Ryan/Brendon Untitled Drabble, Part 1
It started during the summer. Brendon was just making smoothies like he always did. When Brendon turned around to take the next order, he was facing a simple boyish brown-haired man. Only he wasn't a boy, because on the counter, he was drumming a set of the longest, manliest fingers Brendon had ever laid eyes on, and his adam's apple was probably more pronounced than Brendon's cock, which was saying a lot, because Brendon's girlie jeans were always decieving him when times got hard. Ryan kept his eyes on the menu as he opened his mouth to speak.
"I'll have the Kiwi Mango Suprise please"
"Would you like fries with that?" Brendon tried to joke, but he was just awkward as always, so it ended up sounding like he was serious.
"Um... Fries?" Ryan's eyes returned to their search on the menu and Brendon tried to focus on not blushing, which just made him flush a darker shade of crimson.
"Ah, I was, just... there's not really fries. It's... y'know, like..." Ryan's eyes returned to Brendon's and suddenly Brendon felt like dying for at least... ever. "So Kiwi Mango. Um, large, or?"
"Oh, just a small, thanks." Apparently Brendon's awkward was contageous because Ryan seemed suddenly too small to fill out his lanky, spidery figure. It made Brendon feel a little better.
"Heh, Sorry, I promise not to try telling jokes again," Brendon flashed a grin before pulling a 16-oz. cup from its container under the counter and turning to fill it with icy mixed fruit. When he turned back around, Ryan looked whistful until he made eye contact, at which point he smiled, genuinely, and yes, Brendon felt better.
"Thank you," Ryan's smile didn't faulter as he eyed the smoothie. Due to his apparent fascination with the colorful substance, he wasn't really paying attention when Brendon handed him the straw, and he tells himself that's why his fingers brushed over Brendon's. Brendon, however, needed no excuse, because as of the prior May, he was a proud member of the gay community.
The next day, Ryan showed up again at 3:45pm like clockwork, and he ordered a small Kiwi Mango Suprise. Brendon tried to swallow his excitement, because he just loved regulars, especially when they were sexy, and asked Ryan if that meant the first smoothie tasted good. Ryan deadpanned with a "No, it's just hot outside," but then rushed out a "Just kidding" before the words even reached Brendon's ears. So apparently, Ryan wasn't great with jokes either. Brendon was really feeling better. And he decided might have a crush because Ryan was maybe the cutest thing when he was awkward.
After two weeks of days like this, Brendon got antsy. He tried to use what he knew to his advantage. He knew Ryan liked music. He knew that Ryan strived to be different, so his favorite music was the kind know one else liked. He knew his roommate Greta was in an indie-experimental local band. He knew that Ryan didn't have plans the next Saturday, and that Greta's band was performing on that very day. So Brendon set off on a mission.
To be inconspicuous Because he was a good friend, Brendon printed out copies of the flyer Greta designed, and he put the stack of them on the counter in the smoothie shop. When Ryan came in the next day for his regular, which Brendon was already making, he spotted the stack and picked one up.
"What's this?" He asked Brendon as he made grabby hands for the smoothie Brendon was still fitting the top onto.
"Oh, my roommate, Greta. She's got a show next Saturday. Told her I'd help promote it." Brendon answered nonchalantly as he placed the drink into Ryan's outstretched hand.
"Cool. They any good?" Ryan sucked the straw into his mouth and Brendon tried not to stare as he answered.
"Yeah, they're great actually. You should come if you're not busy." Brendon had to bite on his tongue before he could finish with the smooth 'We could go together' that hung on the tip of his tongue.
"Sure, I'll be there. I could walk there after work."
"Walk? I could give you a ride if you need one." Brendon's motherly instinct kicked in, and no one will walk anywhere through the streets of Las Vegas if he can help it.
"Oh, no I mean, I work right across from there, at the Lucky Draw. It'd be nothing. Plus I get off work, like, ten minutes before it starts."
"You work at a casino?" Brendon raised his eyebrows, because really, a casino?
"Yeah. I used to play in a band there, but Spence got a job, and they offered me one, so..." He trailed off with a shrug, as if ashamed that he may be rambling.
