Fabian let out a laugh at his mate’s words, pleased to hear his own advise seemed to have registered with Max. It wasn’t like him to overthink things, but Fabian couldn’t really blame him for it in light of everything else that was going on. At any rate, maybe thinking about a bird would do him some good, at least now that he wasn’t getting so stuck in his own head. “Anytime, mate. If she is we’ll just have to stop coming ‘round the pub so often.” He joked easily, surprised by the invitation that followed if only because Max had been so insistent on not wanting a date. Or maybe this one was one him, after spending so much time with Gid and Melia when he was with Ann. At any rate, might be better on Max’s end to have some more people around, and if he did end up wanting anything more from this bird it would be nice to know her a bit. “Sure, mate, if Ann’s up for it. Know what, I think I’ll go ask her right now,” he added with a wink as he saw the waitress coming back, getting up and heading over to his girlfriend so Max could have his bird to himself. 

Fabian was right, he was over thinking things. A lot of that had to do with the MJ’s sudden streak of seeing him as halfway to the alter even when there wasn’t a bird in the picture. It had been funny the way she was marrying him off to thin air. But then he’d had an incredible night with Cat. A night that had felt a little too incredible. Then everything else happened and Max was feeling out of sorts, confused. Add in Fabian getting ideas and his own reluctance to admit that maybe he had chased after Cat a little and it left Max off his game in a major way. There was a reason he hadn’t had a plan about what he was going to do other then just chat her up at work before everything happened. “Thanks, mate. Let’s hope she’s not a bloody nutter,” he chuckled lightly at his own words feeling a lot more like himself thanks to Fabian’s mini-reality check. “The roof top place should work I think. You and Ann wanna tag along?” The invitation was probably opening the door not just to more teasing from Fabian but also Ann’s imagination running wild but it wasn’t as if either of those things were gonna not happen by not inviting them.

Fabian’s brows pulled together at Max’s hesitation to his suggestion, tilting his head slightly as he listened to his mate. It seemed a little odd, seeking out a bird just to hang out, but he could certainly understand the reluctance to start doing anything more serious. Though he couldn’t help the thought that maybe MJ was getting to Max just a little bit. “Alright, mate, here’s how I see it,” he began, leaning slightly forward himself and lowering his voice just in case. This wasn’t a conversation he wanted Max to get caught in. “What you’ve gotta do is stop thinking about it so much. She’s a hot bird, you wanna see her again, just do whatever ya feel like.” He shrugged. It didn’t need to be more complicated than that, even with his teasing. “If she’s not a bloody nutter I doubt anything ya do is gonna make her think you’re trying to walk her down the aisle.” It was impossible to imagine Max coming up with some sappy date that would give any bird that sort of impression, especially with his determination to be casual. “So just -- do whatever you want.”

Max chuckled as he picked the chip out of his hair. Though his laughter ended when he realized he hadn’t thought about what he was gonna do once Cat was there. He frowned slightly at Fabian’s words. Probably was anticlimactic. But Max wanted to keep it casual. Get to know her a little. Fabian’s next words were better. “Oh yeah, that’d be good.” Max wouldn’t mind taking her some place cool. Except… “You don’t think it’s too much do ya? I mean it’s not a date we’re just hanging out.” Maybe there wasn’t much of a distinction but in Max’s head there was. “I just wanna be casual, ya know? I mean we’re still getting to know each other.” Fabian was probably not the best person to ask about casual things seeing as how the last time he had anything resembling casual with a bird he wasn’t dating was back at school. Still he trusted Fabian to help him figure it out. Even if the bloke was jumping the gun a little. Checking again to make sure Cat wasn’t gonna be coming up on him he leaned forward a little. “Look, Cat’s pretty awesome, I’m obviously into her. But I’m just not looking to date someone. Things are too complicated to go down that road. I just want it casual.” Why he hadn’t said that in the first place he wasn’t sure. Other than the fact that he barely knew Cat so it seemed a little early to be talking dating and shit. 

