Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they belong to Hollyoaks! (Except for Ray, he's mine)
Summary: Brendan leaves prison life behind and starts to re-build his life. Still in love with Stephen and Ray, Brendan finds himself torn between the two of them.
A/N: Sequel to 'Faded Photographs'. It's going to be a love triangle with Brendan/Ste/Ray. Also 'Deux Amours' is French for 'Two Loves'.
Deux Amours
Chapter One
Two weeks after Brendan's release from prison…
Brendan walked up the steps to Chez Chez tentatively. Since he had been released from prison he had gone straight to Ireland with Cheryl to visit his kids. He had felt that he needed to see them, reassure himself that he was never going to lose them, or them him.
Now he was back in Chester and prepared to settle back into everyday life. He felt oddly nervous walking through the Chez Chez doors even though it was his own club. It was quiet when he walked in; Warren was lounging on one of the sofas as usual not doing any work. He grinned at Brendan when he saw him and stood up, holding out his hand for Brendan to shake. Brendan took it, putting his best game face on.
"Foxy" he greeted him with a nod, releasing his hand quickly.
"Nice to see you again, Brady. How did prison treat you?" Warren asked, smirking.
"Oh wonderfully, thanks for asking" Brendan replied dryly walking towards the office. Warren followed him.
"I hope you didn't drop the soap or anything mate" Warren teased. Brendan turned his head to glare at him. Warren smiled in what he thought was an innocent manner. "Ah my mistake, you'd probably like that wouldn't ya?"
"Do you want something?" Brendan asked, a thinly veiled threat bubbling underneath the surface.
"Just came to say hello, that's all" Warren said, falsely affronted.
"Well if that's all I'd like to take a look at the state the books are in" Brendan said, gesturing towards the door.
Warren nodded and stepped backwards towards the door. "As you wish. Let me know if you need anything"
"Will do" Brendan replied sarcastically, his eyes already on the paperwork. He heard the door close.
Brendan threw the papers onto the desk and took a seat behind it, putting his feet up on the table. He took his phone out of his pocket and flipped it over his fingers. Now that he was here he didn't know what to do with himself. He didn't feel like looking over the books really. He wasn't even sure why he had decided to come in today; Cheryl had told him to take it easy. As usual he hadn't listened.
Brendan made a quick decision, jolting himself out of his chair and leaving the office, taking the steps two at a time in his haste to get out of the club. He was walking so swiftly he didn't notice when he bumped right into someone.
"Sorry" he mumbled without looking. But then his nose detected a familiar scent. Stephen.
"Oh, Bren. Wasn't expecting you to be back so soon…" Stephen said awkwardly, his eyes downcast.
"Ye…couldn't keep away" Brendan murmured, looking Stephen up and down. He looked a lot better than when Brendan had last seen him. He seemed to be gaining the weight he had lost previously.
"Where are you off to?" Stephen said, finally looking up. Brendan was startled looking into those bright blue eyes once more. He couldn't help thinking of Ray's brown ones.
"Uh, I don't know really" Brendan admitted, at a loss. He hadn't seen Stephen since that night at the hospital.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Stephen asked quietly, looking shifty but expectant.
Brendan hesitated a moment, wondering if this was such a good idea. "Um, ye, sure why not?"
Stephen smiled with relief, turning around to walk beside Brendan.
Brendan looked over Stephen's attire. "Aren't ye meant to be going to work?" He asked, somewhat amused.
Stephen looked uncomfortable. "You're here now… I'll be okay"
Brendan couldn't help but notice the odd way Stephen said this. He opened his mouth to question it but Stephen cut him off.
"How was Ireland? Nice seeing the kids I bet"
Stephen seemed to be nervous; he was talking in a rush. Brendan placed a hand on his shoulder, hoping to calm him down. Stephen flinched away from him, making Brendan frown. He withdrew his hand.
"Ye… it was lovely, thank ye"
Stephen smiled weakly at him, his eyes flickering everywhere but at Brendan's face.
Brendan stopped walking abruptly, making Stephen pull up short as well.
"What is it?" Stephen asked.
"Why are ye so jittery, Stephen?" Brendan stared him down. Stephen fidgeted uncomfortably.
"It doesn't matter" He murmured, attempting to walk off again. Brendan grabbed his arm to prevent him.
"Tell me"
Stephen looked into Brendan's face, his eyes wide. "Okay, not here though" Stephen whispered, pulling Brendan's arm as he walked.
Stephen led him to a closed off quarter of the skate park. He sat on the edge of the low wall, Brendan following suit. Brendan sat that little bit closer to him to determine if he was the problem. Stephen didn't flinch away. Well, that answered his question.
"Spit it out then, Stephen" Brendan said after several moments of silence. He was already losing his patience; he needed to curb that. Remember what Ray had taught him.
Stephen's hands wrung together nervously. "Things haven't been exactly…great while you've been away"
"These two weeks?" Brendan asked in confusion.
"No. In prison I mean"
"How do ye mean?" Brendan asked, deeply curious now.
"Well, Cheryl's been doing her best…" Stephen began awkwardly. "But she only owns two percent of the club now and well…"
"Well what?" Brendan prompted, his temper rising in building realisation.
