I saw Danny Motta's reaction to Frybo and Cat Fingers. He thinks this is the worst it's gonna get and I feel like an evil oracle withholding a dire omen
Alt ver. under the cut where I have a lower body under the cut
Allo!!! why yes, we are transitioning out of the Christmas posts, but look at our new cute banner!! I mean technically it's still Christmas in the story but you know what I mean.
Part 1 | Last Chapter
Part 27
The flat was quiet the following morning. Daniel hadn't left his room at all last night. Max poured his morning shake and stared unseeingly ahead.
He wasn't sure what to do. He had hoped to be able to talk about things, to apologize. He hadn't expected Daniel to want to leave. He wanted to fix this, he needed to. Daniel couldn't leave, not like this.
Sassy jumped into the countertop as he took a sip from his glass. Daniel had kept his door closed, isolating himself from them all. Max thought that maybe the cats would have made him feel a little better.
“Sass how do I fix this?” Max muttered and Sassy chirped at him as if he could understand her. Max sighed and poured water in the kettle and set it to boil, he didn't know if he would, but Max wanted Daniel to have water for his tea if he ever came outside.
He listlessly walked around his home before walking onto the patio and looking out. The snow from last night had already melted now that the sun was out. It was still cold but not enough to snow again. It was too bad that the snow witnessed the worst night possible.
Jimmy chirped and Max distantly heard Daniel's door opening. The cats skittered inside to twine themselves between Daniel's legs while he walked. Max turned around to watch Daniel pad softly from the hallway to the kitchen. Daniel was looking down at his feet with his head bowed. Max watched the knob at the top of his spine peak through the top of his sweatshirt.
Daniel walked into the kitchen and lifted the kettle. He seemed surprised to realize that it was heavy and hot. He looked around and froze when he locked eyes with Max who was already watching him. Daniel nodded softly in thanks before puttering around to make his cup of tea. Sassy watched his every move and Jimmy looked back at Max as if to say ‘well???’
Max walked to the kitchen quickly and stopped by the breakfast bar, not wanting to enclose Daniel in the kitchen or seem like he was blocking his way out. Daniel peaked up at him but looked away quickly, biting his thumb nail nervously as he waited for the loose leaves to steep.
“Daniel I– I'm sorry.” Max spoke quietly, eyes never leaving Daniel's bowed head. He didn't say anything, keeping his eyes on his mug as if willing the tea to steep faster.
“Please don't leave.” Max tried again, clearing his throat when his voice cracked.
“Why did you lie?” If Max’s every cell weren't trained on Daniel, he would have missed his answer.
Max sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I didn't want you to feel bad.” He winced because even to him that excuse felt silly.
Daniel huffed and looked up at Max, his eyes were still red and irritated. Puffy from more than likely crying. “You didn’t want me to feel bad so you lie to my face and–” Daniel stilled suddenly. He felt like things were suddenly clicking into place, like missing puzzle pieces that were missing, suddenly turning up under the couch.
“Everyone knew…didn’t they?” Daniel asked softly, focusing on Max again. The way Max’s eyes widened was answer enough and Daniel felt like lead was just dropped in his tummy. Everyone knew that Max was lying to him and everyone made him think that this was fine. All of his friends– Max’s friends, they were Max’s friends. Not Daniel’s. It was silly of him to regard them that way.
“Daniel, its not–”
Daniel turned to regard Sassy and Jimmy who watched him quietly, his heart sank. “You too huh?” Daniel’s voice cracked. It felt like the ultimate betrayal.
“I asked them not to say anything. Please don’t be mad at them.” Max rushed in quickly but it was too late. Daniel stepped away from the countertop as if being in closer proximity to all of them was physically hurting him. He fled the kitchen quickly, leaving his steaming mug behind. Max heard the door to his bedroom close and swore emphatically.
Daniel stared out the window of his room. His chest ached, a physical pain from sadness or betrayal. He didn’t know. It happened sometimes when he felt big emotion, like his body didn’t know where to channel it. He picked at his nails, staring down at his fingers in his lap.
Everyone knew that Max had been lying to him and they all covered for him, laughing in Daniel’s face while he remained unaware. He wanted to go home, from the mean streets of Monaco. He wanted to be back on the ranch where the people there loved him unconditionally and wouldn’t ever lie to him. Where they protected him.
