#i might consider fleshing this out. we'll see. dont hold me to it

[onboardsorasora]

17 - holding the other’s chin up for the touching prompts 💕

Thank you for the prompt!! 😊 I wrote maybe 2 different scenes for this, wasn't sure where I wanted to go. But I think I'm ok with this one. Tried to shoulder in a Magicians/magical realism AU. Not sure i accomplished anything or if it even makes sense lol

Max's eyes widened as Daniel's own surprised brown found him. His pale fingers twitched where they rested on the coarse hair of Daniel's beard.

"You–" Daniel stopped himself, stupefied. He didn't know what to say or do. This had never happened before. Then again, he went out of his way to avoid touching people; this was never supposed to happen.

This, being Max's hand cupping his chin. This, being a silence he can't remember ever experiencing. This, being an absence of sound so potent it actually made Daniel's knees buckle.

"I'm sorry– I– I didn't– I know you don't like to be touched!" Max moved to pull his hand back as if Daniel's skin burned him but a tan hand gripped his wrist; a rose blooming in his vision.

He'd always loved Daniel's tattoos, knew he charmed a few of them to move. The rose bloomed before a few petals 'fell' and then the remaining rose would bloom again. The sails on the ship on his thigh would sometimes billow in an invisible wind, and the cowgirl would wink if she saw someone staring at her. She winked all the time at Max, he's sure she blew him a kiss once time

Daniel stood to his full height and Max could only follow him with his eyes; still frozen and aware of Daniel's touch lingering on his. That was only momentary, however, because then he couldn't focus at all. His brain felt like bees and his blood felt like sludge in his veins. It happened for a split second and then everything was ok again.

Except it wasn't, because they were no longer in the hallway of the library building. They were in the Physical Kids' Cottage, Max could hear the upbeat music from the forever party below them. He looked around the bedroom then swung his eyes back to Daniel who was still touching him– voluntarily.

"We Traveled?" Max's heart beat wildly, he'd never traveled before. He didn't know Daniel could take other people with him when he teleported.

"Sorry I didn't warn you. I– I thought we– privacy y'know?" Daniel stuttered unusually. This afternoon kept going from normal to unusual the longer Max stayed in his presence.

Daniel did a series of hand signs with his fingers, Max recognized the casting of a silence and sealing spell. Daniel had just locked them together in his room.

"What?" Max turned confused eyes to the man who still clutched his hand and held it to his face, the prickle of Daniel's beard was now a comforting feeling to Max's greedy mind.

He watched as Daniel took off his ever present pair of headphones, it was widely known that he used it to ignore the sound of other people's thoughts– especially when the semester got too intense and his own mental wards were no longer strong enough.

"Max." Daniel sounded awed and it showed on his face. His brown cow eyes were wide, the bags under his eyes were just starting to look like bruises.

"Daniel, what's happening?"

"They're gone…" Daniel whispered, "I can… can only hear me…"

Max went to move his hand again and Daniel's other hand clutched him.

"No!" Daniel shouted, alarmed. Max froze.

"I dunno why, but your touch is keeping them away." Daniel explained hesitantly. He eyed Max apprehensively.

Max's brain whirred with implications. Daniel was a rare kind of magician; a traveler. His psychic abilities were always a little uncontrollable but he rarely let on how bad it could be. Charles was the one to mention that if Daniel wore his headphones, to leave him alone because he was overwhelmed.

He sometimes disappeared for days on end and when he returned; his ever present smile always seemed brighter. Max had never seen this look on Daniel's face before.

"Ok." Max nodded and it seemed Daniel was surprised at how easily he accepted the current situation.

"Ok." Daniel nodded as well and then they lapsed into silence, staring at each other.

Max wasn't quite sure what Daniel wanted but Max would never say no to holding the man in front of him.

"Your eyes are beautiful Maxy…" Daniel whispered and Max felt a blush bloom on his cheeks like the petals of his favourite rose.

The prompt is from this list.