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Wh... what? Nathan, seriously? What the hell? I don't even know that guy. I fell asleep holding your hand. Is it really not obvious I'd rather be around you?

[She gets up out of bed, since she can now. Which is when she remembers she's in a damn hospital gown, so she quickly sits back down with a small noise of frustration.]

( is it obvious? he's not sure. max is making it pretty clear that she likes spending time in his company, no matter how chaotic that time ends up being, but nathan has his doubts. entirely unfounded, completely ludicrous, powered by years of distust, but doubts all the same.

he can't say as much, so he has to say something short-tempered and rude. what other choice does he have? )

I— ( max stands and sits with an unhappy flourish, and nathan remembers. ) —brought you clothes.

( yes, much better than saying 'i think you're full of it'.

he considers throwing the bag at her, but quickly thinks better of it. sets it on her bed and turns around. as if he's going to watch her get dressed. that'd be weird. )

If they're gonna let you go anyway, so you don't leave in the shit you got all bloody last night.

[Nathan's kind of a roller coaster, that much is clear. But then so is her life right now.

Curious, she takes the bag and goes through it for the clothes... Nathan's clothes. Nathan's underwear? Face reddening further, she glances up at Nathan with wide eyes but he's already looking away from her.

Jesus, this is... Kind of intimate. Had he meant it to be? Did he think of her wearing his clothes when he picked them out? It's not like they're his expensive everyday clothes (well to be fair, they're probably still expensive), just casual comfort items, but still...

She takes in a breath and shoots a glance to Nathan, and then the adjoining bathroom. She's afraid if she closes herself in there, he'll be gone when she comes out. So...

She changes right there, pulls on the boxers underneath her gown, then discards the gown to put on the shirt and pants. Braless, but whatever. Not like she's a D cup.

What does she say now? "You can look, I'm decent?" Maybe just...]

Thank you. Not really a huge fan of the hospital gowns...

( he'd considered the erotism of a hot chick wearing his clothing insofar as to ensure that his clothes were clean when he chose them. he's something of a neat freak, but everyone gets lazy at times.

it's only hitting him now, as he hears her undress and redress behind him, that he considers that this might be sexy. )

How can anyone? Who want to walk around with their ass hanging out?

( he turns then and regrets it because it's definitely sexy. a side effect of chivalry he hadn't considered.

he should be chivalrous more often. )

...You really want me to stay?

[The way he looks at her when he turns around is hitting her. The fact she's got his clothes against her bare skin was already hitting her. This is probably sexier than it has any right to be. It's also giving her a weird boost of confidence, there's a rush of playfulness and boldness that makes her want to respond "Yes, much nicer having my ass in my boyfriend's boxers."

She doesn't only because he's asking a question. So instead she takes his hand again, and kisses his cheek, and remains close as she answers.]

Yes... And not just because you're my ride. [That she says playfully.]

...All right, then I'll stay.

( the clothes help sway his opinion, as does their newfound proximity. did he ever want to leave? maybe he just wanted to be alone for a moment. more intrapersonal communication, fuck. he should schedule an appointment with his therapist for today.

he can't imagine telling his therapist that he managed to accidentally get himself a girlfriend. )

You don't make this easy, Max. ( pot, kettle. ) Did you go back and fix this too?

( because, again, he doubts he managed this one on his own. surely there's a reality where he decks a nurse, or tosses a heart monitor out of window at some slight inconvenience. if max keeps rewinding until he gets it right, does she really want him? or is he just the version of himself she's tailoring to her liking—?

it feels like he'll be the one getting a nosebleed soon, thinking about it all. he rests his forehead on her shoulder, which already feels better. )

[If it's true that he believes her now, she wonders if he thinks she rewinds more often than she does.

She's quiet for a moment, thinking, as she brings her free hand up to play with the small hairs at the base of his neck, what hasn't been slicked back... Though there's a part of her that kind of wants to mess his hair up on purpose. Getting back on track, though...]

I didn't. I did last night. That's why I blacked out. Nathan, do you want me to tell you what I've fixed? Last night you told me not to. You don't remember telling me that, but you did. So now I'm just... not sure. What it is you want.

[She's considered the ethical implications of her powers. She's just not always sure what to do about them, what the right thing is to do, what's best... She's also not above being selfish. Or feeling guilty for being that way. All of it is a lot, and sudden. She's trying to figure out how to handle all of it.]

