Max groaned again as David walked up the stairs into the blockbuster storeroom.

"I brought matching t-shirts!" David said excitedly as he held up the t-shirts, one said I'm with my father, and the other one said, I'm with my son. ".....at a discount...." David whispered that last part, as the sizes were switched, so the one that said I'm with my father' was Davids size, while the other one was Max's size.

"Why are you making me do this?" Max asked as David slipped the t-shirt over his head, despite his flailing and protests.

"I feel like we don't spend enough time together," David said mournfully.

"We live in a storage room without windows or doors, we already spend too much time together!" Max pointed out irritated by Davids plan for today. David wanted to spend the whole day in the mall, buying clothes for him and doing father-son activities, while Max would rather fucking die than do any of that. Seriously, David had to take away his switchblade.

"I just want you to experience the joys of having loving parents like I did!" David said with a smile. "Is that really too much to ask?"

"Yes!" Max snapped as he waved his arms. "You try to make me do this shit almost every single fucking day!"

"Language!" David said.

"....I know right, fuck English." Max replied as he started walking down the stairs. Best to get this disaster over with as fast as possible.

"And remember, we have a PTA meeting for the end of the day," David said. They still had to go to those to make sure Gwen wasn't messing up their children.

***

David and Max walked into the food court for some breakfast. They were going to an IHOP that originally got closed down because some guy called Jeffreestar a faggot and just so happened to work there. He got fired, but that didn't stop the restaurant from going to the mall where businesses go to die. At least they have an Ihop now.

"What do you want Max?" David asked.

"Whichever one makes me die faster," Max replied.

"The pancakes please!"

***

Neil peeked around a corner with Nikki by his side. He had a plan for today. Max couldn't hang out today because of David, so he figured he'd better step up and try to cause some trouble.

"Okay, here's the plan Nikki!" Neil said. "We just have to get some of David blood so I can extract what makes him love Max, and use that to make my dad love me even more!"

"Why?" Nikki asked.

"So he'll try to buy my love!" Neil said. "If my father loves me even more, then he'll spend a massive amount of money trying to get my love!"

"That's really dark, and I love it!" Nikki said as she peeked around the corner. "Let's make him bleed!"

"Max, what did I tell you about slouching!" David said as he tried to sound stern.

"My back should have an erection, so people respect it," Max replied as he twisted Davids words as much as possible.

"Uh....no," David said as he tried to decode that.

"Give me your blood!" Neil yelled as he came running out with a large knife and a test tube.

"Okay!" David said as he held out his arm.

"Wait really?" Neil asked as he stopped.

"Yuppers!" David said with a smile. "I am all for your pursuit of science, and as your teacher, I could never say no to your voyage of curiosity!"

"Gay," Max said as he sipped his soda.

"So how much blood are you gonna need today?" David asked as he gave Neil a smile.

"I don't know, my dad said I can't have any more of his because he was running out," Neil said. "All of it please!" He said as he held out the knife.

***

David stumbled through the hallways into the merry go round store. Max stood behind him with an annoyed look on his face.

"We're here!" Max snapped in David's face as he tried to get his father figure to focus for a minute. David was really woozy from the loss of blood.

"Great!" David said as he shook his head and checked his bandages. He quickly checked his wallet and counted the money he had on hand. He should be able to buy something for five dollars.....right?

"Is there anything with gore, murder, or death in its name?" Max asked as he looked around in the kid's section.

"No.," the teenager said as she looked at her phone without actually looking at them. She only worked here because they have free wifi, and the manager smokes too much pot to pay attention to the employees.

"We should go somewhere else," Max said as he turned away.

"Come on Max, you need some new school clothes," David said.

"David, I live in my school," Max said. "We go shopping in the mall, and we eat sleep, and walk, in the mall. If you didn't have such a fetish for sleeping on the roof, I'd live my whole life as a vampire."

"What's a fetish?" David asked.

"I don't know, but you should really consider getting child locks on the internet," Max said annoyed. "It's stealing my soul, and scarring me for life at the same time."

"It can't be that bad."

"Here's some gore porn," Max said as he started typing into his phone. David suddenly snatched the phone out of his hands.

"You....might have a point," David said as he closed the phone. "Can you at least grab one thing from here? You don't have enough variety in your wardrobe!" David said pleadingly. Max has a way of sucking all life out people, but David seemed to survive that process and it annoyed him deeply.

"Fine," Max said as he looked around the various clothes and accessories. He suddenly stopped when he saw a yellow scarf like the one David wore around his neck. The one David wore was a camp Campbell t-shirt, but it looked pretty close.

"Did you find something?" David asked as he leaned over.

"Yeah, I'm getting this," Max said as he ripped out the scarf and walked up to the register without asking for permission.

"Great," David said as he walked up to the register with a smile on his face.

***

David strode happily with Max by his side. Max was currently wearing the matching scarf he picked out from the Merry Go Round store. He silently cursed the idea of having anyone pick him out of the crowd with the scarf on. They were going to go around the mall and try out some of there other attractions.

