When Max was young, really young, he was rather clingy especially with his father. But Tom was often a busy man, what with work and all, and while Max was too small to understand that at the age of five Tom always, or at least most of the time, made the effort to give his son affection. This is when the butterfly kisses started. The gentle brushing of eyelashes were brief moments of affection usually exchanged because Max was often fascinated by looking at his dad's eyes up close, but also because Max liked how it tickled.
So, whenever Tom was really up to his neck in work and he hadn't had a chance to spend time with Max properly he would usually apologize with a butterfly kiss. Max would jump up and down, hair bouncing with his excitement, when his dad was finally finished with his work. It was almost like a treat, a reward if you will, for Max being patient and waiting for his father without disturbing him. Tom would scoop Max up in his arms and lean in to press their faces closely together, tilting his head ever so slightly for the best angle.
Once Tom's eyelashes started to flutter, there was no stopping the squeal of delight that came out of Max or the smile that followed after.