But that's part of why I told you about my powers, you know? Because I have this... advantage, that I didn't ask for, and maybe I shouldn't ever use it, but...

[She shrugs, a little helpless movement that only slightly jostles Nathan's head on her shoulder.]

I wasn't given a handbook about all of this... time power shit.

( max is playing with his hair, and he holds onto her waist. it's almost as if they're not talking about breaking every law of physics known to man. time travel shouldn't be possible, but nathan's coming to believe they're past that. the immediate urge to balk is dying down. the less time he spends doubting her, the more time he can spend hearing her out. )

Last night. ( he straightens up, looks at her. ) You're saying... I fucked up. You went back in time. Now we're here, 'cause of me.

( cause and effect. butterfly effect. draw a line between his bad actions and max being loaded into an ambulance. whatever he'd done was bad enough for her land in the hospital. it's his fault. it's all him. he's always like this. in an instant, his mind fills with scribbles.

he's going to ruminate on this forever, probably, but he finds himself disagreeing with his future [past?] self. he wants to know. he needs to, he thinks. he can't self-flagellate with an incomplete whip. )

Max... tell me.

( and maybe, maybe he can apologize for it and begin to do right. — for both of their sakes. )

[He says "I fucked up" and instantly her expression betrays her hurt. That splinter. Still lodged there, from last night. Maybe telling him will help them both dislodge it so it can heal. So they can heal.]

Okay... We started kissing, last night... And I pulled you on top of me. And then... Victoria came and opened the door, and found us. I asked you if you wanted me to rewind, because she's your friend, it should be your choice what all she knows. But... But instead you...

[She takes in a shaky breath, and drops her hands to wrap both arms around herself, a self-soothing gesture.]

You told her you took bets... With someone, I don't know, Zach or Logan maybe. And you said I was [Her voice breaks.] "slutty for a virgin," but that you got me first. And Victoria laughed, took a picture to post and I just... I panicked, I rewound fast and it was too much... My powers are harder to use when I'm high or drunk... I...

[She puts a hand over her mouth. Is it stupid? To be this hurt over all of this? Fighting back tears?]

( at least, he thinks, it wasn't that bad. that's how he knows they're not good for each other. at least he hadn't harmed her. at least he hadn't drugged her. at least he hadn't killed someone (again).

it lends credence to her powers, the fact that all of this is something he knows he'd do. he knows it because he'd thought about it before, back when he's decided that isolation was better than looking max in the eye. he'd thought about contingency plans, what he'd say if this ever came to light. if max outted them, he'd call her crazy. he'd say she's obsessed. he'd say it was all a dare.

if victoria surprised them, he can easily see himself falling back on such an easy failsafe. not remembering it is what makes his head hurt. max sounds so certain, but nothing of the sort ever happened last night. he hadn't even gotten around to kissing her before fainted in the parking lot. )

Guess we both panicked. ( never mind that cool, emotionally stable guys don't panic. he hugs her, which feels like an out of body experience. as much as he wants to tell her to just get over it, he's getting tired of making max cry. ) ...Sorry.

[She eases into his hug, arms wrapped around his back, tucking her face into the curve of his neck. She manages to fight back the tears, at least.]

I just don't know how this is going to work if I'm always afraid that's going to happen again. And it's-- I don't really care if you tell Victoria or whoever that it was all a dare. I can always say the same.

[It's not like Nathan's well-liked by people outside the Vortex Club. To say Max was dared to do something with the crazy, entitled king of the school just for kicks isn't entirely off-base. They can all laugh that he was desperate enough to sleep with someone he hated, someone so below his social standing. (Max isn't sure she could actually laugh at it. But if she was forced to lie about it, she could probably do that much.)]

But Nathan, I need to know you're not going to throw my virginity into it. That's too much.

[It's more that than anything else. Because he was her first. And as much as she says she doesn't believe in the whole virginity thing, it was still an act of intimacy, and thus vulnerability. And to have it thrown in her face that she didn't wait to do that with someone she could actually trust with those things... That stings. It stings the most because him using it against her makes it true.]

Jesus, Max, I already said I was sorry.

( he said sorry, and she's still upset? what's the point in saying things if nothing changes? )

I didn't do any of that shit. ( there's his old friend, anger. unlike most times, it feels at least somewhat justified now. the story sounds like him, sure... but it isn't him. he barely saw victoria last night. he never kissed her.

he leans away. ) How are you gonna be pissed at me for something I didn't fucking do?

