Chapter Text
“Looking good so far – I’ll bet just a few more tweaks and the video will be perfect~!”
Nugget couldn’t help the loop-sided grin that spread to his face at how giddy Max was in the office chair beside him. “Perfect, huh?”
“Near perfect,” Max reiterated himself, reclining back in his seat for a moment with a sigh. His eyes blinked from the ceiling and then to the desktop screen in front of him, the editor waiting for him to continue with patience. “I mean, as perfect as a short about us playing cops chasing a robber by foot and car could get, I guess.”
“I think I know what y’all could do to make it better.”
“Lay it on me, Nugs, I’m all ears.”
But instead of verbally replying, Nugget gave him a grin and then tapped at the brim of his cowboy hat three times.
Max grinned back as his tail wagged behind him. “Heh, shouldn’t be surprised you’d recommend ‘Cotton-Eye Joe’.”
“Nah, ya shouldn’t be.”
“Alright, let’s add the music then!”
“Can’t wait,” Nugget said, almost too quiet enough for Max not to hear the words.
As Max leaned forward in his seat and began to type at his keyboard and retrieve the appropriate audio file to add into the video, grinning from ear-to-ear, Nugget had to admire Max’s undying dedication to his work with such excitement, one which existed since junior high.
Despite listening loud and clear to whatever Max mumbled out loud in thought, Nugget felt himself zoning out, choosing to form his arms and then fold them atop the side of the monkey’s desk. He leaned forward and then pressed his cheek into his arms to watch Max better, his eyes softening.
“...Nugs? You okay man?”
An odd sensation stirred in Nugget’s chest as he blinked wide from the sudden realization that Max was now staring over at him, curiously. “Shoot, sorry,” he apologized while sitting up, “I guess I’m jus’ gettin’ sleepy is all.”
Max shot him a reassuring smile. “Hey, it’s okay...guess it’s getting late anyways,” he gestured to the digital clock on his desktop screen with a jab of his thumb. The clock read 12:58 AM. “Let’s hit the hay.”
“Ya sure ya wanna go to sleep already? I’m surprised ya ain’t stayin’ up longer.”
“Eeeeeh, it’s tempting to keep working on this, but I’m gonna try being a responsible slash sensible adult by letting you go to sleep without, like, me making noises at the computer.”
Nugget couldn’t resist making an airy chuckle – though Max would’ve described it as a quiet giggle – at Max’s reason. “How sweet of ya, partner. ‘ppreciate it.”
Max thought his cheeks burned at the sincere smile the nugget gave him, but Max forced himself to ignore the heat; after all, sleep was more important than...whatever caused that response from his body.
Sharing Max’s bed for their sleepovers – that was common for the duo for years now, and hey, his bed was big enough for more than one monkey – perhaps one monkey and three nuggets or two monkeys and one nugget – so why not take advantage of that?
Once they climbed into Max’s bed, Max laid on his back, stuck his arms out
and then clapped three times, causing all of the lights in the bedroom to shut off.
“And Mom thought it was silly for me to get The Clapper for my room.”
“...she ain’t the only one who thinks it’s silly…”
Max turned his head briefly in order to stick his tongue out in response and then returned his gaze to the ceiling. “Anyway, today wasn’t too bad! Sure, we couldn’t film outside thanks to that thunderstorm, but at least animating went well! Heck, just a quick rundown in the morning to make sure everything’s perfect, and then it should be up by the afternoon! Easy!”
And just like that, there was the admiration for the silly monkey returning to Nugget, a small smile crossing his face as he got comfortable on his side. “Easy now, partner...jus’ relax an’ try to sleep.”
“Okay okay...don’t forget to take your hat off though.”
“My hat?”
Oops, he didn’t realize he still had it on.
...well, it wasn’t as though he had some sort of dependency on it or anything of the sort, so Nugget – with extra care – lifted the hat off him and then hung it atop the left bedpost, its typical spot to be hung whenever he didn’t have the need to wear it.
As he returned to preparing to sleep, Nugget’s eyes observed Max’s furry face for a split moment. Heh, he actually looked kind of cute with his eyes closed and that cat-like mouth he had going on.
The unusual stirring in his chest returned.
“…?”
Max yawned out, “G’night Nugs. See ya in the morning.”
Nugget didn’t notice he had been staring at his own chest until Max’s sleepy words trickled out, a hand placed over it as though he expected an alien to tear out of his fleshy body.
His hand loosely closed into a fist while his eyes stared over to Max one more time.
Nugget shoved the feelings aside and smiled. “G’night partner.”
