Between the two of them Ryan wasn’t sure he could claim the title of ‘more patient’ - they were probably about the same - but he definitely didn’t need the constant availability of affection or the unlimited supply of reassurance in the form of kisses or otherwise. He was a lot more dependent on someone being there with him in general who made him comfortable, like the security Brendon’s presence brought. Suppose it was only fair that they had an unspoken exchange going: right upon seeing each other again Brendon made the circumstances ten times less overwhelming, and he was ready to shower Brendon with attention. He wasn’t stupid. He could tell that he’d most certainly not upheld his side of the deal at an acceptable level as of late. Ryan had a tendency to make Brendon wait, though, even if in the past it’d been his obliviousness to blame (talking was more his forté than kissing, and he wasn’t even good at [i]that[/i]).

To make up for his shortcomings Ryan tried his best for physical interaction [i]while[/i] they talked, his hips nearly pressed to Brendon’s the more he continued. He was barely conscious of that part, actually, but apparently his body agreed independently of his mind with Brendon’s goal of moving past the speaking phase. At first he thought the plan worked, Brendon not protesting his speech as much as he suspected, but soon enough Ryan felt the familiar tug of Brendon hanging on to his tie. It was so endearing he kind of wanted to give up altogether, but what Ryan could barely express with words was harder to communicate with touch and body language. What Brendon worried might look like desperation was quickly mirrored, Ryan’s tone taking on a tiny amount of urgency, suddenly far too aware of even the smallest amount of distance between them.

[i]True, but you also got fuckin’ taller, and you’re still... frustratingly hot. I-[/i] Ryan accidentally let a quiet laugh loose at Brendon’s impatience, wondering how he could digress from the topic so easily, but then again Ryan was entertaining pretty much equivalent thoughts about Brendon at the back of his mind. [i]I think if there’s another second of ‘distance’ I’m actually going to die.[/i] Ryan fully agreed, and maybe he was stretching all this out a little bit. There was no real purpose other than to see whether he wasn’t the only one dead serious about going back to the way things were. He had no doubt that Brendon felt the same now after so much reciprocation, but when the conversation had started more with them hitting on each other like strangers in a club, Ryan held a few reservations. He knew he was way too romantic for his own good - that was for sure. But he still much preferred knowing that they were promised to each other again before giving into the rampant desire to just kiss him, finally.

Brendon welcomed his wishes, eventually, when he actually put  them into coherent terms. [i]Then don’t.[/i] He wasn’t really relieved, per se, because he’d have to be seriously deluded to believe Brendon would claim not to want to see him again, but there was still a weight off his chest. Again he wasn’t stupid - he saw Brendon steeling himself for a kiss for the umpteenth time, and, sort of amused and sort of guilty about it, Ryan had to shelf the idea once more. It seemed his question made up for the delay, thankfully, because Brendon appeared to soften, totally sure of his response. [i]I’ve never been so sure of something in my life.[/i] Ryan blamed his low tolerance for making him less afraid of vulnerability this past, like, half hour, but it evidently worked out in his favor this time.

He gazed at Brendon a moment longer, contemplating whether he could prolong this a little more or not, but even he didn’t have an infinite amount of willpower. Ryan smiled briefly, reassured, and moved the hand at Brendon’s waist to cover the hands he had wrapped in a vice around his tie before finally leaning in to kiss him. The hand curled possessively along his jaw instead settled at the back of his neck, almost lifting him to his lips as much as he was pressing them closer together. It felt like forever that his mind blanked out, fully invested in kissing Brendon long enough and warmly enough to make up for lost time, before he shifted his attention to Brendon’s neck, intent on leaving a mark when he used to be so reluctant to do so. Now, though: no shame. [b]”Sorry to make you wait,”[/b] he laughed breathlessly against his skin, making an effort to curl his fingers through Brendon’s. There was something off about holding hands and reclaiming a love that never really dissipated in the middle of a Gabe Carrasco party, but. They were pretty eccentric anyway.