Crime and Punishment 3

Chapter Four

Becoming Alive

Max woke up in the middle of the night. Justin was gone, but his dad was asleep in the chair next to him. He felt completely rejuvenated, but a terrible loneliness washed over him, followed quickly by a desperate need for Justin. So, he crept out of bed and tip-toed across his floor and out his open door. He lightly tapped on the door across from his, belonging to Justin.

It creaked open.

“Maxie?” Justin asked, rubbing his eye.

Max slid into the room, for the second time in two days.

“What are you doing?” Justin asked in hushed tones.

“Can I sleep in your bed?”

They paused and just looked at each other.

“With you?” Max completed.

“Maxie...I...”

Max stood on his tiptoes and kissed his big brother on the cheek. “Please. It’ll help me feel better.” He used his cute smile/puppy-dog eye combo that always got him his way with Justin.

Justin half-smiled. It was close to the comfort smile.

“Come on.” Justin waved him in. He helped Max up by pushing him up the bunk, which had been the top bunk from when they were younger. The bottom had been sawed off and put in Max’s room when they came to Waverly Place.

The green, glowing light showed that Justin was shirtless as well. In fact, he was only wearing an old ratty pair of boxers that he only used to sleep in. Max went over as close to the wall as he could but staying on his back to keep some room for himself. As soon as he got over, Justin was up in the bed as well.

“Feeling better, little guy?” Justin asked. His eyes shown in the glowing room.

“Lots. I’m more alive than ever, Just.”

“Maxie...I...”

Max put his finger up to Justin’s soft, warm lips. “Don’t. I know.” Max turned from his back to his side, facing toward Justin, who was laying on his back. Slithering around in the bed a little, Max worked his body over against Justin’s side and laid his head on Justin’s chest. Justin’s heart was racing for some reason. His upper body was soft and warm. The skin was comforting. But no where near as comforting as when Justin put his arm around Max’s back. Justin’s fingers tickled up and down Max’s back. It chilled him, comfortingly.

The goose bumps must have clued Justin in that he was chilling Max because he quickly grabbed the blankets and pulled them up over their bodies and heads. They giggled from underneath their cave. Max rubbed his foot up against Justin’s. The hair on Justin’s legs prickled up against Max’s nearly hairless leg. That sensation was quickly blown away when Justin’s warm lips started kissing Max’s cheek in a line all the way to his lips. At Max’s mouth, Justin’s lips lingered, barely touching them. Before Max could press his lips out against Justin’s lips, Justin pulled away.

Max lightly rubbed his hand over Justin’s abs. He couldn’t see anything, so he didn’t know why Justin had pulled away. He debated about asking, but thought better of it and rolled on top of Justin and moved his head in close, and kissed his lips. Justin’s lips pecked at Max, but the peck was empty. Max pulled his head up, making the blanket slide down his back a little.

“What is it?” Max asked calmly, yet caringly.

“Maxie. What am I doing to you?” Justin’s voice wavered in the still air.

“Loving me,” Max replied like it was the silliest question he ever heard. This was unacceptable talk coming from Justin, so Max wedged his arms under Justin’s body and hugged him as tightly as he could. In return, Justin closed his arms around Max’s back.

“Last night was...horrible. I was possessed, or something.”

“You were.” Max giggled a little. “You were so angry about loving me. Worried about everyone in the world thinking even less of you for it. You took it all out on the person you loved the most. After being out most of the day, I woke up, truly. I realized that you were showing me all the love you had. I love you so much, Justin. You’re my everything.”

Max didn’t have to see to know that Justin’s mouth was twisted up into a smile.

“Maxie...you’re such a smart kid.”

“Now, no need to lie,” Max giggled. Getting too emotional wasn’t something he liked to do, and joking his way out of it often helped him not get too sappy.

“Stop it.” Justin squeezed Max tightly, then loosened up a bit. “I love you with everything I have. I have since the day you were born. I used to tell mom and dad that you were mine, and you always would be. Guess now I know what I really meant back then.”

Max listened and hung on every word. Anything from Justin was the most important thing to Max. He pushed himself upward again, so he could look at the guy he loved so deeply.

“I’m yours. Always,” Max released.

Justin’s hands moved up to Max’s head and lightly pressed down against it. Max knew he wanted him to move his head back down. When it was close enough, Justin kissed Max’s lips with all the passion in the world. Justin’s lips parted and Max entered into Justin’s mouth with his tongue. Their two tongues played around with each other. They rolled over back and forth on the bed. Hours must have passed by as they kissed each other as if they would never get the pleasure to do so ever again. They both were more alive than they had been their entire lives.

They kissed to exhausting themselves, causing them to fall asleep in each other’s arms. Max’s head rest against Justin’s chest.