RP for drgatesjones (Used and abused ;) )
After this.
By the time Lee dropped him at Dia's place, Max was feeling sore all over. Worry, sparring, almost panic, relief... admissions. The thanked the driver, shouldered the bag - he'd not even recalled about it when shuffling with Stephen into the house - and made his way up.
As always, always when he went there, since that unforgettable evening of flowers, he smiled when he crossed the threshold. In a very small way... their threshold. Not... formally. Just of two people who shared love. Who shared each other.
His contribution to share tonight was rather... odd. Aching body, aching bones, aching thoughts. It had not ended badly, but the low after the adrenaline rush - and there had been one. Or two. - was a draw on his strength on its own. At least the emotional part... they'd talked about already. Briefly. It seemed different then though than now. One thing, a bodyguard with feelings for his boss. (a part of him was snorting and pointing out at Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston) A different thing the way it was standing since tonight.
Not different regarding Claudia. His light. The smile on his face. Not that Stephen couldn't put one - but it was different. His heart was filled with her to bursting.
And he was late. "m home." He started at how tired his voice sounded, almost like a mumble, and made a second, more concentrated attempt. "I'm home, beautiful!" She'd know, from the wards, probably. Still.
By the time Lee dropped him at Dia's place, Max was feeling sore all over. Worry, sparring, almost panic, relief... admissions. The thanked the driver, shouldered the bag - he'd not even recalled about it when shuffling with Stephen into the house - and made his way up.
As always, always when he went there, since that unforgettable evening of flowers, he smiled when he crossed the threshold. In a very small way... their threshold. Not... formally. Just of two people who shared love. Who shared each other.
His contribution to share tonight was rather... odd. Aching body, aching bones, aching thoughts. It had not ended badly, but the low after the adrenaline rush - and there had been one. Or two. - was a draw on his strength on its own. At least the emotional part... they'd talked about already. Briefly. It seemed different then though than now. One thing, a bodyguard with feelings for his boss. (a part of him was snorting and pointing out at Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston) A different thing the way it was standing since tonight.
Not different regarding Claudia. His light. The smile on his face. Not that Stephen couldn't put one - but it was different. His heart was filled with her to bursting.
And he was late. "m home." He started at how tired his voice sounded, almost like a mumble, and made a second, more concentrated attempt. "I'm home, beautiful!" She'd know, from the wards, probably. Still.