Their previous sleepover was a month ago, and before either of them knew it, time went by faster than ever with Nugget being called out to HELP various folks ranging from any or all degree of distress (or inconveniences); meanwhile, Max returned to animating his videos or recording live ones if he had any volunteers. Admittedly, it was hard not to keep touch with one another, so while Nugget had a moment or two for himself, he was able to text Max. Of course, Max – being Max – was more than happy to hear from the nugget, even asking for input about current or future videos out of curiosity; of course, being who he was, Nugget was more than happy to help a friend out.
During one week, something happened to Nugget.
[ Max: “you got a HOUSE?!?” ]
[ Nugget: “Yep! Moved into it this morning. Wanna come over? We could have a sleepover if you want.” ]
[ Max: “?? you mean like right now?” ]
[ Nugget: “Yep! Only rule is that you take a break from your vids, deal? Don’t wanna wear yourself out...” ]
Nugget chuckled in amusement at the sparkly-eyed monkey emoji Max replied with as he sipped at his morning coffee, sitting ever so comfortably on the living room couch. Yep, he was expecting that sort of reaction.
[ Max: “deal!! send me the address and I’ll be there asap!” ]
There went the fluttering, ever persistent response in his chest again, but Nugget flawlessly typed the address to the monkey without a moment’s hesitation; after all, it wouldn’t be polite cowboy behavior to hold off something that was quite important such as quality time with a close friend.
A close friend.
“…”
A thumb pressed the message inbox away and then opened the weather widget.
According to this thing, he should be – maybe – a bit cold and have the heater on or a good ol’ fashioned fireplace, so why in tarnation did his face feel so warm?
9:05 PM.
A five minute walk was all it took to arrive at the little house at the end of the block. Upon entering through the wooden picket fence door, using his hip to bump it open, Max grinned and pondered if Nugget purposely tried getting a place close enough to traverse to and from here and the Design house.
“Heh, m—maybe I’m overthinking things,” Max said to himself in embarrassment as he continued his walk down the cobblestone path which led to the front door, a blush threatening to come up to the surface of his cheeks, “just a little...”
Knock knock knock!
Max’s tail wagged like an excited puppy as he patiently waited for the door to the oddly fitting rustic dwelling, his arms supporting the three packages while a duffel bag hung from his left arm.
And when that door finally creaked open
that tattle-tail wagged even harder and eyes brightened at the sight of Nugget in front of him, donning his cowboy hat with that ever-so-charming smile adorning his face.
“Howdy, welcome to my home sweet home, partner! Care to come in and kick up yer sore feet? Must be tired carryin’ all of that stuff.”
Max grinned. “It’d be an honor, partner.”
Nugget pushed the door back as much as he could to allow Max inside without his smile faltering. “Well, c’mon in!”
Beat.
“...and explain why ya got all of that stuff in yer arms.”
“Mom and Dad thought I should get you something as a housewarming gift.”
“…”
“...and I wanted to get you something too?”
As Max entered into the comfortingly warm residence, Nugget shut the door and the spun around to face the silly monkey with a flat look. Max sat the gifts down on the circular coffee table and then sat his bag at the end for the time being. He glanced to Nugget in time to see the stare he made.
“...uh, what?”
“...y’all didn’t have to get me anythin’, ya know. I got my own money fer stuff.”
Max shot him a sheepish grin in reply, rubbing the back of his neck as he did so. “Aw c’mon, I know you do, but it’s just a candle, a super soft throw blanket, and an electric fondue pot,” he said and then shrugged, “no biggie.”
“…” Nugget’s stare faltered, and within a second, it was gone, followed by him letting out a small sigh and then giving Max a grin. “A fondue pot, huh?”
And there they were, sitting on the couch of Nugget’s living room, watching a horror film while dipping and eating chocolate-covered treats, the massive throw blanket – with its black and red checkered pattern – wrapped over the duo’s shoulders to give them extra comfort and joy along with the lit fireplace.
Max beamed to the nugget beside him while retrieving a chocolate-dipped marshmallow, saying, “See? How could you get upset over this totally adult stuff I brought for you to enjoy in your new home?”
“ ‘cause as much as I like ‘em, they ain’t necessary,” Nugget lightly huffed in reply before using a skewer to shove a strawberry into his awaiting mouth. “If ya wanted to bring somethin’ over for me,” he muffled, “it could’ve jus’ been that candle and I would’ve been happy, silly monkey.”
Max’s eyes darted to the lit candle which sat above the fireplace, emitting its enticing gingerbread smell, and then returned to Nugget. “Don’t be so humble, it’s not much, Nugs.”
“Still…”
“Nugs...c’mon, it’s okay!”
