Take Me From This Pain, Brian's story
folder
Angst › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
39
Views:
8,705
Reviews:
80
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Angst › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
39
Views:
8,705
Reviews:
80
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Bring on the levity!
"So, what's up then?" Matt asked as Brian settled in closer so he could hear.
"Um," Ryan stammered a little nervously. "Well, I've met someone."
Matt cocked an eyebrow in interest. Since when did Ryan make it a point to keep them abreast of his love life? He knew that his best friend and Brian used to have some heart-to-hearts in California, but Ryan never really discussed his conquests with Matt before, at least not in any amount of detail.
"Okay," Matt replied slowly, as if he was still trying to figure out what to say. The small blonde in his lap sighed and swatted him lightly, bringing his confused gaze to rest on Brian's serene face. "Right," Matt cleared his throat. "So, what's her name?"
"Lee."
"Leigh," Matt repeated. "Nice name. What's she like?"
"Really hot," Ryan gushed. "Though a lot more masculine than my previous dates."
"Masculine?" Matt frowned in confusion. He had the feeling that Ryan was trying to tell him something, though he couldn't for the life of him figure out what it was.
Brian squealed and grabbed the phone before Matt could make any more of a mess of the conversation. He grinned at his frowning boyfriend and settled back against him to share the phone.
"Lee, huh?" the small blonde giggled. "Sounds nice. How'd you meet him?"
"Hey, how'd?" Ryan stammered again then sighed. "I keep forgetting how perceptive you are, Vixen."
"Vixen?" Matt interjected. "When did you start calling him that?"
"Recently, but it fits, doesn't it?" Ryan retorted. "He's more subtle than Kev, but a force unto himself, isn't he?"
"I guess that describes him accurately," Matt chuckled pulling the phone away. He winced soon after as Brian's elbow landed a light blow to his side.
"I take it he didn't appreciate the assessment."
"He never does," Matt laughed as he held Brian still and returned the phone to rest between both of their ears so they could hear Ryan. "But he loves me anyway."
"Egotist," Brian stuck his tongue out, which Matt quickly flicked with his finger. "Anyway, Ryan. Tell us what lead to this."
Ryan sighed uncomfortably on the other side of the line while Matt and Brian waited patiently for him to collect himself.
"I don't know what to say," he finally admitted.
"Don't know what to say?" Matt repeated gently. He knew his best friend was feeling cornered enough and decided to go easy on him, especially because of the support Ryan had given him and Brian since they'd made their own relationship public. "Okay, let's start at the beginning. And let us know if you want to stop at any point."
"Yeah," Brian agreed. "We're not trying to torture you. We just want to understand."
"Okay," Ryan said warily. "Shoot."
"Well, when did you decide you liked guys instead of girls?" the small blonde asked.
"Not instead of," Ryan corrected. "As well as."
"Oh," both Brian and Matt said together.
"Hey, what, "˜Oh',?" Ryan asked indignantly. "Oh, I get it. Now you think I'm a slut!"
"What!?" Matt cried. "We did NOT say that!"
"No, but you do," Ryan sounded pissed now.
"No, we don't!" Brian insisted. "Ryan, we CARE ABOUT YOU! We'd never say that or think that about you. You're like a brother to both of us."
"You do? I am?" Ryan asked uncertainly.
"Yes!" both of the other two exclaimed together.
Matt was astonished at how easily his lover had assessed and handled the situation. Ryan was Matt's best friend and they'd known each other for years and Brian had only known them both under friendly terms for a year. Yet here he was salvaging them from a fight that could quite probably quickly escalate into a wedge that broke their friendship apart. And all over a poor choice in words. It wasn't the first time Matt had thanked whatever fates had intervened to bring him into the small blonde's life and he knew it would be far from the last.
"We want to understand what's going on because of that," Brian went on.
"I still don't understand why you want to be friends with me," Ryan said quietly.
"I know everyone credits Matt with saving me, Ryan, but he couldn't have done it without you. As far as I'm concerned, you're family."
Ryan was quiet for a moment, evidently mulling over what Brian was saying. Matt thought about it, too. It was true that Brian had bonded with him, but Ryan helped Matt protect the small boy when he couldn't be there. It was also true that his best friend was every bit as responsible for saving Brian from his old life as Matt.
"I never thought about it," Ryan said.
"Don't try to fool me," Brian laughed. "That's all you do think about. Atoning for the past."
"I, uh."
