So maybe just letting it all cool down a little was the best thing to do in theory, but in practice, Brendon didn’t have a patient bone in his body, and the prospect of not being able to pick a ridiculously petty fight until Ryan sought conversation out first wasn’t exactly realistic. So, when they were both inside the room, the door barely having shut behind them, he started on Ryan- beginning by acting like he had no idea what was rubbing his husband the wrong way, despite the fact everything he’d done today had been specifically to wind him up. Ryan looked kind of disbelieving at Brendon’s glaring display of aggressive, active and feigned nonchalance; Brendon, beyond caring what Ryan thought at this point, just crossed the room, losing layers. Distantly, he imagined a situation that involved such an action where Ryan maybe wasn’t extremely agitated and he wasn’t intentionally trying to get a rise out of him. It was quickly gone when he dropped his shirt on the floor, shrugging it off his shoulders and then turning back towards Ryan, who had pressed his hands into his eyes.

Brendon waited, and Ryan turned around, his arms falling to his sides. He looked way too tired for this, but Brendon was still riding the adrenaline rush and that was apparently coming to being in very negative ways. [i]No, Brendon.[/i] In his mind, Ryan was just determined to make his day, and now his evening, miserable. This all could have been avoided if Ryan had been a little more attentive to someone who required a little more attention than was normal. In some ways, he was like a spoilt child- Ryan kind of did regard him as the centre of his universe sometimes, and treated him with unfaltering affection, and when this was taken away, Brendon wasn’t used to it and demanded his old behaviour back, because he apparently couldn’t cope with anything else. It was almost embarrassing, but Brendon apparently lacked some self-awareness. He was sulking, the embodiment at that moment of a man-child; it was assured that he would backtrack and regret everything in time, but Brendon saw nothing wrong with his behaviour as of yet. [i]I just don’t want you getting hurt because I care about you.[/i] [b]”Whatever you say. I don’t need you breathing down my neck all the time.”[/b]

You [i]told me I should focus during the shows.[/i] That was true, and Brendon didn’t deny it, just kind of furrowed his brow and looked away for a moment, thrown. When his hand dropped from running through his own hair, he shrugged one shoulder half-heartedly and spoke towards the ground. [b]”I didn’t think you’d actually do it,”[/b] He said hesitantly. That argument was embarrassing and he wanted to move on, but Ryan wasn’t letting that go because it was leverage. [i]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?[/i] Brendon’s eyebrows raised scornfully. [b]"You can’t act above all that now. You didn’t seem to have a problem with that until- this tour. You’re perfectly capable of playing and-“[/b] And what? Watch him all the time? The words sounded ridiculous even in his head, so he faltered and stopped, trying to form a better comeback. For once in his life, he failed, and just managed to look even more annoyed.

He had some kind of leverage, though, in that dumb kiss. Brendon knew Ryan wasn’t insecure enough to suspect [i]unfaithfulness[/i] (though in hindsight it seemed like a good weak point), but still- a kiss was a kiss, no matter the circumstance, and Ryan was allowed to be annoyed. Brendon certainly would have been- perhaps even more so than Ryan, who was probably doing the Arthur fist right now if Brendon bothered to look down and check. [i]You want me to kiss you?[/i] How could such a sentence sound so aggressive? Brendon was now uncomfortable, the laugh setting him on edge as he shifted his weight. [b]”Why, is that too much to ask?”[/b] [i]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?[/i] Another pause. It did sound laughable now that Ryan had laid it out for him. Brendon bit his lip, crossing his arms across his chest defensively.

[b]”Yeah, pretty much. It’s better than me not caring, Ryan- it’s not like I was asking for the fucking earth.”[/b] He offered, kind of unhappy with where this was going now, but his spirit was far from gone yet. [i]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.[/i] That was rich coming from somebody who usually [i]was [/i]at Brendon’s practical beck and call. He never thought of it that way before, but his anger had kind of twisted his perception and judgement. Their relationship was nowhere near the dynamic that Brendon was making it out to be. [b]”Yeah, I mean, you should be flattered,”[/b] He said airily, geniune arrogance obvious in his lordly tone and stance, [b]”It’s not like there’s a shortage of people who would be willing.”[/b]

Ryan offered a sigh and Brendon was frustrated by his lack of passion. [i]I love you, but I’m not just here- at your disposal, or whatever.[/i] Now there was an opportunity he’d be wise to pass up. But Brendon wasn’t exactly in the mood to use common reason. [b]”Yeah, sure you do.”[/b]