Stendan Fiction.
Around 2 years after Brendan is imprisoned, Steven goes on an impulsive holiday to escape his troubles in the village, Subconsciously he finds himself on a plane to Dublin and getting closer to his memories of Brendan. Little does he know Brendan has been released on grounds of behaviour and has been living in Dublin to give Ste a fresh start. Mainly told from Ste's point of view, Some Brendan too.
Cheryl Is with Nate with a child in Belfast, She moved away from Dublin as it had too many memories of what she had done, She doesn't know about Brendan's release, She speaks to Ste occasionally but not as often as she would like as it is too painful for Ste.
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2 years ago
"Brendan, I love you, please answer the phone, Ive tried 7 times today, I.. I love you."
Ste hung up the phone in disappointment, he knew Brendan wouldn't answer, but he just couldn't help himself, It had been two days since Brendan had been taken away from him, he still had the bruise from being pushed away from him, into the wall and falling into the ground.
"I'll never feel feel any differently about you I promise" The words echoed around his mind, Ste started to recall that day.
"You changed everything Steven, everything!" The memory was painful, Ste shuddered in his flat, and gulped down the whiskey numbing his senses.
The weeks started to roll into one, Ste was working on autopilot, go to the deli, make a mess, get shouted at by Doug, go home, drown his sorrows and pass out on the sofa. A painful reminder there wasn't anyone to go to bed with, and he had no kids to put in the empty bedroom down the hall, he was alone.
1 year ago
"STE" Doug yelled at him, "The oven is smoking, Get the bread out already".
Ste shook himself out of his drink induced daze and got to work fetching the fire extinguisher just incase there was real need, but it was just a burn loaf. This was becoming the norm lately.
"If you cant concentrate, go home. I don't want you here, your a danger to me, a danger to yourself and a danger to this business, Ill come and see you later" The words drowned into Ste's consciousness and he dragged his feet the short walk home, Grumbling about friendship as he went.
At 7:00 the door went, Steven padded to the door in his pyjamas, and low and behold at 7:00 on the dot as promised the american stood there, he was anal about time keeping as Ste had recently found out.
"Hiya" said Ste reluctantly expecting a slanging match, but instead the american just walked past him to the couch and sat down. Ste slumped down into the seat next to him.
Doug turned to face him, "Ste you can't keep living like this, He's gone, And he isn't coming back, the letters have been returned unopened, the phone calls are being rejected, you need to move on with your life, Your freezing cold, Your clothes are a mess, Let me help you?"
As the tears rolled silently down his face Ste gave Doug a small nod "Okay, This will be the last time I ever sit and cry over his moustache face, The last time I utter his name, Brendan is out of my life, Where do I start?"
"First things first, Lets get you a warm shower, You'll freeze to death." Doug stood up and offered his hand to Steven, He pulled him to the bathroom and started undressing him, Steven felt Doug's skin against his own, And they helped each other to the point of oblivion.
The alarm went at 6:00 on the dot, Ste gave a yawn and rolled over to turn it off. "Hey sleepy head" Ste breathed to Doug mid yawn, Jumped out of bed and wandered down to the bathroom. Halfway through brushing his teeth he glanced at the shower and smiled to himself, This is where it started, This is when my life became better, And I owe it to that man in there, The thoughts went through his head before he could help himself and he vowed to stop thinking about that section of his life, where the other man had held him, where he and that other man had been in that shower 3 years previous, where that other man had made his life better than Doug ever could because of the feelings he could bring out..
"STE" Yelled Doug interrupting his train of thought, "Your going to be late for the dough to be delivered." Ste splashed himself with cold water and the thought of that man resigned itself to the drawer in the back of his head, the one that was safely under lock and key. Or so he thought it was.