Fabian just let out a chuckle at the way his mate shook his head, not at all sorry for the payback he was going to be exacting once they were both back home with the rest of the blokes. It would do Max some good, to know how it felt on the other side. “Oi!” Fabian laughed again when a chip hit him in the forehead, picking one off his own plate and tossing it back at his mate. He pulled himself together, though, when the topic became slightly more serious, a legitimate question, and paused a moment to think it over. “Drink would work,” he started with a shrug, but he couldn’t help adding, “Seems sort of anticlimactic, though, after three tries to find the bird.” It was hard to tell exactly what Max wanted from the waitress, given that his actions and his words were telling two very different stories. Also hard to tell what was on the table, given how long a week it had been for all of them. Hard to tell how much any of them were up for, given that it was something they were all feeling out as they went. “You should take her somewhere cool, like that place where you can sit on the roof or somethin’.”

The truth was Max wasn’t sure if he’d have gone to the pub so many times in a row hoping Cat would be there if it hadn’t been for everything else. He’d been planning on going by the pub, but there hadn’t been a plan for if she wasn’t there. This past week hadn’t been a normal one. Max barely wanted to go out, mostly doing so because he knew it was better. A distraction from everything was good. But he didn’t want to say Cat was just a distraction, she wasn’t and saying so to Fabian would have made him sound like a real arse. He’d take the ribbing from Fabian for doing so but he wasn’t sure enough on why he’d done so to want it to be a thing. Merlin knew he’d given Fabian enough of a hard time to deserve one back from him so he didn’t mind that his best mate was jumping on this. And enjoying it. Max shook his head as if were upset about Fabian wanting to tell them about Cat overhearing them. Of course he was, Max would be the same, but it didn’t stop him from muttering git under his breath and flicking a chip at him. Fabian’s time would come, again. Not being too concerned about that, he’d deal when it came, Max looked around to make sure Cat wasn’t sneaking up on him before speaking again. “You think I should just take her out for a drink somewhere?” Max had no plan for tonight and only about an hour to figure one out. 

It took everything Fabian had to hold back a laugh at Max’s assertion that he was getting the wrong impression. Because coming back to the pub three times in a matter of days to see a bird he clearly didn’t know a whole lot about wasn’t chasing after her. Sure. If anything, the fact that Max had to sit there and justify himself to Fabian said more than anything else, but he decided to give Max a pass. Despite whatever hangups MJ had with the blokes getting girlfriends, Fabian was all for the rest of them finding birds of their own if that was what they wanted, and he didn’t want to scare Max away. He remembered how weird it had been when he first started to consider dating Ann. He was lucky she’d stuck around, really. “Alright, mate,” he answered with a shrug and a grin that was probably slightly too wide to conceal his amusement completely. “Your secret’s safe with me,” he added with a cheeky wink, though he meant it. “Don’t think you’re getting out of me telling ‘em about what she overheard, though.”

Fabian had been his wing man for far too long for Max to take what he’d said seriously. The other bloke’s reply only proving it hadn’t been serious. “Git,” he said again as he laughed along with his mate. Max knew it was too late for Fabian to be getting any ideas, bloody hell. But maybe the rest of his family wouldn’t. He rolled his eyes at the comment about Ann planning his wedding. Somehow he managed to keep from telling Fabian he need to keep his Tooker under control. He liked Ann, she was a good bird, but he did not want to hear any bloody wedding plans. Mike’s was enough. “I think you misunderstood, mate. I’m not wanting to keep Cat a secret. I just would rather not have people thinking I’m chasing after her, like I know you’re doing. Since that’s the wrong conclusion you’ve come to all because I came here a few times I just think not telling them that part wouldn’t be a bad thing. Save everyone the trouble of having to be corrected that’s all.” Because he definitely was not chasing after her. There was nothing wrong with going somewhere hoping you might run into a bird. And if keeping the fact that he came by a few times hoping to run into her kept his siblings from jumping to the conclusion that he was chasing after her that was good for everyone. Even if he doubted Fabian would also keep the her overhearing him bragging about banging her to himself along with him coming by to see her. He couldn’t get that lucky, it was too funny not to tell. “So ya know feel free to tell her we met just don’t go sharing you’re wrong ideas is all.” 

