Archive of Our Own ^beta

He follows Max into the elevator, pressing the button for basement. Max is fidgeting with the hem of his shirt- well, Charles'. Perhaps he should take the omega out for shopping too, he cannot imagine that Max would be enjoying wearing Charles' clothes. He looks really cute in them, he has smaller shoulders than Max, just a tiny bit but it's enough to stretch the shirt over his back, and front, Charles has to pointedly not stare there. He has a smaller waist though, it's hidden under Charles' looser cloth but he remembers it from the shower, it's so small, He could probably hold it completely with the stretch of his palms. 

The elevator dings, opening the doors to Charles' personal collection of Ferraris. He looks at Max, hoping the omega must be impressed, after all, he has the biggest collection in Monaco.

"Is that a McLaren?" Max points to a corner of the basement, his face scrunched up in disgust.

He had forgotten about that, Charles gripes, "It was a gift!"

Max tsks, "No respect for the mafia boss."

"Technically," He unlocks the Pista, "I am not the boss. I just do the fun stuff."  He winks at Max, opening the passenger door.

The omega rolls his eyes, cheeks flushed at the implication.

"We can also buy clothes for you." Charles mutters while backing into the drive way, "I cannot imagine that an unknown alpha's scent feels good."

"Okay."

Charles hums, "That a yes? You don't have to shop personally, I can send someone to the boutique with your measurements."

"We can go." He mumbles, "Can you- you can."

He looks into the rear view mirror, Max's cheek are red, looking out of the car as if saying something, saying anything is exerting him.

"C'mon, Cheri." He cajoles

"The cat," Max looks at him, his blue eyes boring into the side of Charles' head, "Adopt one, don't buy."

Before he could respond,

"Buying animals is just wrong, they are not objects, you shouldn't trade them- then there is of course, the aspect of genetic mutation, people leave certain features of certain breeds so they force them to mate- that's abuse! if we buy a cat we are supporting that system. If you have extra money to throw on something, donate it to the shelter!" 

Charles grins. He cannot help it, his face just split itself into a smile so big he must look like a maniac but he wasn't expecting Max to be so passionate about cats! He cannot look at Max all the time while driving, forced to look at the road, lest he risk an accident but the small peak in the mirror says Max wasn't expecting to say all that either, his blue eyes are wide in panic, hands twitching in his lap.

"I am sorry" his mouth forms slowly, "I didn't mean to-"

"Hey, hey!" Charles placates, "It's okay, we'll adopt a cat, okay? Two if you want." 

Max breathes out, the panic leaving his eyes, "Thank you." He whispers, eyes closing as he sinks into his seat.

He turns into des Grahles, pulling in front of Refuge l'Abri. The only NGO he knows. Dino loved dogs.

Max's eyes are twinkling, looking at the giant poster full of kittens and pups, a tall beta with platinum highlights greets them at the reception, their wall is full of animals with their names, stories and habits on a flier. 

The omega floats closer to him, his hand nearly touching Charles', he feels his breath stutter. It's an unfamiliar place, he reasons, the omega must be over helmed, a traitorous part of his brain still whispers look, he trusts you,

Alex, the beta, guides them through the halls, taking them to rooms full of cat toys and jungle gyms, some of them are big enough to cover the walls from ceiling to ground. 

He should get some too, for the cats.

Max looks entranced, looking at the tiny fluff balls sleeping on hammocks, his lips parted in awe at the scene in front of him.

Charles gazes at him, he looks beautiful, seemingly constant flush, sun shining off the blue eyes, artfully messed hair.

Alex takes them to a room, introducing them to the kittens, he settles down on the floor, Max sits next to him, pressed thigh to thigh, he wonders that if Alex thinks they are together, he must assume they are a couple, looking to adopt together, assume that he gets to see Max like this everyday. He doesn't. He won't. He isn't Max's and he can't be. Not if he wants to protect him.

His scent must have soured, the kitten in front of him saunters away, Charles lets out an unhappy whimper, he didn't mean to do that.

"Hey" Max nudges his shoulder, Charles looks at him confused, before following his eyes to Charles' lap- oh.

He was so focused on the kitten in front, he missed the spotty Bengal trying to sleep on his lap, he feels something soft unfurl in his chest as he pets the cat, he has a belt around his neck, a tiny metal fish that reads 'Jimmy', he pets the cat again and he purrs, Just like Max.

"Max!" he turns towards the omega, to find him already staring, his eyes pinned on Charles, hands absently petting the cat in his lap, he is looking at Charles, like, like-

Max breaks away, his cheeks flushing again, "You are rumbling."

Oh. He puts a hand on his chest, feels the vibrations thrumming against his fingers.

