Bandit (Max x Evie - What happened after Supernova)

Chapter four ~ Max

Max examined the bruise on his jaw in the mirror, it was bright purple and throbbing Jeez, magpie really packs a punch he sighed and dropped his hand from his face, Sterling walked out of a cubicle and patted his shoulder "Don't worry, you still look pretty" he snorted and walked out of the bathroom, Max made a face behind his back and turned back to the mirror, once they knew he was alright the twins would not shut up about the fact that he got beaten up by a girl, Magpie out of all of them, from what he knew she had been at the headquarters since she was small, being recruited by the late Evander Wade on a mission to find 'the best prodigies to fight crime' ugh, the old government was so small minded, letting people rely on superheroes to do all of the dirty work, after a lot of late night talks with Nova he could finally understand why she did what she did, and she was right, people needed to rely on themselves sometimes. Max zipped up his bodysuit and ran his hands through his curly hair, shaking it out before meeting his reflection once more in the mirror, a shadow caught his eye, he frowned and leaned closer to the mirror, jumping back in shock when Narcissa Cronin, Danna's girlfriend stepped through the mirror and onto the sink "This is the boy's bathroom Ciss!!" Max put a hand over his thundering heart, Narcissa looked around and shrugged "Must of misjudged it, oh hey Max. Get into a fight?" She stepped off the counter, flipping her ginger plat over her shoulder. Max touched the bruise and sighed "It was nothing" he mumbled, recovering from the shock and standing up straighter "Well whatever it was, looks like you lost" she walked up to him and tapped his cheek "Maybe next time blondie" she smirked and walked out of the bathroom. Max shook his head, she was definitely becoming more like her girlfriend, he left the bathroom and almost bumped into Nova on his way down the hall, she blinked at him and looked confused "Did I just see Narcissa leave the boys bathroom?" She asked, looking up at him, Max had out-grown her two years ago, something his brother loved to tease her about "Yeah, she came through the mirror, nearly gave me a heart attack while she was at it" he shook his head and met Nova's eyes, like everyone she looked at him with a concerned look on her face, analysing his every mood, deciding whether he was safe or happy enough, he raised an eyebrow and she quickly pulled her face into a smile "Danna certainly will be pleased" Max nodded and he awkwardly looked around, he never really knew how to talk to Nova, she wasn't the easiest person to get to know "Hey... you know you can talk to me right?" Well that took him off guard, he looked at her and her eyes were soft and sympathetic "I can tell that you haven't been sleeping, you don't want me to use my power now do you?" She raised an eyebrow and Max stifled a yawn, she was right of course, while her power was useful, it left you feeling like your head had been stuffed with cotton wool "No I don't, I'll try get some sleep later" she nodded and put her hands in her pockets "Good. You know that Adrian worries about you right?" Max chuckled and shook his head "Yeah, he's overprotective like that" his brother was always checking on him, bursting into his room 24/7 to see if he wanted to spend time with the family, now he just accepted to be nice, even though he preferred staying in his room reading, his ten year old self would absolutely obliterate him if he knew. Nova laughed and brought him back to reality "Yeah he is, but he cares about you. We all do" she patted his shoulder, hesitating just slightly before it, like Max, Nova was always hesitant with human touch, due to the nature of her power, being able to put anyone to sleep with just a brush of skin to skin contact, she nodded slightly and walked away, going upstairs to complete her shift. Max put his hands in his pockets and stepped into the elevator, pressing the button to the top level and leaning back, closing his eyes and listening to the sounds of the elevator, he could remember when Adrian had found the Vitality Charm, surprising him by sneaking him out of the quarantine and giving the charm to his dad, Simon, who before then, Max had never even hugged. The ding of the elevator doors opening brought him out of his memories and he stepped onto the floor, waving and greeting the workers as he made his way to his dad's office, the door was open so he knocked on the doorframe, Hugh Everhart looked up from a file and smiled at him "Max, come in" Max walked into the office and sat in the chair opposite his father, smiling slightly at the picture of him, Adrian and his dads, taken as soon as they knew they could be close to him without endangering their powers "Adrian told me about your fight with Magpie, how's the jaw?" Max looked back at Hugh "Oh it's fine, just bruised" his father nodded and put the file onto a pile "I'm guessing he told you about the fact that I'm going on the patrol with his team" Hugh sighed and folded his hands on the desk, it was moments like these where Max saw why people saw Hugh as almost like a president "Yes he did, he also told me that you wouldn't be convinced otherwise" Max smirked slightly and nodded "He's correct" Hugh sighed and shook his head "Just be careful son" he reached across the table and put his hand on Max's wrist "Now go home and get some sleep, you can't go on patrol without a good nights sleep" Max stifled another yawn and nodded, standing up "See you at home Dad" Hugh smiled at him "See you at home"