Ryan had been kind of hoping they just wouldn’t talk to each other for a while - then he was less likely to be visibly upset about it all. The annoyance was still fresh, though, and behind it he was somewhat concerned/hurt/withdrawn, all things he was ignoring in favor of looking as irritated as ever. That seemed to communicate a lot more than words. Even so, Brendon was still just as excitable as usual while on the bus, enthusiastic with the others until it seemed like they were a little uncertain how to feel about it all, and even that didn’t kill his mood. A lot of the time, Ryan would be angry with Brendon and then conveniently forget what he was even initially mad about when Brendon did something endearing or was just so much like himself that it charmed Ryan. This didn’t really feel like one of those times, but then it had been Brendon being very self-expressive that set him off originally, so. Maybe he was immune to it for once.

He definitely was, ‘cause Brendon’s reply was behind an easy smile and all it did was frustrate Ryan more. [i]Damn, that isn’t the image we’re going for, babe.[/i] He stared at him in disbelief for a second before continuing, voicing genuine concerns that were answered with Brendon rolling his eyes, not even subtly. He was pretty sure Brendon really didn’t mean any of it, and in fact would probably regret it sometime in the near future when he was no longer feeling the need to lash out, but. Ryan couldn’t really muster up any patience to wait it out until he came to reason by his own means. [i]It’s called having a little fun, Ryan, look it up.[/i] Ryan watched him move past but didn’t turn around right away, instead scrubbing his hands over his eyes tiredly. For half a second he considered that maybe he was the one taking it all too personally - it happened so often he had to take a step back and question himself - but he pushed it away, deciding this fell under the category of him being charmed by Brendon again.

Ryan turned around after a moment, his vision still spotty from shoving the heel of his palms against his eyes so roughly, but behind it all he saw Brendon losing more layers and tossing them behind him. Ryan kind of considered that part of the charm thing, too, and when Brendon turned again he pursed his lips, losing his will to be truly vindictive anymore. He stayed on course anyway. [i]And I ignored you, because you seem determined to ruin my fun. Anyway, it’s not about what you want- I’m performing for the fans, not for you, not that you’d care much if I was.[/i] Ryan was speechless for a second. [b]”I’m [i]not[/i]-“[/b] Wait. Ryan replayed that in his head, heard the subtext behind ‘[i]not that you’d care much if I was[/i]’ and realised why Brendon was acting out. His reflex reaction was to get more pissed about it, because Brendon being this childish over not getting enough [i]attention[/i] was beyond frustrating, but it was Brendon. If he really felt neglected, he felt it to his core. Just after Ryan cut himself off in the middle of objecting to ‘ruining his fun,’ his expression lost half of its annoyance, his demeanor softening by a fraction. [b]”No, Brendon,”[/b] he said carefully, a little more patient. [b]”I just don’t want you getting hurt because I care about you.”[/b] He sensed a comeback already, ‘[i]well you don’t show it much,[/i]’ and, well. What can you do. He figured he could just apologise and get it over with, easily.

But, really, he didn’t want Brendon to think he was in the right for acting like that, and brushing everything off just so they didn’t have to fight wouldn’t fix anything. Clearly his husband was beside himself, and it was hard to reverse that certainty, but Ryan knew he’d just do the same in the future at minor provocations if not. Brendon levelled with him, and he stayed where he was, resisting the urge to step back in counterpoint. [i]Why not? You wouldn’t even look at me the entire show, I had to entertain myself somehow.[/i] Brendon, apparently uninterested in the conversation at hand, looked unfocused, his thoughts elsewhere. [b]”[i]You[/i] told me I should focus during the shows. I can’t play and - do whatever you want me to do, I don’t even know. Am I supposed to stare at you the whole time?”[/b] Well. It’s not like that wasn’t how things used to be. He knew during all the earlier shows he tended to just look at Brendon half the time rather than the crowd, not so much for comfort as he claimed but ‘cause, y’know. Maybe he’d given Brendon some unrealistic expectations of how well he could play and watch him at the same time. 

Nevertheless, after all of this, it still seemed like Brendon was pleased with himself, holding back his amusement probably for the sake of Ryan not jumping him but it really wasn’t helping much. He maintained the tiny amount of patience he’d developed a minute ago, though, trying not to snap at him and rather be firm. [i]Whatever. He was even more into it than I was.[/i] That certainly didn’t make matters easier - and he had received a few fearful glances from Dallon that said otherwise, like he was afraid to feel Ryan’s wrath. Which he didn’t even have the energy to summon up, apparently, because he just stared blankly at Brendon, wondering how far he would push it before getting tired. [i]Anyway, someone’s gotta kiss me. You wouldn’t.[/i] Ryan sucked in a weighted breath, closing his eyes for a long moment before tilting his head at Brendon. [b]”You want me to kiss you?”[/b] The hint of laughter behind his voice was definitely not from any humor, just genuinely taken aback. [b]”You threw yourself off a stage, pissed off security, and dragged in an innocent bystander ‘cause you wanted me to kiss you. Is that right?”[/b] He backtracked. [b]”Actually, I forgot - you also expect me to watch you the entire show rather than play my part. I assume I should also stay at your beck and call before the show.”[/b]

Ryan backed off, sighing, and gazed at the floor briefly before looking back up at Brendon. [b]”I love you, but I’m not just here- at your disposal, or whatever.”[/b] He supposed he was kind of giving in to Brendon’s apparent desperate need for attention, but maybe he was getting through anyway.