- NOT OFFICIAL CANON (but very cute and sweet) -

Ronan

Tw: dysphoria, dissociation

Declan told me to get out of bed twenty minutes ago.

Max has came in three times to check in.

Tessa even stood at the door for a while. I could see her shadow under the it.

No one understood.

My body was trying to kill me.

My mind was trying to kill me.

I can't escape something I'm living in.

Birds squared outside.

Wooden wheels of a cart rolled down the gravel road nearby.

Monsters rumbled far off in the distance.

I tried to focus outside of myself.

That worked until another cramp stabbed into my stomach. I choked on my breath, curling further into myself, fingers gripping my hoodie like that'd somehow help.

I heard footsteps again, floorboards creaking slightly beneath them. Soft, patient steps coming to the room.

Max.

"Ro?" He asked, gently pushing the door open. "I brought some water."

I pushed my face into my pillow so he didn't see the tears, groaning in response.

I felt him sit down next to me, the mattress whining under the weight of both of us.

"Talk to me." He rubbed my back gently, I leaned into his touch.

I shook my head, adjusting my head so I had air, face still in the pillow.

"Ronan." He whispered. "What's going on?"

I took in a shaky breath, turning my face so I could look at him.

His perfect eyes. Perfect face. Perfect hair.

I didn't deserve someone this sweet.

"Period." I said quietly, fidgeting with a zipper on the leg of his cargo pants.

He bit his lip, nodding quickly, keeping his hand going at a steady pace up and down my back.

"Anything I can do?"

I looked away for a moment, feeling the pain start to settle before the next wave would hit.

"Can you get Declan to get off my ass?" I laughed slightly.

Max grinned. "Yeah."

"And..." I trailed off, searching for the words. I hated needing help but I hated being alone more. "Can you stay with me?"

Max's grin turned into a soft smile. He took my hands in his, pressing his lips gently to my knuckles.

"Of course."

~

Max always took care of me.

Part of it was healer instinct probably.

And the other part was the fact he was the human reincarnation of a Golden Retriever.

Usually I hate when people take care of me.

I hate feeling small. Weak. Needy.

But Max didn't let me feel that way. He'd give me this terrifying glare if I said something bad about myself then smother me in a hug until I apologized to myself.

He hated when I said shit about myself, yet I hear him muttering about how he's messing everything up when he isn't. 

Hypocrite.

He curled into me. Pushing his forehead into my neck and breathing in my scent.

Which was probably sweat and dirt and blood.

But he didn't comment on it.

Just rested his body behind me. His knees pressed into the backs of mine.

"Adjust as you need to." He murmured against me, wrapping his hands around my stomach.

I nodded, letting my legs tangle with his. Letting myself be held without feeling guilty about it. 

Letting myself be loved when I can't love myself.

I closed my eyes. Listening to the sounds around me.

Hearing Skylar and Declan fuss about something downstairs.

A squirrel rummaging in the trees outside the window.

The tick of Max's watch against his wrist.

The feeling of Max's chest rising and falling in sync with mine.

Tomorrow I wouldn't get this.

I'd have to get up, take some expired pain med and train to kill monsters or whatever.

But for now—right now. I was here. With Max. And I couldn't feel more loved.

- Authors Note -

Thank you guys for reading! genuinely running out of ideas for exclusive content so please lmk of any kind of tropes or AUs or literally anything you'd want to read ❤️