#the irony is they're both keeping a Big Secret from each other

[123pixieaod]

pilot!Max x backpacker!Daniel 👨‍✈️✈️💼

Part 4!

Part 3 here

Daniel isn't here.

Max stands by the small cafe doors, eyes tracking over the largely empty tables. A retired couple, a family with two small kids, a group of teenagers.

No lone Australian traveler.

He swallows his disappointment, telling himself he was stupid to think it would be any different. Daniel had texted sounds good :) to Max’s suggestion of this cafe in a quiet corner of the airport, but hadn't offered a time, and Max hadn't wanted to sound needy by texting him again.

He had probably long left the airport. He was probably already on his way to some backpacking hostel filled with fabulously exciting and eccentric people, the little figure of Max growing smaller and smaller in his mind, diminishing to nothing. Maybe he'd waited for a few minutes, but Max had had to stay on board until everyone had disembarked, had had to write up a flight report with Sebastian and then go over the details with the F1 Wings liaison officer. Time slipped by. Daniel was long gone.

Max turns his back to the cafe, staring ahead at the mixture of people in the airport corridor. Waiting and shopping and eating, filling up their time as the departure board updates.

As a child, he remembers how much he adored visits to the airport. The newness of everything, the heavy sensation of excitement which settled over everything like a blanket. People in thick winter jackets sat beside families in shorts and holiday shirts. Liminal space. A purgory between the banal and the exceptional, everyday life and holidays.

Then, all the shit happened and airports stopped being a place of wonder. They stopped being places at all the Max. Just concepts, vague ideas of uncertainty. He tried his hardest to stop thinking about them at all. It worked until he was confronted with the prospect of airports becoming his new workplace, the beginning and end to virtually each one of his days.

He begins to walk. He changed out of his uniform as soon as they landed, and he feels invisible, a nothingness shaped man. It's nice. It's good to be forgotten, to be a nobody.

"Max!"

A hand clamps on his shoulder and suddenly he's being pulled into a tight, one-armed hug.

"I'm sorry," Daniel begins, taking a step back, the hug over before it's barely begin. "I don't have any luggage to collect and figured you would so had a quick wander around duty free and - you were going to leave without me?" He gives Max a teasing smile. Max barely breathes, can barely comprehend Daniel is a living, breathing thing in front of him. Tanned and gorgeous and rugged and perfect, exactly how Max had recorded him in his memories.

"Hey," he manages to get out, and then laughs, bashful. "I thought you were the one who had left."

"Me?" Daniel says, accent wonderful and buoyant. "I would never! Come on," he grins, leading Max back towards the cafe. "I'm starving."

Max stares at him. Dark curls and sharp bone structure and deep-set eyes of burnt honey and a smile which lights up his entire expression.

He nods, smiling back. "Me too."

-

"I looked for you," Daniel says, stirring his chai latte. Max smiles, the action feeling a natural response to Daniel's presence.

"Oh?"

Daniel nods, tapping his spoon lightly against the glass before leaving it on the saucer. The rose inked into his skin ripples with the action, petals blowing in an invisible breeze. "On the plane. When I went to the bathroom, I took the long route up and down both aisles, looking for you. Didn't see you, though."

Max huffs in soft amusement. "No, you wouldn't have. I was at the front."

Daniel raises his eyebrows, teasing. "First class? Are you a secret billionaire, is that why you insisted on paying for lunch too? Flaunting your money?"

"I'm not flaunting anything," Max says with a grin. He feels lightheaded, giddy. "I wasn't sitting in first class, just near the front. And anyway, I told you. My company pays expenses while I'm traveling."

Technically not a lie. Max gets a food and drink airport allowance with F1 Wings. Paying for the chai late and a sandwhich of a bohemian Australian traveller probably isn't in the smallprint though.

"Well," Daniel says, eyes crinkled with gentle amusement. "Please thank your mystery company for my lunch. I like airplane meals as much as the next man, but it's not the sort of grub known for keeping soul and body together."