In reality Fabian could have found plenty of reasons why any bird would want to spend her time with his best mate, but Max knew that already. So he just answered Max’s words with a laugh. “Just trying to keep you grounded, mate! You’re welcome.” He grinned widely, unabashed, though he couldn’t help lifting an eyebrow when Max told him not to get any ideas. It was too late for that, and he had a feeling Max must already know that. A fact that was reinforced why the next thing he asked. The request took Fabian slightly by surprise, but he was quick to agree. “Sure, mate.” They had never been the type to keep secrets from their families, but Fabian knew all too well how dramatic the McKinnons could be and he understood that some things were best figured out before the rest of the bunch found out about them. Anything important, he had no doubt the rest of the blokes would be informed of, but they didn’t all need to know everything. Merlin knew Max had kept some of Fabian’s more embarrassing secrets. Still, a glance at his girlfriend had him tacking on, “Probably best ya let me tell Ann, though. I think she might start planning your wedding soon.” An exaggeration, but it was likely without the truth Ann would start drawing conclusions Max surely wouldn’t want her to, even if Fabian was inclined to think they might not be anything too far off base. 

He hadn’t expected Fabian to agree with him about the unreadable thing. His best mate had been dating a very readable bird for two years, obviously not his thing. But Max liked the added mystery of it all. And he didn’t feel any need to pretend otherwise. Despite the fact that Max had to kind of agree with Fabian’s next words he wasn’t going to say that. “Oi! I have skills, obviously. What sort of wingman are you, damn.” He’d known Fabian enough to know the other bloke didn’t believe him but he didn’t care. “Just don’t get any ideas, please.” As long as Fabian wasn’t cooking up some idea in that dense head of his about Max chasing after Cat he could think whatever he wanted. Though Max would appreciate it if Fabian didn’t spread tales either. “Can we keep this between us?” Probably too much to ask, especially after Cat had overheard him bragging abut banging her. But it didn’t hurt to try. “I don’t want MJ going all crazy thinking another one of us has fallen, she’s already written Matt and I off without getting any encouragement.” Not the only reason but one of them. 

Max calling him a git only made Fabian laugh that much harder, entirely unconcerned by his mate’s insult. That had been bloody hilarious and Merlin only knew how much fun he was going to have telling the rest of the blokes about it next time they were all drunk. For now he just let out another laugh when Max said the bird’s unreadable thing was hot. “Whatever does it for ya, mate,” Fabian told him with an amused shake of his head, though he supposed he could see the draw for Max, even if she was nothing like the birds he usually went for. Maybe because of that. A fact Max all but confirmed when he spoke again, and Fabian chuckled. “Yeah, I dunno what she’d doing with a wanker like you,” he teased his mate. He lifted an eyebrow, though, at the next thing Max tacked on. Fabian wasn’t so sure he bought showing up to the pub three times as a distraction, but he wasn’t going to push Max on it so he just agreed with a breezy, “Yeah, sure.”

Max gave her words a nod as he continued to smirk right back at her, bloody hell she was hot. He couldn’t even resist checking her out again as she walked off. Fabian’s laughter bringing his attention back to his mate. “You’re a git,” was all he had to say at first because that had been Fabian’s fault. Not that he was too worried about it. Sure Cat was hot an fun but if she’d been bent out of shape over his comment then she wouldn’t be nearly as much fun as he thought. “Yeah, she is. But fuck if it’s not hot as hell.” Odd thing to be attracted to probably but he liked it. Liked it even more when he made her break that cool exterior like he had a few times their night together. Something he definitely wanted to repeat. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a bird that cool,” he confided in Fabian, despite the fact that Fabian knew the birds Max went for. Though in the spirit of not letting Fabian get ahead of himself he had to tack on something else. “She’s a fun distraction,” he added because that’s all she was. Things were too crazy for him to even think of anything but a distraction. Even if he was thankful that she was too far away to hear what he’d just said. That was only because it’d blow to not at least hang out with her one more time. 

It took every ounce of willpower Fabian possessed not to burst out laughing at the look on Max’s face when he realized he’d been caught, at least once he was fairly certain his best mate hadn’t just talked himself right out of the good graces of the bird he’d been going to so much trouble to see. He would have felt bad about that one, but it also made sense that whatever bird Max was so into had a sense of humor. Just doing him a favor was all, making sure that checked out. Yeah. It was even harder not to laugh, though, when she answered him with a more distinguishable smirk, at least that’s what Fabian was taking that slight quirk of her lips as and told him, “Next time you should stop after the free concert bit.” Bloody hell it was hard to tell if she meant it or not, but then she was winking at Max so Fabian figured his mate was in the clear. Which was why he finally let out the laughter he’d been holding in as the waitress walked away. “Bloody hell, mate! I thought you were a goner, for a second there. That bird’s a bloody stone wall, huh?”