"That's cool. What do you play?" Ryan opened his mouth to answer, but he was interrupted by the bell sounding to tell them another customer had entered.
"Um, I'll see you Saturday?" he offered instead. Brendon nodded with a grin and a wave and Ryan mirrored him before turning to leave.
+++
It started during the summer. It was a Saturday, the first time Ryan saw Brendon outside of his stupid Smoothie Hut apron. He was wearing a white button-up and it was clinging to his sweat-soaked abdomen. Ryan shivered in the doorway of the club, and it had nothing to do with temperature. Ryan blushed when Brendon caught his eye. He didn't jump around like Ryan expected him to, he just smiled slow and languid. It was hypnotic and sly and so not the reason Ryan's heart started jumping. It was just the bass booming, totally just the bass. Ryan smirked as he made his way over. Brendon popped the cap off of a beer and offered it to Ryan, and ryan took a sip without breaking eye contact. Brendon smiled, not that silly cute grin he's always wearing, but a half-lidded, mellow one.
"Where you hiding the joint, man?" Ryan asked without even thinking. Brendon was definitely high.
"Am I really that obvious?" Brendon's eyebrows turned up and he looked worried.
"Yes."
"Oh... well. Sorry, if it bothers you," Brendon offered, shrugging one of his shoulders. Ryan shook his head right away.
"No, no, it's fine. Anything else you're hiding from me?" Ryan asked jokingly.
"I'm gay," Brendon laughed with a shrug, his attention up on the stage as a new band filtered in. Ryan's eyes doubled in size, because he knew he was in trouble then. Ryan started to drink his beer a bit faster because he was going to need help tonight. "There she is!" He sounded so happy, pointing to a pretty woman with long, curly, strawberry-blonde hair. She looked beautiful, and when she sang, she had the voice of a little girl, clear and carefree. Something about her made Ryan warm and fuzzy. It was endearing, or, it felt endearing. Ryan threw back another few gulps of his beer.
After... a few songs that seemed to run together and melt Ryan's brain beyond time recognition, Brendon turned himself toward Ryan. He'd been shouting things to Ryan about Greta all night, but all Ryan heard was "I'm gay," which Ryan thought might have been problematic.
"Ryan, hey!" Brendon waved his hand in front of Ryan's face, and apparently he had been trying to get Ryan's attention for some time. When Ryan's eyes snapped to Brendon's, he continued. "Hey, Greta's having an afterparty at our house. Do you wanna come by for a while?" Ryan answered before he decided to. He was glad all that came out was a "sure" rather than the chant of YESYESYES that was playing out in his head.
"Awesome, come on, you can ride with me," Brendon placed a hand where Ryan's shoulder blades meet and pushed ever so gently, directing. A chill shot down Ryan's spine and he thought vaguely that he should maybe get a t-shirt that says 'Don't Touch Me." and never wear it around Brendon, before he's climbing into the back of a shiny blue car because Brendon said to. "Dude, keep scooting." Brendon motioned to the seat all the way to the left, and apparently they'd be sharing the back. Ryan scooted and sat down, and Brendon must've seen the question on Ryan's face, because soon he was muttering "I don't drink and drive," softly, averting his gaze to his hands where they were sitting on his knees awkwardly. It was definitely the cutest thing. Ever. Then someone climbed into the driver's seat, and then leaned over the seat just as Ryan was about to.
"Ryan?" Nod. "I'm Greta, nice to meet you." She said with a tiny wave and smile, and Ryan decided that he was the only one in the car who wasn't totally adorable. He smiled politely. Five minutes down the road, Greta commented on how quiet they were, and both offered a laugh. Then Brendon responded with a question.
"Ryan? Are you okay or... ? You've been kinda... out there tonight." Brendon asked, looking adorable concerned.
"Oh, I'm fine. Light weight." Ryan felt suddenly, awkwardly embarrassed. Brendon laughed breathily, and Ryan suddenly felt like panting. Greta turned into a steep, short driveway and Ryan heaved a sigh of relief.