"What about this place Max?" David said as he looked at a nice camping supplies store. He bought everything from there, including his favorite tent. If Max was okay with wearing matching outfits, maybe he could get away with getting some matching life jackets!

"Can we go there first?" Max asked as he pointed to a gothic store.

"I don't know, their clothes might be a bit too big for you," David said as he looked at it.

"I can always get a nightshirt." Max pointed out as he walked in without David permission. David gulped as he followed suit. They had some really scary mannequins with piercings.

"Look, occult shit!" Max said as he grabbed something with a pentagram.

"I wouldn't touch that," David said as she grabbed it out of Max's hand and put it back on the shelf.

"Oh hey, this place also sells dildos," Max said as he looked toward the back.

"I don't think so!" David said as he picked Max up and walked out of the store.

"Dammit," Max said as he wanted to lose David in the dildo section. He kinda figured David would rather die than go in there.

***

Max walked into the camping supplies store with a huff as David led him in there.

"So I was thinking....." David tried to say as he wanted to explain his little idea in a way that wouldn't upset Max. "Maybe it would be best for you to wear this!" He said as he held up a baby leash.

"Seriously?" Max asked.

"You did just try to go into the dildos section of the goth store," David said as he tried to make Max understand.

"This can only go one way, and you know it!" Max said vindictively.

"Don't worry Max, it's not going to be that bad," David said as he slung the device over his head and fixed the front straps in a way that would lock Max in place.

"Fine....." Max said. "You asked for this." Max went stiff as a board and fell straight on his back.

"Max, get up, we have to keep shopping."

"Take it off first," Max said as he refused to move an inch. David started pulling on the leash and Max slid on the floor.

"Well, what if I tried the baby carrier instead."

"Your balls wouldn't survive an hour," Max said.

"Now Max, I'm only doing this to try and keep you safe!" David said.

"And I'm only doing this because it's stupid, and I'm not a dog!" Max replied.

"Fine, I'll let you off the leash, but only if you promise to behave yourself!"

"I promise nothing!" Max replied.

***

David and Max walked around the tent section. Max was now free of the baby leash, and luckily David didn't try the baby carrier. Max walked up to a large tent that looked kind of nice and considered pointing David to it. It was an actual professional one instead of the shitty one David tried to push on him.

"I wonder if we should try out some of these new fishing rods before we buy them," David said as he looked at the fishing supplies.

"We've never been fishing." Max pointed out.

"Well I think it's about time we give it a try before the weather turns and it becomes too cold!" David said with a smile as he realized there was something Max had yet to try, even with all their time at camp Campbell.

"Which one lets me play on the phone and ignore you," Max asked.

"This one should be perfect for that!" David said as he grabbed a small blue one.

"Goddammit," Max said as David called his bluff.

"Let's go to the counter, we can spend tomorrow fishing!" David said happily. "Then we'll be able to spend even more time as father and son!"

"That....that sounds nice," Max said quickly as he blushed and looked down. David looked down at him with a smile as they walked.

***

Max looked through some comic books as David stood nearby.

"I didn't know you enjoyed comic books!" David said with a smile.

"Actually I'm just bored," Max said as he thumbed through them.

"Well, why don't we do something fun?"

"There's a movie theater on the third floor," Max suggested with an evil smile.

"Okay," David said with a naive smile.

"I call picking the movie," Max called out.

***

David walked out of the theater visibly shaking as Max walked out calm and collected. He smirked as David shivered and looked around in slight fear.

"Murder death murder, is really violent," Max said with an evil smile. "But if your too scared, we can always go home and end the day here."

"Oh look at the time, it's almost time for your violin lesson," David said as he shook his head and put his smile back on his face.

Max looked down at his phone in horror as he realized the movie did eat up the whole day despite how much effort he took to derail it right there and then. At least he actually had fun today, despite hanging with David the whole time.

"We should get some lunch first, then head over to the army surplus store," David said as he leads Max to the food court. Max sat down as David ordered for him.

He looked down at his scarf and thought back to how the day went, before deciding that there were worse ways to spend your Saturday. David brought back there food and set the tray in front of him.

"So what did you think of today?" David asked.

"I....I had fun," Max said, and Davids smile grew a thousand times larger as his eyes sparkled with pure joy.

***

Max had a violin lesson with Darren today, and David didn't want there special day to cut into his education. They walked into the store while Darren dealt with an indecisive customer. He was having trouble deciding between a grenade, and a package of C4. He was also dressed as the Unabomber, but David was sure it was just a coincidence.

"Hello Max, and David," Darren said as he finished the sale. "I'll be with you in just a moment."

"I'm so proud of you for seeking out your own music lessons!" David said. "We could do a due....."

"No!" Max snapped over him. David looked a little dejected as Darren allowed Max behind the counter. Max quickly went into the back room and pulled out his violin to begin the lesson.

***

Max grumbled slightly furious as David followed him into the blockbuster. He was having trouble with a certain set of notes, and David dared to try and help him.

"Max, I didn't mean to make you feel stupid," David said as he tried to understand Max's outrage.

