#life is strange max caulfield | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

silvvermst · 4 months ago

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THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT

SYNOPSIS :: It’s almost Christmas, and what better way to spend it with him.

NOTE :: as promised, i present a grahamfield fic. read the first part :))

TYPE :: fluff / light angst

Max turned on the lights in her dorm while Warren followed her behind. “I’m sorry for the mess. I wasn’t sure if I should leave for the holidays or not, so the boxes Dina lent me were lying around.”

“It’s okay.” His words were breathy from laughter “You should have seen my room when it’s finals. It looks like I had murder investigation goin’ on.”

“I remembered.” She joined in the laughing fit, remembering the time she brought him some food since she found he had been skipping his meals.

“At least yours looks messily beautiful!” He exclaims, looking around the room in amazement. “Your room looks straight up from a Ghibli film.” Although, the thing that made it stand out was the wall full of photographs.

Max was too preoccupied with cleaning out some used papers on the ground to make her room look more presentable. Yet she stopped when she caught Warren examining her Photo Memorial Wall. “This is amazing…”

She smiled from his compliment, even if it didn’t reach her eyes she was flattered. She knows he’s just making small talk and avoiding the elephant in the room, she knows him too well. “Do you, do you have any questions about the other timeline?”

Warren turned his body to face her, “If it’s alright with you, I have but let’s talk about it at breakfast. For now, I want you to have some rest.”

“Alright. Whatever you say, Doctor.” He grinned at the nickname.

“This feels like we’re kids again, even if we never met as children. I’ve never been into a sleepover before, this feels nice.”

“I hope we did. It would have been fun creating all sorts of trouble with you.” They both sat down at the edge of her bed. “Can you stay for the night? I’m sorry, I know I just told you it was a couple of minutes.”

“Hey, it’s okay. I’d sleep on the couch. Then, we’ll go to some diner first thing in the morning. Sounds good?” She warmly smiled at him and nodded.

“Thanks, Warren. I’ll find a way to repay you.”

He immediately shook his head. “You don’t have to, just by being one of my closest friends is enough. Just keep being you, Max, that’s enough for me.”

The conversation ended when they both set the glass down by the sink and Warren sat at the couch. “Are you sure you’re okay with sleeping on the couch?”

“Yep! Believe me, I can’t count the times I slept on my gaming chair all night. So this couch is actually an upgrade.” His reassurance gave her a peace of mind. But she still grabbed some comforters and a blanket to make the couch at least comfortable to sleep in. “We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

“Mhm, I’m gonna get that pancake sausage combo.”

“Oh, ho! I’m gonna get that pancake sausage combo.”

With saying that in unison they both laugh at themselves until it dies down and the both of them had settled on their respective beds. Max turned to face Warren across the room, while he did the same. Even with the lights turned off, the moon’s light shining from the window is perfectly illuminating his pale face that she couldn’t help but smile in relief to know she wasn’t alone with her thoughts any more. “Good night, Warren.”

“Sleep well, Max.”

For the first time, she slept without nightmares where she wakes up soaked in her own sweat while she tries to breathe normally and avoid a panic attack. This time she was awakened by the sweet and citrusy smell of maple syrup suddenly making her eyes flutter, with the sun rays making its way past her curtains she couldn’t help but open up her eyes. Across from her is an empty couch with the comforters and a blanket neatly folded to the side. The said person who is missing is currently singing along a tune in a small chest of drawers by the foot of her bed.

“Are you awake? I couldn’t wake you up earlier, so I decided to order some take-out.” He somehow managed to tell she was wide awake by just the difference of her breathing.

“Shit, I must have been out as light.”

“You are, no matter how many times I rang your alarm clock right next to you, you just won’t get up. A sleeping beauty, through and through.”

“Oh, please. There’s no way I was sleeping beautifully.” She sat up on the bed and threw a small pillow to his face. The good thing is that he was able to catch it.

Though he was trying to hide it, the corners of his mouth were twitching upwards. He couldn't help but laugh out loud from her annoyed face. After preparing their breakfast, Max was done fixing her bed and joined Warren by the couch. “Here, your pancake-sausage combo!”

“Mhm, that’s why it smelled so good here.” She salivated from the meal in her hands, but she made sure that the maple syrup was evenly spread from each pancake. While Warren… well, he made sure that the sausages got maple syrup as well. “Dude, what the fuck?”

“What?” His words were distorted since he was holding the fork with his teeth as he spread a large amount of syrup over his food.

“You’re disgusting!” Max blurted out. “What kind of psycho puts syrup with sausages?”

He took the fork and knife and started eating his pancakes, the enjoyment in his face was obvious. That he is that kind of psycho who will put maple syrup with anything as if it was ketchup.

“Eat your fill! Or I’ll take those lovely pancakes!” Warren said between mouthfuls. It prompted Max to eat as well, considering Warren is not typical to joke around food. He’s dead serious about eating others food if they don't want it.

After finishing your meals, he was the one who offered to clean it up. “I’ll be right back.” Once the door was shut, Max collapsed back to her bed. Every morning she has to remind herself that she did the right thing, but after she revealed everything to Warren. Her self-doubt and insecurity seems to dissolve as she remembers his words last night.

Warren’s words have no doubt behind them as well as his eyes that hold sincerity while he holds her close by the light house. He was giving her reassurance that she didn’t ask for, she wasn’t even sure if she deserves it. She sighed deeply, while trying to calm herself down she walked over to the foot of her bed and turned on her stereo.