I'm not... [Is she mad at him? Not exactly... But, it probably does sound that way. It's really more fear than anger. She sighs softly, and kisses his cheek to help convey that she's not upset with him for something that he hasn't done. (And to be fair, he did need to remind her of that. She's living in realities that haven't happened. That's hard to keep straight sometimes.)]

I'm sorry. I just don't know what you are going to do, if any of your friends find out about us. And that's what's scaring me. That I don't know. I think we just... We need to talk about plans, okay?

[Especially since she's still planning on telling Chloe about all of this. And she does need to make Nathan aware of that.]

Edited 2026-03-19 02:08 (UTC)

( he's sorry. she's sorry. everything's cool. he's cool. it's all good. )

...What we need to do is get out of this fucking hospital. Where's your damn doctor? Can we leave or what?

( they're enough of a couple for nathan not to care about anyone who isn't her, at least not in a romantic way. hell, he'd gotten jealous over a nurse just that morning. if they're going to be an 'us,' it'd be stupid to try and hide it. )

If anyone asks, I'll tell them the truth. And if they have a problem with it... they won't.

Okay.

[And she's smiling at him again, she's about to give him a real kiss when the doctor does finally come in, a tall lady who looks slightly surprised that they're both up. And that Max is in guy clothes just ever so slightly too big for her.]

"Good morning. Alright, Ms. Caulfield. There wasn't anything too abnormal on your last blood test. Some of these numbers may indicate higher stress and activity level. Not enough sleep, perhaps? I can give you a note for your teachers if you want to take it a little easier next week. I would advise more rest."

[She spares a small glance to Nathan, but agrees, because she's not above getting out of some of those classes for a few days. Especially right now with everything else going on.]

"Alright, I'll get your discharge papers signed and they'll have the note for you at the front desk. Do you have any other questions?"

[She seems to address this last question to both of them, and there's something about Nathan being consulted on her health that makes her stomach sort of fluttery. Like it's... casually intimate, mildly domestic? Something like that. She shakes her head but glances at Nathan to see if he has anything he wants to ask, showing him that she doesn't mind if he does.]

( it's nice hearing that everything is normal. as up-and-down as the start to their relationship [???] has been, nathan doesn't want her to be hurt. from the sounds of it, the doctors haven't picked up any connect between her health and her time travel abilities. part of him wishes they did, just so there'd be concrete evidence beyond stories and magic tricks.

when he notices that they're both looking at him expectantly, he nearly curses. fuck, why would he have any questions? he's not the one passing out on the street? or— does this doctor thinks he's responsible somehow? no, that doesn't feel right. he's just on edge. no one is out to get him.

in the end, he shrugs, avoids eye contact as the doctor wraps things up and says her goodbyes. this kind of normalcy is out of his element, but he doesn't hate it. he liked being able to be there for someone, even if it meant just standing silently at someone's side. )

You, uh, ready?

( because he's so ready to bounce. he needs to get back to what he knows. )

Gawd, so ready.

[She gathers up her things, only noticing while she's doing so that there's a plastic bag on a shelf with the clothes she was brought in. She takes her shoes out of the bag to put them on, and glances at her phone the last thing and then. Freezes.]

Shit. Shit. I had it on Silent!

[She has. So many missed messages. From Dana, and Warren, but mainly? From Chloe. Including missed calls.]

I have to call her. I just have to call her. Um-- [She glances at Nathan with worry.] I've got like fifteen missed calls from Chloe...

( he's in the middle of pulling his backpack over his shoulder when max pipes up. he frowns. what had they said last night? max was the one who'd made up the cover story, something to give them some privacy...

it's still pretty early, though. no reason to call in the search party, at least not in his mind. )

Yeah? So call her. Say you overslept or some shit. ( he's in a rush to get back to campus, mostly to get back to his medications, but what's a five minute phone call going to change? ) Christ, she's freaking like she's your boyfriend...

( he plans on making himself scarce while she calls. while she talks, he can go get her checked out, handle the bill, maybe pull the truck around. more of that domestic, chivalrous shit. )

Sorry. I'll try to keep it short, and I'll tell her I'll see her later tonight.

[For a normal person without a buttload of abandonment issues, it probably would be too early to call in the search party. But it's Chloe. So Max shouldn't be surprised. She's not looking forward to this, because the moment Chloe is no longer panicking she might get petulant and mad. Which is gonna be a great starter to the conversation she already has to have with her.

