A few things had started to become very clear to Oscar, over the course of a week living at the Gallagher residence. First, it confirmed what he'd already suspected, which was that Max wasn't there a lot. Dinner came and everyone was at the table, including Oscar, but Max and his father were regularly absent. After Tuesday, Oscar started skipping dinner as well. He felt more like he was intruding on the mother-daughter conversations while waiting for someone who wasn't coming.

It wasn't like Max was trying to ghost him, not on purpose. He sent him texts and called when he could, but he'd never say where he was or what he was doing. Always leaving Oscar at arm's length when it came to details.

The second thing that the punk had learned was that Elise was just as bored and lonely as he was. As strange as it was, living with Max had brought him closer to his lover's sister than anyone else.

During the day, they tore through the city, Oscar showing her the secret gems hidden on the west end, and her showing him the upper-class world, all on her monthly allowance. When the funds ran low at the end of the day, or when they'd had enough of riding around on his bike, they'd find someplace quiet and just talk. It was bittersweet, because while he loved hearing about Max as a kid, he wished Max was the one there beside him at sundown, sharing a beer and setting off firecrackers.

"He'll be around more on the weekend," Elise assured him as they sat on the back deck, watching the last firework he'd set off sparkle into nothing in the sunset.

"Yeah... Guess it was different when we both were doing our own thing..." he thought aloud as he tilted back the beer bottle and finished its contents.

She reached over and gave his knee a light squeeze, offering what was meant to be a comforting smile, but even she couldn't hide the sadness in it. "I'm sorry, Oz... He and Da must just be extra busy. They aren't usually this absent. I promise," Elise added, as her hand slipped back to rest in her own lap.

"Huh? Oh, shit, did I look sad? I'm fine!" Oscar laughed while tossing the empty bottle into the fire pit next to the pool. "I mean...if I was upset about it, I could just show him what a bad idea it is to leave me unattended."

Elise's face brightened as soon as Oscar laughed. "Do I dare ask how you'd manage that?" she wondered, leaning back against the arm of the outdoor sofa. For just a split second her gaze had dropped from his eyes, to his lips, and then his bare torso, before she was able to direct it back to the last brilliant colors the setting sun had stained the sky with.

Oscar was about to say he could find a pretty girl to fool around with, but it felt less like a joke and more like an advance.

Honestly, just looking at her there, lounging on the sofa next to the pool in her cute bikini, was enough to make his mind wander, and he was sure he couldn't just go pick up a girl at the club half as cute. At the same time, it felt wrong... Like he would be using their friendship the same way the Italians, or Vick used people, and that wasn't him.

"Uh, well...ya know, planning was never really a strength of mine," he admitted with a shrug.

"You know, it's probably best if some plans aren't made at all," she suggested before picking up her mixed drink and sipping it through the little red straw. "...My friends have officially started asking about you."

A renewed look of curiosity brightened Oscar's face. "Oh, reeeeally?" he said, straightening a little. He liked the gossip. That was one thing he'd come to enjoy regardless of where he was.

The biker gang was never short on it; who was in jail, who was out, who was rising up in the ranks, and who was on the verge of losing their jacket? Of course, the gossip that circulated through the Gallagher home was completely different and at the same time very similar. Who was dating who, who was having a party, who was invited and who wasn't... The fact that Elise's friends were talking about him, meant he was officially in high society now.

"Oh, yeah." Elise nodded. "They wanna know how we met, what you're like, when they'll get to meet you..."

"And what'd you tell them?"

She stared at him as she resituated on the sofa. "That we met through Max, that you're a motorhead, and handsome, and fun, and a little crazy..." She chuckled, looking down at her drink as she used her straw to chase the strawberry and ice around the glass. "And that they could probably meet you at the party for Davenport. I didn't explicitly say we were dating."

"Smart," Oscar said with a wink as he leaned back into his own seat before glancing back over at her. "And, handsome, huh?" he made a face as though he were appraising someone else's handy work.

Elise tilted her head and grinned despite herself. "Oh, shut up. You know you're attractive. And don't even try to pretend to act modest about it around me, because I already know that is waaaay out of your personality zone," she laughed.

Oscar laughed too. "Alright then, I won't..." he said, leaning over and taking a sip from her straw and pulling away before she could swat at him.

Max slipped into Oscar's room while the punk was still getting dressed to go with him to a nightclub downtown.

He loved watching Oz in any state of dress, but partial was always his favorite... The tease of skin, and the denial of seeing all of it... He came up behind Oscar, and placed a kiss on his shoulder before saying, "It's been a minute since we've gone clubbing." Then he pulled away and sat down on the end of the bed. "I think you'll like the drinks and vibe at this place."

Oscar grinned. "I'll be even more happy if they have a spot where I can have you to myself." He slid into a new pair of jeans that were designed to look like an old ripped and patched pair of jeans, and had cost more than two pairs. But the way they made his ass look was almost worth the money Elise had spent on them. Besides the pants, he had a few new rings, and a new tank top that completed the style was still sitting on the bed beside Max. "What's this place called?"

"Uhh...you'll see when we get there." Max himself was dressed in a pair of cranberry red chinos and a slate gray band shirt with the short sleeves neatly rolled twice to hug his muscular arms. "And I will definitely get us a secluded booth. We're well overdue for some alone time."

