It's been a long week. Adam is glad it's the weekend now, careful not to bring home his frustration over how Wardlow's match had gone. He sighs and squints his eyes open, relieved for Max's blackout curtains keeping him from being blinded by the early morning sun. He rolls over carefully and finds Max laying on his side next to him, breathing in and out steadily. He smiles slightly, reaching out to brush a curl back off of Max's forehead before sitting up slowly, scooting off of the bed. He collects his crutches and slowly makes his way out of the bedroom, relieved when Max stays asleep.
He's quiet as he wanders around the kitchen, placing an order with Max's favorite breakfast place. He requests they leave it at the door, adding a hefty tip, and then stares out at the skyline, making mental lists of how he wants Max's birthday to go until finally he hears something getting settled out by the penthouse door. Shuffling over, he collects the bags and heads back into the kitchen, plating everything as quietly as he can.
When he returns to the bedroom, crutch in one hand, tray in the other, it's to find Max still asleep, but this time curled up towards Adam's spot, as if searching for him in his sleep. Adam's eyes soften as he settles the tray down on the bedside table and scoots in next to Max, gently lifting his face and resting it in his lap. "Hey," he says softly, running his fingers through Max's curls. "I brought breakfast."
Max stirs a little, huffs a sigh into his hip and grumbles. "Sleep," he mumbles.
"You can sleep as long as you want," Adam says with a small smile. "I guess we can microwave your pancakes."
This stirs Max the rest of the way, his eyes resting on Adam's face. "Mean," he mumbles, pushing himself up on his good arm and scrubbing at his face. "What did you get?"
"Pancakes, omelettes, those hashbrowns you like so much, and fruit." Adam waits until Max has fully sat up, pressed against his pillows, before smiling at him. "Hungry?"
"I can eat," he says, voice thick with sleepiness. When Adam rests his tray over his legs, life returns to Max's gaze and he begins to dig in, causing Adam to chuckle.
"Happy birthday," he says once Max has slowed down a bit, taking in the surprise on his face.
"Oh yeah," he mumbles. "I almost forgot."
"Good thing I didn't then," Adam says softly, leaning in to kiss him. "Gonna make it special for you."
Max examines him. "Oh yeah? You have plans?"
"As best as a guy who can barely walk can, yeah," he says with a brittle smile.
Max shakes his head, tilting Adam's face back towards him for another kiss. "Thank you. It'll be great, I'm sure."
"I hope so," Adam says softly. "Go on, eat."
"I will if you will." Max frowns stubbornly until Adam lifts up his fork and begins diligently working through his eggs. Only then does Max resume eating too.
-x
"Are you sure?" Max asks, hovering in the doorway of the bathroom, his brows furrowed as Adam balances precariously over the bathtub.
"Yep, I am," he says, checking the water temperature. "I can't join you, but I'll stay right here." He nudges at a chair that's placed next to the tub. "You can soak, and I'll keep you company." Max still seems hesitant to Adam straightens up and lightly tugs on his wrist. "C'mon, Max. Rain check on me joining you. Promise."
"I don't..." He falters. "It kind of feels bad, me getting to enjoy this, and you can't..."
"Don't feel bad," Adam chides him lightly. "I'm fine. Not a huge fan of baths anyway, but you have this huge Jacuzzi tub in here, so one of us should make the most of it, right? C'mon, birthday boy. Don't tell me I filled this up for nothing."
Max exhales. "Alright," he mumbles. "Alright." Shucking his robe, he casts one last glance at Adam before gingerly stepping into the tub, exhaling slowly as he sinks into the warm water. "Christ," he mumbles, dipping down almost to his nose as the water envelopes his body. "Forgot how good this could feel."
Adam beams at him and lightly trails his fingertips over the water once he's settled comfortably in his chair. "See? You should listen to me more often."
"I listen to you all the time," Max huffs, peering up at him.
Adam chuckles. "Oh, I guess you do listen to me for the most part, yeah." He leans in and lightly massages Max's shoulder. "How's that feel?"
"Relaxing," he sighs. "Might fall back asleep in here."
"Well, don't do that, I'm not sure I'll be able to get you out," Adam says, lightly pinching him.
"Hey!" Max huffs, his lips twitching up as Adam laughs lightly. "I won't sleep. It's just... really comfortable."
Adam's eyes soften. "Good, Max. I'm glad."
Max reaches up and laces their fingers together. "Thanks," he sighs, resting his head back against the edge of the tub and just soaking as the water soothes away at his sore muscles.