"Do you think Kevin and I don't talk about it?" Brian teased softly. "He told me what you said when you first got there. He also told me how you're helping him and Jason now. But he knows you're not the same guy you used to be and he's ready to trust you as a friend now."
"Maybe."
"Look at it this way," the small blonde smiled at Matt as he spoke to Ryan. "He's different from me in a lot of ways. For instance, I'm letting you not say things now. Waiting for you to be ready. He, on the other hand, wouldn't be so accommodating if he thought something was up."
"What do you mean "˜if'?" Ryan retorted. "I figured I had to beat him to the punch to tell you."
"You mean you told him?"
"Not exactly."
"He caught you, huh?" Matt interjected, grinning like an idiot.
"I guess you could say that," Ryan chuckled. "He and Jason came into the pizza place as Lee and I were just leaving. They didn't see us at first but since Joey followed them in, we were busted."
"There are worse things than sharing your life with your friends," Matt pointed out.
"Back at you, 007," Ryan laughed, causing Brian to giggle, too. Matt playfully scowled and poked Brian in the belly like the Pillsbury Doughboy.
"Yeah, yeah, so back to you," Matt smiled. "When did you decide you might like guys, too?"
"I guess some time over the summer," Ryan replied honestly. "I'm not sure exactly how it began."
"Was it us?" Brian asked as he bit his bottom lip.
"Not so much in a physical way. But it was really cool to see how close you two were getting." Ryan laughed then added, "Coming here might have accelerated the process though."
"Jason and Kevin aren't very discreet, are they," Matt chuckled.
"They're not porn stars either," Ryan replied. "But they are incredibly cute. It's like watching a girly romance movie."
"They're not THAT bad," Brian protested, laughing along.
"Seriously, though," Ryan said. "It wasn't an environmental thing. I think I've had an attraction to guys for a while, but my brothers were always such dicks to other people about it that I never acknowledged it."
"That makes sense," Matt shrugged, remembering how said brothers Hank and Bobby used to go after some of the "suspected queers" in their high school. He and Ryan would overhear the two talking about pranks and the rumors they spread. It also made sense how Ryan found it acceptable to follow the same behavior. Imagine how'd they treat their brother if they knew he was bi?
"I know there are some people that think bisexuals are sluts," Brian began carefully, "but I know better."
"You do?"
"Yeah. I think of it as you having more options in finding someone to love."
Matt breathed in sharply and looked at Brian again in wonder. Where'd that come from? Wherever, it seemed to placate Ryan immediately.
"That's what I think, too," Ryan said softly. "I figured you would understand, Bri."
"Why wouldn't I?" the small blonde smiled. "I've always been able to before."
Matt hugged Brian close gratefully as he tried to silently convey his appreciation.
"I know," Ryan answered. "Sometimes it's kind of hard being away from the two of you."
"Yeah, but if you were here, you wouldn't have met Lee," Matt chimed in using his best flamboyant voice. "Now, tell us all about him. We want the usual details. How'd you meet? Is he cute? How'd you manage to snag him?"
Brian giggled as Matt rattled off his list and Ryan tried to answer without choking on his own laughter. He recounted how he bumped into Lee on his way back from the bookstore, knocking the boy down and making him drop chocolate ice cream on his pants.
"And he wanted to date you after that?" Matt asked skeptically.
"He set it up!" Ryan insisted. "At least that's what he admitted earlier tonight."
"Give the guy a break," Brian laughed. "Ryan's a hottie."
"Hey!" Matt admonished while Ryan cracked up hysterically. "Stop looking at our friends! You're taken!"
"And happily," Brian insisted. "I'm just saying, you can't blame Lee for scheming his way into Ryan's . . . life."
"Were you going to say "˜pants'?" Ryan barked out, still in hysterics.
"No, he wasn't!" Matt answered for him. "He doesn't think about your pants."
"Oh, I think he might," Ryan teased.
"I don't!" Brian shrieked as his cheeks went from pink to red. "All I was saying is that Ryan's not a bad looking guy!"
"Why'd you hesitate then?" Ryan asked with a chuckle.
"Yeah," Matt smirked at him.
"You really want to know?" Brian asked incredulously.
"Yeah," Matt and Ryan both announced.
"Matt's . . . pants were poking me at the time!"
