[i]I know.[/i] Ryan caught the look and raised an eyebrow at Brendon. Sad about that, aren't we? Hey, Brendon had good luck. Sometimes Ryan sent him pictures of random shit with half of his face unintentially in the background. That was more than, like, his own mother ever saw. [i]It’s a damn shame.[/i] It's not that Ryan wasn't confident, or had some unimaginably low self-esteem, he just didn't think he was [i]much[/i], and definitely didn't think he deserved this kind of reaction from someone like Brendon. Brendon. Look at him. It's like he was fuckin' hand painted. He smiled at him, uncharacteristically shy because of his behavior, before letting his gaze fall to the floor. Yeah, they weren't keeping many secrets from one another, definitely not even trying all that hard anymore.

Brendon seemed genuinely fearful of even the mention of Spencer. Ryan suppressed a laugh, totally respectful. [i]I know. I’m trying to stay in his good books, but- hey, it’s your fault. They all think you give me special treatment ‘cause you’ve got a constant boner for me or something.[/i] [b]"[i]Hey-y,[/i]"[/b] Ryan cut in, grinning as Brendon's reserved laugh escaped him and he glanced away. Okay, he was [i]right,[/i] but why say it so brutally honest like that? In any case - what Brendon said was the truth. Jon didn't have a huge problem with it, just thought it was cute he'd found some new, fun obsession, and had a grand old time making fun of him for it whenever he found the time. His label, on the other hand, stuck around way more after shows to make sure he stayed on track (and whenever he saw a familiar face he artfully dodged them to get to makeup & dressing rooms). Spencer was similar, but not quite; he worried, and then he thought Brendon had bad intentions (what was Ryan, some sensitive, broken spirit?Thanks, Spence), and then he acted fairly cold - probably to make it easier for whenever Spencer assumed Brendon would be out of here.

[b]"But, you're right. I'll just start acting like I hate you. That'll work, right?"[/b] Ryan quirked the corner of his mouth. Obviously an impossible task. [i]See: my last comment.[/i] Shut up. Ryan wondered if he'd ever be [i]correct[/i] between them. [i]Yeah, you think you’re slick. You need to find a better resting place for your line of sight than my ass.[/i] Funny he should say that, because Ryan's line of sight had, in fact, found Brendon's ass again, and he looked fairly comfortable with the irony, hands tucked in his pockets and back at an easy slant. [b]"Good thing you have plenty of assets for me to look at otherwise. Hey, [i]assets.[/i]"[/b] Still not even glancing up, because hey, it was all out in the open now anyway, Ryan laughed halfheartedly and shrugged his shoulders a little. 

Brendon's worryingly nonchalant proposition had now pretty much invaded his head, and Ryan took way too long to recalibrate back to his, uh... smooth? self. Not quite. Something like that, though. [i]You’d be skipping all the way to the best part, though.[/i] God bless Brendon fucking Blake. Always falling right into step with him. [i]Holding hands?[/i] Ryan stayed maintaining his gaze for a moment before thinking about that himself, eyes dropping briefly to his hands. Well, maybe. Right now, he had a few too many plans to keep track of. [i]Y’know you could’ve had me from day one right? Of course you’ve fucking won me over. Dumbass.[/i] Ryan laughed openly, already leaning in midway through the last sentence, kissing him for a few counts before he actually removed his hands from his pockets and wrapped them around Brendon's waist. A few more moments and naturally one hand drifted to hold Brendon's, and he sort of smiled against his lips, pulling apart just an inch to speak. [b]"Look, we're holding hands. Getting through a few steps all at once."[/b]