"And," Max turns his head, reading the label of the discarded box. "Vegan cheese with jalapeños is?"

"Hey, don't knock it till you try it, right?" Daniel says, and then as if to prove a point, takes a big bite of the anaemic looking sandwhich.

Max makes a face. "I didn't take you for a vegan."

"Why, is it a crime if I am one?" Daniel says after swallowing, his tone between a reprimand and a tease.

"No, of course not," Max says, opening up his own sealed chicken Caesar salad. "I'm just surprised, is all."

"Well, your surprise is for good reason," Daniel replies, once more back to blithe happiness. "Because I'm not one. Not really. I like the idea of it, you know, animal welfare and all that. But," he waves his tattooed hand. Max stares, catching sight of the delicate rose inked onto his thumb. "It's hard being one, you know? Especially when travelling. I figured I'd just take it how it goes, and when I can eat vegan, do it, but not go crazy over it, you know? I mean, it also helps I'm lactose intolerant, God pretty much preprogrammed me to be some level of vegan," he laughs. The sound is light and musical, and Max can picture the notes rising, his laughter slipping out through the gaps in the windows and joining the plans as they take off. He's talking the same as how he did on the bus, chattering with the assumption Max will listen, but pausing, allowing Max to take up space in the conversation too. It's like a dance, and somehow, they've both learned the steps to each other years ago.

"Speaking of your mysterious company which it keeping me fed and water, what is it again you do? Stocks, right?" He asks, taking another big bite of the sandwhich.

Max shakes his head. "I don't want to talk about work right now."

"Why?"

He fakes a laugh. "Does anyone like to talk about their work?"

Daniel shrugs, swallowing. "I do."

"Then do it."

Daniel huffs a laugh. Max is beginning to realise he laughs a lot. And not like how Max does it either, carefully thought through and more often than not forced. Daniel laughs as if it's the only possible option, as if it's a physical thing untamed in his chest that has to be released.

"Are you always this argumentative?" He says. Max’s eyebrows rise.

"Am I being argumentative?" He asks, genuinely surprised.

"No, maybe that's the wrong word," Daniel tilts his head as he considers. "Maybe forceful? But without the negative conictations. Like -"

"Blunt," Max finishes for him. "People tell me I'm too blunt."

"No, not blunt. Like..." Daniel taps a finger against the plastic tabletop. "Compelling? Or dynamic? Like talking with you is so easy."

Max laughs. He can't help it. He doesn't think anyone has ever described talking with him as being "easy".

"What?" Daniel looks at him with a puzzled smile, and Max just shakes his head.

"Nothing, nothing. Tell me about your job then, if you're clearly so eager to talk about it."

"I'm not eager, I'm just -"

"Wait," Max interrupts him. He feels confident, brimming with something he hasn't felt since he was a child. "Let me guess."

Daniel grins, and then sits back, gesturing to himself. "Work away. I don't think it's that difficult, but-"

"No clues," Max says, studying him with a small frown. Khaki shorts and a dark windbreaker under a plain white t-shirt. Naturally tanned but with a warm complexion, skin used to the outdoors and the sun. Lean and fit, but not muscle bound or anything. Normal. Wildly attractive, and with a smile to say he knows it too. And tattoos. A shit ton of tattoos.

Tattoos on his hands and tattoos on his arms and even tattoos on his legs, and Max briefly imagines how many others are inked onto his skin, hidden from sight.

"I thought maybe English teacher first," he says. "TEFL, you know, and that's why you get to travel everywhere. But I don't think so with those tattoos."

Daniel holds up three fingers, and then dramatically flicks one down. Two guesses left.

"A reporter?" Max takes a shot in the dark. Daniel grins, dropping a second finger.

"A..." he waves his hand aimlessly. "A wanted fugitive on the run from interpol?"

Daniel widens his eyes dramatically. "How could you tell?"

Max tried to shrug as modestly as he can. "Not sure. I've been told I just have a gift."