It was Matt's turn to flush as Ryan was sent into another fit of hysterics on the other end of the line and Brian smiled as innocently as he could muster. "˜Oh no you don't,' Matt thought as he began to tickle his boyfriend into a thrashing bundle. "˜I'm going to get you for that one.'
"Um," Ryan stammered a little nervously. "Well, I've met someone."
Matt cocked an eyebrow in interest. Since when did Ryan make it a point to keep them abreast of his love life? He knew that his best friend and Brian used to have some heart-to-hearts in California, but Ryan never really discussed his conquests with Matt before, at least not in any amount of detail.
"Okay," Matt replied slowly, as if he was still trying to figure out what to say. The small blonde in his lap sighed and swatted him lightly, bringing his confused gaze to rest on Brian's serene face. "Right," Matt cleared his throat. "So, what's her name?"
"Lee."
"Leigh," Matt repeated. "Nice name. What's she like?"
"Really hot," Ryan gushed. "Though a lot more masculine than my previous dates."
"Masculine?" Matt frowned in confusion. He had the feeling that Ryan was trying to tell him something, though he couldn't for the life of him figure out what it was.
Brian squealed and grabbed the phone before Matt could make any more of a mess of the conversation. He grinned at his frowning boyfriend and settled back against him to share the phone.
"Lee, huh?" the small blonde giggled. "Sounds nice. How'd you meet him?"
"Hey, how'd?" Ryan stammered again then sighed. "I keep forgetting how perceptive you are, Vixen."
"Vixen?" Matt interjected. "When did you start calling him that?"
"Recently, but it fits, doesn't it?" Ryan retorted. "He's more subtle than Kev, but a force unto himself, isn't he?"
"I guess that describes him accurately," Matt chuckled pulling the phone away. He winced soon after as Brian's elbow landed a light blow to his side.
"I take it he didn't appreciate the assessment."
"He never does," Matt laughed as he held Brian still and returned the phone to rest between both of their ears so they could hear Ryan. "But he loves me anyway."
"Egotist," Brian stuck his tongue out, which Matt quickly flicked with his finger. "Anyway, Ryan. Tell us what lead to this."
Ryan sighed uncomfortably on the other side of the line while Matt and Brian waited patiently for him to collect himself.
"I don't know what to say," he finally admitted.
"Don't know what to say?" Matt repeated gently. He knew his best friend was feeling cornered enough and decided to go easy on him, especially because of the support Ryan had given him and Brian since they'd made their own relationship public. "Okay, let's start at the beginning. And let us know if you want to stop at any point."
"Yeah," Brian agreed. "We're not trying to torture you. We just want to understand."
"Okay," Ryan said warily. "Shoot."
"Well, when did you decide you liked guys instead of girls?" the small blonde asked.
"Not instead of," Ryan corrected. "As well as."
"Oh," both Brian and Matt said together.
"Hey, what, "˜Oh',?" Ryan asked indignantly. "Oh, I get it. Now you think I'm a slut!"
"What!?" Matt cried. "We did NOT say that!"
"No, but you do," Ryan sounded pissed now.
"No, we don't!" Brian insisted. "Ryan, we CARE ABOUT YOU! We'd never say that or think that about you. You're like a brother to both of us."
"You do? I am?" Ryan asked uncertainly.
"Yes!" both of the other two exclaimed together.
Matt was astonished at how easily his lover had assessed and handled the situation. Ryan was Matt's best friend and they'd known each other for years and Brian had only known them both under friendly terms for a year. Yet here he was salvaging them from a fight that could quite probably quickly escalate into a wedge that broke their friendship apart. And all over a poor choice in words. It wasn't the first time Matt had thanked whatever fates had intervened to bring him into the small blonde's life and he knew it would be far from the last.
"We want to understand what's going on because of that," Brian went on.
"I still don't understand why you want to be friends with me," Ryan said quietly.
"I know everyone credits Matt with saving me, Ryan, but he couldn't have done it without you. As far as I'm concerned, you're family."
Ryan was quiet for a moment, evidently mulling over what Brian was saying. Matt thought about it, too. It was true that Brian had bonded with him, but Ryan helped Matt protect the small boy when he couldn't be there. It was also true that his best friend was every bit as responsible for saving Brian from his old life as Matt.
"I never thought about it," Ryan said.
"Don't try to fool me," Brian laughed. "That's all you do think about. Atoning for the past."
"I, uh."
"Do you think Kevin and I don't talk about it?" Brian teased softly. "He told me what you said when you first got there. He also told me how you're helping him and Jason now. But he knows you're not the same guy you used to be and he's ready to trust you as a friend now."
