiming for his surprised face. He definitely didn’t expect you to take him up on that. “I’m going to get changed and then you’re gonna let me get some sleep.”
With that, you grabbed your bag and headed to the bathroom. In desperate need of rest, you just threw your hair up and changed into your most conservative pajamas. The kind of guest you had tonight didn’t need to be impressed by your appearance.
When you returned, you spotted Max’s fancy suit jacket hung carefully over the back of the couch with the rest of his outfit meticulously folded next to it. Surprised, and suddenly worried about what you were about to see, you spun around, letting out a relieved sign when you saw him sitting on the bed in a pair of sweats and an AEW t-shirt. Rid of his pretentious attire, he almost looked approachable. “I didn’t know if you preferred the left or right, so I figured I’d wait for you before getting too comfortable. Wouldn’t want you waking up on the wrong side of the bed.”
“You’re fine where you are.” You appreciated the gesture but you had no preference. You’d sleep upside down if it meant you’d get to rest. “Okay, this is what we’re gonna do..” You trailed off, grabbing the first pillow you saw and putting it right in the middle of the mattress, creating a little barrier. “No crossing your side, got it?”
He laughed. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Finally getting under the covers, he gave you one last look. “You’re the one who needs to worry about keeping their hands to themselves. No woman can resist all this.”
Settling in for the night yourself, you shook your head, the snarky retort you had never left your lips. “I’ll do my best to keep my hands to myself. Goodnight, Max.”
The two of you were curled up on your sides, back to back with a flimsy piece of bedding in between. The silence had barely settled before Max was speaking again. “Hey, toots?”
“Mhm?” You hummed, lacking the energy to even complain about the pet name he’d bestowed upon you when you’d first met.
“You really saved my ass tonight. I just wanted to say I appreciate y - it.” He actually sounded sincere and you smiled into the darkness.
“You’re welcome. Now, if you don’t go to sleep...”