Each step hurts. Adam had tried to get Max to agree to take the trip up to the penthouse in a wheelchair, but Max had scoffed it off, refusing to let the people in the building he live with see him anymore weak and vulnerable than they have already. So he takes it one slow step at a time, ignoring Adam as he hovers behind him, worried.
Max closes his eyes and exhales slowly, pressing a hand against the wall as he waits for Adam to unlock the door, sluggishly walking into the penthouse. He hears Piper padding around, meowing at his feet, but he's incapable to look down at her, his neck brace keeping him looking straight ahead rigidly. "Adam," he says quietly.
"It's ok," he says. "She's out of the way. Go ahead."
Max nods, stepping forward gingerly. He listens carefully but there's no hissing or yowling as he makes his way to the living room, so he sinks down onto the couch with a wince, relaxing back into the cushions. He feels as she leaps up next to him, curling into a tight ball in his lap. "Hey, Piper," he says wearily, brushing his fingers over her back, careful to stroke her fur in the direction she prefers. "I've missed you."
She purrs, soothing his anxiety as he slowly opens his eyes and looks at Adam.
"I'll be with you in a minute," Adam says softly. "Going to get us something to eat."
"Alright," Max sighs, settling back and closing his eyes again. "Don't think I'm going to be awake long enough to eat though."
"That's ok," Adam says. "If you do, I'll put it in the fridge and you can eat it later."
"Hmm," Max mumbles. "Yeah, sure."
He's asleep before Adam even finishes dialing the number. Once he's done ordering, Adam puts the phone down quietly and moves over to the couch, carefully tucking a blanket in around Max without disrupting Piper. He then brushes his fingers gently through Max's curls and presses a kiss to his forehead before heading down the hall to play some video games while he waits for their food to be delivered.