Max had been hoping the seer thing would distract Fabian. “Yeah, agreed. Matt seemed into it.” Or just into her. Either way Max was just glad the seer was Cat’s roommate and not her. It’d be too weird for him. Also weird was the way Fabian was looking. Max was about to ask him what the hell was up when Cat set the food down. Fuck. All Max could do was look sheepishly up at her, hoping her sense of humor he’d found so attractive was still intact. Cat was hard to read though. Another thing Max liked, kept him guessing in a good way. Except maybe not so great this time. But then he saw it and his sheepish look faded into a smirk. “Guess ya caught me. I’m a sucker for a bird with a keyboard. It’s the free concerts.” His words were teasing but he had enjoyed the free concert he’d gotten woken up by. A fact he’d hoped he made clear. “My mate here had the rough luck of being snagged by a good bird before he graduated. I’d be a bad friend if I didn’t throw my freedom in his face a little from time to time,” he explained with a grin. Max wasn’t really sure how to talk his way out of getting caught talking about having sex with her. But he wouldn’t be Max McKinnon if he didn’t try to do so. 

“A seer?” Fabian asked with surprise, temporarily distracted from messing with his mate. That was a new one, especially given that Max seemed to think the roommate was, in fact, the real thing. “Bloody hell, that’s cool. And sort of weird,” he added. He didn’t really like the thought of knowing what was coming in his future. Took the fun out of things. Still, a seer and a rocker, that was some combination. Fabian let out a laugh at Max’s words, less at being cursed at and more at the fact that his git of a best mate was clearly amused even though he clearly didn’t want to be. What could Fabian say, he was an entertaining bloke. Again he found himself laughing at Max’s insistence he was settled down -- just because he and Ann had been dating for a long time -- but then his eyes were widening and he tried to shake his head subtly at Max. It was too little too late, though, because the waitress was back and she had clearly heard Max’s words. Just as he’d noticed earlier when the bird was there, it was hard to tell from her face as she set down their food whether she was amused or not. And her words didn’t clear things up much, either. “Banging hot rock chicks, are you? And here I thought I was special.” Bloody hell, this bird was hard to read, but -- no, there it was! The slightest twitch of her lips, and suddenly the amusement read in her eyes, too. Like it had been there the whole time, maybe. Bloody hell, Max had picked himself an interesting one, that was for sure, but he could sort of see how that might appeal to Max. More power to him, Fabian was glad to sit this one out. 

Maybe he deserved the teasing. He had accompanied Fabian to the pub three times under false pretenses, not totally false though. And Merlin knew he’d given Fabian enough shit when he was chasing after Tooker. Not that Max was chasing after Cat. The situation was completely different. So actually he didn’t deserve the teasing. Max rolled his eyes at Fabian’s cheeky grin. What a git. It was weird, he had to agree. “Yep, kinda weird huh? But she likes rock better. Her roommate is a seer too how wild is that?” Nothing about Cat seemed to meet expectations in Max’s opinion. Something he really liked. Not something to share with Fabian though. He was just about to say it had been good and that Fabian should check them out except Fabian wasn’t done there. “Fuck you, git!” There was no heat in his words and he was struggling not to laugh. Fucking hell, only Fabian. “No need to be jealous just because you’re settled down while I’m out banging hot rock chicks.” Okay just the one but whatever. It had happened and it had been fucking amazing. He couldn’t say he minded being Cat’s groupie, didn’t want to be called that ever again though. 

Max’s reaction to his calling the waitress his mystery bird was exactly what Fabian had hoped it would be, and he didn’t try to hold back his laughter. “Relax, mate, I was just askin’.” He flashed Max a cheeky grin, probably enjoying himself way too much, but it was new to see Max chasing after a bird like this and Merlin knows the lot of them had given him plenty of slack when he started dating Ann. This was good-natured payback, was all. Still, he listened with interest when Max told him about the bird, his eyebrows lifting in surprise as he described her. A rocker chick. That was a new one. As was the fact that she came from Beauxbatons. And that those facts were about all Max knew about her. Bloody hell, she must have done a number on him. "A rocker chick from Beauxbatons, huh?” His brows furrowed together in mild confusion, if only because those two things didn’t seem to go together. But from what Max was telling him, he wouldn’t have any answers for him. So Fabian settled instead for teasing his best mate some more. “Must have been some bloody rock concert, eh? You gonna become a groupie?”

