Ryan was only sort of starting to understand Brendon's dynamics. Scratch that - he knew his reactions to [i]everything[/i] before they were actually intimate with each other. You could've called them best friends if they weren't at each other's throats constantly, actually, he knew him that well. He'd learned that, if you throw in a little bit of a personal attack, like, on his personality or something stupid like that while criticizing his musical ability, it totally knocked him down a rung. And then when he stopped doing that - actually, when he realized he hated doing that and he much preferred seeing Brendon's smile or the solitary little squint when he did - Ryan learned that when he looked at Brendon a certain way, vulnerable enough to show fondness for once, Brendon would look away because he couldn't take so much for too long and it was beyond precious. [i]But[/i] Ryan had only halfway begun this practice of actually telling Brendon when something bothered him, and, apparently, backing it up by being imposing had the opposite effect he was going for. Which he should have expected, he supposed, because their 'relationship' of sorts stood on a foundation of malice.

And, honestly, now that he was actually talking to Brendon again, he was starting to forget why he was mad in the first place. What was a little time apart when Brendon was here [i]now[/i]? And looking like that - slanted at such an angle Ryan could practically feel him under his fingertips already. Wait, hold on - he was still mad. Shit.  [i]Actually, that was a real fuckin’ good punishment for me. Please punish me more often.[/i] Ryan chewed his lip, uncertain and, unfortunately, incredibly attracted to the Devil himself right now, but he kept his hands in his pockets and a safe handful of inches away. The thing was, Brendon apparently still thought something was going to happen here, and Ryan was a tiny bit afraid of the repercussions when he realized he wasn't going to, in Brendon's words, 'get dicked down' within the next thirty minutes. Or, not even tonight, if Ryan's willpower held out. Sure, he was getting more sentimental these days, kept catching himself on the whole 'boyfriend' train of thought whenever his mind drifted to the idea of Brendon at all, but he was still irresistible in every other way. So. 

Plus, he was too charming, made it very difficult to continue turning him down. For someone whose lyrics Ryan used to pretend to hate all the time, he really had a way with words. Ryan declined anyway, somehow, and after a pause Brendon looked like he knew exactly what was going on - whatever he was thinking about, he was wrong. [i]That’s okay, baby, I’ll do whatever you ask me to. I’m just, uh. In the mood- for that.[/i] Ryan shook his head, but the more he talked about it the more Ryan was in the mood, too, that asshole, so he rolled his eyes again as obnoxiously as he could to brush it off before pulling Brendon closer to him, turning on the charm - not like he could really measure up to the competition, here. Though evidently it worked for him, when he was being vaguely intimidating. Brendon looked iffy only momentarily before he continued, knowing already that 'sorry's weren't their thing, and then he was staring, so. Things looked good so far.

Brendon looked at his feet and Ryan took that moment to break composure, grin off a very suppressed laugh, before biting his lip instead and going back to seriousness. [i]I, uh- fuck. Okay. Ryan, I.[/i] Suddenly it was a little less funny. He rarely saw Brendon stumble like this, much less when he was talking directly to him, and. Weirdly, it was affecting. Yeah, they definitely still had a bizarre dynamic. He watched him struggle out the two words they never said to each other, fascinated. [i]I’m sorry. I won’t- I won’t do anything like that again. Promise.[/i] Ryan's lips parted, a lot less intense looking, almost forgiving because Brendon was really, really never like this. Even if the remorse was fake, he was a convincing actor. For a second Ryan betrayed the unspoken 'not boyfriends' rule, smoothing his thumb adoringly over the tiny scar in his eyebrow, over his temple, his cheekbone; he let his fingers comb through his hair, easily, fluidly. What a dumbass. [b]"You really [i]thought[/i],"[/b] he said, a grin finding its way on his face again, all of his features lighting up.

Ryan moved away again, reaching out to tug Brendon's wrist and guide him away - an inch away from his impulse to hold his hand, truthfully. [b]"You're adorable. But I'm in charge. How about [i]Fight Club[/i]? Doesn't do the book justice, if you ask me."[/b] Okay, they'd seen it together before, and it was pretty much identical to the book. But he knew Ryan and all his peculiarities anyway. Plus, not like that would be the thing bothering Brendon, of all this.