"So I'm stupid now?!" Max snapped at him angrily. "What do you know, your best skill is teaching children how to make a tent!"

"Max, why are you so upset?" Max simmered as he remembered the way his old parents would talk down to him when he tried to play music.

"Because your not my father!" Max yelled angrily. "Your just some retard who fell for my sob story! You don't know a thing about music, and your shit at being a father!" Max said angrily, he stormed down the stairs and slammed the door to the storeroom before heading out to the food court.

***

Max bought himself a soda and sat down at a table and drank it as angrily as he could.

"You'll never be good enough," Max growled as he heard his own mother's voice. "You're too stupid, a worthless brat like you could never play something like that."

"Bitch," Max yelled suddenly making everyone in the food court look at him. Max slammed his head on the table before covering his eyes with his arms.

Max started to think about the things he said to David and his anger softened a little. He couldn't believe he said such hurtful things to David. He sighed when he realized he should probably apologize. He stood up, but not before pulling his scarf back out and placing it around his neck.

***

Max walked up the stairs but stopped halfway through when he heard David sniffling. He looked through some of the rails over at the couch David was sitting on.

"What am I doing wrong?" David asked as he looked down at the adoption paperwork he'd been hiding from Max. Max looked down at his feet as he realized what he said earlier was making David cry now. He felt awful knowing he hurt him like that.

"David!" Max said.

"What is it, Max?" David called out as he sucked in his tears and put on a happy face. "We should get ready for the PTA meeting, why don't you put on your scarf and we can go right now!" He said in his happy voice.

Max silently cursed himself as he forgot the most important thing about David. That moment, the very first time David ever cursed since Max had ever known him. Max forgot, that the happy face David put on was never really what he was feeling inside. He forgot that when he said mean and hurtful things to him, he really was hurting David no matter how much David seemed invincible. He had to make it up to him somehow, but the PTA meeting was starting in ten minutes.

***

The meeting itself went fairly well. The other parents gave Gwen glowing reviews, as they've never seen their children excited to be attending school before. It was refreshing considering their little hellions had a tendency to complain and cause a lot of property damage when school came around. Gwen even gave the school district a video of her teaching.

After the meeting, everyone was invited to enjoy a little buffet the school district set out as a gesture saying 'please don't sue us', because like it or not, the jury is still out on whether or not the fire was the school districts fault. It was all going perfectly until some woman approached David and Max.

"Well hello." The woman said. "So which little angel is yours?"

"Max here," David said proudly as he put a hand on Max's shoulder. Max was still wearing the matching scarf David bought for him.

"Oh but just look at the color of his skin, everyone can tell he's adopted." the woman said as she compared Max to David. David's smile faltered a little as their earlier argument crossed his mind. Max remembered how things like that made David really feel, so Max pulled a lighter out of his pocket as a psychotic smile crossed his face.

***

Max walked into the store with soot covering his face followed by a similar David.

"Well, I think the PTA meeting went pretty well," David said as he patted the ashes out of his clothes.

"I didn't have any fun, you took away my lighter before I could set anyone else on fire," Max said annoyed at David's vigilance.

"Speaking of which, I should probably send her flowers....." David said as he wrote something down from a notepad in his vest.

"Your....you're um...." Max tried to find the words as he wanted to address there earlier argument, but he didn't know how. "I'm sorry."

"What?" David asked as he looked up from his notepad.

"I'm sorry I caused all that trouble," Max said. "She just got me so mad. I know I shouldn't care what anyone else thinks but.....your my dad, and I thought I should.....I don't know, help you."

"It's okay Max," David said as he went down on his knees. "I know that you would never do anything to hurt me."

"But I did hurt you," Max said as his eyes teared up a little. He silently cursed himself as he realized the guilt was getting to him. It was all his fault. He wouldn't feel this awful if David didn't make him love him, but it was amazing. It was like every day was a little brighter just because David was around.

"Why am I so mean to you?" Max asked as he finally understood the reason for all his pain. His eyes where full of tears he wished would never fall.

"You don't know any better," David said as he pulled Max into a hug. "I know you didn't mean it. I should have been more careful."

"I'm sorry Dad," Max said. "I'm sorry I hurt you!" Max said as he squeezed his father tighter to him. He never wanted to hurt David ever again, not like that. He didn't want David to feel the way he made him feel ever again.

"It's okay Max, I'm okay," David said as Max cried into his vest. "It's not your fault." David's face darkened as he thought of the people responsible. Those people who called themselves Max's parents, who filled him with so much bitterness and anger.

The things Max said to him did hurt him sometimes, but he kept on a happy face knowing that Max's past was responsible for it. He knew that if Max really knew how much it hurt him when Max said those things, it would tear him up inside. So he put on a happy face and pretended everything was alright because Max deserves to be happy.

The pain was going away now. It was being replaced by anger, piece by piece. David didn't know if he'd ever felt so angry in his entire life. All this pain was all their fault, and David couldn't stand the idea of not being able to do anything about it.

***