Andrew felt like he was traveling with a dog. They had to have the window open slightly for Richard, aning Maxwell was freezing his balls off in the car, but he didn’t complain or say anything about it.
Andrew had his arm against Richard’s nose, his arm being pulled out of its socket due to the weird angle he was at, but he didn’t mind.
When Maxwell pulled into the garage, he turned off the car and got out first, opening the doors of the car before he headed for the garage door and putting sothing against the door to keep it open. Andrew sat in the car with Richard, who finally released Andrew’s arm and looked around.
He kind of looked like a wild animal in a new environnt for the first ti.
"How about we leave you here to adjust, and once you feel calm enough to co into the house proper, we can give you a tour, alright?" Andrew suggested and Richard nodded slowly.
"I think...that’s the best choice." He said and Andrew smiled. He climbed out of the car, grabbing Richard’s suitcase as he passed around the back of the car and carrying it into the house proper. He took off his shoes, not taking off his jacket as he carried the suitcase up and placed it in front of Richard’s temporary room.
When he ca back downstairs, there was no sign of Richard in the hallway, or even near the door of the open garage. Maxwell, however, was taking off his outer clothes, his face a little red from the cold. Andrew went to him, Maxwell glancing up at him before Andrew reached for him and wrapped his arms around him.
Maxwell sighed, burying his face into his chest, wrapping his arms around him as he inhaled his scent.
"We’re going to do okay." Andrew told him, and himself. Maxwell gave him a squeeze.
"He’ll be fine with us. We aren’t going to hurt him. Dr. Spencer sent a text in the car that I didn’t get a chance to read while I was driving. She gave a list of a couple of things we could do to help, and told us we were doing a good job." Maxwell said into Andrew’s chest. Andrew gave him a gentle squeeze.
"That’s nice of her. Are you too cold? Do you need a sweater?" Andrew asked and watched as Maxwell’s ears turned pink again. He ducked his head for a mont before he let out a sigh and tilted his head back until his chin was resting between Andrew’s pecs.
"Yeah. Can I have the one you’re wearing?" Maxwell asked softly and Andrew lted.
"Of course Angel. No worries there. Shall we go get changed and then I can start work on dinner after?" Andrew asked and Maxwell nodded. Andrew thought his heart was going to explode from how cute the man was right now.
Maxwell slid his arm into Andrew’s again as they headed up to their room after Andrew took off his outer coat. Maxwell let Andrew know that he didn’t like how their closets were separate. Maxwell also admitted he wasn’t sure if that was the separation anxiety or his real opinion on the situation.
Andrew felt relieved to hear that Maxwell felt a little similar to how Andrew felt. They spoke about it so more, and Maxwell grumbled. It would take a lot to move around the upstairs, but he would add it to the list for the contractors. Andrew laughed. He shouldn’t, but he was glad that he and Maxwell felt the sa about this, and that Maxwell didn’t brush him off.
Andrew was glad that Maxwell was so willing to hear him out, and he just hoped that Maxwell understood that it went both ways.
Andrew headed down first, letting Maxwell mutter to himself as he ssaged the head contractor about their plans, and with Andrew’s sweater that he’d been wearing all day. He headed for the kitchen, checking on the garage as he passed and when he did, he found Richard in the car, on his phone, and breathing heavily.
He didn’t even notice that Andrew was checking in on him, and Andrew just smiled. He headed back to the kitchen, pulled on his apron, and got to work.
Andrew felt like he was settling in relatively well to the new kitchen. He wasn’t getting too attached because they were going to change it, but he was just getting used to how the layout was different from their own kitchen. Andrew was humming a little tune to himself, working away, nice slls coming from the kitchen when he felt with his spidey senses that Richard had moved out of the garage.
Andrew paused, turning towards the doorway to the hallway and moved to poke his head around the corner. Like he’d thought, Richard was tentatively poking his head into the main house. Unbeknownst to Richard, Maxwell was also coming down the stairs as well. Maxwell smiled as he saw Richard.
