Useless

— closed starter for @mxverck

“How do you deal without talking to your best friend? This is rough. It’s been weeks.”

“You’ve been talking to me just fine; don’t know what you mean.” Maverick was taking pictures of the kittens with his fancy camera, trying to work the lighting from the one side of the apartment. He was getting rather good at it, anyway. He sighed, turning off the camera and putting the lens back on the cap, “It’s just because you’re both stubborn. Let her apologize to you. She’ll crack.”

“Yeah. We will. I promise.” He grabbed Maverick’s hand so that they could start walking. The farther away from this hotel they got, the better. Once they were finally at the building, Milo stopped. “The silence is…I don’t like it.”

Maverick walked with Milo in silence, at least, until the other started talking. He wanted to snap – be rude and mention how Milo had asked not to talk about things, but he couldn’t. “What do you want to talk about?” Mav let go of Milo’s hand, opening the door and following the other inside. “I love you, Milo, but I don’t know what to say. It’s...it’s weird that Maya would...you know, be some petty, online bully.”

       “I’m sure it’s whatever you’re about to tell me? You don’t even have to say it, to be honest. I can see it in your eyes.” That look of disapproval, derived mostly from the fact that Maverick cared about her like she was family, and vice versa. “Well, you’re now known as New York’s hottest bartender thanks to my post, so,” the brunette grins, nudging his side with her own before leaning her head against his shoulder momentarily. “You’re starting to sound too much like me, Mav, it’s scary. Not happening for me either. —But if we ever end up with children one day, let’s hope the baby daddies can take care of the kids whilst you and I sneak off for drinks. Deal, my love?” Leaning into his chest, Selene wraps an arm around his middle, scanning the crowd simultaneously for a familiar blond. “Well, you’re gonna have to get a hell of a lot more drinks in me to get a proper answer, put it that way.” 

“Well...you know, there’s one good thing about being a guy – I can’t get accidentally knocked up like you can. So make sure you use protection.” Maverick grinned a little, putting his arm around Selene, “Of course. Milo would definitely get stuck with the babies. He’d probably enjoy it. Also, we haven’t even talked about marriage or anything. I don’t think we’ll have kids....for a long time, if not ever. But I fully expect to be your kid’s fairy gaymother. And are you hiding something from me?”

— closed starter for @mxverck

“Can you believe this bitch decided she wanted to add more scenes for Serena as if Blair isn’t the superior character? I obviously deserve more scenes. Don’t you think?”

“Sure, whatever you say, babe,” Maverick wasn’t exactly paying attention, holding on to Whitney Houston the kitten as he tried to show her off to his friend, “So...why don’t you just...improv it? Y’know, add in new lines for yourself.”

Milo felt like shit for shoving Maverick out yet again. It wasn’t the other man’s fault that this was happening. What could be said about his stepmother supposedly being the Saboteur? It all just seemed like a bad dream and he had only just heard about it. With a sigh, he shook his head. “Lo siento. I did the thing again where I don’t talk and I shouldn’t do that.”

Maverick only gave Milo a look, like he didn’t really want to have this kind of conversation in the middle of the street. “Like I said...let’s go home.” He ran a hand over his face, trying to think through how their night had ended so badly. “You’ll talk when we get home, right? I wanna help.”

Maya: *Looks over at Maverick* Are you climbing out a window?

Everything was hitting him fast. It was so much that Milo wasn’t sure what to do. Was he supposed to be angry? Upset? Grateful? The Saboteur had never said anything bad about him. Nothing bad was ever said about him or his siblings. He didn’t want to hear that though. There was nothing but confusion with a hint of anger flaking across his features. What if this was Maya? Picking a side would be exhausting. Family or friends? His friends were basically his family. Turning to his boyfriend, he let out a sigh. “Maverick…how about we not and say we did, hm? Just don’t. Don’t do that.”

He felt guilty – like maybe he should’ve paid more attention than he did. But Maverick was used to seeing everyone in the spotlight; he assumed it came with the territory. Unless you were famous, why would you be mentioned? The Hendrix family had clearly gotten by unscathed, yet now it made sense. Mav only nodded, his mouth shutting almost immediately. He didn’t want to fight, and he clearly didn’t know what to say to make anything better. “Mi dispiace. Let’s just...go home.”