-x
Afterwards, they spend the rest of the afternoon in bed, Max still wrapped up in the fluffiest towel Adam could find, curled close to Adam under the blankets and sheets while they watch mindless TV. It's getting later, the sun is creeping lower in the sky, preparing to set, when Adam lightly nudges Max. "I'll be right back," he says, kissing Max on the forehead and slowly extracting himself from the warm cocoon they'd curled themselves up into before grabbing his crutches and slowly getting to his feet.
"Nooo," Max whines, pouting when Adam carefully tucks the blankets back in around him. "Adam-"
"Supper time," Adam tells him, leaning in to kiss him again. "I won't be long."
He doesn't lie, he's not. But when he comes back, he rounds the bed and collects some clothes out of Max's dresser, piling them up at the foot of the bed. "C'mon, birthday boy, time to get dressed," he says, standing by the side of the bed until Max frees himself reluctantly from the sheets and blankets.
"Can't we eat in bed again?" he asks, taking the pile of clothes Adam hands him.
"Nope, I have other plans for that," he says with a smile, waiting while Max gets dressed. Nothing more strenuous than his usual lounging around the penthouse wear- some shorts and a tank top, but enough for what Adam is planning. "Great, c'mon," he says, nudging Max out of the bedroom once he throws the towel into the bathroom to be taken out for laundry later.
Max allows himself to be led out onto the balcony and he exhales, taking in the skyline as the sun sets, glinting everything orange and red. "Oh," he says, blinking at the covered dishes waiting for them.
"It's nothing special," Adam says. "Potato salad, and sandwiches, some of your pickles because I know how you get about picnics without them, but I figured... it's almost spring, and it's a nice enough day, so why not."
Max nods. "Why not," he echoes with a smile, holding the chair for Adam.
Adam pauses, probably about to argue about the birthday boy sitting first, but he gives up on it and sits down, smiling when Max settles down across from him. "So, all in all, lowkey birthday," he says once they've taken a couple of bites. "But are you enjoying it?"
"I am," Max murmurs, glancing up at Adam. "A whole day spent with you? Being pampered by you, no less? Can't really complain." He grins, a brief flash of smugness, before it fades away into fond sincerity. "Thanks for this, it's been... one of my better birthdays, really."
Adam smiles at him, reaching over to lace their fingers together, squeezing his hand. "Good, I'm glad. But we're not quite done yet. I know you wanted supper in bed too, but, well, the day isn't over."
Max examines him, humming. "I see," he says, curious but deciding to let Adam have his secrets for now as they continue to eat and enjoy the sunset.
-x
"Gonna be right back," Adam says, pausing the video game he and Max had been co-opting for the better part of the couple hours after dinner, carefully getting to his feet and fumbling for his crutches.
"Oh," Max says, frowning. "Alright."
Adam smiles at him and makes his way slowly out of the room while Max frowns at the menu, trying to remember some of the combo moves that are required to defeat some of the bosses, about to turn to ask Adam about them when he falters, eyes widening. "No way," he mumbles.
Adam carefully makes his way over to the bed, a heaping plate full of cake with candles glinting off of it in hand. "Take it before I drop it," he laughs, Max quickly moving to help him.
"Damn," he breathes, looking down at the huge cake. "What is this?"
"Red velvet, the most fancy one I could find," Adam says, taking the video game controllers and setting them aside. "Make a wish and blow your candles out before they make a mess." He laughs helplessly as Max quickly does so, peering up at him once they're out. "Dessert in bed, how's that sound?"
"Sounds great," he says, putting the plate down and scooting up the bed. "Two forks, I see. So we're going to share?"
"Yeah," Adam says quietly, shuffling up the bed to drop down next to him. "Sound alright?"
"Sounds great," Max says with a smile, already holding a forkful of cake out for him once he's comfortable. Adam beams at him and takes a bite of it, nodding in approval once Max eats the rest. "Thank you. For all of this," he says, circling a hand around at everything- the remnants of breakfast, the bath, the picnic, this cake. "It's been really great. I'm going to have trouble outdoing all of this for your birthday."
Adam laughs, shaking his head. "Please, Max. if anyone can make all of this look small time, it'll be you."
"Doubt it," Max mumbles, leaning in to kiss him. "You make everything special, baybay."
"Hmm," Adam says with a smile. "Well, we can continue to go back and forth on this, or we can eat cake. Which do you prefer?"
Max ponders for a minute. "Well, when you say it that way, ... let them eat cake."
Adam shakes his head fondly, laughing at him. "Yeah, yeah." He takes his fork and nudges at Max. "Better get started before I eat all of it, birthday boy."
"Like you'd do that," Max scoffs, smirking as Adam winks at him, reaching over for his own fork full of cake.
"Happy birthday, Max."
Max smiles. "Thanks."