Ste wandered to the deli absently kicking at the stones in his way, old habits die hard and all. Ste stopped suddenly and found himself gazing up at that flat, where that man used to live. He gave his head a shake, wondered what the hell was happening because he was supposed to be at the deli, and put it down to tiredness, 6am was a hellish time to be up roaming the streets of chester, The dark weather and no street lights didn't help. Just as he turned away, He saw a figure staring back at him from the metal grates across the balcony. Ste started to stutter "B..Bb.. No, I will never say that name again." He looked up once more and the figure was gone, merely a figure of his imagination. "Jesus christ, I need an early night tonight, Preferably with Doug" Ste muttered to himself, He let his imagination take over and found himself wishing it was 5pm and closing time so him and Doug could go home, to that shower, where it all started.
5pm came, Ste and Doug packed up the deli, Sorted out the schedule for tomorrow and locked the door, Ste took Doug's hand because he liked to have the authority these days, and walked him back the flat. "Ste, slow down, whats the rush?!" laughed Doug, Ste stopped and shivered remembering the way He used to laugh, Like a mad man. Ste knew there was only one thing that could distract him, so he whispered to Doug "I want you, In the shower, Now." He looked across to Doug who positively started running home, "Ill hold you to that."
Ste pushed into him as Doug groaned out "Steven.. Ah" Ste stopped as he felt a finger probing inside him, All memories flooding back of when that man had been holding him, pushing into him, Calling him Steven. His head went dizzy, Mind went black, A sheen of sweat over his face and neck. He finally allowed himself to feel the searing pain, The feelings he had pushed out for two whole years, It was only ever going to be That man for him. "I cant do this anymore Doug, Im so sorry." Doug stared up at him, A vein standing out in anger. "What do you mean you cant do this anymore, Are you tired, Not in the mood anymore?" Doug almost sounded insulted, as he stood up and pulled his pants on. "Im going for a shower Ste, DONT follow me unless you want me in there." Ste quickly stood up, pulled his trousers back around his legs and as he heard the fall of the shower water he found a piece of paper.
Doug,
Ive been having moments of doubt about what I need for the past couple days and its making me weak, Im going away to clear my head, I promise I will be back in a week, Carry on with the deli and living here, I shall text to let you know I'm alright, I am sorry, Be safe.
Ste.
With that Steven ruffled through his wardrobe and found an oversized black hoodie, He slipped it over his head and took in the smell, the one he had been denying himself from remembering for so long and his hands trembled when he found the money he had been given by that man underneath it, £50,000. Ste took £10,000 and placed it into a duffel bag, he grabbed a few items of clothing, his phone, wallet and a picture of the kids and was gone.
Ste walked slowly towards the door before placing the note next to the kettle, Ste knew this was where Doug would check first. With the sound of the shower in the background he walked out the door, said a silent goodbye and switched his mobile off. Ste walked towards the village when a vacant taxi rolled by, He stuck out his hand and was glad when it stopped so he could shelter out of the pouring rain.
"Where too mate?" The taxi driver asked.
"Manchester Airport" Ste said.
"Thats quite a whiles drive" Murmured the taxi bloke, Ste shifted in his seat.
"S'allright, Ill make it worth your while" Sighed Ste. He didn't know where he was heading, but he was following his gut, something he should of done from the start.
Ste stood in-front of terminal one, easy jet. "Excuse me mate, what flights are going out soon?" Ste spoke to the air steward with nerves, The steward checked his watch as he stifled a yawn, "Mate its 12:47 at night, The next flight out will be on those screens over there." The steward pointed to some boards with moving writing on. "Cheers." Mumbled Ste, He trudged over to the boards to check out where he was heading.
Due to extreme weather storms, flights over Australia, America and Africa have been cancelled. Scheduled Flights as follows:
DUBLIN - DEPARTING 5:47 am ARRIVAL 8:00 AM
Ste laughed to himself, this was so ironic. He walked up to the desk and booked a return ticket to dublin, He had his bag weighed, scanned and was checked into the departures lounge. For old times sakes he ordered himself a whiskey on the rocks and let his mind wander back to old memories before he took off to find what he was looking for.