If Ryan disliked Brandon before, that's nothing compared to what he's feeling now after Brandon shows up at Salvation's gig and has the nerve to make certain accusations regarding Ryan and Ben. Can Ben make everything right again, and what will they do to Brandon? See what's going on in this week's chapter of In Pieces. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
In Pieces #51 (12.5)
Leaving the bar, they noticed some of the customers had also
gone outside. They stood in a cluster, cigarette in one hand, drink in the
other. Obviously because smoking wasn’t allowed in the bar. As they passed,
Ryan thought he heard someone say “goddamned president”, but he didn’t have the
time or inclination to worry about politics at this moment. Rounding the corner of the building, out of
sight of the others, they came to a stop by mutual consent. Ben immediately
wrapped his arms around Ryan and held him tightly against him. For this moment,
not a word was spoken between them. Ryan closed his eyes and rested his face
against Ben’s neck, closing out everything and everyone else.
Ryan felt Ben’s fingers stroke his hair gently, felt Ben’s
lips caress his head. He felt himself on the verge of purring like a contented
can when Ben drew back slightly, looking into Ryan’s eyes. “What’s wrong? Did
something happen in there?” he asked in concern. “You don’t usually drink like
that, you scared me.”
Ryan took a long shuddering breath, willing himself to calm
down. “It’ll be okay,” he said, not wanting to upset Ben any more than he
already seemed to be, but unwilling to withhold the truth either. “I know I shouldn’t
let him do it, but that man just gets to me.”
“What man?”
“Abby’s boyfriend. Brandon.” Ryan breathing began to even
out as he began to relax, now that he was away from the cause of his upset. Being
out in the fresh air didn’t hurt either, but mostly it was the influence of
Ben’s presence, and he knew it.
Ben’s brows drew together angrily. “What did he do? He
didn’t touch you, did he?”
“No, but I think he would have if I’d agreed to come outside
with him.” The very idea was disgusting. “It’s the comments he made… about you
and me. Talking about us, about incest, like we were… I mean ….” Ryan stumbled over the words he
hadn’t expected to say, ever. “Ben, I never wanted to punch someone so badly in
my life. I had to walk away.”
Ryan quickly glanced at Ben to gauge his reaction to his
words. There was an expression in Ben’s eyes that he couldn’t quite
read—disgust? Shame?—but the next moment it was gone and Ryan couldn’t swear
he’d seen anything at all.
“Ben,” he began, hesitantly. “I’m… sorry I upset you… I’m
sorry—”
“Don’t be sorry!” Ben said fiercely. “You didn’t do anything
wrong. And neither did I. We’re not
wrong, and neither is our love.” He claimed Ryan’s lips in a passionate kiss
that quelled any lingering doubts Ryan may have had. He knew Ben loved him,
with all his heart. They were meant to be. Mere words couldn’t hurt them, if
they didn’t let them. Especially since they weren’t true.
They clung together, leaning against the weathered brick of
the building for support. Occasional bursts of music reached them from time to
time as people wandered in and out of the bar, reminding Ryan of his previous
plans to dance with Ben. Right this minute, he didn’t care if they got to dance
here in this place or not. What mattered
was that they were together.
“I guess I never thought of us that way,” Ryan said at last.
“You were always more of a friend than a brother.”
“After you stopped hating me for not being a dog?” Ben
teased. Ryan was glad to see that he had calmed down as well. The storm had
passed… at least, for now.
“I was horrible, I know,” Ryan said with a small laugh. It
was easy to laugh about it now, but he’d certainly been angry at the time as
only an eight-year-old boy can be angry when he doesn’t get what he expects.
“And stupid. I got something much better than a puppy. I got you.”
“Oh God, Ryan, I needed to hear that so much.” Ben squeezed
Ryan tightly, and this time he buried his face against Ryan’s chest, holding
onto him for dear life.
“And I need you, Ben,” Ryan assured him. “And if there’s
ever—” But the thought went unfinished, their solitude broken by an ill-timed
arrival. Ryan turned his head to find Abby making a beeline for them, skirts
lifted from the ground to reveal her black stiletto boots. Hot on her heels was
Brandon. He tried to grab her arm, but she brushed him aside, never slowing.
She drew up to Ben and Ryan. Ryan had never seen her so
angry. Her eyes blazed with fury, but he suspected her anger was not directed at
them. When she spoke, her voice was far more contained than he’d expected.
“Tell me what he did,” she demanded. Ryan wasn’t sure if the
question was for him or Ben until she finally fixed her gaze on him. Maybe she
had seen something of what went down inside?
“I’m telling you, you’re overreacting,” Brandon interrupted
before Ryan had a chance to reply. “I was just flirting a little, that’s all.
Teasing. No need to get so bent out of shape.”
Ben stiffened in Ryan’s arms. He drew himself up and turned
to face Brandon, his own anger beginning to show. “You… how dare you talk about
us like that? You don’t know us and you have no right to accuse of… of things
that aren’t true. And you dare to say you
were teasing?”
Brandon narrowed his eyes at them, his mouth tightening into
a thing line, but he made no reply.
“What did he say?” Abby looked between Ryan and Ben. “Please
tell me!”
“Incest,” Ryan spoke up quickly. “Accused us of incest.”
Abby turned without another word, and threw a balled fist
directly at Brandon’s jaw. He staggered backward, almost losing his balance.
His hand flew to his jaw and he stared at her in disbelief.
to be continued
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