Ryan understood aloofness, he'd experienced it firsthand and was desperate to maintain it no matter what. However, the more he came to understand Brendon's dedication to remaining invulnerable and untouchable, the more he realized that they had very different boundaries. Anyone Ryan knew well would tell him he had the worst case of a raised guard, but at this point he could introduce them to Brendon and Brendon would quickly take the trophy from his hands. Ryan was the type to hide his emotions because he thought that might make him easy to read and control or otherwise take advantage of - plus, he'd just grown accustomed to people not really catering to his feelings, as he preferred it that way. Brendon's rationale (or what Ryan assumed it was) was far more complicated, something Ryan couldn't imagine sticking to. Why not want to build a connection beyond sexual? Why was he so opposed to having someone to bond with?

After all, it'd be easy for Brendon. No one had ever outright disliked Brendon for who he [i]was[/i], they just tended to be prejudiced towards his background or his family or his lifestyle. Anyway, that was how Ryan saw things. On the other hand, Ryan couldn't build a permanent connection because he just didn't possess that type of charm. It was fine with him, nothing upsetting at this point; not like he was the type to worry about being single when there was plenty else to think of. In fact his concerns only started around the time he began to realize he may feel something for Brendon that wasn't very appropriate for their professional relationship. If he liked him that much and wasn't in a relationship, then he was in a pretty dangerous position; the only barrier would be the risk of losing his job. Ryan wasn't too ambitious. That wasn't much of a setback, or it wouldn't be if Brendon just continued giving him reasons to like him. 

He stood by the belief that maybe this was just a tiny thing that he was blowing out of proportion, though. After all, he did that with a lot of things, including Brendon's mention of the (probable) fact that he had plenty of backup/replacements for Ryan... and just when he was starting to think maybe he held a more unique role in Brendon's life. Whatever - Brendon cleared the air quickly, not mentioning it but socially apt enough to move on in a timely, considerate matter. [i]That’s what you’re fucking surprised about? Not the fact I spent $60,000 on a bottle of water?[/i] Ryan shrugged, not even having thought twice about that part. And maybe he cared more about Brendon's limitless talents than he did about his dumb - but sustainable, of course - spending habits. [b]"Well, I've seen you pay more for a bottle of [i]rose water[/i], which I stand by saying is not an actual skin care product. You really can't shock me anymore with your use of money."[/b] Although sometimes it was indeed painful to catch him dropping more than, like, $20 on a sandwich. Ryan would inevitably have to come up after him and mumble 'just a small water, thanks,' and that was still $4 at the least. He'd never get used to a well-off life.

Ryan ignored his callous 'poor' jokes (though he did entertain a brief play-by-play in his head of what it might be like for them to trade lives for a day) but quickly wished he'd somehow extended the conversation just by building off of that. Anything would be better than having to pretend he didn't desperately want to... flirt? right back at Brendon. He wasn't sure what it was. He trusted Brendon, knew he had a heart really and wouldn't intentionlly hurt him, but Brendon was still unpredictable and fiery. He could easily be waiting to see Ryan make the first move then laugh at his gullibility. Honestly, they had become close to the point where that could easily be some normal playful behavior between them. As far as this situation went, though, Brendon was full seduction, his gaze roaming over Ryan so obviously that Ryan felt handsome for once, wanted. He felt his features go slack, thinking all about how he might best approach just kissing him carelessly - and also how that was a terrible goddamn idea.

[i]You say that like it should be obvious.[/i] It kinda was, to him. [i]You’re gorgeous.[/i] That was the first time anyone had used that exact word for Ryan. Not that he had never gotten a compliment before, but they were few and far between, and his reaction was slightly different given the source. He sort of paused, watching Brendon hopefully as he shifted, and slightly dropped his chin, so close to just leaning in. [i]Really fucking... God.[/i] Brendon looked frighteningly confident, so much so that Ryan was on edge again, but he forgot to be careful by how much he'd been thrown off guard. [b]"No one's said that to me before,"[/b] he replied in a small voice, vulnerable to the core for once. He wanted so terribly just to tell Brendon he thought he was the most beautiful person he'd ever seen - but, for one, Brendon didn't need to be told that, and for another, Ryan was still very much at risk of fucking up his entire life. He sort of communicated it by the way he looked at Brendon amorously anyway.

Brendon barely seemed deterred by his efforts to bring a reality check to mind. [i]I know exactly what I’m doing, and so do you.[/i] Alright, yeah. Ryan's hand that'd previously been trying to keep him back instead moved to curl around his shoulder, gently holding him closer just as he began resisting the push away. The other mirrored the way Brendon hung on to his belt loops, landing just above his hip and squeezing lightly, affectionately. [i]What kind of guy, Ryan?[/i] He resisted the urge to explain at length that he was ridiculously romantic and he had a fucking English degree so nothing was ever simple. But. [i]I’ll [/i]make[i] you that kind of guy.[/i] [b]"Jesus."[/b] Ryan exhaled, shaking his head less in defiance and more in defeat, deeming that final line just about enough to push him. He leaned in to kiss him as long as he could before thinking better of it and ignoring his lips altogether, hearing Brendon's encouragement in the back of his mind while he eventually led both of them back to his sheets by pressing their bodies closer insistently.

Hours later he woke up with his face pressed into unfamiliar, too-expensive fabric, smelling vaguely like something he might know. Ryan took a few moments to orient himself then gradually shifted until he could see the room through his hair, watching Brendon pull a clean shirt over his head, his hair popping up from the static for half a second. He smiled fondly at the sight, then felt this heavy sense of dread, going noticeably cold. Yeah - he definitely wasn't going to be welcome here for long if he knew Brendon's streak well. Part of him argued he could easily be an exception... but most likely not. Ryan finally sat up, the comforter falling off his bare chest as he went, and he blinked in the direct light coming through the windows. Instead of addressing the elephant in the room - the fact that he was overstaying his welcome - Ryan opted to sort of joke it off. [b]"Never thought I'd see you awake before me,"[/b] he said with faux impression, avoiding looking right at Brendon.