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He’d been surrounded by gay people his whole life. 

It was as natural to him as seeing a straight relationship. 

Back in the glass room Max called home for 10 years, it's no surprise he’d people-watch.

He’d watch how comfortable everyone seemed to be with expressing themselves. 

He’d watch the confidence with every move, the words never stuttered.

And in the face of deep hatred, not a trace of fear.  

It may have been that the only LGBTQ+ people he knew then were the most confident beings alive, being his dads, all of Team Sketch, and one of his caretakers.

Or maybe it’s something that came with time. 

Was 17 years not enough time?

He just couldn’t understand why he was different. He knew he was gay when he discovered what love really was, it was never girls. Ever. He was a Renegade. An Everhart-Westwood. Confident with almost everything he does.

Everything except admitting he was gay.

Max owned it to himself and himself only. Yeah, he saw a hot dude (one in particular) and was reminded why he was very not straight. 

But even to his family, who he was close with and knew would accept him. They werent homophobic at all and the big fact that his dads were also gay.

There was no reason not to at least let people, especially his family, know. Max hated the “girlfriend” assumptions. 

All he needed to say was two words to stop them. 

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May 24th - Max: age 17

Many talked about love as something obtained, like a toy that can be played with wherever then forgotten and deserted just as fast. Not as something that was to be respected. 

Those people didn’t appreciate love for what it really was. 

It was different for everyone, but when the heart truly sets its course… you just know.

To Max, love is showing his new and improved glass city to one of his best friends, letting them marvel at his (and Adrian’s) work. 

Love is finally eating a family dinner his Dad’s had made. Not anything special. Just togetherness. 

Love is seeing the flag so despised, celebrated, cherished and loved by a mass of people. 

Love is the boy he’d seen as a friend, then become more in his heart just by existing. 

Jade Tucker

His silliness and carefree attitude was often seen as trouble, but to Max it was that exact fire he’d grown to love. 

Just thinking about him made Max smile at random. With every passing day those thoughts became more and more frequent. Until he couldn’t put it off anymore. 

He had a crushed on Jade Tucker

‘Loved’ right now was possibly a little far-fetched… but not by a lot. 

This time… Max was going to do something about it. He knew deep inside that this crush was worth chasing. 

So he did. 

It's been 4 months since he and Jade made it official. Very few friends knew. Jade was very PDA orientated but respected Max’s wish to keep it to a low place with many people. It's not like Max didn't want to but he was constantly being watched and didn’t want the secret to spill before he had a chance to tell people himself. 

Even then, the want to scream it from the top of the Renegade Tower was growing everyday. But his own self-consciousness kept him back.

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May 30th 

Everyone talks about how their ‘coming out’ talk ended, either in good spirit or bad.

No one ever tells the part on how to start the conversation. 

How do you even bring it up?

“I’m gay and am dating one of my best friends!” seems real tempting, but doesnt seem the best outright. 

Max thought about this for six days, what he’d say and advice on how to properly ask someone out, yet standing right beside the doorway of his dad’s office, he couldn’t recall one thing.

He’d gone in confident, but one he saw the door already open he just passed it and rested on the wall beside. 

Part of his plan was knocking. Now that he couldn’t, the rest of his plan just went poof your on your own!

And he couldn’t pass it again to leave otherwise one of them would see and know something was up. 

“I’m gay and am dating one of my best friends!” Was really tempting. 

He was just gonna wing it. 

Max took a breath and entered the doorway. 

The home office was a large room, since it was shared between both councilmen. Adrian once said that they used to have their own offices in the smaller rooms downstairs but they often needed each other’s opinion or double-approval and this room was closer to the rest of their common living space. Made them feel closer to the kids. 

But deep down both brother’s knew they just missed each other throughout the workday and would find any excuse to linger around the other at home. 

Love is missing the sight and presence of your partner, even just a door down. 

He didn’t linger for long before his dad, Hugh, asked him what he needed. Not in a mean ask so you can leave and I can work away, unlike a lot of other parents he’d seen, neither of them were like that. It was simply asking so I can help you, as my child, in any way I can. 

Max felt like he wanted to cry. Not out of sadness or fear. It was all overwhelming to him. 

Nothing was going to plan.

“I.. umm… kinda need to- well? No, I want…. To tell you something… important.” He’d tried to say it with confidence like on TV, but it came out shaky and the urge to cry was choking him up.

It had caught the attention of his Pops, Simon, who started to look worried. His Dad nodded and gestured to him to take a seat on one of the chairs in front of him. Pops stood and pulled the chair from his desk over, next to him as he sat. 

He looked at both his dads who are studying him, waiting for him to talk. Max knew they knew he was scared shit-less. They wouldn’t press or tell him to spit it out. 

Max stared at his hands in his lap, shaking, “Well, uhhhh-” his brain was failing and he could feel his eyes watering, “I just- umm, I-” his throat was closing and the tears started to flow. 

He sniffed a few times and that caused his parents to go into dad-mode. 

