Shit man I've got a sad one today. You read the title. You know something crazy is about to happen.

But just as a trigger warning (I guess), this chapter has a hella stressful situation in it. So you know, if stress and fear aren't for you, than fuck this chapter. Also people in California are currently very sensitive about fire, so I'll apologize in advance to Californians.

Day 10: Fire

Chapter Summary: Max set a fire and he burned down the house.

Now Max wasn't a pyromaniac or anything, he just wanted to see something burn. That's not so bad right? He grabbed a sheet of paper and found a lighter, and created a flame. He knew it would grow, it's fire, but he didn't plan on how he was going to put it out.

"Shit! Max yelled as the fire touched his hand. He flinched and dropped the paper onto the carpet in his room. That too, caught and let the flame spread.

He tried to put it our before David caught him. Fuck, he'd be so mad. The fire quickly moved to the curtains hanging from the windows, seeking to destroy. The situation was hopeless. The only option was to leave the room and seek help.

In a panic, Max ran from his room and straight out of the house. He could see from outside that his room was fully engulfed in flames. Shit he'd make a mistake. He messed up really bad this time. Not only did he not grab any of his belongings, but he didn't tell David. Max swore under his breath and started to run back into the house.

Before he could make it inside, however, the roof above the entryway caved in. Objects from the floor above scattered around the burning ground. "David!" Max called out, hoping to get his attention. He ran around the front of the house and tried to locate him by looking through the windows.

Max's heart was racing. He had no way to contact a fire department without a phone, and who knows where David is! The boy blinked back tears, David had to be okay. He must have heard the crash of the ceiling caving in. Where was he?

An explosion came from the backside of the house. Max had no way of stopping this. David might be… No.

There were only so many places David could be, but most of that was burning at this point. God, not knowing was the worst. Windows were now all clouded with smoke or shattered from the fire burning right through them.

Then the roof came down.

"God damn it! No!" Max looked around the street, checking for anyone who happened to standing around. Half the neighborhood had their cameras out, preferring to document instead of calling for help. Although, there were about four of five people calling authorities and trying to help with the situation. Max couldn't do anything. His heart fell apart at the thought of David being trapped in the house, burning to death because of his actions.

Soon enough, a fire truck and ambulance drove up to the house. A man had asked Max if anyone was in the house. He nodded. "My... my dad." The tears finally fell. People had run into the burning building, in hopes of not only putting out the flames, but finding David.

0

They had found him in Max's room, curled between the bed and a wall. Apparently the moment he noticed he intense heat coming from the room, he had rushed in there, trying to find Max. Once the floor and roof caved in, he had no way of escaping. He was alive, but definitely burned. His lungs were also in bad condition from the smoke he had breathed in.

Now sitting in the back of an ambulance, Max looked at David. The guilt was overwhelming. If he hadn't been so curious… He was informed that David would be fine as long as he got "enough rest". Bullshit. Max knew David would be fine, but not the same. He'd have scars, he'd be more cautious, he'd change.

Max though of all the things they'd have to replace. Everything was gone. He felt lost and alone. David wasn't there to comfort him, and he sure as hell isn't going to find any ease from the strangers keeping David alive. So he sat quietly and waited.

0

Two hours passed. David was declared to be stable. Max was given a coloring book and candy in some attempt of comforting him. He didn't want any of it. He just needed to be told, by David, that he was fine and their life would be back to the way it was before. For now he'd wait for David to gain conscious.

Max had fallen asleep on a chair in David's hospital room. No one bothered to remove him, seeing as he was just a kid, they figured he wouldn't cause any problems. They weren't wrong but…

Max was awoken by the sound of harsh coughing. David. He quickly sat up. David was doing his best to do the same. The young boy stood and ran over to the bedside. "David! Are you okay?" David tried to calm his breathing. "Y-yeah," He stuttered. "Are you?"

"Who cares?! I'm so sorry. I started the fire and I didn't know what to do! I… I should have just found you before I tried to leave. Fuck, I just-"

"Hey Max."David managed to choke out. "I know you. You're not a bad kid. You wouldn't-" He started coughing. "You wouldn't do this on purpose." He smiled the best he could. "I'm so glad you're okay." Max had to force himself not to smile back. "Just don't die okay?" He grabbed the chair he had been sleeping on and pulled it closer to David's bed. "I'm going back to sleep. You'd better still be here when I wake up." David frowned at the thought of Max being alone, without him. "I promise I will."

Max curled himself back onto the cushioned chair, and as he fell back asleep, his only thought was of how damn lucky he was that David survived.

And that was all he really needed.

Okay so it was sad and a bit OOC, but had a nice ending. I don't ever plan on writing any death in these one-shots. But maybe some more close calls?

I don't know.

Also who caught the reference in the chapter summary?

Leave those snazzy reviews.