"Did you have to send Callis after Roddy and the Kingdom?" Adam asks, stretched out in his hotel bed a couple of hours after Dynamite, staring up at the ceiling as he holds his phone to his ear. "And give him the Dynamite diamond ring? I went to a lot of trouble getting that thing back."

"Yes," Max says. "And I'll get the ring back, don't you worry, baybay. I'm just not running the risk of Roddy interrupting our match."

Adam hums, considering this. "You think he could win three?"

"I think he's sneaky enough to, yeah," Max says. "It's just a countermeasure. They'll be fiiiine."

Adam rolls his eyes into the darkness. "Max... come on."

"No, Adam," Max says. "You come on. It was always just supposed to be you and me. Didn't he take enough from us last year? Now he has to try to take this too? Archer and Cage won't hurt him too badly. Just a little reminder of what he's messing with here."

Adam sighs heavily. "I guess," he mumbles. "You owe me big time if that ring isn't returned though. I don't trust Callis at all."

"Well, who with any intelligence does?" Max wonders. "But I promise he'll return the ring, or I'll make him choke on it personally when I'm back. Don't worry."

Adam sighs. "Alright, I guess," he mumbles, deciding to change the subject. "I miss you. Everyone keeps making fun of my tan."

"Ah, screw 'em," Max says cheerfully. "They've been bitching about mine for years by now. Just do what you gotta do, you're fine, baybay."

Adam chuckles, a little amused. "Alright, Maxy," he says. "It's late and I know you have an early call time, so I'll let you go. We can talk tomorrow once I'm home. Maybe Piper will be willing to be on a video call for a little too."

"Oh god, yes please," Max says. "I miss my girl so much."

"Just her, huh?" Adam teases.

"Both of you," Max corrects. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. Love you, Adam."

"Love you too," Adam murmurs. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Adam shakes his head and chuckles, rolling over and hugging a pillow. He absently rolls his bad ankle, relieved to find it's not too stiff after the match against Malakai. Smiles into the dark as sleep slowly claims him, thinking about the promised video call with Max the next day.