"Maybe."
"Look at it this way," the small blonde smiled at Matt as he spoke to Ryan. "He's different from me in a lot of ways. For instance, I'm letting you not say things now. Waiting for you to be ready. He, on the other hand, wouldn't be so accommodating if he thought something was up."
"What do you mean "˜if'?" Ryan retorted. "I figured I had to beat him to the punch to tell you."
"You mean you told him?"
"Not exactly."
"He caught you, huh?" Matt interjected, grinning like an idiot.
"I guess you could say that," Ryan chuckled. "He and Jason came into the pizza place as Lee and I were just leaving. They didn't see us at first but since Joey followed them in, we were busted."
"There are worse things than sharing your life with your friends," Matt pointed out.
"Back at you, 007," Ryan laughed, causing Brian to giggle, too. Matt playfully scowled and poked Brian in the belly like the Pillsbury Doughboy.
"Yeah, yeah, so back to you," Matt smiled. "When did you decide you might like guys, too?"
"I guess some time over the summer," Ryan replied honestly. "I'm not sure exactly how it began."
"Was it us?" Brian asked as he bit his bottom lip.
"Not so much in a physical way. But it was really cool to see how close you two were getting." Ryan laughed then added, "Coming here might have accelerated the process though."
"Jason and Kevin aren't very discreet, are they," Matt chuckled.
"They're not porn stars either," Ryan replied. "But they are incredibly cute. It's like watching a girly romance movie."
"They're not THAT bad," Brian protested, laughing along.
"Seriously, though," Ryan said. "It wasn't an environmental thing. I think I've had an attraction to guys for a while, but my brothers were always such dicks to other people about it that I never acknowledged it."
"That makes sense," Matt shrugged, remembering how said brothers Hank and Bobby used to go after some of the "suspected queers" in their high school. He and Ryan would overhear the two talking about pranks and the rumors they spread. It also made sense how Ryan found it acceptable to follow the same behavior. Imagine how'd they treat their brother if they knew he was bi?
"I know there are some people that think bisexuals are sluts," Brian began carefully, "but I know better."
"You do?"
"Yeah. I think of it as you having more options in finding someone to love."
Matt breathed in sharply and looked at Brian again in wonder. Where'd that come from? Wherever, it seemed to placate Ryan immediately.
"That's what I think, too," Ryan said softly. "I figured you would understand, Bri."
"Why wouldn't I?" the small blonde smiled. "I've always been able to before."
Matt hugged Brian close gratefully as he tried to silently convey his appreciation.
"I know," Ryan answered. "Sometimes it's kind of hard being away from the two of you."
"Yeah, but if you were here, you wouldn't have met Lee," Matt chimed in using his best flamboyant voice. "Now, tell us all about him. We want the usual details. How'd you meet? Is he cute? How'd you manage to snag him?"
Brian giggled as Matt rattled off his list and Ryan tried to answer without choking on his own laughter. He recounted how he bumped into Lee on his way back from the bookstore, knocking the boy down and making him drop chocolate ice cream on his pants.
"And he wanted to date you after that?" Matt asked skeptically.
"He set it up!" Ryan insisted. "At least that's what he admitted earlier tonight."
"Give the guy a break," Brian laughed. "Ryan's a hottie."
"Hey!" Matt admonished while Ryan cracked up hysterically. "Stop looking at our friends! You're taken!"
"And happily," Brian insisted. "I'm just saying, you can't blame Lee for scheming his way into Ryan's . . . life."
"Were you going to say "˜pants'?" Ryan barked out, still in hysterics.
"No, he wasn't!" Matt answered for him. "He doesn't think about your pants."
"Oh, I think he might," Ryan teased.
"I don't!" Brian shrieked as his cheeks went from pink to red. "All I was saying is that Ryan's not a bad looking guy!"
"Why'd you hesitate then?" Ryan asked with a chuckle.
"Yeah," Matt smirked at him.
"You really want to know?" Brian asked incredulously.
"Yeah," Matt and Ryan both announced.
"Matt's . . . pants were poking me at the time!"
It was Matt's turn to flush as Ryan was sent into another fit of hysterics on the other end of the line and Brian smiled as innocently as he could muster. "˜Oh no you don't,' Matt thought as he began to tickle his boyfriend into a thrashing bundle. "˜I'm going to get you for that one.'