Fabian’s amusement and words made Max very tempted to flip off his best mate. He did not appreciate the skepticism. Coming by to check Cat out had been just a distraction. Even if Fabian was right in his assessment of that bit checking out. Cat was still very hot, and just as interesting too. “Oi! She’s not my secret mystery girl or my anything, get that idea out of your head, mate.” The last thing he needed was Fabian jumping the wand on things which was exactly why he’d kept what he was doing from his mate. “Matt and I went to a bar and she was playing there, her and her roommate. This is their day job. She’s a rocker chick, we’re talking purple streaks in her hair and the whole look, ya know. I didn’t even recognize her.” Cat had been very hot that night, completely not his type but very hot. Not that she didn’t make her waitress uniform look extremely hot either. The bird was just hot. “I don’t know much about her other than she’s insanely talented at the whole music thing,” Max had not forgotten how good she’d sounded on just her keyboard working on an unfinished song. “Oh and she went to Beauxbatons, I don’t think she’s French though.” Max left out the amazing kissing and even more amazing sex. Realizing how little he knew about her did kind of make things a little odd. Even the few muggle birds he’d messed around with a little during summers with the cousins he’d known a little before snogging. It added a bit of adventure to the whole thing that was undeniably a draw for him, even if there was a tiny bit of wariness thanks to a year and a half of fighting. While she wasn’t his Fabian did seem to be right about the mystery girl thing. 

As much as Fabian appreciated Max’s assurance that he hadn’t just been coming with him to the pub to try to hook up with a waitress, it wasn’t necessary. He didn’t blame any of his mates for not wanting to sit around while he chatted up Ann, even if he’d been mildly concerned about Max’s intentions given the week’s events. If anything, that made him happier to hear Max was thinking about something like finding some bird. Not to mention -- he had to be bloody into this bird, whatever he might be saying to the contrary. He nodded, amused, at Max’s assurances that he’d have left it alone, but he didn’t get a chance to pry before his grin fell slightly. “Yeah.” Fabian answered quietly. The week had been tough on all of them, and the pain wasn’t likely to go anywhere far away anytime soon. It shouldn’t. They could keep trying, though, keep moving on with their lives, and Fabian was glad to hear Max didn’t linger on the somber thoughts too long before they were back to talking about the waitress. He let out a laugh at his mate’s words. “Oh right, ‘course ya did, mate,” Fabian answered easily, not trying to hide his skepticism or his amusement. Three trips to the pub did not equal just trying to see if a bird was hot. “Guess that bit checked on then, huh? So go on, then, tell me about your secret mystery girl.” In the brief moment she’d been at the table she’d seemed different from Max’s usual type, though he’d never been quite as predictable as the twins. 

Bloody hell that bird was hot. Max thought as he very obviously checked Cat out as she walked away from their table. Fabian’s voice pulled him from that and he found himself face to face with his best mate. Who was busy mimicking him. Max felt a little bad, he hadn’t thought about the fact that he was lying, at least by omission and probably straight out lying a few times. Honestly Max wasn’t exactly sure now what all he’d said. Probably should have thought about that at the time but admittedly he’d been off his game, not just with birds but with life, since the inferi and Mike’s baby news. Still…. “No! I mean I’d still have come to the pub with ya. The food and company,” he looked pointedly at Fabian because he did mean his best mate right then, “is good. But if she wasn’t here tonight that was it. I was taking the hint. Leaving it alone.” As much as Max would have liked that to be the end of the conversation he knew it wasn’t. “I’d have told ya about her but it was just a few days before….ya know,” Max really didn’t want to think about that right then though. “I just wanted to see if she was as hot without the firewhiskey.” That was it, nothing else. Okay maybe amazing but he didn’t want to give Fabian any more ideas then he was already getting. 

