One putting their ridiculous music on in the car and singing along while the other sits in the passenger seat with their head in their hands
The radio fizzled with static, interrupting the Radio One banter and cutting off any chances they had of listening to whatever the next song would be if it ever came, Brendan didn't mind, staring out the window as they drove to drop off his kids at the airport. He figured he should've made some kind of attempt to talk to them, but Declan was sat with his headphones in and Paddy was playing on the Vita he'd gotten over Christmas and had resisted using the entire time in Mallorca, if you didn't count the fact that he would lie awake at night playing it.
"Aw this is well crap this is," Ste grumbled, reaching to push search buttons on the navigation panel on the dashboard, none of the stations were clear enough, "Bren have you got your mp3 in that bag?" he asked, Brendan returning to the here and now to look over at him,
"hm?" he grunted,
"Don't bother with him, the sun's addled his old brain," Declan piped up from the back, "put mine on," he suggested, handing the little green rectangle over Ste's shoulder, who plugged it into the system and began scrolling for something he liked. Brendan watched quietly, he didn't want shouting at Declan for insulting him to be the last thing he said to the teen before he shipped him off to Ireland. Besides, he did feel a bit worn down from the sun of Mallorca, his back wasn't burnt anymore and he had as close to a tan as he could manage, which just meant he looked constantly flustered, but it wasn't why he'd gone quiet. He wasn't looking forward to sending the boys back to Ireland, he and Ste would have been going with them under different circumstances, but he wasn't about to tear Ste away from his kids, especially not when he was getting the chance to spend months with them whilst Amy was fucking around in Africa with the fiancé again for her gap year from University. She'd agreed to let them stay with Ste providing he didn't take them out of their school in Manchester, so they'd agreed to stay in the spare room of Amy and her fella's rented house and keep the kids in school, rather than dragging them over to Dublin and disturbing their academic year.
"Ah mint, I love the Arctic Monkeys," Brendan was torn from his thoughts by Ste's approval of Declan's music and the radio kicking in, and not only that, but Ste and Declan began yapping along with the intro to the song.
"Last night these two bouncers and one of em's alright, the other one's the scary, and his way or no way, totalitarian, he's got no time for you, looking or breathing how he don't want you to, so step out the queue! He makes examples of you and there's nowt you can say, behind they go through to the bit where you pay, and you realize then that it's finally the time to walk back past ten thousand eyes in the line,"
It unsettled Brendan how the both of them pointed at him as they sang about the bouncer, but they continued in spite of the blank look he offered them both. He wasn't sure if it could really be called singing, they were practically shouting along to the music, gesticulating along with the words as they went.
"Steven the road," Brendan protested quietly, Ste just gave him an exasperated look as he continued to sing along with Declan, who had unbuckled his seatbelt briefly in order to lean into the front of the car and knock the volume higher to drown out Brendan's complaint.
He couldn't honestly say he wasn't a fan of this music, but the singing that had filled the car and grown loud enough for Paddy to stop playing FIFA and look confused, apparently it wasn't his thing either, but Ste and Declan had gotten into the chorus, or what he figured must've been the chorus, he didn't know, all he knew was his hands looked like a good place to put his head.
He felt Ste pat his shoulder a few times, singing a little quieter as the song dropped, they weren't going to let up until the song was done, were they? Or worse, they'd continue with the next song. He ended up being right about that, eventually propping his elbow on the car door and his chin in his hand as he stared miserably out the window, trying to ignore the singing, he'd glance at the wing mirror every so often, seeing that Paddy had grown fond of the music and was air-drumming along, a sweet sight even if it was accompanied by terrible singing.
"Oh cheer up Bren," Ste laughed as a track faded to silence, reaching out and taking Brendan's hand to reassure him somehow,
"I don't like you fillin' my car with shite music," he griped, not looking at Ste, mentally berating himself when his fingers tightened in an affectionate squeeze around Ste's,
"Christ Da, do y'know how much cheesy oldies pop you've subjected me 'n Paddy to over the years?" it was a ridiculous amount, he knew, even with him being absentee half the time.
"My car," Brendan grumbled, it wasn't a good argument and he knew it, keeping his gaze on the cars whipping by outside, sulking like a child, masking his misery at being parted with his boys after a great fortnight in Mallorca with his only mild dislike of the Arctic Monkeys.
He felt Ste tug at his hand before letting go, signalling he wanted his attention whilst Declan settled for humming along to the music quietly; he reluctantly tore his gaze from the signs indicating the airport was coming up, looking over to Ste who beckoned him closer with a slight nod. He leant across the car, offering his ear to Ste,
"We could always reclaim the car before we pick the kids up from Mike's," he said low, an undertone to the music that the two kids in the back wouldn't be able to hear, Brendan turned his head to look at Ste, seeing the way he bit his lip and understanding what exactly Ste was implying. His responding smile wasn't as enthusiastic as Ste had hoped it would be and the younger man's suggestive expression turned concerned. "Bren?" he asked, having to tear his gaze away as the traffic ahead of them began to move, Ste soon taking the exit that lead onto the airport's grounds,
"It's nothin'," Brendan sank back into his seat, Ste wanted to press, but Declan decided to come to Brendan's rescue, belting out the chorus to I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor just as Ste opened his mouth to speak.