The knock on her door pulled her back to reality, “Hey, since we didn’t get to that drive-in… want to go tonight?” Max smiled back at his suggestion and nodded her head.

“Fan of The Smiths, huh?” He asked, peering over to her shoulder to see her CD collection. “Oh, shit! Is that The Dark Side of the Moon?!”

“God, you’re the most geekest out of the geeks I’ve met.” She found amusement in his giddiness. “If you want I can lend you some CDs to play it on your car’s stereo.”

“Yes, please! You’re okay with me borrowing it?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t have offered if I was against it. Well, if you did ask me I’m afraid I’d still let them borrow it.”

“I know, that’s why I asked. Max, I know it’s rich coming from me but you can always deny us of things that are precious to you. You don’t have to be a…”

“A pushover?” She abruptly finished his sentence for him.

“Yeah, that.” He fidgeted his fingers. “But I’m not saying that you are one!”

She was laughing so hard that she momentarily closed her eyes from how much laughter he could pull out of her. “Relax. I didn’t take any offense from it.”

“Ugh, you’re the worst.” He exhaled through his nose while he covered his face with his hands.

“Hey, Warren… you still had a few questions about what happened, right?” Warren gulped, it was obvious that this topic would be brought once again sooner or later, he just didn’t expect she was the one who'd bring it up first. They both sat at her bed, while Max held her teddy bear.

“Yeah, about that, I think you explained some of it pretty well. I’m more curious about what happened with us from that different timeline.” He can see the gears in her head processing his words just from her expression, a blush that slowly appeared in her cheeks.

“Oh, yeah. Just like today, we got closer within that week. You saved me a bunch of times from Nathan, heck, you even beat him up!” Warren’s eyes almost sparkled and his jaw dropped, unable to believe the story.

“No way! I beat up that asshole?!”

“You did, but once it was over you regretted it. You were afraid that somehow you ended like him. But you’re not like him, I know you’re not that kind of person to use your powers to abuse others.”

“Ha… I still can’t believe it. Shit, what other things happened?”

“I saved Kate from committing suicide… because of Victoria. But there was something more sinister that happened to Kate, as we know today, she was a victim of…”

“Mark.” Max slightly flinched at the mention of his name. “I can’t believe the school let someone like him inside!”

“Uhm, aside from Mister Jefferson getting arrested as well as Nathan. In the alternate, Nathan was killed by him, while Madsen was the one who shot Mark in the head. Though, at least in this current timeline, I prevented Victoria from being in the Dark Room…” She bit her lip remembering her own time in that disgusting place. She turned her head away from Warren, as she was so absorbed in fixing things in the current time that she disregarded her own fears and mental health. “I, I was also there, even if it didn’t happen technically, I still feel it. Everything, everyone, what happened during that week for them it’s not real but it is for me! Even if it was erased, I… I wish I had forgotten everything that would’ve been much more bearable than this.”

Max couldn’t feel the disgust and contempt from her own self. “I wish I could take away your pain…” He gently placed his hand on top of hers as his gaze held a warm intensity that whispered of deep affection. “But I’m so proud of you for being strong.”

She could feel her eyes sting again as ripples of tears flow to her cheeks. “I can’t believe I’ve cried twice in your arms today.” Max let herself open up and nuzzle her head by his shoulders, trying to hide her face as much as possible. “Look, your shirt is wet again!”

He managed to let out a quiet laugh before placing his arms around her, gently gliding his palms to her head to brush her hair. Though his action made her embrace him tighter as tears continue to well up in her eyes. For once, Max was able to cry herself to sleep with someone holding her close, to dry her tears with their hands, and to tuck her in.

“I really wish I also have some superpower to help you with what you’re feeling, Max.” He whispered, gently laying her on the bed.

“Warren…” Max softly called out to him, her arms reaching to be wrapped in his neck.

“Yeah?” They were both silent for a moment while her lips brushed against his, she kissed him with a slow tenderness that stopped the world around them like she used her powers once again. She was almost convinced that it was until his hand touched her cheek, his thumb softly caressing her as a small act of affection.

“I want you to know that it’s technically my second time kissing you.” She whispered after they parted. The blush that spread Warren’s cheeks flared more after her statement.

“So, you mean? We, We kissed? Before? Like in the alternate timeline.” Overwhelmed by emotion, his voice cracked as his heart beat only quickened when she nodded.

“I was also the one who initiated the kiss back then because I was afraid that I won’t be able to at least tell you my feelings since I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to come back.”

“But you did, you came back. That’s why if you’d let me, I want to share your burden and pain that you’ve been carrying for so long, and ease you so that you’d be able to have a sense of relief even if it’s just for a moment. In this universe, let us be the one to take care of you.” This time his voice held a strong determination as he professed his love that he once thought was unrequited. Hugging her with warmth as she reciprocated his embrace. Their breathing slowed as a sense of safety and belonging washed over them.

“Just being with you was enough for me, I was able to properly grieve people I’ve lost and unbottle the feeling I’ve been trying to hide that I can let it go without blaming myself…” She paused, her voice was shaky from overwhelming emotions that engulfed her. “I, I want you to know that…”

“I do, I love you so much, Maxine.” He placed a butterfly kiss right in her temple and held her closer. “You don’t have to be alone and in the dark anymore.” He beams at her, his brightness and warmth made her feel secure in his arms. Her sun, her lighthouse that leads her out of the dark.