That no-good bloody sneak! That was all that was running through Fabian’s head as he watched Max chat up their waitress. Not interested in chatting up a random waitress his arse! Only it had become clear very quickly this was not just some random waitress. No, she was the bloody reason Max had been coming along to the pub with him in the first place, the bloody liar! Which meant he must have it bad, given he was on try number three and how quick he was to ask her out. It was all Fabian could do to bite his tongue and try not to make his looks over at Ann too obvious as the pair spoke, not that they were paying him any attention. They were making bloody eyes at each other, Max was grinning like a fool, and while he was mostly just amused Fabian was also a tiny bit miffed he’d been sitting around feeling like he was being a bad mate, dragging Max to the pub. Turns out being at the pub was Max’s intention all along, and as soon as the waitress gave Max a wink and then took their orders and left, Fabian leaned forward and lifted an eyebrow at his mate. “Been by a few times?” He repeated Max’s words back at him, shaking his head. “Don’t feel like chatting up a waitress?” Again he mimicked his friend, letting out a laugh. “Bloody hell, mate! Were you just gonna keep coming back to the pub with me till ya found this bird?”

Max was unaware of all the attention his flirting with Cat was gathering. Ann’s questioning looks to Fabian were as noticed as Fabian’s looks to the brunette. Nor did he notice the blonde on the other side of the pub watching Cat with a wide smile. The only person he was noticing right then was Cat and the way she was smiling at him. Her grin was making it hard to keep a smirk on his face and he kept going back and forth between a grin and a smirk. “I think I can handle sticking around that long. I’ve never been able to resist a hot bird with free firewhiskey,” he replied, the smirk back. Max would have hung around without the firewhiskies. He hadn’t come by three times to get scared away by an hour and a half. Admittedly he probably should have checked with the bloke he’d come in with but Fabian was going to stay till Ann got off more than likely. Though in reality checking with Fabian didn’t cross his mind because he was too busy thinking about the fact that he was going to be hanging out with Cat in an hour and a half. Third time really was the charm. 

“Good point,” Fabian snorted out a laugh at Gid’s comment. Fucking Black, honestly. It didn’t come as too much of a surprise, really, that MJ would have shitty taste in blokes, if only because she was so anti-dating that it ruled out a lot of the decent ones. But Black still seemed like a questionable choice, even for her, and it couldn’t even be chalked up to her knowing him better because Gid had shared a bloody dorm with the bloke and still agreed MJ ought to be embarrassed about who she was shagging. Or secretly dating, more like, though Fabian laughed again and nodded his agreement at Gid’s statement. He knew MJ better than anyone, and that sounded about right. “Bloody hell, you’re probably right. They’re just shagging and writing each other bloody owls but Merlin forbid they stick a label on it. Idiots.” Despite the words and the snort of laughter that accompanied them, Fabian’s voice still held some affection for the girl he saw as a younger sister -- or brother, for the most part. She was a piece of work, but Merlin did she keep things from getting dull. 

Gid nodded even though he knew he wouldn’t leave MJ to the wrath of her brothers alone any more than Fabian would leave Max to try and keep his siblings from killing each other. The nightmare was just as much theirs as it was the McKinnons. “Well it’s fucking Black of course she is,” he replied easily to Fabian’s question. Even if the fact that she was hiding it did kind of sting a little. But he hadn’t been around much, a fact he and MJ had established the day she blew him off to go shag on a beach somewhere with Black. Black wasn’t the worst she could do but she was scraping the bottom of the barrel in some ways. A thought that had nothing to do with his family and everything to do with having to share a room with the git for seven years. Gid had to admit that Fabian’s words were true, it was a turnaround. Except he knew his best mate. “She probably has decided there’s a loophole. That it doesn’t count as dating because she’s not bringing him around for quidditch or some shit.” Which to him was basically she didn’t want to admit she was a bloody idiot. Not because of Black but because she’d decided dating sucked because it meant things changing and she didn’t want things to change. Because he certainly didn’t think anything between her and Black could be so fucking amazing that she’d make that big of a turn around. 

