THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
Title: The Laying On Of Hands
Written By: so_wildish
Timeline: Episode 309
Rating: R
Summary: Sometimes things happen that you don’t expect and sometimes someone you don’t expect is there to protect you.
Author's Notes: In episode 309, Ted shoves Emmett. What if Brian had been there? This is how I imagined it would have gone. Candy and flowers and all that jazz go to my beta, whom I adore.
*****
Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends.
*****
“I am on a liquid diet, sort of a cleansing. Don’t Buddhists do that, Ben?”
“Say pretty please.”
“I said no!” Ted said, his voice laced with anger.
It all happened so quickly, Emmett could have blinked and missed it. One minute he’d been playing with Ted, or he’d been trying to and then Brian had Ted slammed against the refrigerator. The kitchen and its occupants had gone deathly silent and Emmett stood stock still, frozen in disbelief.
“Brian.” Emmett spoke softly, knowing this was dangerous ground to tread on. “Brian, he didn’t mean it.”
Brian didn’t move. Emmett watched as Ted struggled for a moment, but went still when Brian’s other hand came up. He winced as Brian began to speak. Emmett started to step forward, but held still as Justin’s arm snaked around Emmett’s waist. He looked down quickly, met Justin’s eyes and saw the clarity in them, the depth. Emmett wanted to go to Ted, make sure he was okay, but he also didn’t want to have anything to do with him. The contradictory emotions did nothing to settle the ball of fear and repulsion forming in his stomach. Emmett began to understand that this wasn’t something he was entirely in control of.
“Ted,” Brian said, his voice low and slightly menacing. Despite Brain’s asshole reputation, Emmett had never heard his voice quite like that. He had never actually turned the tone of his voice into something that in and of itself could hurt. He always lightened it, or made it deliberately sarcastic or even slightly scathing in order to mask his true feelings. “It doesn’t matter if you meant to or not. Don’t lay your hands on him unless it’s out of love or affection or whateverthefuck.”
“Brian, I didn’t …” Ted said, his voice two decibels higher than normal, his eyes darting widely. Emmett shivered at the look in his eyes, that blank look that would serve as an excuse for anyone wearing it if they felt they needed it. This wasn’t his Ted. This wasn’t the man he had loved and adored for what felt like forever. This was someone new. A shadow, a ghost. Emmett didn’t and hadn’t felt like he was living with his lover for quite awhile. Instead, he felt like he was being haunted. His eyes lowered in pain as Brian rocked Ted a little more forcefully into the refrigerator, but shot back up in surprise at Brian’s next words.
“Lots of people didn’t mean to. They didn’t think, they just acted. They used a bat or a Jack Daniels bottle and people took those to the head because they didn’t mean to.”
Emmett glanced down at Justin, wanting to make sure he was okay. His eyes were full and wet.
“Brian, I would never do that!”
Emmett wanted to believe him, but somehow he had lost his ability to believe in Ted. Teddy. He wanted to be angry, wanted to be seething and yelling and hitting everything in reach. He had been pushed against a counter top by his boyfriend and his back hurt. He could feel the bruise starting to form, knew that it would look angry and blue. Emmett wanted to look angry, too, but the initial fire had been stamped down by Brian’s - he still couldn’t believe it - protection.
Emmett could take care of himself. Growing up where he’d grown up didn’t leave him much choice. He could fight if he really needed to, but after years of seeing other people hit and kick and hurt, he just didn’t have the stomach to be anything other than smiling and bright. Yet, there was something about knowing there was someone who would protect you from harm that felt warm and settled in the center of his chest.
Emmett had always known and trusted in that he had a protective circle - had once believed that Ted was firmly tied to it - but never known Brian was willing to be an actual outspoken member. He was usually the protector, but he was also the quiet protector. The one who was always there, but was always hidden in the background. The one who somehow made all the difference in the world, quietly and surprisingly sweetly.
“Brian, let him the fuck go. You know he didn’t mean it, stop being an ass,” Mel shouted from behind him, jolting him from his thoughts.
Brian turned to her and Emmett could see the fire in his eyes.
“When you’ve been beat, you can speak. Until then, shut the fuck up!”