Brendan relaxed then, looking at his kids in the rearview, Paddy was struggling between playing his game and trying to drum along, and Declan was getting into his music. Ste didn't join in immediately, giving Brendan concerned looks as he drove them to the drop off point, but Brendan looked away and focussed on the throngs of people saying goodbye to their loved ones, dreading doing the same as they were.
The car slowed and the song was over, Ste shutting off the engine and cutting the next song short, Paddy was out the car like a shot, Declan scooting along the back seat to follow, "Brendan… are you okay?"
"I gotta say goodbye to my boys Steven," Brendan dismissed, climbing out of the passenger seat to help the boys get their suitcases out of the back. He handed them their suitcases, making sure they were wheeling right and just fussing over anything that wasn't the boys themselves,
"Da," Paddy stopped him with a word, but he couldn't meet his son's gaze, "Can we go somewhere in the Summer too? I'm sure mam won't mind," Paddy beamed, giving his dad a hug, Brendan squeezing him tight and ruffling his hair,
"Your mam likes to take you on holiday in the summer, why'd you think I claimed you for the New Year?" he said with an apologetic smile as he stepped back, looking over to Declan,
"Aw that sucks… maybe we can convince her, eh Deccy!" Paddy suggested to his brother, earning a shrug and getting pulled aside by Ste who wanted to say goodbye too. Brendan took this as his opportunity, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he closed the gap between him and Declan, standing a pace away and looking sheepish,
"I appreciate what you did back there," he said low, sounding unsure of himself,
"I didn't do it for you da," Declan shrugged, "I didn't want Paddy to feel bad about leavin'," he grumbled,
"Still… I appreciate it," Brendan repeated, trying not to sound bitter about Declan not helping him, it seemed to be a recurring theme with people doing things that saved Brendan face.
"I know…" he sighed, they were twinning each other, both stood awkwardly with hands in pockets, not quite looking at one another, they definitely looked related at this point, a thought which made Brendan huff a quiet laugh.
"I really enjoyed that, spending time with you boys and the kids," he admitted fondly,
"Yeah it was fun," Declan agreed,
"I think when we find out when Amy's coming back, me an' Steven are gonna have a last blow out with the kids, Disney World," he kicked at the floor as he spoke, "I… actually owe you that trip…" his voice was strained and he felt like his throat would close up just thinking about how he'd been too scared to take Declan on that holiday with Ste and the kids. He looked at Declan then, he looked confused but didn't push the matter for some reason,
"Disney World sounds good, never been, neither has Paddy," he nodded, they stood looking uncomfortable for a ridiculous amount of time, Paddy watching from the side, Ste's arm around his shoulders,
"Deccy just hug him and get it over with," Paddy huffed, "He's our da," he added at Declan's hesitance, and Brendan knew that the hug he got, stiff and awkward as it was, wasn't for his benefit,
"You're doin' alright da," Declan mumbled, "I don't know when or if I'll forgive ye for what happened… but you're doin' alright," he added, and Brendan felt him relax in his arms, the hug growing genuine even in its brevity. He let Declan go and moved to Ste's side as the boys grabbed their bags,
"You sure you don't want us coming with?" Ste offered,
"You said we could check in on our own," Paddy huffed childishly, "like adults yeah,"
"I know I know," Ste waved off, "Have a safe flight you two,"
"Call us as soon as you land," Brendan added, earning an eye-roll from both boys, "I mean it," he warned,
"Yeah I know, we will," Declan dismissed, turning to leave, Paddy trailing behind him casting nervous smiles back at them as he went.
Brendan and Ste watched them go, Ste smiling and waving, feeding off of Paddy's excitement about checking in and waiting for the plane without parental supervision, whereas Brendan was struggling not to look sullen, appreciating the arm Ste slung around his waist. He held Ste's shoulders, holding him close and relying on that contact to ground him, to stop him from wishing he could go with the boys and make everything up to them.
"Come on, let's get back, I don't want to have to wake the kids up to take them home,"
"We could always leave them with Michael for the night," Brendan said slowly, he wasn't feeling particularly up for it right then, but spending some one-on-one time with Ste sounded like a dream come true.
"If that's what you want…" Ste seemed unsure, but Brendan turned a sullen, exhausted stare his way and he sagged in a sort of relieved understanding, "Yeah sure, I'll call in the car," they spared one last glance at the airport before parting, Ste tossing Brendan the keys and climbing into the passenger seat.
As soon as the engine sparked to life, music began blaring from the speakers and they realised Declan's ipod was still plugged into the console on the dashboard, "Think we can catch them?" Ste asked, ready to jump out of the car,
"We'll mail it to him," Brendan said, dragging his fingers over the panel to search through Declan's music, he found the first song Ste had put on and hit play, drumming his hands on the steering wheel as he manoeuvred them out of the airport and headed home.