Oscar couldn't agree more. In fact, he'd almost missed some of what Max had said while staring directly at him. He was so mesmerized by the slight smile on Max's handsome face as he spoke and the idea of undressing him, that he realized it really didn't matter where they went.

Fuck. Elise was right... He really was smitten.

That thought made a soft, "Heh," leave Oscar as he shook his head and tugged his tank top on. "You can say that again."

In the brief moment that the tank was over Oscar's head, covering his face, Max pulled Oz to him, effectively forcing the punk to straddle his lap. When Oscar's face emerged from the fabric, Max pressed his lips against his boyfriend's throat, his tongue traced Oz's adam's apple, then his teeth grazed his chin... He almost wanted to just say fuck the club. Fuck going out. But it was already risky...doing what he was doing here...in his parents' house.

Oscar had forgotten about everything that had been bothering him. All that he cared about was tasting Max's lips, and shoving his tongue past them, and feeling the slight tug on his tongue piercing when Max nipped back. The smell of his cologne as it mixed with the fresh damp scent of his shampoo that still lingered from the shower he'd just taken. The feel of Max's grip on his hips and jaw and the sound of his shallow breath when they finally pulled apart.

"Oh, I got you something," Oscar said, reaching past Max without completely getting off of him, and opening the side table to retrieve a small piece of paper that he tucked behind Max's ear.

Smirking, Max reached up to take it, slouching and leaning back just a bit to give himself space to unfold the paper. He read it, flipped it over, then flipped it back. "...What is this? And who wrote this?"

"It's the address of where the Italian's get their stuff tailored," Oscar said proudly.

Max blinked at him. "I know where they get their clothes, Oz...I asked you not to get involved..."

"Oh...Right...but, I mean, this wasn't really getting involved," Oscar defended, his smile weakening as he realized that Max seemed unimpressed by what he'd done.

"You promised me, though," Max countered with a pout reminiscent of his sister's, only Max's turned mischievous too quick to garner any type of sympathy. "Look, I get it. I appreciate what you meant to do-" Max stood up, lifting Oz in the process to then pin him to the bed. "But stop," he threatened with a finger, as if Oz was a pet that had misbehaved. "I'm not gonna keep asking."

Oscar felt himself go crossed eye from staring at the index only a few inches from his nose. What did Max want him to do all day? Nothing? Well, he wasn't sure what Max wanted him to do, but he knew exactly what he wanted to do...

Without any warning he opened his mouth and then closed his lips around Max's finger, lightly sucking on it a moment without ever breaking eye contact.

Max's gaze narrowed, and he shoved a second finger into Oscar's mouth as well, pulling his fingers out then pushing them back in a few times before he clamped Oscar's tongue down. "I mean it, you sexy little shit," he hissed, before pulling his fingers away, and patting Oz on the cheek. "Let's go."

"Fiiiine," Oscar said, rolling his eyes like an indignant teen. In his defense, he was still much closer to being a teen than Max was, so perhaps his immaturity was forgivable, or at least understandable.

He threw on his jacket and followed Max to the sporty muscle car waiting for them in the drive. Oscar had gotten used to the bodyguards constantly being around, but they never fully disappeared for him. He was still hyper aware that they were there, doing their jobs, just like any other normal person. Hell, all it would have taken was a few changes in events, and he could be the one driving the car or escorting them quietly to their destination.

And speaking of destination... Oscar's jaw nearly dropped when he saw the name of the club when the car pulled up to it.

"Club Max!? Hah! Tell me that you own this!" Oscar howled with laughter before they got out.

Max sighed, heat actually rising into his cheeks. "No, and no relation," he laughed. "It's a really nice club, though." Max handed his keys to the valet and made his way around the front of his car. But as they headed up to the line to get in, several people, as well as one of the bouncers, were staring very intently at Oscar...and not in a good way.

By looks alone, both bouncers were well-qualified for their job. Big guys. The type that looked like they could crush a fucking watermelon with their legs. Once Max and Oz were a few spots away from being at the front of the line, the one who'd been staring motioned them over.

"I.D." he said curtly.

Max pulled out his bill clip, and handed the man his driver's license. The guy only took his eyes off of Oscar for a second to glance at Max's license before handing it back.

"Thanks," Max said, then took a step towards the door, when the bouncer raised a hand in front of him.

"Your friend's gonna have to lose the jacket, Mr. Gallagher."

Oh god. Oh shit. Wait. Why hadn't Max warned him?!

That was all that was going through Oscar's head, as he took in the purples and golds... The purple and gold lights, the signs, even the bouncers themselves were dressed to match. 'Complimentary colors,' as Elise had said, but they were more than just two colors that looked good together; they were gang colors.

They were the colors of the Royals, and there was only one thing that the Royals hated more than cops and snitches...and that was the Devil's Rejects...

Max bringing him here was like bringing your cat to a dog park.

Okay, Max's turn!! If you could spend a day hanging out with our favorite mafia prince, where would you wanna go/what would you wanna do?

I would definitely wanna hang out with Max at his most favorite place, which I can't wait to reveal soon~!! 👀🤫🤐

Shout out to crazePurple ! Thanks so much for your support!!