All he heard were whispers. ‘Who’s Maya?’ ‘She’s the Saboteur.’ It didn’t take long for Milo to put the pieces together. Everyone was talking and he could only assume the worst. “I think we need to get out of here.” He paused for a second and looked around the room, his eyes landing on Maya who was being stared at by several people. “This is so not good in any way.” Someone shoved past him while his eyes shifted to find other familiar faces across the crowd. “Can we go?”

It was awkward, to say the least. People were looking at Maya, then at any available Hendrix in the room. Granted, the attention wasn’t exactly on him, but he could feel his anxiety rising with Milo’s. “Yeah...let’s go.” He waited for Milo to start walking, awkwardly following after him as quickly as possible. It wasn’t long until they were outside, and Maverick searched for something to say. It took him a few moments of silence, but he cleared his throat, “Has she...said anything about you?”

       “Alex was a long time ago. Besides, he and I are in a good place right now,” how much of that was true was really up in the air. Her track record, along with Maverick’s, were absolutely shot in terms of their choices in men. Finally, her best friend had settled with a guy Selene more than approved of, being the best friend of her best friend. Knowing, Maverick wouldn’t likely be hurt by him the way he had others. “Like they say, never look back. So as long as you and I stick to the present and future, we’ll be okay. —Do you blame them? You guys are New York’s hottest couple. When are you guys going to have babies so I can make dibs on godmother before Regina? —Stop it,” Selene laughed, maintaining her grip around his neck. Her own curious eyes scan the dance floor until she swore she spotted the familiar blond several feet away. “Not telling. Besides, it probably wouldn’t work considering he’s mad at me.” 

“Uh-huh....and what did you tell me whenever I said I wanted to get back with my ex?” Maverick pressed, giving Selene another look. As the song ended, he moved to hold her hand, intertwining their fingers and pulling her off of the dancefloor. “New York’s hottest couple? Literally, no one knew my name until you posted me on your Instagram. I’m not some famous person – I get attention for dating Milo and being your friend.” He hated pictures, and he hated media attention. He preferred Milo’s attention – everything else gave him anxiety. “Have babies? Oh god. That’s not happening.” He put his arm around her shoulders, frowning, “Wait, why? Did you guys fight?”

“Love you, too.” He easily responded to the kiss, his lips moving in tandem with Maverick’s. Pulling away, he did a quick scan of the room. “Maybe we could disappear for a bit if we wanted to.” He also didn’t want to miss out on anything. Milo would always regret it if he didn’t get the tea firsthand. That was always the less entertaining version of things, learning a secret after everyone else already knew. Nevertheless, he was going to make the most of the night. “I’m sure we’ll get back before the big reveal.”

He grinned, pulling Milo back in for another kiss when the other pulled away briefly, “Who cares. They only talk about famous people. Well – okay, you’re famous, but I’m not. So let me just make love to my famous boyfriend for a few minutes before all hell breaks lose,” he held on to Milo’s hand, tugging him up the stairs and out of sight.

**

Maverick was still leaning heavily on Milo, his mouth on the other’s neck as they reappeared who knows how many minutes later. His posture straightened out a little more once the words on the speaker started, “Who are half of these people they’re talking about?”

“It was the only option, Mav. Unless you want me to walk around with a hot pink tiara on my head instead?” There were enough people at this party who considered themselves to be royalty as is. “Don’t tell me you guys have already had sex? Where? Actually, never mind I don’t want to know….actually I do. Was is in a supply closet? Or did you sneak up to one of his father’s empty hotel rooms upstairs?” Normally, with a lot less alcohol in her system, Annalise may have corrected Maverick on the name but it didn’t seem to matter much right now. Hell, it didn’t matter much when she was sober either. It was hard to be offended when he called everyone the wrong name. At least he was consistent with thinking it was Alyssa. “Don’t worry I’m not actually gonna–” The brunette never got the chance to finish her thought before the lights around them were suddenly dimmed and an unfamiliar voice began to speak, commanding the attention of everyone in the room.

“Well, some people find comfort in being an old soul. Let me have this, please! And no, I’m not older than any of them. Just thirty six. That’s practically nothing! My sister is younger than Milo. Age is a weird thing, I have stopped using it to count anything.” Maya furrowed her eyebrows, turning her attention to the dish before her. She pursed her lips as Maverick spoke, and then shrugged. “Well, coming from someone who grew up without a mom herself, I don’t think anyone is ever too old to not need parents. And it’s just…Gosh, Maverick…” She set the spoon down, sitting up on the chair with her hands on her lap. She had to look away for a second, gathering her words. “I’m here…so I might as well just, step right in. Fill that space. If it’s of any help at all, you know? I really do love the kids, and I’m so happy they grew up just fine without their own mother.” Maya went back to leaning over her soup, now growing warm and slowly cooling down. She was about to interject, stating that ten years for an age gap wasn’t much—but then he continued and the words sort of died on her tongue. Eyebrows furrowed again, but this time there was concern in her eyes instead of annoyance. A hand reached out for his, softly patting the top of it. “I’m sorry, Maverick…no one deserves to be a second choice. And it was his mistake for…you know…the family and…—seconds?” 