After two hours of fear-induced liquor, Ryan was mellowed out enough to feel comfortable. Also, Brendon was less intimidating in double vision. Ryan couldn't say he wasn't expecting it. The moment Brendon told him, Ryan knew what was going on. The way Brendon said it, like he fully expected Ryan already knew this. It helped, at least, that Brendon was an arrogant ass when he was drunk. He leaned forward and pressed a wet kiss to Ryan's lips, expectant. Ryan pulled away abruptly, sputtering out apology full of denial.
"I-I'm sorry, Bren, I'm. I'm not. Like that..." Brendon laughed loudly, as if Ryan just told a stupid, hilarious joke. Of course, he really kind of did.
"Which one of us are you trying to fool?" Ryan decided he at least owed him honesty, and after glancing around, Ryan decided that no one was paying attention to them anyway.
"Everyone else." Ryan answered of his own accord. Brendon stopped finding the situation humerous, and his face looked sad and sympathetic.
"Oh. Sorry, man. I. Sorry. I understand." For some reason, it was okay to laugh at someone who hadn't admitted it to themselves, but everyone else was a different story. Brendon was ashamed once, too. "Sure it's not just me?" A small smile offered itself onto Brendon's face, and it was maybe more contageous then pestilence. And Ryan didn't even pretend he didn't want to smile right along with him. They shared a secret now. Brendon was only the second person to ever hear any type of confession. After Spencer, which was a much harder story, only because he came out to Spencer the moment he suspected something was awry and he knew what it was.
"Spencer, this was a waste of time." Ryan's kinda pissed as they watch the lame porno after the half an hour of rediculous fumbling it took for them to steal it from the box under Mr. and Mrs. Smith's bed.
"What? Why?" Spencer's face is flushed and his pupils are blown and his legs are curled up to his chest, like he's trying to hide something... Oh. Because he is. Because he's actually turned on by this. So he's fifteen and it doesn't take much, but still, this is just pathetic. "You don't think this is totally hot?" Spencer still doesn't tear his eyes from the screen, and his voice sounds tight and strained. Ryan puts his hands in his lap and swallows.
"Yeah, it's hot." But Ryan isn't talking about the movie, and he isn't looking at the screen.
About a half an hour after the movie, Ryan turns to Spencer and says they should talk about something because keeping anything from Spencer makes Ryan feel a little bit like he's naked in front of an unsuspecting crowd with their backs turned, and he's just waiting for them to turn around and laugh at him.
"Yeah, what's up?" Spencer notices something on Ryan's face and puts on that expression he wears when Ryan is about to tell Spencer his dad hit him again. That look that says 'Whatever you're about to say, I'll be here, because we're best friends.'
"So, I lied. The movie wasn't hot. The set wasn't hot, the-the plot wasn't hot, the girls weren't hot."
"But the guys were?" Spencer asks as though he's arguing, just in case, but Ryan can tell he actually wants to know. Ryan swallows for the umteenth time, and nods. Spencer looks a little surprised for a second, but then he puts on the expression he puts on after Ryan tells him his dad hit him, the look that says 'Whatever you just said, I'll be here, because we're best friends.'
"That's fine, Ry. No one's judging you. Well, I'm not at least." Spencer offers a half smile, and Ryan takes it graciously, offering it back. He decides that during this 'everything's-okay-so-let's-smile' stage, he'll push his limits.
"So, we should probably never watch porn together again." Which is his way of saying 'Spencer, I think you're sexually atractive when you're turned on.' Spencer answers with a snarky, "Well, duh, I don't like gay porn," which is his way of saying that he accepts Ryan for all that he is. Ryan laughs and smacks Spencer on the shoulder, and Spencer looks relieved that Ryan didn't get offended. Ryan decides he's going to serf the net for gay porn and find himself before he ever admits it to anyone else.
Apparently, Ryan has found himself in Brendon.
But instead of taking it in stride like Spencer, Brendon gave him sad puppy eyes, completely without meaning to, and Ryan thought his head would explode if he didn't kiss Brendon right then. It didn't though. Ryan felt suddenly bitter and wished Spencer was there, because he knew how to deal with Ryan's feelings.