"A gift for sniffing out fugitives? Are you like one of those dogs who smell drugs in the airport, only instead of drugs its A grade criminals? And that's why you get free lunches, as a thanks for keeping our airports safe?"

"Exactly," Max grins. "Worthy payment, I think you'll find."

"Keeping our skies safe in exchange for vegan cheese and jalapeños sandwiches, right?" Daniel grins.

"Exactly. You a Grade A fugitive and me a top rate criminal finder. Look at us, knowing each others deepest darkest secrets already."

Daniel laughs. Max grins back. He's beginning to realise it feels so good to be the person who gets to make Daniel laugh.

Part 5!

#pilot au #it's back! #the irony is they're both keeping a Big Secret from each other #their coffee date ran away with me and i had to split it into two parts! #max is giving abondonded dog who is finally learning how to play vibes #daniel is giving golden retriever vibes who bounds about and wants to make friends #maxiel #my fic #:)))

[lavenoon]

I have nonstop been thinking about the newest chapter of AU for a few hours and now its officially Brain Rot hours (1 am).

Sun and Moon getting transferred because of a promotion to get more money to help out their brother is something I absolutely love! The boys having to move out and Robin learns of their identities is just icing on the cake.

But I raise you this: Instead of a young couple moving in, its Eclipse.

Eclipse had been wanting to pay a visit to his brothers after being away for so long that he begged for a transfer to their building that he got under the condition of doing a big secret project along with being unable to transfer back for a few months.

Sun and Moon are unaware that Eclipse has been transferred and Eclipse is unaware of the two's promotion.

Eclipse is sad to not see his brothers and struggling to find a place to live only to see Robin's listing for a tenant/resident (idk how it works/what it's called).

Robin is shocked to see another celestial animatronic but doesn't turn them away. Maybe Eclipse mentions his failing battery and that this place is his best bet at safe traveling to and from work; not to mention that because of the battery his work hours constantly change. Robin agrees because maybe this will help them overcome their sadness of the boys (it doesn't but hey new friend maybe).

A week later Robin is at work and catches on to whispers of a new lab guy and decides to visit the sector to see how good this new tech is (maybe they can get an upgrade they couldn't do themselves) only to see Eclipse making another explosion of a prototype.

Eclipse is so proud of their little explosion writing down his findings only to see Robin and introduces himself as Eclipse then remembers "Wait its Horizon".

Robin is a deer in headlights like "what do I do, this guy is my neighbor". They talk a bit with them to see how different he is only to see that Eclipse is just the same, if just a tad bit more explosive.

Maybe they talk and one night they both walk home late from work together (Robin revealed they were neighbors and Eclipse is just so happy to have a genuine friend) and it's a good thing too since Eclipse has a crash in front of them and Robin panics. Give it a few minutes and Eclipse is back online and explains that that is what he meant by safer route home.

Robin makes it a point from now on to keep an eye out for Eclipse when out to make sure he gets home safe. Maybe they hangout a lot more during the day so Eclipse can go explore the city more once they find out what's happening.

Sun and Moon don't learn about Eclipse moving/transferring until they try to contact him about his battery upgrade only for him to gush about his new neighbor and how great of a friend they are (whether he reveals its Robin along with their identity or not is up for debate. Honestly if he hasn't revealed who his brothers are to Robin yet would be a miracle)

At this point my brain has died from needing sleep since its now 2 am and I am 90% sure none of this makes sense.

Sorry for the long rambles in your inbox.

Hope you have a wonderful day/night dear! Take Care!

This is amazing and while it wouldn't quite work in canon, I'm eating this up!

Just. Oh my god. The higher ups finally got their asses into gear to prevent the identity leak of three agents living next to each other, trick two into transferring, and then their brother moves into their vacated home? The absolute irony. The hilarity. HQ is just twitching at this point.

