happy holidays, @supershrimp15 !! I’m here to deliver some Max/Ray with a healthy side dish of Max&Kyle.
+ read on ao3
Max wasn't often one for venturing too far outside the town. He much preferred to spend time in Alvarna, with his friends and family. But when Kyle had approached him, asking if he’d like to join the earthmate on a small expedition through the woods, and Rosalind had encouraged it, asking if he’d be able to grab something for her, he hadn’t been able to say no. Why she wasn’t able to buy it or just ask Kyle to grab it, Max didn’t question.
Of course, he was now somewhat regretting that decision as he sat on the examining table of the Alvarna clinic. Max didn’t think he really needed this much, but after he’d slipped on a patch of ice and caught himself hard, Kyle had insisted on turning right back around. At the very least, he’d get to see the object of his affections while there.
Silver linings, and all that.
He could see Kyle sitting in a chair just outside the examination area, no doubt wanting to make sure that Max wasn’t going to do something stupid like leave before Ray or Natalie were able to see him, and a mixture of warmth and slight annoyance shot through the man at the thought. Max was fine, the pain in his wrist already mostly faded away. Nothing a little rest couldn’t fix.
It was at that moment, Ray stepped into view, fully obscuring Kyle from Max’s vision. Max couldn't smother the smile that flitted across his face in time, and he definitely couldn’t stop the smile from growing when Ray returned the same expression.
“Well, Mr de Sainte-Coquille,” Ray began, that soft smile still on his face, “what seems to be the problem?” Nothing but professional, not that Max was expecting anything less of his boyfriend when he’s at work.
“I’m fine, really,” Max responds, holding up his so-called injured wrist. It wasn’t bruised and was barely swollen. “Kyle just thinks I broke it, and won’t let me leave.” His voice raised as he spoke, wanting to make sure Kyle would be able to hear him.
“I do it because I care,” came the loud response, and Max had to stifle a laugh at the sight of Ray fondly rolling his eyes.
“Just because it doesn’t look broken doesn’t mean it’s fine,” Ray said. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” His voice was quiet, not carrying enough for Kyle to hear. “Let me just,” he trailed off, reaching for Max’s hand, which Max gave easily.
The following examination went quickly and with minimal amounts of pain, Ray having Max move and bend his wrist in different ways, and applying light pressure to certain areas. At the end of it, Ray announced, “Just sprained. Take it easy, put some ice on it, and you’ll be fine.”
“Hear that, Kyle? I’m fine,” Max called, unable (and uncaring) to keep the grin from seeping into his voice. Just as he was unable to resist giving Ray a brief kiss as he stood up. “We’re still on for tonight?” he asked, his voice low.
“Of course,” Ray replied, “We’ll just have to be sure to avoid all the ice.” Humor was evident in his brown eyes, and Max couldn’t stop himself from giving the other man another quick kiss.
“I’ll bring my ice skates,” Max said with a laugh, walking with Ray to the front where Kyle was waiting. “I’ll see you at six.”
“Six o’ clock,” came Ray’s returned promise with a smile, then Max and Kyle were out the clinic’s door.
Once they were a few steps away from the clinic, Kyle turned to Max with a light in his eyes and said, “Sounds like someone’s got a date tonight.”
One of Max’s eyebrows raised slightly before he laughed. “Yes?” he responded, unsure of where Kyle was going with this. It wasn’t as if him and Ray dating was a secret. Sure, they hadn’t shouted and shared the news from the rooftops, but Kyle had to know. Except…. Max couldn’t recall specifically telling him. Or telling anyone for that matter.
“Oh, oh no,” Max started laughing as he opened the door to the de Sainte-Coquille Manor. “Ray and I have been - We’ve been together for over a season.”
“What?!” came the loud exclamation from none other than Max’s sister herself, just coming down the stairs.
“Hi, Rosalind,” Kyle and Max greeted her in unison before Kyle pointed a somewhat accusatory finger at Max.
“What do you mean you’ve been together for over a season?” Kyle demanded while Rosalind nodded vigorously in agreement.
“What do you mean, ‘what do you mean’? He asked me on a date and I said yes. That was at the beginning of Fall, and now it’s nearly the end of Winter.” Max sheepishly grinned at his sister and best friend. “I thought you knew but I guess we forgot to say something.”
- x -
Six rolled around, and Max was waiting just outside the clinic for Ray. Nervousness and excitement were battling each other in the pit of Max’s stomach, and it felt oddly reminiscent of the first time he’d waited like this for Ray, though this was a completely different kind of nervous.
After the news had been shared - news that Max felt bad had even had to be shared like it had been - Rosalind had demanded they tell Herman about Max and Ray’s relationship, knowing their father wouldn’t care that Max was with another man, and that Max invite Ray over for dinner with the family - that night, in place of their usual plan of a late night picnic.
Max was pacing, nervous energy not letting him calm down, but he stopped the second he heard the sound of the clinic’s door.
“Hi,” Ray called softly through the quiet of the night.
“Hi,” came Max’s just as quiet answer as he drew up to Ray. He spared not a second to draw Ray in for a kiss, longer than the ones they’d shared earlier. Once they broke apart Max took a few moments to just look at Ray before speaking. “There’s been a change of plans. Rosalind and my father, they want you to come over for dinner. I guess I never told them about us, and they want to, ah, welcome you to the family.”
Ray laughed, the sound loud and bright in the dark, dropping his head so it rested on Max’s shoulder for a few moments. When he pulled away, his face still held a smile, so soft and sweet and yet so blinding, and he slipped his hand into Max’s.
Max tried to smother the small grimace of pain that came from his wrist being jostled slightly, but Ray, ever perceptive, immediately withdrew his hand. “Sorry,” he murmured before taking the other, uninjured hand in his own. “Good thing you have two hands.”
Silver linings, after all.