Max breathes in slowly as soon as he arrives home. it's been a long week, between Dynamite, the Jewish Hall of Fame, the red carpet for the Iron Claw, and just... everything else going on right now. He's tired, it's good to be home, it- He frowns, blinks, and stares at a garish looking box on the kitchen island. He exhales, scrubs at his face, then squints at it again, and- yep still there. No way to ignore it now. He stops himself just short of yelling out Adam's name, not wanting to disrupt him in case he's sleeping- it's hard enough for him to find rest with his ankle still recovering, rehab leaving him sore and restless more often than not.
Squaring his shoulders, Max makes his way slowly down the hall, peering into the bedroom. Adam is in there, but awake, lost in a video game in one of the handheld devices Max had sprung for him after his injury. Before Max can speak, Adam notices him, his face lighting up as he immediately loses interest in the game. "Hey! You're home!"
Max grins back and walks over, leaning into him and kissing him hello. "Yeah, just got here. Guess you were too focused to notice."
"Sorry," Adam says with a chuckle, kissing him back. "Flight went alright?"
"Eh," Max shrugs. "Same as always." He brushes some of the hair over Adam's shoulder and smirks at him. "So, there was something weird on the island when I walked in..."
Adam's eyes light up and he immediately powers down the handheld device, setting it aside before sitting up and grabbing Max's hand. "Yeah. Do you want to do something festive with me?"
Max inwardly groans. He doesn't, but he can tell by the look of pure hope and joy on Adam's face that he ultimately will.
Ten minutes later, Max is standing next to Adam's chair at the island, Adam's ankle propped up on a second chair with pillows cushioning it. He has a gingerbread house kit in hand, frowning at it. "I don't know, isn't there anything else you want to do?" he asks doubtfully.
"Nope, just this." Adam beams up at him. "Come on, Max. it'll be fun."
Max glances at him, then back at the box. Sighs. "I guess," he mumbles, prying the box open and pulling out bags of the cookies, icing, and various candy options to decorate with.
Adam's happiness falters as he searches Max's face. "Do you... I mean, if you don't enjoy doing this, you don't have to. I can do it by myself, and you can take pictures or something later."
It'd be easy to say that yes, Max can't stand this kind of stuff, but Adam's eyes are so wide and so blue, concerned as he watches Max. "No, it..." Max falters, sighing. "It's not that, I guess I just... I don't understand these things."
Adam frowns. "Haven't you ever made gingerbread houses, Max? As a kid, or- I know you have your own set of traditions and everything, but-"
"No, it wasn't that, I ..." Max exhales, scrubbing a hand over his face, struggling to find the words. "It just felt overwhelming, I guess. And I never really had anyone to help put them together with me, so..." He purses his lips and continues to rifle through the bags, purposely not looking Adam in the eye as he works.
Adam looks stricken, reaching out for Max's hand and tugging him closer. "Max," he says softly. When Max doesn't look away from the pile of baggies on the table, Adam tugs harder. "Max."
"It's fine," he says, finally looking up at Adam. "I mean, I never wanted to make a gingerbread house anyway, so-"
"Would you mind helping me with this one?" Adam asks, voice so gentle that it rocks Max to his core and for a moment he hates how Adam somehow always manages to see through him. "Please? I can't stand to reach it that easily and sometimes... I'll like your input on what to do with it."
"You would?" Max murmurs, his eyes narrowing as he digests what Adam's said.
"Yes, of course," Adam says. "You have a better eye for these sorts of things."
"Really?" Max's voice rises incredulously, his fingers trembling in Adam's hold. "You really think so?"
"Of course I do," Adam says, smiling sadly at him. "What do you think? Can we finish this before Christmas Eve?"
Max scoffs, glancing over at the various pieces of the kit as some of his bravado returns. "Hell yeah, baybay, let's do it."
Adam sits back with a smile, watching as Max begins to tear into the bags of cookies, preparing to set it up so they can begin designing with the various bags of candy scattered around in front of them.