A reveal with Eclipse that early on would go over a lot smoother - mostly because Eclipse just makes any secrecy impossible from the start. He recognizes his landlord, sees they recognize him, and just goes "Hey! Well that's a funny coincidence! :D" while Robin is caught between dynamics - currently they're the star agent, but in front of them is their giant golden retriever of a neighbor and it's just.

It's a lot.

But they're kind of used to "a lot" by now. Click the door shut for some privacy, and make sure they're alone, before just heaving the deepest sigh and asking "Let me guess, you have two brothers?"

"Oh, yes! I actually came to see them, but I haven't caught them yet."

And Robin kind of... They feel for him. They don't know much about him, but he got left behind (unbeknownst to Sun and Moon) just like they did. The communication between the three of them seems to be lacking, and that pisses them off, too.

Protective Robin, activate.

It distracts them from their own pain, too.

So they're still angry at their boys - but they just mentally adopted another, and boy did that go fast. Despite everything, befriending Sun and Moon lowered their walls, and if Eclipse comes in soon enough after the transfer, they haven't built them up again yet.

Gently (as gentle as they can be) they explain. The two transferred - got a promotion, and everything else. Eclipse listens, not quite sure what to make of it all, and just lets their name slip -

Robin immediately winces and shushes him - "Call me Robin when we're at work" "Wait, you're Robin?" "What do you mean, I'm Robin?"

Cue more realizations, when it clicks for Eclipse just how stupid his brothers were - he's a little nicer to his newest friend, who seems pretty angry at them themself, and doesn't ask why they didn't notice for over half a year

(*Sun and Moon worked there for a few months before moving in with Y/N - they had a temporary accommodation, and rose the ranks to already establish a rivalry with Robin before Sun every visited the place)

It gets even funnier should Sun/ Moon come back - the absolute terror of asking Eclipse for his new address ("When did you transfer??" "You didn't tell me about yours, why should I tell you about mine?") and getting their old one in return.

And then there's Y/N, somehow in the know about their messed up little family, bristling and ranting at them for not even telling their brother they're transferring - there's not even any need for secrecy, they're all three agents!

Wait.

They know that, too?

"Oh yes, Robin helps me out in the lab sometimes during slow days!"

"Well. I sit there with the fire extinguisher and we talk."

"That's more than the others do."

And Sun (bc it's probably him) just stands there, staring blankly, internally screaming loud enough to wake up Moon, who is VERY confused and then sees the situation at hand - and oop, now he's screaming too.

They got a lot to apologize for, now - and it's very awkward to suddenly have your brother and former crush rival/neighbor be besties and getting chewed out by the latter while the former stands behind them with the smuggest grin because, well... He didn't leave them. Will have to, at some point, yes, but not suddenly and not in a "leaving you behind" way, and there's no secrets anymore so they can just keep in touch.

There's still a happy end for them all, with Eclipse speeding that along, too, because he just keeps nagging Sun and Moon about "You're treating them right, yes? You're not being idiots again?" "No, Eclipse, we're being nice and we still apologize every day. Pretty sure they're sick of it by now, actually" "Do it again just to make sure"

In parallel, Y/N is texting Eclipse to "STOP TELLING YOUR BROTHERS TO BE SO APOLOGETIC IT'S WEIRDING ME OUT IF THEY KEEP LOOKING LIKE KICKED PUPPIES I WILL HAVE TO KICK THEM AT SOME POINT" "Glad to be of service (:" "If you want to be of service, send me one of those modified smoke bombs you made. I'm feeling vengeful." "Done!"

So it's a little awkward, and there's still some bitterness to address, (and also some realizations about the true nature of the promotion), but they'll all be okay <3

#answer let luce #darklighthedgehog #accidentally undercover #aaaa I wanted to say so much more but #spoilers for the sequel drabble AND I'm on a timer gfhdjs #but this is very much fun and swings it all around to the comedy this is supposed to be #bc. uh. AU *was* supposed to be a comedy GFHDJS #whoops sorry about that #sleep well!! Hope you didn't wait for this oh my god