[i]...Yeah, I think you’re calling me a little short, darlin’.[/i] Actually, Ryan wouldn't be surprised if Brendon really was conscious of every time he made Ryan re-fall in love with him all over again, or made him desperate to kiss him at very inopportune moments, or made him want to comfort Brendon and make him forget the world around him when he wore a face too hurt by it. Yeah, definitely sounded like Brendon to provoke these reactions on purpose. He shrugged against the sheets upon reconsideration, deciding that Brendon being self-aware was much worse than him not. At least with the latter he could act like he just felt the need to kiss him senseless rather than being bribed into it with a particular glance/smile/outfit. Actually, maybe this was less Brendon's fault than it was Ryan's for being so easily swayed - but he'd never admit that.

After an accusation like them [i]switching roles[/i] - like Ryan would ever, or at least that's what he thought, but in practice if Brendon so much as requested it he'd probably go right ahead and trade - he demanded silence, and Brendon endearingly zipped his lips. So, of couse, he was instantly forgiven for being precious. Ryan was dangerously close to rolling his eyes at his adorable boyfriend but was distracted by Brendon catching his lip, leaning in to chase him and kiss him properly before he got too far away. Apparently, though, this was Brendon warming him up to a fun little story that he was totally going to hate, and Ryan quickly forgot all about how cute and sweet he thought Brendon was when he launched into a tale of drunken misadventures. He'd heard plenty, really - they just never ceased to be awful. Someone like Holden who milked them from Brendon perpetually could handle it, maybe, but Ryan had an ounce of compassion and care in his body, so.

This time it was a competition on who chugged a beer fastest, and Ryan thought distantly that he wouldn't've been impressed either way. Regardless, if he were there at the time, the contest wouldn't have even happened - Brendon probably wouldn't have a taste for the stuff yet. [i]Well, he did. I was pissed at myself- my crown had fallen.[/i] Ryan scrunched up his face and pretended to suddenly be touch-averse when Brendon's hands landed on his shoulders, shrugging him off abruptly. [i]The guy who proposed the bet, duh. Josh. Well, Josh’s friend. Did him, too.[/i] Did? That verb didn't fit anything else Brendon had just said. So it was something else. Ryan wondered why Brendon was trying to kill him. [b]"'[i]Did?[/i]' Sounds very romantic, baby, thank you for sharing."[/b] He shook his head in disbelief, wondering how it was possible for Brendon to shift moods so quickly.

Brendon happened to take his mocking well, and Ryan released a tiny exhale of relief. Sure, he knew their boundaries on jokes, but his tone tended to remain flat and he desperately needed inflection for that last one to really get across. [i]You’re pretty much right. Listen, I was a young dumbass going through heartbreak, I adopted some pretty shit coping mechanisms.[/i] Ryan had too. He reminisced for a second, reflexively holding on to his other arm to feel the fat/muscle he'd regained over bone, thankfully. [i]But I had some damn good times. You missed out, being single is fun.[/i] [b]"Yeah? If you keep telling me stories about you fucking other people, you might go back to that super fun lifestyle,"[/b] he consoled Brendon, smiling enthusiastically. He still looked pretty entertained by how [i]awful[/i] Brendon could be at choosing his words wisely, though, so there was apparently no harm done.

Especially because moments later Ryan felt the pressure against his hips again and raised a hand quickly to rest against Brendon's chest, lips parting. [i]But it’s much nicer to have someone who knows me as well as you do, baby. I love you.[/i] Ryan sucked his teeth, his go-to 'shut up' noise. [b]"Oh, fuck you,"[/b] he breathed, barely resisting a grin. [b]"You totally miss Josh and his friend. I love you."[/b] So weird. He curled his hand in the fabric of Brendon's shirt to pull him in for a kiss, a lustful subtext there that he most definitely wouldn't be addressing given the circumstances. Which, he still needed to get back at Brendon, and the only way he could come up with was by playing along a little. [b]"By the way, I would definitely win that competition, who can chug a beer the fastest. Ever seen a first time drinker? One drink goes so quick."[/b]