"So, I dunno if anyone's told you, but we have hard liquor," Brendon said with a smile and eyebrow raise. Maybe Brendon knew how to deal with Ryan's feelings too. Ryan smiled at the thought.
"I'll have the Kiwi Mango Suprise please"
"Would you like fries with that?" Brendon tried to joke, but he was just awkward as always, so it ended up sounding like he was serious.
"Um... Fries?" Ryan's eyes returned to their search on the menu and Brendon tried to focus on not blushing, which just made him flush a darker shade of crimson.
"Ah, I was, just... there's not really fries. It's... y'know, like..." Ryan's eyes returned to Brendon's and suddenly Brendon felt like dying for at least... ever. "So Kiwi Mango. Um, large, or?"
"Oh, just a small, thanks." Apparently Brendon's awkward was contageous because Ryan seemed suddenly too small to fill out his lanky, spidery figure. It made Brendon feel a little better.
"Heh, Sorry, I promise not to try telling jokes again," Brendon flashed a grin before pulling a 16-oz. cup from its container under the counter and turning to fill it with icy mixed fruit. When he turned back around, Ryan looked whistful until he made eye contact, at which point he smiled, genuinely, and yes, Brendon felt better.
"Thank you," Ryan's smile didn't faulter as he eyed the smoothie. Due to his apparent fascination with the colorful substance, he wasn't really paying attention when Brendon handed him the straw, and he tells himself that's why his fingers brushed over Brendon's. Brendon, however, needed no excuse, because as of the prior May, he was a proud member of the gay community.
The next day, Ryan showed up again at 3:45pm like clockwork, and he ordered a small Kiwi Mango Suprise. Brendon tried to swallow his excitement, because he just loved regulars, especially when they were sexy, and asked Ryan if that meant the first smoothie tasted good. Ryan deadpanned with a "No, it's just hot outside," but then rushed out a "Just kidding" before the words even reached Brendon's ears. So apparently, Ryan wasn't great with jokes either. Brendon was really feeling better. And he decided might have a crush because Ryan was maybe the cutest thing when he was awkward.
After two weeks of days like this, Brendon got antsy. He tried to use what he knew to his advantage. He knew Ryan liked music. He knew that Ryan strived to be different, so his favorite music was the kind know one else liked. He knew his roommate Greta was in an indie-experimental local band. He knew that Ryan didn't have plans the next Saturday, and that Greta's band was performing on that very day. So Brendon set off on a mission.
To be inconspicuous Because he was a good friend, Brendon printed out copies of the flyer Greta designed, and he put the stack of them on the counter in the smoothie shop. When Ryan came in the next day for his regular, which Brendon was already making, he spotted the stack and picked one up.
"What's this?" He asked Brendon as he made grabby hands for the smoothie Brendon was still fitting the top onto.
"Oh, my roommate, Greta. She's got a show next Saturday. Told her I'd help promote it." Brendon answered nonchalantly as he placed the drink into Ryan's outstretched hand.
"Cool. They any good?" Ryan sucked the straw into his mouth and Brendon tried not to stare as he answered.
"Yeah, they're great actually. You should come if you're not busy." Brendon had to bite on his tongue before he could finish with the smooth 'We could go together' that hung on the tip of his tongue.
"Sure, I'll be there. I could walk there after work."
"Walk? I could give you a ride if you need one." Brendon's motherly instinct kicked in, and no one will walk anywhere through the streets of Las Vegas if he can help it.
"Oh, no I mean, I work right across from there, at the Lucky Draw. It'd be nothing. Plus I get off work, like, ten minutes before it starts."
"You work at a casino?" Brendon raised his eyebrows, because really, a casino?
"Yeah. I used to play in a band there, but Spence got a job, and they offered me one, so..." He trailed off with a shrug, as if ashamed that he may be rambling.
"That's cool. What do you play?" Ryan opened his mouth to answer, but he was interrupted by the bell sounding to tell them another customer had entered.
"Um, I'll see you Saturday?" he offered instead. Brendon nodded with a grin and a wave and Ryan mirrored him before turning to leave.
