It wasn’t like Brendon to be very sentimental, but he really [i]had[/i] missed Ryan’s presence. It had been a free evening for them both, but Brendon could think of no professional excuse to invite him round- and it felt too cheap to just straight up get to the point. They never did. They avoided talking about it indirectly or through text- they always found excuses and it went on from there. This time, there wasn’t, and more than just company, Brendon wanted [i]his [/i]specific company. In the past, it was whoever was easier to get a hold of, and though that was usually Ryan, he had no qualms with settling for someone else. Now, though, if it wasn’t Ryan, it was nobody at all. As much as it scared him, he couldn’t pretend he was completely detached, because he wasn’t. Still, he tried to keep those traces of actually caring deep inside, and more often than not, he was successful- many people had called him selfish, detached and callous in the past- but early in that morning, he’d caved. He sent a text on impulse then regretted it, turning off his phone, unwilling to face any reply.

It was embarrassing- either Ryan would think he was overstepping whatever shreds of professional boundaries they had left, and that would be mortifying, or Ryan would take it as some sort of confession and that scared him even more. So Brendon did what he did best and avoided it as best he could, unaware that it was the highlight of Ryan’s morning and it took him about fifteen minutes to formulate, write and send two one-line texts in response. By the time he got home at about 1pm, he’d been constantly on his phone, but still refused to open the text. If Ryan cared enough, he’d bring it up later, the next time Ryan was over at Brendon’s. On the way back, Brendon was hoping that would be tonight- so he was feeling very lucky when he found Ryan already there, like a miracle, an angel accompanied with a very questionable character- Gabriel. Funny. Gabe was usually the self-described ‘angel’, and to be fair to them, they were Brendon’s practical guardian. Brendon always told them to stop interfering so much, but without them, god knows what kind of state he’d be in.

Despite his constant appreciation for Gabe, he wasn’t really in the mood to deal with them right now, so he firmly kicked them out, other things on his mind besides keeping Gabe off his and Ryan’s back. Once they had left (not before dropping a few teasing quips), Brendon was still a little stressed, because of Ryan’s resignedness said anything, it was that Gabriel Carrasco really couldn’t keep their mouth shut and nose out of anything. Brendon was intent on figuring out exactly what words had been exchanged (to be fair, the conversation was probably one-way), and if Ryan wouldn’t talk, he would find out from Gabe himself. Or he’d just make him. Brendon was his boss, after all- he just didn’t feel like using a power play. There was enough of a fabricated social and financial imbalance between them to begin with. [i]Then find out from them.[/i] Ryan’s voice sounded soft, apprehensive. Brendon, in turn, lowered his own voice to a gentle tone, though it was still persistent- he wasn’t about to give up.

[b]”I’d rather hear it from you,”[/b] Brendon pressed, walking back from tidying away Gabe’s discarded glass. [b]”C’mon, Ryan. Don’t keep shit from me.”[/b] He tried to sound serious, and he was, but he could tell that whatever Gabe had said had shaken Ryan up a little- so there was concern, frustration [i]and [/i]sympathy. [b]”Seriously, whatever they said- probably not true. I dunno. I’ll find out.”[/b] Though still intensely curious, Brendon dropped it, instead going off on a brief tangent about his stupid parents and the stupid lunch that he quickly bailed from in favour of sitting in a Starbucks for a half hour then heading back home, ignoring missed calls from his mother and father. His inheritance was looking pretty far away right now, admittedly, but Brendon couldn’t bring himself to care of caring meant he had to put up with his parents’ criticism for several hours and just nod along, pretend he was listening and taking the ‘advice’. He’d rather be cut off.

Frustrated quickly by even mentioning them, Brendon welcomed the distraction that Ryan’s presence brought, quickly abandoning all thoughts of familial troubles in favour of sidling up behind his long-suffering PA and wrapping his arms loosely around his neck. Wholly inappropriate- wholly normal by now. There was a promise in the way he played with the buttons of Ryan’s shirt, and he stifled a smirk when he literally heard Ryan stop breathing for a good three seconds before there was a slightly shaky exhale. Then, just as he was about to speak, Ryan turned around to face him, Brendon’s arms still thrown over his shoulders, their faces now close. Brendon avoided his gaze because he knew he’d melt. [i]Brendon.[/i] He liked the way his name sounded coming from Ryan’s mouth, and bit his lip very briefly. [b]”What can I do for you, darlin’?”[/b] There he was thinking this would be exciting, but no. [i]Um... it's cool, I'll, uh. I'll deal with everything you didn't get to, okay? You're okay, right?[/i] Brendon raised his eyebrows- what[i]ever.[/i] He knew Ryan would sort it out- he was good at his job. Brendon trusted him to do that, at least. Anything else?

[i]And... I'm very on board with that change of schedule. Haven't seen you since yesterday afternoon.[/i] Brendon found that ridiculously endearing- yesterday afternoon was less than 24 hours ago and Ryan behaved as if it had been weeks. Like the two of them would go that long. Brendon’s gaze moved down to follow Ryan’s hands as they smoothed over his collar and then rested against his chest. [b]”I thought you might be,”[/b] He said gently, glancing down quickly at Ryan’s mouth. [i]Are you saying you’re all done today? I get you to myself?[/i] Brendon nodded, then made moves to climb over the back of his couch and sit very close to Ryan, facing him, planting a knee between Ryan’s legs and leaning forwards, hands curled up around his jaw. [b]”Yeah, I’m done. All to yourself. What’re you gonna do with all the time?”[/b] Brendon laughed, argued with himself for a moment about whether this was breaking his own personal rules, then discarded his internal debate aside and leaned in to catch him in a kiss.