Nugget fell quiet, his skewer reaching over for a marshmallow next. The two knew each other for years, but still, Nugget found himself having these moments with Max – and even his family, truth be told – where simple gestures felt unnecessary, as if he was intruding somehow. A candle? Nice! A plush throw blanket big enough to wrap around his little nugget form four, five, even six times? Well, as long as it wasn’t expensive, he supposed. An electric fondue pot? What in tarnation and why in tarnation?
“Well, if ya insist,” Nugget dipped the marshmallow and, admittedly, he found the cooker amusing beyond belief as he shot a sincere smile to Max and said, “but that means I gotta make it up to ya next time, especially since ya even got my favorite fruit in here.”
Max gently laughed and rubbed at his neck again as he didn’t acknowledge the heat rising in his cheeks. “Shucks, man...you don’t have to do that.”
“Eh, I think I gotta,” Nugget replied as his eyes twinkled, perhaps thanks to the light radiating from the fireplace feet away from the duo. He shifted in his spot until he faced Max a little more. “What kinda cowboy would I be if I didn’t show my ‘ppreciation?”
Another brief laugh while he turned in his seat as well to look at Nugget better, an arm wrapping over the head of the couch. “Eh,” he shrugged, “guess not a polite one.”
Nugget sat the skewer to the side. “...hey.”
“Hm?”
“Mind leanin’ down fer a sec?”
Max complied, and as soon as he was close enough to the nugget, he had to hold back the surprised gasp that wanted to escape upon being pulled into a hug. The tip of Nugget’s hat brushed his face, and Nugget himself pressed his cheek against Max’s shoulder with a small smile.
“Thanks fer all of this, Max,” how soft his voice sounded almost surprised himself, “I ‘ppreciate it.”
If his cheeks didn’t match the redness of his sweater, Max was certain they were now. Wow, a hug for the stuff, huh? That...that was nice. “...you’re welcome, Nugs,” Max’s volume matched his, eyes softening as he returned the hug.
Nugget hugged Max countless of times prior to tonight, but the way he positioned himself against the monkey felt different; however, as much as he (faked) tried figuring out the possible reason for this belief, he couldn’t put a finger on it while his eyes chose to close.
Good grief, though, he felt at peace, very much so thanks to this silly monkey.
“...so, can I sleep in your possibly cool cowboy bed?”
“...Max, yer a doofus, ya know that?”
Nugget said that without his smile dropping.
And Max? He chuckled sheepishly, and at the very end, his tail twitched a few times before forming a heart shape.
Nugget had some more HELP calls to deal with for the next few days, leaving Max to spend time with his other friends, family, and work on his videos from time to time.
‘Wonder when he’ll be back home, ’ Max pondered every so often, ‘ At least I’m getting quick texts from him, but... I dunno man, sometimes it’s not the same.’
He reclined in his chair with a loud sigh.
‘Why do I wanna see him so badly…?’
“...’cause he’s my friend, and friends miss their friends when they leave for a while?”
...yeah, that was totally it.
Before he prepared to upload the latest video to his channel, his phone vibrated on the desk, alerting him of a notification. Max reached over to the side of his computer desk to retrieve the mobile phone, and as soon as he had it in his possession, he was met with a new text notification.
[ Nugget
11:24
“Howdy Max! I’m done with my volunteer work! Wanna come over today? Let’s meet up at the park.” ]
Max grinned widely.
[ Max
11:25
“sure! be right there after this video uploads!” ]
[ Nugget: “Partner, don’t be pushing yourself with the videos!” ]
[ Max: “I’m not I’m not,” ] he said that and then sent a snickering monkey emoji, only to snicker more upon receiving an eye-rolling emoji in response.
Meeting at the park – a typical method of the duo, especially on such a fine afternoon. The sky was a vibrant shade of blue without a single cloud in the sky, birds were happily chirping away from every which direction, and if that wasn’t enough relaxing vibes, perhaps the sight of the park fountain pouring out shimmering water which earned its eye-catching appearance thanks to the beaming sunshine above.
Along with the faint sprinkle of visitors either walking or hanging out and having a barbecue, today was a perfect time and place to meet yet again.
“Aaaand just like that, the video’s at three hundred views already!” Max sighed from the satisfaction of the viewer count. “Impressive, huh~?”
Well, he didn’t make Max take an oath this time about not talking about his videos, so it was to be expected...but hey, Nugget didn’t mind hearing Max excitedly ramble on about them.
Nugget huffed a laugh at Max while one paw proudly held his phone outwards, the other holding the cup of coffee Nugget brought him as a surprise.
“Well, ain’t we bein’ boastful today!”