Ugh, she'll save that conversation for later today. She still needs to inform Nathan that she's going to tell her.

She seems completely unperturbed by Nathan's commentary, by the way. She sits down on the bed and winces before hitting Chloe's contact. It picks up on the second ring.]

Hey-- No, I'm-- Yes, actually... the ambulance was for me. No... Nathan. [A distinctly louder voice coming through the phone. Max sighs heavily, and stands up to move into the bathroom regardless of whether Nathan is still there or not.] Yes, that Nathan-- [She shuts the door behind her.]

( whatever max is doing sounds like the opposite of saying she'd overslept, especially when his name comes up. he drags a hand over his face as chloe's voice grows louder.

fuck, guess they're doing this.

max disappears into the bathroom, and he texts victoria. )

dating max caulfield
so don't fuck with her

( understandably, he gets a slew of "??????" in response, but he doesn't reply. he sticks to the plan of paying, and readying the chariot, and picking up a plate so max has comfort food after what's sure to be one of the shittiest conversations of her life. hospital food isn't great, but it's impossible to fuck up muffins and coffee.

...he doesn't know how max takes her coffee, he realizes. does she even drink coffee? is she a tea slut? )

what do you drink

[The immediate response is:]

gin & juice

[But give it a few seconds:]

kidding! ...sorta.
coffee is fine. french vanilla creamer if they've got it, otherwise black with sugar, and no such thing as too much sugar

[She lived in Seattle for five years, babe, of course she drinks coffee. Although, to be fair, she does also enjoy tea. This is absolutely a morning for coffee though if there ever was one.]

chloe heard about the ambulance last night
she wasn't sure it was for me but she worried
I just told her that you found me blacked out and called the ambulance
I'm going to tell her about us tonight tho

( if she wants gin and juice, he'd have found a way to get it to her. he's rich and he doesn't take no for an answer; he'd have gotten it. some intern around here has a stash of the good stuff, he knows it.

as it stands, nathan's left squinting at creamer containers for the frenchest of vanillas. all they have is off-brand. ew. )

no way she believes you

( with chloe, he'd drugged her and hadn't bothered with an ambulance. granted, jefferson always said there'd never be a need for medical intervention, but regardless. )

i'm in the car

yes and no
gimme a few minutes, meet you down there
♡

[Which is all he gets for about six more minutes, before Max waltzes out the hospital doors with her bag on her hip. Still in Nathan's clothes. Her facial expression looks serious, up until the point she meets Nathan's eyes. And then she's smiling. It's soft and sappy.

She climbs into the truck with a bit of a sigh though, before she reaches over for Nathan's hand to give it a soft squeeze. Honestly, for her own comfort.]

Coffee?

👍

( you know you're talking to a basic white dude when he thinks the thumbs up emoji is an acceptable form of communication. he means it in the most neutral, non-aggressive way possible, but someone should tell him.

when she's in the truck, he lifts the paper cup of coffee from the holder and hands it over to her before holding her hand. it's too sweet for his tastes, but she'd said she's into sugar. weirdo. )

Well? ( he's being irresponsible by looking over at her while he pulls off, but she's wearing his clothes and drinking his coffee. how can he not take her in? ) What'd she say? She wants me dead?

( max or no max, he doesn't think he and chloe will ever recover from what he's done. he's sure it's for the best, even if it puts max in a bad spot. )

[The first sip of coffee earns him a soft, appreciative noise as she settles back in the seat.]

You're a king among men, Nathan Prescott.

[Funny thing to say when she was just on the phone listening to Chloe remind her of all his red flags. But she hadn't needed the reminder. She'd snooped in his phone. She didn't tell Chloe that, or about what she'd found there... Yet. She probably will. Which isn't the nicest thing ever to do to Nathan. But then drugging Chloe wasn't the nicest thing ever for him to do, either.]

She's not your biggest fan, and I doubt she ever will be. [She can't exactly say she blames her, either. Even if Max is a fan now, she doesn't have the same traumatic experience that Chloe had coloring her view of him, eclipsing all else.] And you're right that she doesn't believe me. Sort of. She does believe that I believe you were being a good samaritan by calling the ambulance for me. But obviously she doesn't believe you actually were. Which is a little silly just because she was there when I got drunk and you were nowhere around. And she was there when I blacked out in the junkyard before. But I couldn't tell her the reason I went too hard on my powers last night. I just... told her I'd explain that later. So meanwhile she's gonna be pissed and worried.

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