Emmett almost let the smile loose that was burning in his gut. It wasn’t a funny situation, but the sight of Mel slowly sitting down and actually closing her mouth was amusing.
Turning back to Ted, Brian twisted his fingers into his clothes before speaking. This time his voice was barely above a whisper and Emmett had to strain to hear what he said. “You’re the one who knows better, Ted. You’re the one who gets there in time and when you realize you can’t … you’re the one who yells, ‘duck’!”
Brian let go of Ted’s shirt and pinched his eyes shut. Emmett watched carefully, and found himself worrying about Brian, forgetting that Ted even existed. He was excellent at reading people, had realized a long time ago from Brian’s quick reaction and past acerbic comments that his childhood had been marked by bruises. Brian, for all his bravado, was remarkably sensitive and caring, but had been conditioned not to show it. He knew with great certainty that without the blond by his side, Brian would not have revealed so much. Brian was learning affection and love and that they weren’t signs of weakness.
“Don’t do it again, Ted,” Brian said, his voice normal now. “If he doesn’t kick your ass next time you do it, and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t, I will.”
Emmett felt his chest warm when Brian turned and his eyes first caught Justin’s, but then flipped to his own. Emmett smiled at him, nearly laughed out loud when Brian smiled back, albeit weakly, and moved forward. Emmett felt that warmth in the center of his chest practically burst as Brian walked towards him, clasped him by the neck, and hugged him. Emmett leaned into it and enjoyed the feeling of Brian around him.
“You deserve better.”
Emmett smiled into Brian’s neck when the words reached his ears. “I know.”
Brian laughed. Unable to resist, Emmett kissed him softly and felt Brian smile against his lips. He knew that Brian not pulling away was his way of agreeing and saying take a stand because you’re better than this.
When they broke apart, Emmett caught Justin’s grin, which grew even wider when Brian spoke.
“Of course. I am the best, so you should want me.”
Emmett chuckled, letting him go, watching Justin talk to Brian, who responded softly. Brian threw an arm around Justin’s shoulder, pressed a kiss into his hair, smiled at Emmett and together, they walked out the door.
He watched them leave and turned back to Ted, ignoring everyone’s questions. He locked eyes with Ted and smiled.
Written By: so_wildish
Timeline: Episode 309
Rating: R
Summary: Sometimes things happen that you don’t expect and sometimes someone you don’t expect is there to protect you.
Author's Notes: In episode 309, Ted shoves Emmett. What if Brian had been there? This is how I imagined it would have gone. Candy and flowers and all that jazz go to my beta, whom I adore.
*****
Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends.
*****
“I am on a liquid diet, sort of a cleansing. Don’t Buddhists do that, Ben?”
“Say pretty please.”
“I said no!” Ted said, his voice laced with anger.
It all happened so quickly, Emmett could have blinked and missed it. One minute he’d been playing with Ted, or he’d been trying to and then Brian had Ted slammed against the refrigerator. The kitchen and its occupants had gone deathly silent and Emmett stood stock still, frozen in disbelief.
“Brian.” Emmett spoke softly, knowing this was dangerous ground to tread on. “Brian, he didn’t mean it.”
Brian didn’t move. Emmett watched as Ted struggled for a moment, but went still when Brian’s other hand came up. He winced as Brian began to speak. Emmett started to step forward, but held still as Justin’s arm snaked around Emmett’s waist. He looked down quickly, met Justin’s eyes and saw the clarity in them, the depth. Emmett wanted to go to Ted, make sure he was okay, but he also didn’t want to have anything to do with him. The contradictory emotions did nothing to settle the ball of fear and repulsion forming in his stomach. Emmett began to understand that this wasn’t something he was entirely in control of.
“Ted,” Brian said, his voice low and slightly menacing. Despite Brain’s asshole reputation, Emmett had never heard his voice quite like that. He had never actually turned the tone of his voice into something that in and of itself could hurt. He always lightened it, or made it deliberately sarcastic or even slightly scathing in order to mask his true feelings. “It doesn’t matter if you meant to or not. Don’t lay your hands on him unless it’s out of love or affection or whateverthefuck.”
