Do We Need This Madness? (Yes, yes we do) [Chapter Twenty]
Title: Do We Need This Madness? (Yes, yes we do)
Author: cherrylng
Rating: PG
Pairing: Chris Martin/Matt Bellamy
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and has never happened. I do not own Muse or Coldplay. I do, however, own the story that you are going to have a reason to bite your pillow off.
Summary: This is a series that features this adorable couple as we follow their relationship through a linear timeline. You will laugh, you cry, you will be confused, you will be enlightened. Most of all, you will find enjoyment and delight upon reading it.
Warnings: Humour, Fluff, Family, Established Relationship, Overprotective Brother
A/N: Hello! Yes, I am aware that it's been more than two months since I last posted anything around here. What I've gone though was months of soul sucking work that made writing a chore for me. Then comes a weeklong trip to China (that I didn't want to go), where China has blocked practically 95% of the websites that I frequent (that includes Tumblr, LJ, and AO3). And I have to take care of 20+ elderly people in that trip (anyone 20 years over my age are categorised as old to me) while putting up with remembering why I hated taking trips to China. I can't fully complain about the trip, however, as hours of boredom gave me a lot of time to get my creativity to give entertainment and ideas for me to write. And even finally gave me time to finish this current chapter!-----
Observer: Paul Bellamy
Paul had never been the kind of brother to have to care for his little brother in that way. There is their half-sister, but that’s it. All Paul had growing up in their family was mom, dad, and his little brother Matt. So how was he to know that growing up meant knowing how to deal with having a… bisexual for a little brother?
He didn’t even know that Matt swings that way until he told him over the phone a couple of years ago along with how he's bringing his boyfriend down to visit the family.
He still hasn’t worked out on why Matt is so insisted on that terminology when gay works just as well. He is clever enough to know that calling him a fag might as well see their Nan hit him hard with her walking cane and single-handedly get him kicked out of the house.
He was all well and fine when Matt came out to the rest of the family and also revealed his boyfriend. As long as his little brother is happy, there wasn't much to worry about. Hell, his little brother looked happier than he’d ever been than in his teenage years. And that Chris bloke looked fine in his book.
That was his thought before he found out the big fight that Matt and Chris had before Matt suddenly came down to Teignmouth alone. Miserable.
He told them before that he wasn’t going to celebrate Christmas with them. When he abruptly arrived the week before Christmas, looking sad and distraught and just downright not being… Matt, a part of Paul had to instinctively go all protective over him.
He may not have been the model of a good older brother to Matt when they were younger, but when you see your sibling actually be happy in their lives you want that happiness to stay with them, not break them. Gay or bi or queer or whatever, no one ought to break his little brother’s heart out like that.
It wasn’t hard to pinpoint that the fault laid in that bastard excuse of a boyfriend. He’d spotted the bastard who made his little brother cry waiting outside the driveway, and when he answered the door with a pissed off look on his face, that bastard had the gall to ask to meet Matt after what he’d done to him.
Paul does let some relent though, as Chris looked genuinely regretful and sorry about it, even begging to him to at least let him meet and apologise to Matt. Paul promises that he will tell Matt. What he didn’t say was that he took about a third quarter of an hour of waiting before he informed Matt that his boyfriend was standing outside at the cold. It was not that harmful. He just wanted to see if that guy is worth more than breaking Matt’s heart.
What happened after felt like the worst anticlimactic ending he'd ever witnessed after such a tense week. It looks like the kind of scene that film or TV script writers would doubt that it would give a strong enough impact.
His little brother has never looked so happy when he came down to Teignmouth until that boyfriend of his appeared on Christmas Eve and waited outside, and they reconciled their feelings within less than half an hour. And a big family from Chris’ side also came along with food to celebrate in the Bellamy household.
Paul finds himself in a dilemma. The only good thing that he did was to not punch Chris in the face beforehand or else a very crossed and heartbroken little brother would have made Chris be the least of his worries. His worry lies on whether or not if Chris will hurt Matt like that again. No, not if. But when.
Evidently, he and Chris need to talk. Man to man. Older brother to older brother.
He had to wait until the Martins have packed up and drove back home with the exception of Chris. Chris has brought his necessities in a backpack, having decided to spend tonight and the subsequent days with Matt to mend their relationship. So that goes well with Paul’s plans. It takes some timing before Paul can meet Chris alone to do what he needs to do.
And that opportunity came by a couple of nights later. It’s late by the evening where mum and Nan have retired into their bedrooms, the three men are watching a film on the television when Matt excused himself to go for a piss.
“So, Chris,” Paul starts, once Matt is gone.
“Yes?” Chris peels his eyes away from the screen to look at him.
“‘S been a hectic week for you and Matt to have gone through.”
“Yeah, it was…” Chris’ eyes glazed over, the incident still fresh in his mind. Then as quick as it had appeared, Chris gives a smile. “But we finally face up to it and apologised to each other. Now we want to make up with each other from our mistakes.”
Paul nods. He knew the story already and how that one choice gave such a hell of a consequence. Doesn’t mean that he is as ready to forgive as anyone else. “It’s good that the two of you have made up the other day, couldn’t believe how Matt just tumbled down the stairs to see you. I see you as a pretty good bloke to my brother. Might make Matt an honest man someday.”
To that, Chris’ cheeks turn pink.
“Why, um, thanks Paul.” Then, he quickly adds, “Though, we haven't talked about something like that yet.”
“Well, makes sense to me. That kind of discussion needs time to see whether you're ready for it or not.”
“I think we’ll know it along the way. If it happens, we’ll tell our family and friends,” Chris says.
Paul gives a mirth chuckle. “Heh. Mom would be over the moon if one day she hears you two have proposed. Couldn't be any easier to receive my approval if that day of reckoning comes.”
Chris blinks, a surprised look coming with a smile. “Wow, just… Thank you, Paul-“
“Yet.”
The cold way that he delivered that single word puts Chris into a stop, the happiness dying away. Paul turns his body so that he is facing Chris, letting the other be aware that he has his full attention.
“Everybody else can forgive you, but I still haven’t over what you’ve done to my brother,” Paul gives a grin that does not look friendly in any way. The kind that lets others know that if they so much as move, he will pounce on them with his teeth on their throat. “Hard to ignore it when you see how he was at home for around a week, really.”
To that, Chris stays silent. Paul can see the fear in his eyes and the apple on his throat bobbed when he gulped. Good, the intimidation factor is working in well.
“Now, I’m going to give you a warning, Chris. A simple to understand one. Are you listening to me?”
Chris nods, his face pale.
“If you hurt my little brother like that again, letting me see him cry because of you... Well... you know what I would do as his big brother. You’re the oldest brother in your side of the family, so you know it too right?”
He doesn’t know what Paul threatened he will do to him, but the effect worked. Chris can only nod, eyes wide in fear.
By the time Matt returns, Paul is back to where he was before Matt left the room, looking innocent and definitely did not give his brother’s boyfriend ‘The Talk’. The younger man sits next to Chris and leans his head on his shoulder, and after some hesitation, Chris puts his arm over Matt’s shoulders. Either to give comfort to Matt or himself. Or both.
Now knowing that he has given his word to Matt’s boyfriend, Paul kicks back and relax. Intimidation and using his assertion aside, he likes the bloke, that Chris. He’s been good to his little brother in a healthy way. Maybe when they put this behind them, they can get along well someday. Maybe.