Pops put an arm around him, pulling him close and used his other hand to cover Max’s, trying to stop the shaking. Placing a kiss on his head, he tried to comfort him, “Hey, hey, It's ok… ok? Take your time, love. We aren’t going anywhere.” 

Dad had moved from the other side of the desk to kneel in front of him. With one hand resting on his and Pops, he reached the other to cup his cheek, wiping the falling tears. Dad tilted Max’s head up just a bit to make eye contact, “You are my son. I love you, we both love you. Nothing you say will ever change that.” There was a slight smile on his lips, “You could decide to become a bum living in our basement forever or even convert to Anarchism, annf still nothing will change that.”

Simon piped up with a snort, “wait a second, Anarchism… maybe. As long as you have a cool name and costume. We raised you to have taste. Now living in our basement forever?? Sorry but your dad and I want some nice alone time when we retire.” He clicked his tongue, “But even then yeah… I guess I'd still love you with everything in my heart. But you’d be on thin ice.” He finished with faux irritation and grumbling that made Max laugh and wonder why he’d been so scared in the first place. If anyone could cut tension, it was his Pops.

Ah fuck it. It was the first thought for a reason.

“I’m gay and am dating one of my best friends!” He didn’t know where the sudden confidence came from. But there wasn’t a stutter or waiver of his voice that hinted to any unease.

Both his parents were stunned for a moment before Pop’s sent Dad a quick cocky smile, a silent message. A taunt.

At that moment Max was sure that this… was hardly a surprise. 

Pops squeezed his shoulder, “That was very brave of you. I'm glad you felt you could tell us.” 

Max wiped the last few remaining tears, “You knew, didn’t you?” 

“Kind of, one can never be too sure on someone else’s sexuality. Your Dad, however, has an awful gaydar.”

Dad snorted, standing, “Lapse of judgment,” he smiled slyly, leaning against his desk, “so… dating and boys?”

The blood rushed to Max’s face, lighting his face of fire, “Stop there. Just… no.” 

“Do you need help?! I have many cute date ideas for you and Jade. ” Pops looked and sounded very happy at the mere beginnings of his son’s budding romance, which was good, in a way. It was a bit surprising that Pops knew it was Jade, but then again it was Pops. 

He knew all. 

“NO!” Max answered quickly. The last he needed was his parents involved in his love life. Dad was dense and straight-forward and Pops could be a little much sometimes. 

It fit their relationship dynamic, but Max was more on the lowkey side of things. 

Pops deflated, “Ok… but I'm here if you need any advice.”

Dad rolled his eyes at Pops but nodded in agreement.

Well, Jade has talked about progressing their relationship after he told his Dad’s. Maybe more public dates. WIth his Dads now knowing, there was no need to hide much anymore. ANd confidence comes with practice. 

Max huffed, not believing he was asking this, “Actually, can we come with you to Pride in a few days. Tickets kinda sold out before we thought to buy them and well, you kinda run it and get in for free, so ....” 

Hugh snorted, “We don’t get in for free, we still pay and donate to every organization there.”

Max sighed, “That's a choice. You could get in for free, you just choose not to.”

Max put on his most charming smile as both his parents did what they do best.

Embarrassed him. 

“Simon! Do you hear this?!?!” His Dad reached a hand out to his husband, “Already taking advantage of his poor compassionate parents to impress a boy!! Like a leech!” 

Was it too late to put himself up for adoption… again?

Simon took the hand and theatrically fell into Hugh's chest, like he was dying, “ Oh, husband of mine, we are too kind and good and thoughtful…”

Out of anyone who would have found him in that river…. 

“And handsome and generous not too.  He wants to seem cool and hip to his boyfriend!! Little does he know that it's us! WE are the cool ones!” 

Or even better! Let him drown. Anything was better than this. 

Hugh nodded like he heard the wisest, mind blowing thing ever, “And we will never get the credit, will we.” 

Pops shook his head solemnly.

Max groaned and buried his face in his hands, “Is that a yes?”

Hugh nodded with a big smile as Pops laughed, ruffling Max’s hair. 

Max stood to leave but was interrupted by his Dad, “Hey, Max?”

He turned back around and met his eyes, “We’re proud of you, you know.”

His heart burst in his chest at the words, an instant smile forming on his face, “Thank You.”

His Dads shared a quick look, “There's no need for any ‘thanks’. It's our job, that we do with pride, to love you, in any and every situation,” Dad finished as Pops crossed the short distance and kissed him on his forehead, “Now, go kiss your boyfriend a lot and tell him that he won’t outdress me at Pride this year. I've stepped up my game.” 

Was that… possible. Dad was already very… out there. THERE'S MORE THAT CAN BE DONE?!

Max left the room in way better spirits than when he entered it. Nothing went to plan but that made it all the better. It was just his and his Dad’s raw emotion. 

He didn’t realize this before but it finally was clear. 

He didn’t need unbreakable confidence to be openly gay. All it really took was his feelings and a few people in his corner telling him to kiss his boyfriend. 

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There will be a part 2 (dont ask when idk) of some Max and Jade time and to close up a few things I left hanging on purpose (small things but still). 

I hope you all liked it!!! I love everyone of you who read it.