Travel is nearly impossible. Max's hip and shoulder is a mess. Adam's foot is better, but not really great, and airport travel tires him out, hinders his recovery. It traps them in opposite sides of the coast, only able to talk to each other through video chat, eating at them both. Max gnaws at his lower lip, aching physically and emotionally, watching as Adam tells him that he's being benched again because his ankle isn't healing as quickly as they'd hoped while he travels for Undisputed Kingdom.
They sit in silence for awhile before Max blurts out, "Move in with me."
Adam coughs, then stares at the screen. "Excuse me?"
Looking up, Max meets his eyes, the idea growing on him with an intensity he'd never expect. "Move in with me," he repeats. "I mean it- pack your streaming shit, your video games, the rest we'll put in storage or donate, or hell, sell it, I don't care, I'll buy you whatever you need when you get here, just..." He exhales shakily. "Please, Adam. This is just... making us both miserable, being so far apart while we recover, and I... I need you, baybay. What do you say?"
The world feels like it's stopped spinning as they stare at each other, separated by thousands of miles, by screens, by their injuries. Max is panicking that he's the only one who wants this when Adam licks his lips, then nods nervously, searching Max's eyes. "Yeah," he says softly. "Yeah, Max, I need you too. I... I say yes."
Max's grin is brilliant even as tears well up in his eyes, the emotions overwhelming him. "Great," he whispers, breathless and a little in disbelief that it was so easy for both of them to come to this decision. Their tag team may be finished, but it's still so easy for them to get on the same page, to come to an agreement when it matters. "I'll hire some people, you won't have to move a muscle," he promises. "Just... just come home to me."
Adam's eyes widen a little, and he nods. "I will, Max. I will as soon as I can."
Max wipes at his face and clears his throat, wishing he could hold Adam, could kiss him right now. But first, he has to get him and his things to New York in one piece. It gives him something to work towards. Something to take his mind off of possibly facing down arm surgery. He smiles and begins to plan.
-x
Max blinks awake slowly and sighs, lifting his head gingerly and watching as Adam sleeps peacefully, curled up against him, head resting on his chest. He huffs then smiles, brushing some hair out of Adam's face. He's loath to wake him, but it's a big day. He sits up a little and presses a kiss to Adam's forehead, guiding him gently back down onto the pillows. "Adam," he whispers. "Time to wake up, baybay."
"Noooo," he whines, grabbing for Max. "Stay in bed."
"I'd love to, Adam, but we both have things to do today. I have to take you to rehab, and then fly out for Dynamite. Remember?" He continues peppering kisses around Adam's face, trying to be as annoyingly sweet about it as possible, and is rewarded when Adam looks up at him, eyes wide and lips pouting.
"You're mean," he grouses, forcing himself to sit up with a sigh.
"I am a scumbag," Max agrees with a shrug. "But I'm a responsible scumbag, especially when it comes to your recovery, so c'mon. Up and at 'em, handsome."
Adam huffs, groaning as he gingerly puts his legs over the side of the bed. "Alright, alright," he mumbles, brushing his fingers through his hair and squinting as Max turns the light on, returning to his side to press a kiss to his shoulder.
"I'll get breakfast," he says softly.
Adam nods, still squinting sleepily. He listens as Max heads for the kitchen, then calls out, "Max?"
"Yeah?"
He smiles weakly, turning to look at Max as he peeks his head back in. "Thank you. I love you."
Max's eyes soften. "I love you too," he says, winking at him. "Be back in a little bit."
It's not easy, having to leave Adam behind again, but he holds on to the hope that Adam's rehab will work as well as his own eventually did, and they'll be back on the road together sooner rather than later.