Title: Concrete Hearts

World: AU

Rated: M (Mature)

Genre(s): Romance/Angst

Pair(s): Phil/Beth, Chris/Jessica, Chris/Phil, etc.

Summary: Chris and Phil are both heartbroken souls looking for a connection. When they find it in each other, the whole world conspires to keep them apart.

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone. I also don't own the movies mentioned.

Warning: Slash, Het, etc.

Part: 2/? – A Formal Introduction

OOOO

LATER THAT NIGHT

Selene stood in front of the microwave, her calm olive eyes fixed on the calculated rotations of the container of popcorn as each kernel exploded in a burst of wonderful, buttery flavor. While Phil didn't often cosset himself with fatty foods and other delicacies that were likely to make his heart burst in a nanosecond, Selene wasn't about to take 'no' for an answer. Her brother was in need of comfort food. And while she wasn't a five-star chef, popcorn she could handle. The timer screeched. Their snack was done.

"Selene," Phil called from the den. "The movie is about to start. Where're my damn snacks?"

Selene rolled her eyes as she fixed two small bowls. "If you weren't so lazy and made your own damn popcorn, we wouldn't have this issue, would we?"

"I'm not lazy. I'm smart." Phil countered. "I knew that you knew that I would eat all of the popcorn if we shared a container. This way, you know how much you're in for."

"You're out of your mind, oh brother of mine." Selene said softly.

"You a psychiatrist now?" Phil asked, before he took a buttery treat from her bowl and popped it into his mouth. She shot him a look, and he smiled at her.

"If I was, I would have shipped you off to the crazy farm by now."

Phil smirked. "I could room with the Joker. Seriously, Selene – that would be the nicest thing that you ever did for me. I'm totally serious. He's hot…"

Selene snapped her fingers in front of his eyes. "The movie is about to start, genius."

Silence fell over the room as the movie started. In the first scene, the Joker robbed a bank in Gotham City, killing not only all of the people that worked therein, but also his own goons. Selene had never been one for violence, but comic book violence? That was an entirely different story. Her eyes were glued to every blood second that crossed their gigantic flat screen television, with surround sound that would have football lovers in Super Bowl season in pig heaven. It had been Phil's treat with his Christmas bonus.

They only made it about halfway, maybe three-quarters of the way into the movie, when Selene rested her head on her older brother's shoulder and started to doze off. Normally, Phil would take offense to that. It was, after all, their favorite movie. But she had had an eventful week, and on top of that she was getting married in two days. He didn't blame her for being exhausted. Phil took it as an opportunity to take heaping handfuls of popcorn out of her bowl, which was barely half-empty, and add it to his own.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Phil sighed. It was his favorite part too! "I'll be there in a second!" He called, before he shoved his sister off of him and set the bowls of popcorn on the table.

When he was finally able to answer the door, he was surprised to find himself face-to-face with the man he had run into (literally) at Blockbuster. "Hi. I'm Chris Irvine. I live on the second floor."

Chris extended his hand and Phil shook it. "The name's Phil Brooks. Nice to meet you… I think. Listen, if you're here to complain about the noise -,"

Chris cut him off. "No. No. It's not that at all."

"Not to be rude or anything, but why are you here?" Phil asked.

Chris nodded. It was obvious that he had disturbed the smaller man. "I was just wondering if you had seen a stuffed, dark green dinosaur toy. My son thinks he dropped it somewhere around here and he can't sleep without it."

Phil smirked. "Actually, I have seen it. And, if I remember correctly, my baby sister put it… here."

A little boy bounded out from behind Chris and snatched the toy from Phil's tattooed hand. He was rather cute, with a bowl cut of bright blond hair that reminded Phil of his own days as a blond and bright blue eyes. In fact, he looked a lot like his father. The little boy flashed him the most thankful smile that he had seen on anyone in all of his thirty-three years. Phil could tell from the way that the child cradled the toy that he loved it dearly. Kind of like Phil's stuffed mouse, Greck, which he used to put in his sister's bed when they were little. It was still funny to think back on.

"Thank you, Mr. Brooks." The boy said sweetly.

"You're welcome, kid." Phil said.

"So," Chris started off. "Who should I complain to about the noise?"

Phil smirked evilly. It kind of unsettled Chris. "That would be Jason Reso, Adam Copeland, and Jeff Hardy. They live down the hall, next to the elevators. They're at it like bunnies from sunset to sunrise."

Chris' eyes widened a little bit. "Thanks."

"Oh, and if you don't want to confront them face-to-face, hit the ceiling with a broom. Adam will fall face first off the bed and refuse to have," here Phil looked at the little boy, "relations for a week. It's wonderful."

"I'll definitely take that under consideration. Thanks for the advice." Chris said.

"Anytime." Phil answered, before he watched the tawny blond walk away.

Phil yawned, suddenly extremely drained. He stalked back to the couch and crashed, careful to avoid his baby sister's outstretched legs. It seemed as if she had conquered the entire sofa in his absence. Not too subtly, he almost shoved her off of the couch as he resumed play. The surround sound flooded around him full-force, and he relaxed back into the cushions. When his sister sat up agitatedly, rubbing at her eyes and complaining about the noise, Phil smirked. He had to deal with her screaming as a baby. Payback is a bitch.