He didn’t know how long he stared out the window unseeingly, didn’t even realize when he’d collapsed into a fetal position. He heard the door open quietly and sighed.
“I don’t want to talk anymore.” He muttered, pushing his head into his pillow.
“We don’t have to baby boy.”
Daniel’s head whipped around and he felt tears spring to his eyes immediately. Grace stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. “Mum!” he cried and clumsily got off of the bed to fling himself into her arms. He clung to her fiercely, crying into her shoulder while she clutched him close and shushed him soothingly.
He had thought he was out of tears, his eyes had felt sore, but they seemed to have renewed and come unbidden as he finally was surrounded by the achingly familiar scent of his mother. Of home.
She coaxed him back onto the bed and he cuddled close, pressing himself against her as if he wanted them to become one body. As if he was afraid she would disappear. She stroked his hair and spoke comfortingly until he was just intermittently sniffling.
“Oh my baby. It’ll be ok.”
Daniel shook his head against her belly. No, no it wouldn’t be. Not by a long shot. Not while he was still here.
“I know you’re hurting right now, but it won’t be forever.”
“This one feels worse.” He mumbled.
“Worse how?” Grace hummed, tilting her head questioningly.
“At least when people are mean, they’re upfront about it.”
“You think Max was being mean?”
“Of course he was!”
“How about you tell me what happened, my baby. Michelle said you didn’t give her many details. I can’t make you feel better if I don’t know what hurts.”
He looked up at her from his place in her lap, she leaned against his headboard serenely, brushing his curls from his eyes. Her identical honey stare watched him softly and he swallowed thickly then nodded.
He started from the top, because she always told him that was the easiest way, and told her everything. About how Max had been changing his plans from the moment they met. Little things like his running schedule to the big things like his work trip that he came back from early to take care of Daniel. About how Daniel had been worried about Christmas because the cats said he normally leaves but then Max had told him that the plan was Monaco.
He talked about how everyone had been giving him weird looks when he talked about decorating or making plans for the kids– but no one said anything to him. No one corrected him. He’d thought it weird that the boys kept asking about snow, about how they’d all be marveling on the boat trip about being able to do it this time of year. Daniel hadn’t thought anything of it, these things individually were negligible. But putting it all together painted a canvas of lies.
Grace listened calmly, never once letting up in her calming motions. She hummed ever so often to let him know she was listening and made other soft noises.
“You are upset and you have every right to be. But do you think you’re more upset because of your feelings for him?” She asked softly and Daniel stilled. He sat up and looked at her with wide confused eyes.
“What do you mean?” He croaked.
“You love him, but you’re afraid you’re just a responsibility to him. And his actions have played on your worst fears.” She stroked the wilted rose on his hand, frowning at the sad tattoo. “You’re devastated Danny.” She didn’t say that his reaction was unequal to the action that was done because she didn’t believe that. Grace did, however, believe that Daniel wouldn’t be this upset in a different scenario.
“He lied.”
“And he was wrong to do so.” She agreed, because it was true. Max did lie and he broke Daniel’s trust. “Has he lied about other things?” She continued softly, Daniel shook his head.
“Did he apologise?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. You don’t have to accept it, or forgive him if you don’t want to.” She said it so simply and Daniel felt the ache renew in his chest at the thought of forever being angry at Max.
“What happens then?”
“Then you come home and then we figure out what the future holds, my love.”
“Oh.” He breathed and looked down at their joined hands in her lap. He wasn’t sure what Mom powers she had but he was always able to untangle his thoughts and focus when she was around. Maybe that was her superpower, to be a conduit of his own powers.
He leaned against the headboard beside her and leaned into her side, pulling his knees to his chest. She put her arm around his shoulders and pulled him in closer, he went pliantly. He felt embarrassed. That’s what it all boiled down to. Max’s actions hurt and he was embarrassed by exactly how much it hurt. This whole time, Max had burrowed himself into Daniel’s heart and Daniel had maybe put him on a bit of a pedestal too. But now with one action, it shattered everything.
Maybe things would work out better when he went home. His chest ached at the thought, but he should go home. Some distance might be good and that way Max wouldn’t have to look out for him anymore. He tilted his head into Grace’s shoulder to hide his sniffle.