+++
It started during the summer. It was a Saturday, the first time Ryan saw Brendon outside of his stupid Smoothie Hut apron. He was wearing a white button-up and it was clinging to his sweat-soaked abdomen. Ryan shivered in the doorway of the club, and it had nothing to do with temperature. Ryan blushed when Brendon caught his eye. He didn't jump around like Ryan expected him to, he just smiled slow and languid. It was hypnotic and sly and so not the reason Ryan's heart started jumping. It was just the bass booming, totally just the bass. Ryan smirked as he made his way over. Brendon popped the cap off of a beer and offered it to Ryan, and ryan took a sip without breaking eye contact. Brendon smiled, not that silly cute grin he's always wearing, but a half-lidded, mellow one.
"Where you hiding the joint, man?" Ryan asked without even thinking. Brendon was definitely high.
"Am I really that obvious?" Brendon's eyebrows turned up and he looked worried.
"Yes."
"Oh... well. Sorry, if it bothers you," Brendon offered, shrugging one of his shoulders. Ryan shook his head right away.
"No, no, it's fine. Anything else you're hiding from me?" Ryan asked jokingly.
"I'm gay," Brendon laughed with a shrug, his attention up on the stage as a new band filtered in. Ryan's eyes doubled in size, because he knew he was in trouble then. Ryan started to drink his beer a bit faster because he was going to need help tonight. "There she is!" He sounded so happy, pointing to a pretty woman with long, curly, strawberry-blonde hair. She looked beautiful, and when she sang, she had the voice of a little girl, clear and carefree. Something about her made Ryan warm and fuzzy. It was endearing, or, it felt endearing. Ryan threw back another few gulps of his beer.
After... a few songs that seemed to run together and melt Ryan's brain beyond time recognition, Brendon turned himself toward Ryan. He'd been shouting things to Ryan about Greta all night, but all Ryan heard was "I'm gay," which Ryan thought might have been problematic.
"Ryan, hey!" Brendon waved his hand in front of Ryan's face, and apparently he had been trying to get Ryan's attention for some time. When Ryan's eyes snapped to Brendon's, he continued. "Hey, Greta's having an afterparty at our house. Do you wanna come by for a while?" Ryan answered before he decided to. He was glad all that came out was a "sure" rather than the chant of YESYESYES that was playing out in his head.
"Awesome, come on, you can ride with me," Brendon placed a hand where Ryan's shoulder blades meet and pushed ever so gently, directing. A chill shot down Ryan's spine and he thought vaguely that he should maybe get a t-shirt that says 'Don't Touch Me." and never wear it around Brendon, before he's climbing into the back of a shiny blue car because Brendon said to. "Dude, keep scooting." Brendon motioned to the seat all the way to the left, and apparently they'd be sharing the back. Ryan scooted and sat down, and Brendon must've seen the question on Ryan's face, because soon he was muttering "I don't drink and drive," softly, averting his gaze to his hands where they were sitting on his knees awkwardly. It was definitely the cutest thing. Ever. Then someone climbed into the driver's seat, and then leaned over the seat just as Ryan was about to.
"Ryan?" Nod. "I'm Greta, nice to meet you." She said with a tiny wave and smile, and Ryan decided that he was the only one in the car who wasn't totally adorable. He smiled politely. Five minutes down the road, Greta commented on how quiet they were, and both offered a laugh. Then Brendon responded with a question.
"Ryan? Are you okay or... ? You've been kinda... out there tonight." Brendon asked, looking adorable concerned.
"Oh, I'm fine. Light weight." Ryan felt suddenly, awkwardly embarrassed. Brendon laughed breathily, and Ryan suddenly felt like panting. Greta turned into a steep, short driveway and Ryan heaved a sigh of relief.
After two hours of fear-induced liquor, Ryan was mellowed out enough to feel comfortable. Also, Brendon was less intimidating in double vision. Ryan couldn't say he wasn't expecting it. The moment Brendon told him, Ryan knew what was going on. The way Brendon said it, like he fully expected Ryan already knew this. It helped, at least, that Brendon was an arrogant ass when he was drunk. He leaned forward and pressed a wet kiss to Ryan's lips, expectant. Ryan pulled away abruptly, sputtering out apology full of denial.
