The air in the motel room reeked of indian food, Brian's favorite, and the couple were a mess on the bed with their takeout containers. Brian's head was in Brock's lap, and Brock's fingers ghosted their way through the younger man's disheveled hair. After they left the restaurant, they knew they needed a place to go and cool down somewhere; a place where they could collect their thoughts. So, Brian led Brock to a small motel, and they ordered comfort food, and here they were, alone, mostly silent, and still upset. Brian could not get his father's words out of his head, they were on replay, over and over and over again... And he tried to focus on the rhythm of Brock's fingers and breath, but it only worked for a few minutes before he started to panic again.
His heartbeat would falter, and then pick up, and then falter again. "I don't know why he's acting like this is a surprise..." Brian trailed off, his voice quiet. "I never brought home girls... And the only girl I did date, he set me up with her." His hands touched Brock as he let out a sigh, speaking of his father like that. "Why can't he see how happy you make me?" It was a rhetorical question, mostly, and he only ended up shaking his head once more. He knew that he would probably never know why his dad felt the way he did. He would never know why he was so hateful about everything. "I mean..." Brian trailed off once more. "You're a great guy, Brock... Why doesn't he see that?" There were so many questions with no answers.
Brock's fingers slowed as he looked down at his boyfriend, his dark eyes shining with affection, with such gentleness. This was something that was beyond their control, something that they had no power over... And Brock knew this feeling all too well. "I told you already, you need to stop thinking about it." He massaged his scalp where his digits had stopped, and the younger man hummed in content. "You're only working yourself up again... And he'll have to come around eventually, right? He's your dad." Surely, he would, wouldn't he? Brian was his only son, and to just say something like he had at breakfast was so uncalled for, nobody knew it was going to come out of his mouth.
"But what if he doesn't?" Brian replied, without missing a beat, sitting up and making direct eye contact with Brock.
Brock's gaze faltered, hesitation in his eyes. He didn't like this feeling, he didn't like where the subject was going. And he wished that he could say something to make the Irishman feel better, but if he were being honest with himself, he had nothing. Because he knew, he knew how things like this worked out, and he didn't want to make Brian even more upset than he already was. So he wracked his mind for something sensible to say, but it just sounded awkward when it came out. "Then you... Adjust." He got out, looking away, and immediately he felt Brian grab his hands.
"Brocky, is there something you're not telling me here?" This time, it was the younger man's voice that got soft as he turned his head so that his boyfriend was looking at him again. He thought he knew almost everything about Brock... But by the way he was talking, and by the way his body language was, Brian could definitely detect that there was something wrong. Of course, he didn't want to pry, he only wanted Brock to feel better. "You can talk to me, you know that, yeah?" The softness of his Irish lilt caused Brock to give a small smile as he squeezed hands. He knew he could talk to him, and that simple fact made his heart swell.
"I know." The older man answered with a nod. "But I don't want to make this about me... It's about you." His father had pretty much just belittled him, embarrassed him, and Brian was having a crisis at the moment. It didn't feel right to change the subject or make the conversation about himself, at least, that's what Brock had thought. It was common courtesy. He just wanted to be here, supporting the Irishman, and giving him the unconditional love that he deserved.
"Brock, you know I don't care." Brian rolled his eyes at him. Of course he would say something like that, after all, it was Brock he was talking about. Selfless, caring, loving, Brock. And he wanted to know what was on his mind... He wanted to know what was troubling him. "Besides, we're a team, we're both here for each other... So if you feel comfortable, you can tell me what's bothering you." His eyes were kind as he continued to assess the man sitting in front of him. A topic like this had never come up in one of their conversations before, so it was no wonder that Brock had a story to tell, or something to share. All in all, Brian was glad that it had came up, because if not, who knew when he would have found out what Brock was about to tell him.
"I mean, it's not bothering me..." He trailed off. "It's just on my mind now that we're really talking about it... And you're asking about it."
Brian was growing more confused by the second, "Asking about what, Brock?"
Suddenly, Brock sighed, his eyes going straight for Brian's. And the next words that left his lips was something that even Brian hadn't anticipated. It was a complete shock. "My parents didn't accept me either..." Brock revealed, trailing off. Once it was out? He tore his gaze away from his boyfriend, unable to look him in the eye. It felt strange, to say the least, with that simple truth hanging around in the air. It felt weird to know that Brian finally knew that about him, and finally, everything started to make sense. It was no wonder Brock had never invited him to meet his parents, it was no wonder why they were never mentioned... It was because they weren't a part of his life.
"Oh Brocky..." Brian was at a loss for words as his gaze softened. "I'm sorry to hear that."
He shook his head, "Yeah... But I just wanted to let you know that I know how it feels... And that it does get better with time I guess..." He trailed off.
Brian nodded, pulling the older man in for a hug. "We don't have to talk about it anymore, but thank you for telling me." They separated from one another and made eye contact once more. It was apparent now that the two had more in common than they originally thought, and maybe... Just maybe that was why they were such a perfect fit for each other. They didn't need anyone else when they had each other for support, they didn't need anyone else when they were already so happy and content with what they had. And it was there in that moment, in that tiny, shabby motel room, that Brian decided that he didn't want to be with anyone else but Brock. Brock was it, that was all there was to it. He saw himself spending the rest of his life with the older man, and he wanted to make that a plan.
"I don't know why I never told you before." Brock replied with a small shrug. "I guess it just never came up."
"That's okay." Brian nodded. It was quiet after that, the two not really wanting to talk about anything else. So they laid back on the bed, television playing softly as the colors lit up their eyes, all while they finished their meal of indian takeout. Relaxing was what they needed, and it felt so nice to be just kind of isolated in their own little world. They forgot about their problems, forgot about Brian's dad, and for a moment? For one little, bittersweet moment, it felt like they were the only two in the world at the time. It was nice; their fingers in each other's hair, their bodies contorted together, and it almost... Almost made them forget, that is, until Brian's cell phone began to ring. He pulled away from Brock with a groan before grabbing it and answering it. "Hello?" He knew he should have looked at the name on the screen first, but he couldn't help it. It was instinct.
"Brian?" He recognized his mother's voice. It was nice of her to give them some time alone. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He answered simply. "But Brock and I are staying in a motel tonight." Their flight back to the states was the next night anyway, so one night in a motel definitely wouldn't do any harm. Plus, Brian was pretty sure that he didn't want to be in the same household as his father would be. It was too awkward, too suffocating and he didn't want to deal with that just yet.
"Are you sure?" She inquired.
"Yes." He sighed, "I'm sure."
"Okay... Well, your father told me to tell that before you and Brock leave tomorrow, he wants to talk to you." Her voice was hesitant, and Brian's eyebrows knitted together as he listened to her words. What else could he possible have to say? The younger man was confused as he bid his mother farewell, and explained the situation to Brock, who was just as equally confused. Anxiety pooled in his gut, and he wondered just what was going to happen tomorrow before he and Brock went home.