“Brian, I didn’t …” Ted said, his voice two decibels higher than normal, his eyes darting widely. Emmett shivered at the look in his eyes, that blank look that would serve as an excuse for anyone wearing it if they felt they needed it. This wasn’t his Ted. This wasn’t the man he had loved and adored for what felt like forever. This was someone new. A shadow, a ghost. Emmett didn’t and hadn’t felt like he was living with his lover for quite awhile. Instead, he felt like he was being haunted. His eyes lowered in pain as Brian rocked Ted a little more forcefully into the refrigerator, but shot back up in surprise at Brian’s next words.
“Lots of people didn’t mean to. They didn’t think, they just acted. They used a bat or a Jack Daniels bottle and people took those to the head because they didn’t mean to.”
Emmett glanced down at Justin, wanting to make sure he was okay. His eyes were full and wet.
“Brian, I would never do that!”
Emmett wanted to believe him, but somehow he had lost his ability to believe in Ted. Teddy. He wanted to be angry, wanted to be seething and yelling and hitting everything in reach. He had been pushed against a counter top by his boyfriend and his back hurt. He could feel the bruise starting to form, knew that it would look angry and blue. Emmett wanted to look angry, too, but the initial fire had been stamped down by Brian’s - he still couldn’t believe it - protection.
Emmett could take care of himself. Growing up where he’d grown up didn’t leave him much choice. He could fight if he really needed to, but after years of seeing other people hit and kick and hurt, he just didn’t have the stomach to be anything other than smiling and bright. Yet, there was something about knowing there was someone who would protect you from harm that felt warm and settled in the center of his chest.
Emmett had always known and trusted in that he had a protective circle - had once believed that Ted was firmly tied to it - but never known Brian was willing to be an actual outspoken member. He was usually the protector, but he was also the quiet protector. The one who was always there, but was always hidden in the background. The one who somehow made all the difference in the world, quietly and surprisingly sweetly.
“Brian, let him the fuck go. You know he didn’t mean it, stop being an ass,” Mel shouted from behind him, jolting him from his thoughts.
Brian turned to her and Emmett could see the fire in his eyes.
“When you’ve been beat, you can speak. Until then, shut the fuck up!”
Emmett almost let the smile loose that was burning in his gut. It wasn’t a funny situation, but the sight of Mel slowly sitting down and actually closing her mouth was amusing.
Turning back to Ted, Brian twisted his fingers into his clothes before speaking. This time his voice was barely above a whisper and Emmett had to strain to hear what he said. “You’re the one who knows better, Ted. You’re the one who gets there in time and when you realize you can’t … you’re the one who yells, ‘duck’!”
Brian let go of Ted’s shirt and pinched his eyes shut. Emmett watched carefully, and found himself worrying about Brian, forgetting that Ted even existed. He was excellent at reading people, had realized a long time ago from Brian’s quick reaction and past acerbic comments that his childhood had been marked by bruises. Brian, for all his bravado, was remarkably sensitive and caring, but had been conditioned not to show it. He knew with great certainty that without the blond by his side, Brian would not have revealed so much. Brian was learning affection and love and that they weren’t signs of weakness.
“Don’t do it again, Ted,” Brian said, his voice normal now. “If he doesn’t kick your ass next time you do it, and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t, I will.”
Emmett felt his chest warm when Brian turned and his eyes first caught Justin’s, but then flipped to his own. Emmett smiled at him, nearly laughed out loud when Brian smiled back, albeit weakly, and moved forward. Emmett felt that warmth in the center of his chest practically burst as Brian walked towards him, clasped him by the neck, and hugged him. Emmett leaned into it and enjoyed the feeling of Brian around him.
“You deserve better.”
Emmett smiled into Brian’s neck when the words reached his ears. “I know.”
Brian laughed. Unable to resist, Emmett kissed him softly and felt Brian smile against his lips. He knew that Brian not pulling away was his way of agreeing and saying take a stand because you’re better than this.
When they broke apart, Emmett caught Justin’s grin, which grew even wider when Brian spoke.
“Of course. I am the best, so you should want me.”
Emmett chuckled, letting him go, watching Justin talk to Brian, who responded softly. Brian threw an arm around Justin’s shoulder, pressed a kiss into his hair, smiled at Emmett and together, they walked out the door.
He watched them leave and turned back to Ted, ignoring everyone’s questions. He locked eyes with Ted and smiled.