This morning, Ryan never would have guessed he'd be having such a messy day - but it was still a pretty eventful start off anyway. He'd been awake since ungodly hours, holed up on his sofa as usual with some old horror film and a very flat soda, when Brendon texted him wondering what was happening today. It was particularly busy and had some not-so-fun tasks, especially the part where Brendon had to actually meet up with his parents, so Ryan knew he was going to practically be on call - whether it be for a normal task or some kind of venting place, he didn't really mind. He just knew today was definitely going to be shitty for Brendon. Turns out, though, that Ryan had just as much in store - although Gabe's visit was kind of helpful despite being mostly uncomfortable in the moment. So Brendon was still definitely the more far-suffering one here, no surprise he bailed on it all and came home early. 

Aside from that he'd gotten a little pick-me-up of sorts to get him through the day, lucky him: [i]I missed you last night, good morning.[/i] Ryan took probably ten minutes (of grinning stupidly at his screen and biting his lip to try to stop it and failing and hiding his face in a couch pillow and getting to warm and pulling away and retyping responses over and over again) to actually answer, which ended up being pretty unambitious. He couldn't be bold - he'd already fucked up their former friendship and professional relationship. Both things still existed, but they weren't quite the same, just tailored to fit this weird new routine him and Brendon had fallen into. In the end, his response had been [i]you too[/i] with a casual smiley (which he instantly regretted, too), followed by an actual 'good morning.' Fairly platonic-looking. Again, it's not like he could risk much else.

He figured the on-edge look Brendon was sporting could be attributed to him coming home to an unexpected sight, but that was initially - he eventually put the pieces together that one, Brendon had had a rough day ahead of him (or at least it was rough compared to his usually easy work-free days), and two, he'd come home early. So something came between him and his plans. When Ryan recalled the schedule, this was about the time Brendon was meant to be with his parents. Suddenly he felt the pressing need to comfort him, but they'd [i]just[/i] discussed this. Brendon didn't want or need his pity. On the flip side, he had too much pride to ask for help even if he really needed it, and he wasn't emotionally expressive enough to show if he was hurting. So, a sticky situation. Ryan decided just to skirt around him from now on, try to make his life as easy as possible today, 'cause no doubt he'd already been criticized and ignored enough already.

He made his first mistake trying to lie about what business Gabe had here. Brendon immediately knew. [i]C’mon, Ry. I’ll find out from Gabe anyway.[/i] Ryan shrugged innocently when he moved away, looking downward a little remorsefully. Surprisingly, Brendon was off to clean up some of Gabe's mess - maybe some of the Virgo Brendon was always complaining about had rubbed off on him. Ryan watched him silently before speaking again, voice just as soft. [b]"Then find out from them,"[/b] he answered, not as testily as it probably would've had this been a typical day. Today, though, he just sounded fairly flat, for no reason other than he [i]really[/i] wasn't up to telling Brendon he was hopelessly in like with him quite yet. Maybe sometime when he hadn't just probably been chewed out by his parents, or when Ryan hadn't just been put on the stand by a half-stranger, now-3/4s-stranger.

[i]Bailed on lunch with my parents, ditched the rest of my plans for today.[/i] So there it was. He nodded understandingly rather than chiding him on letting all his duties go incomplete, unfolding his hands from round his knee and letting it drop again. He figured he'd just finish everything for Brendon later. Any meetings could be picked up over the phone, all the calls he was supposed to make could be rescheduled, every bill he was supposed to pay - well, usually Ryan picked those up anyway. [i]Besides, I added something new to do to the calendar.[/i] Ryan looked back up to ask, but Brendon's arms were wrapping round his neck daintily and he froze as Brendon leaned in close to his ear. [i]Ryan Ready.[/i] He probably stopped breathing for a second. Ryan's fingers twitched in his lap, not sure how he was supposed to act here, and he shut his eyes tight when he realised Brendon was messing with his buttons as if he actually had plans.

[b]"Brendon,"[/b] Ryan said abruptly, suddenly urgent. He pulled off the arm thrown over his shoulder, turning in his seat until he was facing Brendon with his hands wrapped over the back. He paused then, suddenly unsure of every stupid school kid crush confession hanging on his lips, uncertain whether he wanted to tell the truth about Gabe coming here after all. He stared at Brendon with slightly wider eyes for a second, lips parted like he was preparing to speak, then quit on his brief moment of courage. [b]"Um... it's cool, I'll, uh. I'll deal with everything you didn't get to, okay? You're okay, right?"[/b] On account of the whole lunch thing. He tilted his head as if to reveal the implication - then remembered Brendon's joke. Or maybe he was dead serious. Sometimes it was hard to tell. [b]"And... I'm very on board with that change of schedule. Haven't seen you since yesterday afternoon."[/b] His mind drifted back to the morning text and he smiled fondly at the thought alone, smoothing down Brendon's collar carefully before letting his hand rest against his chest. [b]"Are you saying you're all done today? I get you to myself?"[/b] He laughed lightly, figuring it was all cheesy to say out loud, but as long as they were both being forward.