First, there was the Apple of Knowledge; Maxxie isn't exactly a man of religion, but he knows the story and he knows it well. He has always found it ironic and slightly hypocritical that, as a society, the Apple is used as a symbol of Academia, something worthy of respect, when it's the same damn fruit that allegedly got humanity screwed in the first place.
Whatever.
Then, there was the Greek's Golden Apple; to be honest, Maxxie never fully understood the appeal of a solid gold apple, but hey, whatever floats your boat, right? Besides, he has always liked that, Eris, the goddess who threw the apple, reminds him a little bit of Tony. It seems the sort of thing Tony would do…you know, causing drama and complications and the whole nine yards. Someday, Maxxie thinks, there will be wars started over Tony Stonem.
And, let none of us forget that fateful apple that dropped down onto Newton's head those decades and decades ago. The same fruit that managed to both enlighten and condemn had struck again! After all, how do you suppose all those well-to-do folks felt about having to accept that there was a reason behind their inability to become airborne? Maxxie suspects that people were enraged by having one less reason to say, "Because, that's just the way things are."
Maxxie hates those words.
Maxxie is brought back to earth upon hearing the loud crunch of perfect, white teeth breaking the crisp skin of a ripe, red apple. His insides churn a little at seeing slight traces of the apple's juice leak obscenely from Tony's lips. Tony swallows, smiles, and wipes his mouth on the back of his hand.
"Want some?"
Want some what? Maxxie thinks to himself. "No thanks."
"Alright, suit yourself." Tony takes another large bite before adding, "If you're sure." What he's playing at is anybody's guess. At the moment, Tony is acting in the role of the snake: offering something seemingly harmless, something delectable. But Maxxie remembers the story. He's going to resist.
Tony enjoys making things complicated, Maxxie reminds himself. That seems to be what's going on: Tony has thrown the proverbial apple, and is asking Maxxie to decide who's the fairest – Michelle or himself.
Like that's going to happen.
And then suddenly, there is a weight pinning him to the ground, and before Maxxie can figure out which way's up or down, he's looking into a pair of stormy blue eyes. "Hey Max," says a devious Tony, "what's up?"
Maxxie has one or two things to say to that. But he won't; he's going to do his best to ignore the gravity of this situation, to ignore the fact that now, Tony is acting as the apple. Maxxie thinks he might not want a part of this discovery…Russia taught him that.
Maxxie snatches the half-eaten apple, takes a bite, chews and swallows. He pushes Tony off of him, and before leaving the green, he catches Tony's chin between his fingers and plants an appley kiss on his lips. He leaves Tony sitting on the grass, dumbstruck at his own loss of control, and with the taste of Maxxie Apple stinging his mouth.