[i]I dunno, that stick in your ass never seems to fucking come out.[/i] Ryan was hardly listening, more reflective than anything. He and Brendon, they were something of a duo; they rarely actually argued although they could disagree plenty, given the right situations and a good amount of stress. Well. That was probably being too fair. They could disagree over the tiniest things, too, like some personal take on a movie they’re otherwise cuddled up watching, or over who took the last cup from the coffee pot, or what they were going to do for date night. And, hey, maybe to a ‘normal’ couple, this discussion could be a civil one, where person A voiced a concern lightheartedly and person B realized they could be right, but Ryan wasn’t exactly an expert at saying these things the right way and Brendon wasn’t the kind of person to admit defeat.

It’d turned into something much bigger, and Ryan knew Brendon couldn’t really [i]help[/i] this kind of thing, the words flooded out of him, but his patience could only run for so long. At this point he couldn’t find it within him to place an equal amount of blame on himself for how things had turned out, like he’d usually be able to; his position felt totally unfair. It was no longer about what Brendon got up to and how often, though Ryan definitely still cared- moreso he was pissed about what Brendon could make up about Ryan to make him look bad on the spot. It was almost a talent how much he could mar an image for someone he obviously [i]did[/i] like and just said stupid things about in the heat of the moment. Yeah, Ryan was aware that he didn’t really believe these things, but he’d be damned if he sat around and pretended that it was okay.

There was no ‘he wasn’t raised any other way,’ ‘I understand he didn’t mean that and I’ll ignore it,’ ‘he doesn’t know better.’ Really, Brendon did know better - he’s a grown man. But, more than that, he was stubborn as hell. [i]Just like everyone else who gets this fucking close to me. You told me I should be more trusting and here you are, trying to change me- but you don’t care really, do you, as long as you get to[/i] fuck [i]me, like[/i] Shane. Ryan offhandedly wondered if Brendon really thought anyone trying to help was the same as ‘changing’ him, but he supposed that was right in a sense, anyway. When you’ve got an unhealthy habit, you change it for the better. Bad things, Ryan knew, were not a fundamental part of Brendon’s character, and he never aimed to change him as a person. Was he going to say anything else to defend himself now, though, when the conversation was obviously not gonna be based on sense? No. So he kept all that to himself.

(And he had no idea where the part about him only caring about sex came from, considering out of the two of them he was much less ‘on’ all the time, but he supposed it was more heat of the moment nonsense. Anything to make him seem more like Shane, or something. In whatever case, Ryan struggled not to almost laugh, the idea that he could do all of this out of thirst alone hilarious to him.)
 
He gave in. Up close, Ryan could catch the flash of uncertainty in Brendon’s countenance, something utterly rare for him but so distinct when it happened. Ryan was dead serious, though, so he turned away, began gathering his things wordlessly, his pace easy. [i]Wh- What, are you breaking up with me?[/i] Ryan glanced over his shoulder, at the vulnerable picture of Brendon too small for his hoodie, arms circling himself not as the winner of a war like he might usually but as someone actually nervous. Ryan could be easily charmed, generally, except the comparison to a neglectful ex was still fresh on his mind, so. He raised his eyebrows at Brendon impatiently. [i]Am I not- good enough for you?[/i] Apparently not a saint, Ryan actually responded. [b]”[i]You[/i] told [i]me[/i] to leave. I don’t wanna come back ‘til you’re ready to suck up your pride. I’m sick of being the one to compromise.”[/b] He tapered another jacket over his arm, his collection of belongings starting to bulk up.

[i]Alright, then. Fine. Give me your key.[/i] Ryan knew he hadn’t grabbed every last piece of himself from the place - honestly, it’d take a good half hour to really scavenge the entire space, given it took up an entire floor - but he didn’t care, just quit his path, stood up straight and met Brendon’s gaze then. He was even more proud than Ryan thought. Well, he was past arguing by now, so he turned to the nightstand to retrieve his keyring before he approached Brendon in the doorway, disconnecting the key to the apartment mechanically and handing it over. An afterthought, he handed over his own work, every detail of managing Brendon’s livelihood crammed under his arm, forfeiting it to Brendon himself. [b]”Is that all?”[/b] he said expectantly, not about to shove past him to get through the doorway despite his temper, making the obvious motion to leave.