"I-I'm sorry, Bren, I'm. I'm not. Like that..." Brendon laughed loudly, as if Ryan just told a stupid, hilarious joke. Of course, he really kind of did.
"Which one of us are you trying to fool?" Ryan decided he at least owed him honesty, and after glancing around, Ryan decided that no one was paying attention to them anyway.
"Everyone else." Ryan answered of his own accord. Brendon stopped finding the situation humerous, and his face looked sad and sympathetic.
"Oh. Sorry, man. I. Sorry. I understand." For some reason, it was okay to laugh at someone who hadn't admitted it to themselves, but everyone else was a different story. Brendon was ashamed once, too. "Sure it's not just me?" A small smile offered itself onto Brendon's face, and it was maybe more contageous then pestilence. And Ryan didn't even pretend he didn't want to smile right along with him. They shared a secret now. Brendon was only the second person to ever hear any type of confession. After Spencer, which was a much harder story, only because he came out to Spencer the moment he suspected something was awry and he knew what it was.
"Spencer, this was a waste of time." Ryan's kinda pissed as they watch the lame porno after the half an hour of rediculous fumbling it took for them to steal it from the box under Mr. and Mrs. Smith's bed.
"What? Why?" Spencer's face is flushed and his pupils are blown and his legs are curled up to his chest, like he's trying to hide something... Oh. Because he is. Because he's actually turned on by this. So he's fifteen and it doesn't take much, but still, this is just pathetic. "You don't think this is totally hot?" Spencer still doesn't tear his eyes from the screen, and his voice sounds tight and strained. Ryan puts his hands in his lap and swallows.
"Yeah, it's hot." But Ryan isn't talking about the movie, and he isn't looking at the screen.
About a half an hour after the movie, Ryan turns to Spencer and says they should talk about something because keeping anything from Spencer makes Ryan feel a little bit like he's naked in front of an unsuspecting crowd with their backs turned, and he's just waiting for them to turn around and laugh at him.
"Yeah, what's up?" Spencer notices something on Ryan's face and puts on that expression he wears when Ryan is about to tell Spencer his dad hit him again. That look that says 'Whatever you're about to say, I'll be here, because we're best friends.'
"So, I lied. The movie wasn't hot. The set wasn't hot, the-the plot wasn't hot, the girls weren't hot."
"But the guys were?" Spencer asks as though he's arguing, just in case, but Ryan can tell he actually wants to know. Ryan swallows for the umteenth time, and nods. Spencer looks a little surprised for a second, but then he puts on the expression he puts on after Ryan tells him his dad hit him, the look that says 'Whatever you just said, I'll be here, because we're best friends.'
"That's fine, Ry. No one's judging you. Well, I'm not at least." Spencer offers a half smile, and Ryan takes it graciously, offering it back. He decides that during this 'everything's-okay-so-let's-smile' stage, he'll push his limits.
"So, we should probably never watch porn together again." Which is his way of saying 'Spencer, I think you're sexually atractive when you're turned on.' Spencer answers with a snarky, "Well, duh, I don't like gay porn," which is his way of saying that he accepts Ryan for all that he is. Ryan laughs and smacks Spencer on the shoulder, and Spencer looks relieved that Ryan didn't get offended. Ryan decides he's going to serf the net for gay porn and find himself before he ever admits it to anyone else.
Apparently, Ryan has found himself in Brendon.
But instead of taking it in stride like Spencer, Brendon gave him sad puppy eyes, completely without meaning to, and Ryan thought his head would explode if he didn't kiss Brendon right then. It didn't though. Ryan felt suddenly bitter and wished Spencer was there, because he knew how to deal with Ryan's feelings.
"So, I dunno if anyone's told you, but we have hard liquor," Brendon said with a smile and eyebrow raise. Maybe Brendon knew how to deal with Ryan's feelings too. Ryan smiled at the thought.