Ryan was right, Brendon was not willing to settle with being called just ‘cute’- he had lived the back end of his entire adult life appearing at the top of ‘hottest celebrity’ lists (stupid, trivial and shallow things, sure, but they did a lot for his already-massive ego) and being fawned over by the entire younger population. The older people tended to think he was a bad influence, which was fair, but not Brendon’s fault. He never wanted to be any kind of influence. He just wanted to enjoy his life for everything it was worth- including right now, shirtless and entangled with his very attractive [i]assistant[/i] (now that was a tabloid-worthy story he was sure would get out sometime or other) on his expansive sofa, a few leagues away in headspace than he was, maybe, five minutes ago, when he was telling Ryan how much he cared about him. That was not a typical Brendon thing to do- [i]but this is,[/i] He thought, pressing down just to get revenge, to provoke some kind of reaction. Success- Ryan’s smile faded for a moment and there was the faintest exhale as he tried to keep it together. Brendon was drunk on the physical influence he had on him, grinning smugly- but then Ryan was scratching gently at the back of his neck and he visibly relaxed, eyelashes fluttering. [i]My bad, gorgeous.[/i]

[b]”That’s better,”[/b] He confirmed, studying Ryan absently as he tried to think of more suitable words to fit him. [i]Stunning... Handsome... Striking.[/i] Brendon grinned effortlessly, squeezed Ryan’s hip and moved his other hand so he could swipe his thumb across his collarbone; he was preoccupied suddenly by the blank canvas of Ryan’s skin, and realised with some surprise it had been a while since Brendon made his presence known even after they parted. Pressing his lips against the bone, he trailed a few kisses off to his shoulder, each slight touch a small promise. [i]How’s ‘enchanting’? You’re very princely. It’d work.[/i] Huh. Those were new ones. Brendon lifted his head, speculative, and repeated the descriptors in his head, distantly wondering how narcissistic this seemed. [b]”I’m not a Disney Prince,”[/b] Came his final answer, as he lifted his head and moved his other hand down to rest comfortably at Ryan’s waist, [b]”Though I think that’s my next calling. Brendon means ‘prince’ anyway, so it’s perfect. Get that appointment sorted for me.”[/b] Was he joking? It was difficult to tell. Usually, Brendon was teasing about anything- unless the other person took him seriously, and in that case he wouldn’t complain.

It was nice to talk like this with a little less urgency, but Brendon could only be patient and still for so long, so in a bid to move things on a little faster and pull Ryan out of dreamland, he cradled Ryan’s jaw and pulled him close and met him in a kiss that lasted until Brendon realised that oxygen was a thing they both needed. It seemed to work, anyway, because Ryan looked completely dumbstruck, taken by surprise. Amused, Brendon pressed a sweeter kiss against his cheek just before he moved back out of his arms and lay back, shoulders against the opposite armrest, legs still tangled with Ryan’s. For a moment he wondered whether Ryan needed any more convincing, and his hands went automatically to his own zipper, but apparently not, because in moments Ryan made up his mind and closed the gap between them, much to Brendon’s obvious delight. The flirting beforehand didn’t usually take so much time, and though it had been sweet, refreshing, Brendon blamed his own bad timing. Profoundness could have easily waited til after.

The two of them were evidently creatures of habit, because almost immediately afterwards they fell asleep together every time- Brendon’s self-assigned rule of leaving right away had been forgotten between them a long time ago, and Brendon told himself it was because it was just so much easier to settle down and sleep rather than drag himself up and dressed when he didn’t really want to. Brendon was fast asleep until Ryan started shifting about inconsiderately, and then he was faintly awake, aware enough to know that somebody was lying on top of him, pressed against his back- but it took a few moments to recalibrate and remember who it was. Ryan. Thank fuck. If it had been anyone else, he’d have to get up immediately and ask- no, tell them to leave, and he didn’t have the willpower or energy to do so. With Ryan, this was okay, he didn’t mind, in fact he liked it- Ryan’s body comfortably against his, his body heat radiating through his skin, and there was a faint hum of calm through his body anyway, a good feeling ringing in the ends of his fingers. Ryan was so [i]good[/i], he registered with a sleepy smile, deciding he wanted to stay like this and not move for as long as he still felt like he couldn’t. Brendon was close to drifting off again- but then Ryan shifted above him, and he reluctantly opened his eyes, complaining through a low, tired groan. 

He felt a hand curled around his shoulder and then realised Ryan was trying to turn him over. Obeying, if only to more quickly get Ryan to stop moving, he shifted onto his back, habitually running a hand through his tousled and messy hair. His chest rose and fell rhythmically, but it was still slightly laboured and hitched, as if he was trying to catch his breath. [i]Hey, B, wake up, I think my arm’s done for.[/i] Brendon seemed uninterested, just stretched out, arms lifting behind his head and then falling to his sides. [b]”My entire body is done for. I need to go back to sleep,”[/b] He mumbled, voice heavy from weariness. [i]Also, I feel you should know that you look especially Apollonian right now.[/i] Brendon reopened his eyes, raised his eyebrows. [b]”Greek Gods? Really? If I didn’t think you were gay before...”[/b] Brendon was grinning, his eyes crinkling, but he was still tired to the point where he couldn’t even find the energy to move his legs, and it took a lot to move his arms. [b]”You tired me out,”[/b] He commented absently, through a smile- then he wrapped his arms around Ryan’s waist and tried to pull him back down, closer, so he could go back to sleep.