THE NEXT DAY

"It's horrible, Phil!" Jeff exclaimed as he crashed on his best friend's couch, a plate of eggs and bacon in hand. Jay still slaved over the oven. He was the only one that could cook, after all.

"What's the matter now?" Phil asked, still a little tired. He had watched the movie three times and, in the end, had only slept for an hour or so.

"Adam refuses to have sex!" Jeff screamed. "Some bastard hit the ceiling with… a broom, I think, it doesn't really matter… and complained about the noise. Adam was so mortified that he locked himself in the closet!"

Phil almost choked on his food. "That's… that's too bad."

Jay came into the den with a plate of food in hand. "So, where's your sister?"

"She's out on a date with Mike. Apparently, it's this extremely special occasion because this is the last time that she can see him before the wedding. The fact that we had plans before, however, doesn't matter. Mickey's all that matters." Phil spat out.

"Do I sense a bit of hostility for your future brother-in-law?" Jeff asked sarcastically.

"Seriously, we know that you don't like Mike." Jay said. "But this is a new level of hatred. Did something happen?" When Phil continued to be silent, Jay frowned. "C'mon, what shoved the stick up your ass?"

"Beth broke up with me." Phil admitted softly.

"Aww… that's a shame, Philly. We know how much you liked her." Jeff slapped his shoulder comfortingly.

"But that's not it." Phil continued.

Jeff raised a dark eyebrow. "Then, what's the matter?"

"I met this guy at Blockbuster, right? And he's totally hot. I don't feel for him or anything, it's purely physical attraction. But, as far as I know, he has a son and is most likely married. Why does life always screw me over?" Phil sulked.

It didn't shock Jay and Jeff in the least for Phil to admit his attraction for another man. Both had known for several years that Phil was bi, but he was mainly interested in women. However, he had dated other men on three or four occasions. It had never progressed into anything sexual, or at least that Phil was willing to admit. Usually, the two would have dinner and few times, maybe kiss once or twice. But ever since he met Beth, it seemed as if that side of him had been stifled. At least, that was how it had seemed to the naked eye.

Phil wasn't ashamed of the fact that he was bisexual. He had a need to be dominated that couldn't be fulfilled with women. He blamed it on his twisted childhood with his abusive alcoholic of a father. Because his father was always in control, even when he wasn't, Phil often found it was easier to hand over his control then to fight for it back. But even with that domination, he knew that he had emotional scars on his soul which would never heal. He had forgiven his father, because that was what his father had needed. Phil was still a little boy that needed his father.

"What does he look like?" Jeff asked finally. Even if it wasn't the best question, it broke the awkward silence that had swallowed the room.

"I don't know." Phil said. "Blond hair, blue eyes…"

"What is it about you and men and women with blond hair and blue eyes?" Jay asked, shaking his head slowly.

"It is a problem, isn't it?" Phil's characteristic smirk was back. But before he could continue, his phone rang again. He looked at the Caller ID. It was Beth. "If you'll excuse me for a minute. I have to take this."

Jay and Jeff waved him off as the ravenette made his way into the back. Phil entered the first bedroom that he came to, thankful that it was his, and closed and locked the door behind him. He really didn't want to be disturbed in the middle of what was bound to be a rather embarrassing phone call. Olive eyes stared down at his screen one last time. The familiar song from Beth's gymnastics routine played loud and fast. That was what he had loved so much about her. She let it all out and didn't hold back. Maybe that was what hurt so much in the end…

"Hello." Phil answered finally.

"Phil? Finally, I reach you instead of your damn voicemail!" Beth seethed. "Do you know how worried I was about you? What am I supposed to think when you don't call or text me in over twenty-four hours?"

Phil frowned. "Didn't you break up with me?"

He heard Beth's breath hitch. Oh dear God, no. Not the tears. "Are you trying to tell me that you want to break up with me, Philly? Because, if you do, then I understand. I'm a horrible, horrible girlfriend."

Now, he could hear her crying full force. He cursed fluently under his breath. He was a man of many talents – comforting distressed women was not one of them. "You're not a horrible girlfriend."

Immediately, she brightened. "Then you still love me?"

"Seriously, did you just have an AJ moment?" Phil asked.

"Seriously, did you just compare me to your ex-girlfriend?" Beth hissed viciously.

Phil decided not to comment on that. Instead, he changed the subject. "Then, what was with that message you left on my phone? That sounded like a break-up to me."

"I don't want to break up with you, baby. I just want you to talk to me more so that we can work out the problems in our relationship and be happy together. I want you to open up and tell me about your father." Beth said.

"Yeah, about that… I'm not really comfortable -,"

Beth cut him off. "Oh, my trainer is here. We have work to do if I want to be ready for the London Olympics. Hopefully, I'll see you soon baby. I love you!"

Phil barely had time to say 'I love you too' before she hung up.

OOOO

A/N: Please Review!