At his most genuine 'thank you's and generally touched response, Brendon looked dubious, as if Ryan would lie about being grateful or something. No, he definitely meant it; most people found themselves touch-starved on occasion, but for Ryan (who was proving to be way more sensitive than he thought himself to be, as time went on), it was virtually the opposite case. He longed for reason to believe that he meant something to someone, that he was important in someone's life, and here was Brendon telling him everything he needed to know. And Brendon was charismatic, could say whatever he wanted to get by, but there was nothing to sacrifice his invulnerability for. He had no reason to make it all up - and besides, he wasn't a jerk like that. No matter what, Ryan knew, Brendon wouldn't resolve to measures like that for anyone, much less his friend. 

The words were easier for him to get out, had been on his mind and prepared as a script for a while now, so when Ryan returned the sentiment it was notably less remarkable. Still, he couldn't pass up the opportunity to say something like that to Brendon with appropriate timing for once. Brendon came to rest his forehead against Ryan's and he was pretty sure he was going out of his depth here. It was all endlessly romantic, and they were never that by any means, unless it unintentionally slipped into their daily interactions. Regardless, he could only hold his gaze for so long until the closeness was overwhelming, and he shut his eyes briefly as if he were checking whether the dream might disappear once he reopened them. It wasn't usually like him, but to inject a little humor into the circumstances he severely downplayed how exactly he viewed Brendon- [i]cute[/i], and dismissively, no less. As if. Sure, that was true, but he could also fill a notebook with plenty of other more colorful descriptors.

Apparently, Brendon didn't think he was all that funny. Ryan grinned at the shift in his expression anticipatorily, raising his eyebrows challengingly. [i]You [/i]guess? All right - it stopped being funny pretty quickly, since Brendon was dead set on revenge. Ryan's smug smile dissipated for a moment, another quiet exhale drawn from his lips as Brendon pressed down again, and then he tried staying headstrong with a quick return to smiling triumphantly. [i]That sounds uncommitted. You’re really starting to [/i]offend[i] some people.[/i] Ryan attempted a casual shrug in spite of their entanglement, and looked semi-apologetic. [b]"My bad, gorgeous,"[/b] he tried again to replace just ‘cute’, fingertips scratching lightly at the nape of Brendon's neck. The list went on, voice turning velvety the more comfortable he got in these unfamiliar circumstances. [b]"Stunning... handsome... striking. How's 'enchanting'? You're very princely. It'd work."[/b]

Unfortunately - and he knew it, so he wasn't too hurt when the attitude shifted - their little moment had to end sometime, despite his efforts to keep Brendon talking and opening up. At his careful initiative, Ryan unintentionally must've moved them along quicker than he'd expected. There wasn't a lot of time to feel bad about that when he was more focused on Brendon, everywhere, dominating his thoughts. For once Ryan was the one to draw a reaction from him and he smiled at the way Brendon lost focus, once again self-satisifed, but apparently things always had to be out of balance 'cause he was quickly back to his state of being constantly caught off-guard. Brendon unexpectedly brought his hands up to shape his face, and Ryan was fairly certain he'd never been kissed as passionately before, barely able to reciprocate for a good second. Or maybe he just couldn't access his memories at the moment. Stupefied, he brought his free hand around to cradle Brendon's jaw, too, mirroring his actions as best he could with the distraction at hand.

[i]If you just wanted to talk, baby, you can go home and call me.[/i] Baby. Ryan barely focused on the rest. As Brendon moved back, Ryan's hand venturing past his waistband glided up along his side again until he could no longer reach him, dumbstruck. [i]Or, we can talk later. Sound like a plan?[/i] 'Later' sounded distinctively like maybe he wouldn't see this side again for a long while, but Ryan supposed out of all his options, going home was the worst... as amusing as it was to imagine. He studied Brendon for another moment despite the question not requiring any hesitation, then answered by closing the gap between them again, making a promise with himself for no more delays since he was generally responsible.

It'd only been around one when Brendon got home, and therefore they had very bad timing in that Ryan woke up in the evening, sun still out but dropping so the sky painted the walls amber through Brendon's window. They must've passed out for three hours, maybe more. To be fair, Ryan never slept anyway before then, and Brendon had been dealt a fairly shitty day - wait. Almost immediately after waking Ryan panicked a little, remembering he'd definitely promised to deal with all of Brendon's other plans, and what if he was too late now and not everything would be done by tomorrow, and why was he so concerned when he was pretty much in his dream spot. He was still entangled with Brendon, Brendon evidently too deeply asleep to have found some other place to escape overheating - and it was fairly cold inside anyway. Ryan's chest was pressed to his back, one arm slung loosely over his side, face tucked against his hair comfortably. And his other goddamn arm was dead asleep. Was a sudden wave of worry and the vaguely painful sensation worth moving for? 

Not really, he decided, but he was familiar with the routine in which he had to get away in a timely manner, give Brendon his space. Two things were different, now: Brendon hadn't awoken first and disappeared to make himself a drink (or two, or three) or take a day-long shower, and they were... a lot gentler, closer, than they'd ever been before. Ryan didn't really like taking chances like this because they usually blew up in his face, but fuck it; thankful they were on Brendon's couch rather than a normal one they'd be even more stuffed up in, he barely shifted away, running his hand through his hair and over his face to recalibrate. 

Ryan propped himself up unsteadily on his dead arm to look at Brendon, wondering how to approach this without potentially scaring him in the confused waking state, but then again Brendon was used to waking up to company. Bonus that it was more of him lately. Bold, he curled a hand around Brendon's shoulder, smoothing his thumb back and forth before trying to turn Brendon more towards him. [b]"Hey, B, wake up, I think my arm's done for,"[/b] he said fairly quietly, voice lower from sleep. He almost tested out 'baby' the way Brendon had used it, but. [b]"Also, I feel you should know that you look especially Apollonian right now."[/b] He grinned, amused, first at the dim light-drenched Brendon then throwing a glance over his shoulder at the sun responsible for illumunating them.