“Notice or no notice, I’m disapparating the second that shit hits the fan.” Merlin knew that was gonna be a bloody nightmare. Which meant Fabian probably wouldn’t be able to disapparate if Max was going to have any hope of keeping the oldest and youngest from killing each other, but it was nice to dream. Fabian’s confusion at the whole situation only increased when Gid didn’t deny that MJ and Black were secretly dating. In fact, he seemed convinced of the idea too, and Fabian’s only comfort came in the fact that Gid looked just as disgusted as he felt by the whole thing. Fabian pulled a face and the talk of MJ shagging Black -- of MJ shagging anybody, really -- but before he could say anything to that Gid was laughing again. And it was impossible not to join in, Fabian’s face cracking into a wide grin. “Fucking hell!” He shook his head. “I can get why she’d hide a bloke from the twins but not from you. You think she’s embarrassed?” He wouldn’t blame her, Black was a bloody terrible choice if you asked him. Fabian didn’t have any real problems with the younger bloke, he was a good member of the Order and he couldn’t help that he had a shit family, but those things didn’t change the fact he could be a right git. “Or she just doesn’t wanna admit she was a bloody idiot with all that ‘no-dating stuff.’ That’s a bloody quick turnaround, even for her. Especially for her,” he added after a moments’ thought, given how stubborn MJ could be.

Right of course he wouldn’t. Nobody in their right bloody mind would. “Good. Let’s hope we all get enough notice to clear out when they do.” Gid pulled a face because that was gonna be bad. Fabian’s words had Gid looking back at him with confusion of his own. What?

“I wasn’t but fuck you’re right. She does.” Gid’s face went from confused to disgusted. He’d still been thinking in terms of just shagging, disgusting enough but not as bad as secret boyfriend. “She really does! Even that seer knew it. Fuck! I thought she was just being dumb and shagging him.” Gid was used to hiding the fact that MJ shagged some bloke. Given how extreme the twins acted about that he had never blamed her for hiding it. But hiding a boyfriend, from him even, was too much. Especially given all the grief she gave him. Just wait till she tried that again. Merlin this was messed up even for MJ. Which was probably why he started laughing again. Only his bloody best mate.

Okay, so Max really didn’t feel like chatting up a bird. In which case Fabian still wasn’t sure why he’d decided to tag along given how bored he’d looked last time, but maybe just being out and doing something was helping. “Alright, mate, suit yourself,” he answered him with a shrug and a grin before pulling a face at his mate’s teasing. “Oi! I’m a bloody great wingman, there’s only so much I can do when you don’t want any winging!” Was that even word? Fabian didn’t care. Instead he found himself glancing over in Ann’s direction where Max had indicated, shooting a grin and a wink at his girlfriend when he caught her eye and not noticing a different waitress approaching them until she’d reached the table. 

Normally Fabian was a great wingman, even after he’d gotten hooked by Ann. And he probably would be tonight too if Max was in need of one. He just wasn’t. Exactly. While Fabian had been scoping the place out Max had been too. Looking for a particular blonde, that he didn’t see, damn. So much for third time being a charm. Max was lost in this thought when Fabian started talking. “Huh, oh yeah she’s alright.” He smiled at the bird less enthusiastically than Fabian did. Knowing his mate well he ordered drinks for them both and chatted to the waitress, friendly but not purposefully flirty friendly. He just wasn’t in the mood to be chatting up birds. After the waitress left their table with their drink orders he shook his head in amusement at Fabian. “Honestly, mate. I’m not here to pick up random waitresses. Besides I think you need to work on your wingman skills, mate,” he figured messing with Fabian would be a good way to distract his mate a little. “You’re getting a little rusty. Too much domestic bliss.” Max nodded his head in Ann’s direction hoping she’d distract Fabian a little more. The last thing he needed was Fabian picking up that he was already ready to leave. Not that he would. Having dinner with Fabian was always good, and Ann was a hell of a cook so the food would be good too. Max just wasn’t in the mood to talk about picking up birds.

For as distressed as Gid had looked, there was a small part of Fabian that might have felt guilty for laughing so easily, for being so quick to make light of the situation. But he wasn’t making light of it, not really. Some things were just so ridiculous, so fucking weird, that the best thing to do was laugh about them. So he was glad to see Gid join in with him, at least until the mention of the McKinnon twins. Fabian’s own laughter died down there, and he held up his hands as if in surrender. “Oi! No worries there, mate, I don’t wanna be within fifty feet of any of them when they find out.” And they would find out, of that Fabian was certain. Sooner rather than later, too, if MJ was leaving their bloody love notes lying around. Though his brows pulled together in confusion when Gid said he didn’t know about the letter. “You saying MJ’s got a bloody secret boyfriend? And it’s Black?” Fabian pulled a face; there were so many things wrong with that he didn’t even know where to start. So he went for the obvious. “That’s fucked up!”