"Ah. Feeling a bit brave?" Maxwell asked and Richard jumped out of his skin.
"Jesus Christ you scared !" Richard exclaid, placing a hand over his heart. Maxwell laughed, smiling in Andrew’s sweater.
"Awe. Didn’t an to do that. Sorry Richard. Andrew’s probably busy making dinner and said he was planning to make so of your favourites. You don’t have to eat in the dining room with us and you can take it up to your room if you think that will be better for you." Maxwell said warmly and Andrew watched as Richard stared at him, gulping.
"This is...really strange for ." Richard admitted, and Maxwell tilted his head to the side slightly. He looked adorable, and slightly confused.
"How so?" Maxwell asked, and Richard continued, looking nervous and pale.
"Well, to be honest, you’re...still my boss and I’ve been trying to be cool about this but it’s still strange to to refer to you by your first na so suddenly. Like, I’m not complaining that you and Andy are together, I think you guys are cute together. I just...have a hard ti wrapping my head around this." Maxwell smirked, crossing his arms.
"Is that right?" He asked, a teasing tone to his voice and Richard nodded.
"Yeah. And to also be living with you two? It’s strange. I moved out as soon as I turned 18 so having to live with soone else is just...embarrassing, I guess? I’ve been playing it off like it’s fine, but..." Richard was clearly not aware that Andrew could hear him, and he was glad that Maxwell hadn’t really glanced in his direction in an obvious way. Maxwell knew that he was there, but he wasn’t stopping Richard from talking.
It was very Maxwell of him.
If Richard was a bad guy, he’d be digging his own grave right now.
"You’ve never lived with anyone else before? Not even a partner?" Maxwell asked and Richard looked a little more nervous.
"I’ve never really had one before. I dated a little in high school and college but work beca my life after that. Didn’t really think it was appropriate to date coworkers." Richard mumbled and Maxwell stared at him for a mont before he shrugged.
"I was just curious. I’m not making a comnt on your dating life, Richard. Do you think I would really care? Hmm, well, I would only care if you dated William, so stay away from him. He’s engaged, and an asshole." Richard seed shocked that Maxwell would even bring it up.
"Your brother? Why would he be interested in ? I’ve t him a few tis and he treated like dirt." Richard said and Maxwell gave him a slightly pitying look.
"Richard, there’s one glaring change that’s happened since then. You’ve beco an oga. I think, you and Andrew, should talk about how that ntal shift takes a while to happen. I’m aware that you’re an oga, you’re aware that you are an oga, but I don’t think you’re aware how the rest of the world is going to view you. Take your ti, of course, just don’t pull what Andrew did." Maxwell said and Richard blinked. He looked a little confused, a little concerned, and Andrew turned back to his food to make sure nothing burnt. He was still able to hear them though.
"What...did Andrew do?" Richard asked, ignoring all of the other parts that Maxwell had ntioned. Very much like Richard as well.
"He nearly died ignoring the toll it was having on his body. He just wanted to go back to normal. There is no normal once you’ve manifested. There are parts you will be able to take with you, but it’ll take ti to find a new normal. That’s the whole reason why you are here with us right now." Maxwell told him.
"He nearly died?" Richard asked, his voice raising and Maxwell laughed.
"He’s fine now, but he tried to go back to the gym."
"Even I wouldn’t do that." Richard said, angry and Andrew chuckled. Yeah. Richard didn’t really go to the gym.
"Well, it might not be the gym for you. It could be sothing else. That’s why we’re being so cautious." Maxwell said. "If you’re feeling okay, do you want to show you where your room is?" Maxwell asked and Andrew found a smile on his face. This was sweet. Even if Richard felt a little awkward about the whole situation.
"Uh, maybe?" Richard offered and Maxwell laughed.
"It’s okay. We can take it slow. I’m sure Andrew will let us know when dinner is ready."
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