You'd watched him for some time. Watching him go about his daily business, never knowing you were there. You enjoyed watching him from the shadows while he worked. But that day? You didn't watch him the same way you did before. 

He stuffed his things into suitcases, using all his weight trying to get it to close. You appear to melt from the shadows into the sunlight, a look of worry on your face. 

"Maxie?" He immediately turns his attention towards you. 

"Oh, Y-Y/N. I wasn't expecting to see you at this hour. You're... probably wondering why I'm doing all this," he motions to all the clutter on the floor. 

"Why are you leaving?" He takes his sweet time answering that. He looks down at the floor, acting sheepish. 

He finally speaks after what seems to be forever. "I... Archie and I, I mean, need to go to the Battle Resort. It's a place you can get stronger than ever before. If I ever want to beat that pesky Brendan, I will have to train harder- and so will Archie." 

Feeling your face turn red hot, you walk up to him and grab his glasses, a cruel game of keep-away. He swipes at your arm over and over, yet you hold them high above his head. He keeps flailing until you accidentally let go, the glasses falling to the ground with a barely audiable clatter. 

He picks them up and tweaks his glasses in the cute way you like, except he was glaring at you. Without a word, he continues his packing. After awhile he wanders away, lifting something off the table-- it's the Pearl you left in his room one day. He rubs its smooth surface, a hint of red gracing his cheeks. 

"I have something to remember you by," he turns toward you. "But you don't have anything from me." He smiles, and lifts his glasses away from his face, removing the Key Stone as he does. Slowly walking towards you, the red becomes more pronounced. 

A burst of excitement runs through you as he places the glasses on your head, smiling when he does so. 

He laughs almost dryly. "A little something to remember me by. I'll be gone for quite awhile, so please do with this place as you please. I've... always wondered why you watched me like that, and now...? I guess I like you, too." You feel your face turning red again, much to his delight. 

For the next half-hour or so, you help him finish packing and help close all the infernal cases. You laugh with him, you walk with him, you stay with him as long as you can. But, as the wise men say, all good things must end. 

---

Dear Maxie, 

Things are really lonely without you. The other Grunts really miss you, and Numel cries at night sometimes. Whenever you come back, we hope it's soon, because you're needed around here. 

I made sure your room got a little cleaned up. It looks really nice for when you come back. I like to sit in there sometimes, remembering how we met, and all the things we did together. I'm almost forgetting what you look like, what you sound like. I really want to hear you again, but for now, it's just silence. We all miss you, so, so much! 

-Y/N

Dearest Y/N:

I will be coming back in a long time from now, I'm afraid. But until then, I love you, and that's what you need to know. I wish you good luck, and a wonderful year or so. I--

-~End~-