"Warren's been throwing his weight around a bit…" Stephen answered, glancing at Brendan's face for his reaction.
Brendan's jaw tightened. "In what way?"
"Messing up the books, taking some of the profits home for himself… terrorising the staff" Stephen laughed without humour.
"What are ye talking about?" Brendan asked, gripping Stephen's shoulder tightly. Stephen winced again and Brendan suddenly understood. He pulled at Stephen's hoodie and the shirt underneath, much to Stephen's alarm.
"Brendan! Get off me!" Stephen struggled but Brendan was stronger. He exposed several dark bruises on Stephen's upper back, just below his shoulder.
"Who did this?" Brendan asked angrily, standing up.
"Bren…" Stephen breathed weakly, attempting to grab Brendan's hand. "It's nothing; I can take care of myself"
"Clearly not!" Brendan protested, pacing in front of Stephen. "It was Foxy wasn't it?"
Stephen said nothing. It was all the confirmation Brendan needed. He strode away from Stephen back in the direction of the club.
"Wait!" Stephen said, grabbing Brendan's arm. "Leave it!"
"No I will not fucking leave it" Brendan said, aggravated.
"It's not how it looks; he just shoved me against the wall"
"And that's okay?" Brendan roared.
"You've done it" Stephen said quietly. Brendan stopped and turned around slowly. He thought of what Ray would say to him in this situation and took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.
"Stephen, I'm sorry" Brendan ran a hand over his face. "Why did he shove ye against the wall?"
"He's been trying to get me involved in his dodgy deals, I keep saying no. I've got kids, me"
Brendan nodded absently. "Has he been doing this in the club?"
Stephen bit his lip. "Afraid so. I told him you would be furious"
Brendan laughed darkly. "That son of a bitch won't know what's hit him" Brendan stalked back in the direction of the club. Stephen jogged to keep up.
"Don't think that I've just sat back and let this happen! I've tried to stop him, I really have"
"Ye should have told me!" Brendan said angrily.
"What could you have done?" Stephen protested. "Besides, you aren't exactly innocent in dealing in the club"
Brendan whirled around, pointing his finger at Stephen's face. "That isn't the same. I am subtle; I only do it in the office"
"How is that better?" Stephen asked, his brows furrowed.
"It doesn't matter! I'm not risking drugs in the club now, not after-" Brendan cut off, surprised at himself.
"You're worried about going back inside" Stephen said quietly in sudden understanding.
Brendan's defences dropped a little. "Maybe…" he admitted.
"Was it really that bad?" Stephen asked. "Young offenders were bad enough but having Callum there…" Stephen trailed off. "You had Ray, right? Surely that helped"
"Of course it did" Brendan said absently. "I need to talk to ye about that actually"
Stephen cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?"
"I asked Ray to work for me when he's released"
Stephen looked momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. He smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "That's good, I'm sure he needs the work, can't be easy… I should know" Stephen laughed weakly.
"Hey, it doesn't mean…" Brendan said softly, his hand reaching out. He didn't quite know what he was doing so he dropped his hand once more. "Ye don't mind?"
"Course not" Stephen said, shaking his head. "Me and you we're…well, I don't know really"
Brendan looked at the floor uncomfortably. "I should have spoken to ye before I left…"
Stephen waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine, honestly"
"I got yer text" Brendan said quietly. "I appreciate it"
Stephen looked at Brendan, his expression soft. "I just wanted you to know that somewhere down the line, when we're a bit more… sorted I guess, I'll still be here"
"What made ye decide?" Brendan asked curiously. "I've told ye enough times I'm no good"
Stephen laughed and kicked the floor lightly with his toe. "I guess I can't kid myself anymore, couldn't forget you if I tried"
Brendan found himself smiling. "Glad to hear it"
"But if we do eventually… you know" Stephen began. "It has to be on our own terms, things need to be… brought out into the open, and other things need to change…"
"I understand" Brendan nodded. "And in the meantime? Where do we stand?"
"We're friends" Stephen smiled.
"Friends" Brendan agreed, it was almost an alien concept to him.
"And when Ray gets out?" Stephen asked, attempting to disguise the jealousy evident on his face.
"I don't know" Brendan admitted. "It's…complicated"
Stephen nodded, looking a little forlorn but he hid it well.
"But ye know I'm not ready for a relationship, but if I was…"
"I know" Stephen said softly. "You don't have to explain"
"It would be you" Brendan said calmly. "I care for Ray a lot… more than I expected to actually"
"But?" Stephen pressed.
Brendan opened his mouth but once again the words stuck in his throat. "I can't explain. Not yet anyway"
"It's fine. Look, let's just get to work, okay?"
"Okay" Brendan agreed, walking alongside Stephen. "I'm still going to have words with Foxy, ye know"
"I know. I didn't expect anything less" Stephen smirked. "I tried to hide it…"
"Ye don't need to hide anything from me" Brendan told him. "I'm still going to be there for ye, regardless of where we're at"
"Thanks. It's nice to have you back"
Brendan chuckled. "Never thought I'd hear ye say that about me"
Stephen grinned. "Never thought I'd say it"