About a week or so had passed since Alfred met the love of his life - at least, that was what his mind was trying to convince him of whenever the thought of Yuko crossed his brain. Max worried Alfred's strange behavior was his fault at first, leaving his friend to only God knows what kind of devices after their argument outside the bar days prior.

"You're in love." Max repeated the words only once - that was more than enough to get his make his stomach churn, and they were on lunch. "Who the hell did you bang that's got you -you - to being this whipped!?"

"I am not whipped." Alfred scoffed, wiping his forehead with a rag from his perch on a dirty log.

"You nearly took me out with a hammer three times this week!"

The last thing Max wanted to do was take Mariano's side, but even he had to admit that Alfred was horrible on the site ever since that night.

"Well, at least now I know your horrible excuse for almost lobbing my head off."

"Not that it's anything worth protecting." Alfred punched Max's shoulder. "When's the last time you ever use that thing?"

"Everyday!" Max groaned, swiping a cigarette from Alfred's fingers. "Do you have any idea the hell I go through trying to translate your bullshit to Polish? That's the only way I can understand you! And now you're talking about girls and being in love." Max rubbed at his temples. "You should learn Polish so I can take a break once in a while."

“Aw, Max, come on that’s not fair!” Alfred chuckled, finishing off his own cigarette before another. “I can’t even afford a lunch even with all the hours I work, how am I gonna learn another language? I'm just a guy trying to survive!”

“Aren't we all." Max muttered. "Stop drinking and smoking, that would be a start. And what's this girl's name?”

"Yuko." Alfred let out a heavy sigh, mindlessly setting his cigarette on his pants.

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"Aw- no-!" Max shook his head, swiping the cigarette off of Alfred before it burnt a hole to his knee. "'Yuko?' Seriously?"

"What about it?" Alfred didn't intend for his voice to sound as defensive as it did. "Don't tell me you're jealous! No need to make fun, you'll find your soulmate someday!"

"Says the guy who sleeps through five girls a month." Max rubbed at his eyes. "I am not jealous, I'm worried you're crazy enough to go steady with someone who you can't even talk to."

"I talked to her just fine!"

"With a name like that?"

It took Alfred longer that he would have liked to admit to realize what Max was getting at.

"What? You're from Poland and you speak English just fine, why wouldn't she be able to?"

"It's just...different." Max rolled his eyes, rising from his seat. "I don't know, maybe you'll prove me wrong. Come on, before Mariano comes over to give us shit."

Alfred took Max's hand. "I don't think it's different. People come from all over the world to America for all sorts of things. She came here for a second chance just like you. Don't cut people who don't look like you short."

The breath caught in Max's throat. He couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

Alfred lecturing him?

“What the hell’s gotten into you?” He put his hands up and laughed. “Look, if you’re fine with it I don’t care. If anything, I’m sorry for her that she’s being eyed up by a lowlife like you!”

“Shut up, Polish bastard!” Alfred joined in on Max’s laughter, punching his friend in the arm.

“Hey, you got a problem with foreigners, Al?” With the ring of the lunch bell brought Mariano sauntering up from his spot across the yard. Like clockwork, it was as if harassing co-workers after break were written into his contract.

“Eh, just you.” Alfred shrugged, tossing Max a sideways smirk. “By the way, your dick fall off yet after your night with that bar girl? Never got the chance to check up on ya! An American doctor can probably salvage some of it before it’s too late.”

“Very funny, Al.” Mariano spat back. “You Americans think you’re so much better at everything than everyone else-”

“For your information, Al’s only a couple bad decisions away from marrying a fo-” Max muffled the rest through Alfred’s hand.

“Back off Mariano, we’re getting back to work. Don’t get your panties in a bunch because of stuff you’re imagining!” With a mocking salute, Alfred led him and Max as far away from Mariano as the yard would allow.