He is. Very loudly. He closes his eyes, trying to stop it, it'll scare Max and the cats too, Max won't forgive him.

"What are you doing?" He feels a hand on his arm, like an itch being scratched, the rumble gets louder.

Charles blinks his eyes open to find Max frowning, he is cute this way too.

"I-" He chokes, "You don't like it so,"

Max tuts him, the Bengal on his lap looks at Charles furiously for annoying Max, "I like it, it's adorable."

"And!" He grouses, "Don't stop for me."

"Okay," Charles mumbles, his heart ringing in his ears, Max likes it, Alpha in him declares proudly, "Do you want to pet Jimmy?"

Max grins, reaching his hand forward to scratch him behind his ears, the cat mewls, leaning into Max.

"Your turn!" Max shifts closer, he didn't even think that was possible, and pulls his hand till he pets the Bengal on Max's lap, "She is Sassy."

Sassy growls at Charles, making a pretend bite motion, causing Charles to pulls his hand back, Max's laughter resounding in the background, "She sure is." he jokes, as Max giggles at the commotion.

"They are older than what most people go for." Charles looks up to find Alex smiling down at them, he doesn't say it with malice, just a matter of fact.

Max steadies himself by keeping a hand on Charles' shoulder, and pulls himself up to face Alex, "We would like-" he breaks off and looks at Charles, "both of them, Jimmy and Sassy."

Alex's eyes stray to Charles, he nods. 

"Are they vaccinated?"

Alex nods, "And litter trained, you will have to come in to get them spayed off in a few months though."

Max nods, picking Sassy up from where she was rubbing against his legs, "Charlie will take real good care of you, Sass."

The warmth is back in his chest, somersaulting through his stomach, he is so, so fucked. 

They shop for carriers, food and toys- way too many toys as Alex processed the papers. Jimmy liked them both, he'd sit on Charles' shoulder throughout shopping and eat treats out of Max's hand like he is a King. Sassy, however, refused to sit in Charles' hands and would start flipping like a fish out of water after a few minutes in Max's hands, she'll walk next to Max, as if guarding him, as if she'll bite off whoever dares to touch Max.

"Alright," Alex interrupts, "You'll have to sign off as guardians,"

He feels Max's breath hitch next to him, as if the illusion of now has broken, as if whatever happiness he felt was fleeting and didn't matter if he didn't stay- he couldn't. He doesn't want Max to and he shouldn't.

Charles signs it, his name Leclerc pressed neatly under 'Secondary Caregiver' and passes off the pen to Max.

The Dutch man looks surprised, startled out of the trance he was in, "Charles," Max is looking at him, azure blue eyes covered in a sheath of water, "I can't." he whispers, slowly pushing the pen back to him.

"Non." Charles argues, "When you go, I'll send Sassy off with you."

Max chuckles, his eyes emptying by the second, every thing he did today, anything he felt, it's only for now, not his to keep. 

"You can't separate them," Max smiles, water clinging to his eyes, "They are siblings," he bops Jimmy's nose who chirps happily.

"Non." Charles announces, "Jimmy will go with you too, I am no good with cats, Max." he thrusts the pen back in his hands, pushing the papers under his nose, "And I already signed secondary, don't be a deadbeat Dad, Max." he smiles encouragingly at the omega.

Max looks at him and back at the paper, taking the offered pen, he shakily signs an MEV under the 'Primary Caregiver' and gives the papers to Alex.

"You are very stubborn." The wetness of his eyes is gone now,  welcoming scratchy throat and a soothing scent.

Charles shrugs, picking up the new carriers, "Maybe you just like me."

Max rolls his eyes, cheeks back to flushed.

This. This is how he looks good. Happy. 

"Now, clothes?"

Charles questions, settling into the driving seat.

Max hesitates, momentarily pausing his petting with Jimmy, "I can still take yours?"

Mon deiu. Charles' eyes widen, Max- he doesn't know, Charles tells his heart, he doesn't know.

He coughs, his eyes on the road, hand on the gear stick, Max doesn't know that's how courting is accepted, the omega asks an alpha for a scented item, cherishes it till forever ends.

"Charles?"

A shiver runs up his spine, he shouldn't encourage this, he isn't good at letting go. The last time Arthur was a young boy way eighteen years ago and he still sees him that way, the last time he tried to save someone, he killed him, the last time he got attached, his Maman ripped him out of his heart.

He presses down on the pedal, accelerating, hoping it drowns the noise in his head.

He can feel Max's eyes on him, waiting. That must have been scary to ask. Especially for Max, for everything he has gone through.

Max coughs, "It's okay if no-"

"You can."