“Practically nothing?” Maverick only gave a half smile, looking at Maya. He took another spoonful of what she’d cooked, humming as she spoke. “I guess. My mother was...interesting.” He didn’t talk about her, and he didn’t feel like explaining anything. “Sometimes you’re better off without them.” He put his chin in his hand, furrowing his eyebrows and shaking his head, “No. No. Dio mio, I don’t want your pity. I wasn’t a good person. I was a drug addict, and he fueled my everything. He gave me whatever I wanted, took me off the street. You don’t know what you need in life until you’re homeless or renting motel rooms across Jersey City. I would’ve taken him back had he come to me and said he’d leave her. In fact, I would’ve done that up until the day I got together with Milo.” His admittance was raw, but it was better than someone realizing how hurt he’d been over being second choice. “No, I don’t want anything else. I just uh...yeah. Milo really cares for you, so there’s that. You’re doing a good job just being you. I don’t think you need to try and be their mother.”

“Oh no, I just wasn’t going to drink that right now. I’ll get another drink later, don’t worry about that.” Milo would never go a party without at least one glass of tequila in hand. He sure as hell wasn’t going to pass it up just because he didn’t expect one raunchy thing that Maverick said. If he hadn’t choked on his water, things might’ve been a little bit different. “Right now?” He moved slightly closer, nothing but clothes separating them at this point. “I don’t think anyone’s gonna invite us to a party again if we disappear, but…” He let a dramatic pause settle between them. “…I’m willing to test that.”

Maverick smiled as Milo came closer, since that’s what exactly he wanted in the first place. “We disappeared at the last party we were invited to,” he joked, wrinkling his nose as he looked at his boyfriend. His stomach was in knots, however, not because of anything Milo had done, but just at the idea that something could go wrong tonight. “I love you,” he murmured, moving in for another kiss.

        “Why can’t a girl just.. not need to meet the right person, you know? I’m happy being me. I’m no good when I’m with people. I ruin everything I touch. —What are you trying to play at, Maverick?” Selene couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips as he spoke about Milo, her eyes filled with delight as he spoke about someone he was clearly, utterly in love with. And the thought made her smile, knowing her best friend was happy. “Maybe, but for now it’ll just have to be your cute face. I’m literally so in love with you two, though. You two make me jealous as hell.” The brunette looked up at Maverick with arched brows, determined as ever. “Well, I guess I’m just going to have to distract you from thoughts about tomorrow,” she says as she spins him out, laughter spilling from her lips as she reels him back in. “Because the only thing you should be thinking about when it comes to the future is the fact that you and Milo are totally endgame in my eyes. —I totally would, let’s be real. It’s happened before,” she laughs, shaking her head. “Elliot and I are not a thing. You can relax. But feel free to grab my butt and make him jealous anyway, for the hell of it. Him and everyone else.” 

“You didn’t ruin me,” Maverick pointed out, a small smile on his face as he continued to dance with Selene. It was difficult, to say the least, to listen to her talk bad about her relationships. Sometimes, it took the worst possible things to get them to find what was right. “Neither of us have great track records, fine, but at least you’re not with Alan anymore. Elijah seems nice,” he grinned, wrinkling his nose. “We make everyone jealous. They probably hope we’re straight, then realize we’re gay and instead want to be our best friends. It always happens.” He rolled his eyes, though the smile was still there, “Endgame, huh? Words of wisdom from Selene Dubois I see.” He shrugged his shoulders, still scanning the dancefloor as he rocked her back and forth, “I will make him jealous. Watch me. Now tell me where he is.”

“There are props for the photo booth,” the brunette informed as she maneuvered her way through the crowd to get to Maverick. Her head adorned with an over sized floppy hat that certainly clashed with her otherwise elegant evening attire. “And I stole this from there because your boyfriend pretty much told me that my hair looks awful and now I’m insecure. Get your camera ready. I’m thirty and fragile. My Britney moment could happen at any moment and it should be documented.” 

@mxverck