“Nothing wrong with that when it’s true.”
“Careful with that,” Nugget joked with an ever-so-present grin, “yer gonna get a big head, sigma~.”
“That’s Mister Sigma, thank you,” Max corrected him. “Plus, I can smell that ten million subscriber count a mile away – the big one! Aren’t you just a little excited for that, Nugs?”
...ten million subscribers, huh?
Nugget raised a brow as he shot Max a fake offended look. “A little? Partner, how could y’all assume I wouldn’t care about such a milestone for yer channel?” He huffed and then crossed his arms which popped out just for him to make that posture. “I dunno if I should give ya a noogie, steal yer coffee, or call ya somethin’ not nice fer assumin’ that of me…”
Max was grinning from ear-to-ear at the sight before him. “Pfffpt ...oh yeah, you should be upset,” he replied playfully, “but you got nobody but yourself to blame!”
Nugget cracked a grin as his arms returned to his body and was replaced by his normal floating hands. “Ouch.”
“Now c’mon,” he suddenly leaned back against the head of the bench, “let’s check out last week’s video’s status real quick and then we can go.”
“Well, alright,” Nugget followed the reclining position Max was in, “lessee, partner.”
Max puffed out his chest. “Knew you’d see it my way.”
He rolled his eyes before taking another sip of his coffee while Max kept a steady paw on the phone as he held it over their heads for a different view. While Max allowed the short to play, just as a review, his eyes darted over to Nugget, wondering what his expression was upon seeing a short featuring the two of them and an elusive robber nugget. There was a small, amused half-grin upon his face, his stunning eyes crinkling from the faint chuckle he let out.
And Max’s chest fluttered like crazy, like an eruption of butterflies wanting to burst through. Max wanted to see more of that face--
“AGH !”
“Crap, Nugs…!”
--aaaand the phone slipped out of his grasp and smacked Nugget in the face.
Both Max’s phone and Nugget’s drink dropped to the ground while the nugget in question smacked a hand over the left portion of his face with a hiss. Obviously, not what Max had intended to do, but unfortunately for both of them, the memory of Max accidentally dropping his phone over them in a similar fashion happened months ago; although, that time, Max’s forehead was the victim.
“Gosh...dern it,” Nugget grunted. That stung like a kick from a bull!
Meanwhile, Max was mentally kicking himself as he tried not to panic too much at how much pain it seemed Nugget was in. “Uh, hang on, can I see your face?”
Shoot, Max was worried. Nugget scooted an inch away from the concerned monkey, giving him a half-smile while he waved. “N--nah, I’m good! Everythin’s fine, partner!”
“But I wanna make sure you’re not bleeding or anything.”
“Aw c’mon, the drop wasn’t that bad, I’m a tough--”
Nugget was about to yank the brim of his hat over the face which was hit until his hand froze. It dawned upon him that he had left the hat back home to let his head breathe some fresh autumn air for once. Man, if he had legs, he would’ve been kicking himself by now.
“--nugget.”
“Yeah that’s your name, but let me check your face, Nugs...please?”
“But--”
“At least let me do it so I know you’re okay?”
“I—but it ain’t--...” son of a prairie dog, he was feeling downright embarrassed, enough for his words to come out in stammers instead of full sentences. Great, of all the rootin’ tootin’ times not to have his hat on him. He couldn’t even summon the HELP if he wanted to, since he used too much of it in one go during his volunteer work.
A paw gently clasped over the hand covering his face without warning; thus, snapping Nugget out of his frantic thinking. His right eye focused to Max who stared at him with a rather apologetic look on his furry face. Double shoot, he couldn’t make Max feel bad – it’d kill him.
Nugget sighed as he dropped his hand. “See?”
Max frowned at the spot which appeared a little red on his face. “Ouch, did it get your eye too? Is that why it’s closed?”
“...I guess?”
“God, I’m really sorry Nugs.”
He forced his left eye open in order to reassure Max, even just a little, smiling. “Hey if it makes ya feel better, I’d rather deal with this instead of it smacking me in the forehead.”
“...bro,” Max immediately got the reference, but when Nugget cracked a grin and chuckled, Max couldn’t help himself grinning back, his cheeks burning at the cute display whilst his tail formed a heart shape from behind him. At least Nugget seemed better after that harmless jab. “…”
...yeah, guess Nugget was cute, wasn’t he?
“I’m sorry I worried ya, partner.”
“And I’m sorry I dropped my phone on your face.”
“Heh! Yer forgiven.”