There were a lot of ways to react to MJ shagging bloody Black, especially since it wasn’t just a one time thing and she was so fucking vocal about how terrible they were for having girlfriends. Or the whole thing of hers about being left behind when Matt and Max clearly didn’t have girlfriends and she was sneaking around with bloody Sirius fucking Black. And given how awful the past few days had been he expected the reaction to be bad. Something else to focus on instead of the pain they couldn’t do anything about. Except Fabian was laughing….what? It was so crazy that Gid found himself laughing. Still laughing Gid shrugged at his words because apparently they were owling. Fucking not dating his arse. Though his own laughter died at Fabian’s last words. “Whoa, mate! You can’t tell! Not only will MJ hex the hell out of me Matt will kill me.” Something he was really certain of after Matt had asked him about MJ having a boyfriend. “I didn’t tell him about Black when he was questioning me about Fenwick. And honestly I didn’t know they were doing that!” He said motioning to the letter that was now ash because that was not shagging or setting up a shag. “Just promise you won’t tell. Obviously MJ is gonna get herself caught, isn’t that funnier?” And maybe they’d be so pissed at MJ they wouldn’t notice anyone else knew. He knew he was getting pretty pissed at her.

Fabian was mildly surprised to hear Max say he was fine going to the pub, especially given how bored he’d ended up looking the last two times. He just hoped Max didn’t think he’d mind going out somewhere else with him, finding him a hot bird, but Fabian figured Max knew that by now. If he didn’t, then they had a problem, and that wasn’t something Fabian was worried about. So he just laughed easily at Max’s teasing and shrugged. “Alright, mate, if you say so. Maybe we can find you a hot bird at the pub.” He flashed his mate a cheeky grin, though he was only partly joking. Maybe they’d get a cute waitress and Fabian could just busy himself with Ann. 

It was with that in mind that he took the liberty of scoping the place out as soon as they were seated at the pub, scanning the place for a bird that fit Max’s usual type. Though it was hard to tell which birds were athletic when they were all dressed the same. Still he saw one that might fit the profile and was quick to point her out to Max. “How bout her, mate? She’s cute. And -- look at that, she’s coming over here.” Fabian gave the bird a friendly smile as she came over to take their order, keeping quiet so Max could take the lead. 

Staying in had always been a lesser liked option for Max, not terrible when he had company because his family were his mates but not as good as going out. The first few nights after everything he hadn’t felt like going out, he’d felt drained and down. But wallowing in those feelings had never been a McKinnon trait. The pub had felt like a good choice of not wallowing but also not having to put effort out. Which was kinda crappy given that Cat definitely seemed worth putting effort out for. Of course there was conflicted feelings there too. He liked her but getting involved right then was not something he wanted. Especially not with a bird he’d have to lie to. Getting way ahead of himself given that he hadn’t seen her again since breakfast the morning after. It was tempting to just accept Fabian’s offer and go somewhere else. Certainly would help him with the not getting involved to just go chat up some random bird. Except… “Nah, that’s okay, mate. We’ll just hang out at the pub again.” He told Fabian as he got up. “I’m not gonna cock block ya,” he teased, slapping Fabian on the back. “Besides I’m starving, what’s the point of having a best mate whose dating a great cook if you don’t take advantage of it?” 

Max felt a little guilty about not telling Fabian why he wanted to go to the pub. It was just easier since he didn’t know exactly what he wanted other then to chat up a pretty bird. Just a specific pretty bird tonight. He wasn’t gonna do anything but chat her up, if she was even there. Max just wanted to see her again without any strings. No dates, labels, or even shagging, though that was something he wouldn’t mind repeating in the future. For all he knew it was just the firewhiskey and the fact that she was a bird he’d never met before. Seeing her at the pub felt like a low key way of checking it out. And Max didn’t want Fabian getting ideas in his head. His best mate would probably like it if he had a bird of his own but Max wasn’t ready for all that. As happy as he was for Fabian that things were still going well with Ann, especially with how hard the year before had been on him, he just didn’t want that yet.