Max feels heavy, his head filled with a weird buzz. He barely remembers the flight back to New York, nor making it through the airport to his car. He stares at the city skyline as he's taken back to the penthouse, still barely able to think straight. He nods at the driver when he hands over Max's luggage, swiping on his phone to give the guy a decent tip, before heading into the building.
He kneels down in the doorway as Piper greets him, feeling a little more steady when he pets through the cat's warm fur. "Missed you, Pipe," he says quietly, getting back to his feet and making his way into the living room, pausing when he sees Adam sitting on the couch, watching him with a glass of wine in hand.
"Hey, Max," Adam says, a strange twist in his voice as he watches him walkfurther into the living room. "How are you?"
Max shrugs, still not really entirely with it, pulled further away from himself at the sight of Adam sprawled out like this, leisurely drinking wine like it's something he does regularly. "Uh. I'm alright. How are you?"
"More curious than anything," Adam says, sitting forward and resting the glass of wine on the table in front of him. "You only let me in because of the crowd?"
Max stares at him, the buzzing in his head getting louder the longer he stands there. Unable to find the words to properly answer, he drops his luggage next to the table and turns, heading quietly down the hall to the bedroom.
He exhales upon finding the room cool, dark. He begins to undress, fingers trembling as he unbuttons his shirt, then kicks his shoes off and tugs his slacks off, feeling a little less like he's being strangled as the cool air brushes over his bare skin.
He's just sunk onto the bed when the door slowly creeps open, Adam standing in the doorway and staring at him. "Hey," he says quietly, walking into the room and settles down next to him. "Sorry, I... wasn't thinking." He rubs Max's bare thigh and watches him. "Are you ok? I know promos like that are rough for you, talking about your childhood and everything."
Max sits for a minute, struggling for a response. Finally he settles for shaking his head and Adam exhales slowly. "I'm sorry," he murmurs, twisting his hands together. "I didn't mean to... minimalize our relationship."
Adam's face softens and he reaches over, tilting Max's head up. "I wasn't really serious in the other room, Max. I'm sorry. I know you didn't mean it." He wraps an arm around Max and tugs him in closer, pressing a kiss to his curls. "I've got you. It's all going to be ok."
"I can't think straight," Max mumbles, pressing in closer to Adam. "Nothing feels right."
Adam rubs his back in slow, lazy circles, understaqnding all too well how he gets when he's overwhelmed, bad thoughts and memories pulled too closely to the surface. Something he's done to himself too often the last year while trying to explain himself to wrestling crowds around the world. "Would sleep help?"
"Maybe."
"Well, let's try it," Adam says, lightly pressing his hand onto Max's chest and pushing him down gently. "That wine always makes me sleepy anyway."
Max hums, scooting up to lean against the pillows as Adam gets undressed as well. Once they're tucked up close together under the sheets, Adam presses a kiss to Max's jaw. "I'm glad to be home," he murmurs, eyes sinking closed.
Adam kisses him again. "Are you going to fly back out to Canada for Dynamite?"
"Nah," Max says sleepily. "They've had more of me than they deserve this week. I just..." He sighs. "I just wanna stay home with you this week."
Adam smiles. "Well, no complaint here." He tucks Max's head in closer and kisses him again. "Just get some sleep, I'll be here when you wake up."
"Promise?"
"I promise," Adam murmurs. "Rest well, Max."
He listens as Max's breathing eases and thinks about getting to have him safely at home, away from crowds and other triggers. It may not help in the long run, but for now, it's a start.