“Welp,” Max spoke up and then, all of a sudden, he reached out and cupped the side of Nugget’s not-so-seriously-injured face, causing the nugget to jolt in surprise from the touch, “how ‘bout we head to your place and put some ice on it? I don’t wanna ruin your handsome face permanently, heh,” he made a faint chuckle at the end.
Nugget grinned a little. “Yer such a worrywart, but,” he lifted a hand and clasped it over the paw at his face, “sure, I guess.” His eyes blinked to the paw and then met with Max’s innocent eyes, and once they met, his own set softened. “Thanks fer worryin’ about me.”
At that moment, the duo felt their heart skip a beat – for Max, it was from how gentle Nugget became without warning; as for Nugget, the realization that he responded so...intimately to Max’s concern dawning upon him.
Max just knew his cheeks burned a darker shade of ruby than his cozy sweater, had they not already been. Man, Nugget’s hand was soft, just like those beautiful eyes of his.
What in the Sam Hill…? Max’s paw felt so warm today.
This silly monkey has touched him plenty of times, that much is the gospel truth, but just like the hug they shared at their last sleepover, the action struck him differently. Was it even Max’s paw that was hot, or could it have been his cheeks? His face? The autumn weather becoming warmer without warning?
Why did that persistent stirring in his chest return?
Why did he want to press his face against that soft paw next?
Oh god, what was wrong with him?
This was his friend – his friend!
While these thoughts ran a muck through Nugget’s mind, Max stared at the blushing Nugget whose eyes – ones which were always tender and inviting -- were unfocused and wide instead, plagued by something troubling him behind the scenes.
Max frowned. Oh crap, did the phone rattle his brain when it smacked him? “Nugs?” His paw cupped at his friend’s cheek with care and tried to get Nugget to look at him in the eyes, in order to get his attention. “Hey, you feeling okay?”
Those innocent wide eyes were boring into his nervous pair, his paw at his cheek which should’ve felt like a comforting touch felt more like sandpaper--
“Nugs?”
He was going to be sick.
“...I can’t do this.”
“What?”
Nugget hurriedly tore himself away from Max’s hold as though the paw scorched his cheek and then hopped off the bench, his heart racing a mile per hour. “I can’t go through with this,” his voice wavered, “I can’t.”
What in tarnation was he going on about?
Max’s concern rose as he got off the bench and swiped his phone off the ground. “Nugs? What’s going on?”
He should’ve worn his hat like he had to around Max for some time now, but noooo, his stupid nugget brain thought how, instead, warm his head would get was his main concern. You stupid, cotton-pickin’--
“Nothin’s happenin’, Max--”
“But you were just saying that you ‘can’t’. You can’t ‘what’?”
Nugget’s right hand twitched upon the sensation of wanting to pull the brim of his hat over his face, to hide the redness occurring in his cheeks. “I--it ain’t important.”
What?
“Wh—what do you mean it ‘ain’t important’?” Max could tell something wasn’t right, and the fact Nugget attempted to shrug this off made him even more concerned by the second. He took a step forward, carefully raising a paw as if to reach out for him. “C’mon Nugs, you always help me out when I get upset – the least I could do is do the same for you! I know I suck at reading people sometimes, but Nugs, you look like you’re scared--”
“I ain’t scared!”
Like a whip snapping the air, Max jolted in place, his tail shooting out as straight as a rod, at how Nugget’s voice cracked out and so suddenly.
“…” It dawned upon Nugget not even a second after those words escaped him that he had the nerve to yell at Max for being concerned about his well being. His eyes, now burning with a hot film of tears, went downcast to avoid the shocked expression upon Max’s face. What had he done? What kinda friend did that?
Idiot.
He blinked the tears away, and he was grateful that none of them spilled like they threatened to. “Jus’…” the volume he had used a second ago depleted, instead, all Nugget was left with was a pathetic, weak tone, as he told the stunned Max before him, “leave me alone, Max.”
And without another word from either one, Nugget turned and left.
“…” The paw raised dropped to his side, and soon his tail followed suit. His eyes focused on the retreating nugget’s form shrinking the further he head down the sidewalk. All that Max could do was stand there, not only dumbfounded by the sudden change in mood from a close friend who...who never even displayed emotions like that ever…
...but also from those words leaving him crushed.
Max couldn’t understand. Did he say something wrong? Did he have his paw on his face too long for his comfort?
...what had he done?
It came as a mumble, a hurt one, “...fine,” Max wasn’t sure if Nugget could even hear him, but he didn’t care, because a sudden squeeze at his chest made him take the words to heart. “Go home then! Forget hanging out or whatever! Who--who--!”
His eyes stung with something wet.
“...who needs you?”
Max needed him, and deep down, he knew it.