A/N i always intended for this story to contain both Ste and Brendan POV, but the first few chapters just ended up being Ste's pov to get the story going. Here comes Brendan!

Chapter 5

He looked at himself in the full length mirror vacantly for several minutes before using one hand to trace over his bicep, shoulder & chest, fingers running through the dark coarse hair that grew there, down his abs and settling on the band of his boxers. He had his head tilted to one side as he took in his reflection, a small smile played over his lips. If there was one thing Brendan Brady was confident about, it was his looks.

He turned to his wardrobe and picked out his favourite suit, the grey one with the silver sheen to it which clung tightly in all the right places. He chose the royal blue shirt that suited his skin tone and brought out his eyes, he snorted a laugh at his thoughts, sometimes he was gayer than he'd like to admit. Once ready he strode into the kitchen and clocked Cheryl and Lyndsey sat having their breakfast at the table.

"Morning Ladies, and i use that term loosely"

"Charming" Lyndsey muttered rolling her eyes

He rounded the left of Cheryl and grabbed her freshly buttered and jammed piece of toast

"BOOM!"

He twirled and grabbed Lyndsey's mug of tea

"BOOM!"

"Brendan!" they shouted in unison

"You snooze you lose" he said in explanation

"Somones in a good mood this morning, was there a bloke involved?" Lyndsey asked with an accusatory smile.

"There's always a bloke, Lyndsey" He replied walking out the front door.

He bounced down the steps and breezed into Chez Chez brushing the toast crumbs out of his moustache. The club was filled with sounds of obnoxiously loud dubstep causing Brendan to groan and roll his eyes.

"Joel! Jooeeell!" he bellowed to no avail.

He rounded the top of the club staircase to see Joel jerking around in the dj booth to what he assumed was the 'beat', he strode over to the mains and yanked the plug glaring into the younger man's eyes when he turned to face him.

"I don't want to hear that shit, in my club, at this time of the day, or ever" he said slowly

Joel signed dramatically "Brendan this is what people come to clubs to hear, we're not running a disco grandad!"

Brendan's cheek twitched "listen little foxy, that, is not music, its noise and i don't want to hear noise pre 11pm. End of." he sauntered into the office "and if you ever call me grandad again, kid, i'll make ye regret it" he said with sinister cheer and a toothy smile.

He settled down at his desk pulling up this month's stock order on the screen and going through it to double check his new protege hadn't cocked anything else up. He was in a good mood, in spite of Joel's attempt at DJing, Brendan Brady was back on top. He'd put Warren Fox behind bars, he had deals going on left right and centre making him more 'tax free' money than he could wish for, he had his makeshift assistant Joel eating out of his hand and idolising him (even if he could be stroppy at times), his prison time and the gossiping whispers were behind him. He was back to being the village bad boy, respected and feared in equal measure, but always given a wide berth, just how he liked it.

He had everything, well maybe not everything, there might be one thing missing but he was better as a lone wolf anyway, no ties no vulnerability. He tapped the pen he was holding on his lip as he thought about that missing little part, reminiscing about days of the past in this very room he quickly shoved that out of his head, he didn't need anyone else especially him.

—-

After sorting the accounts and admin for the day Brendan was propping up the bar and sipping a cold bottle of beer. Although Joel had refrained from DJing anymore, he was now sat with Theresa draped all over him like love's young dream. It was sickening, what did a guy have to do to have a drink in peace and quiet? He knocked back the rest of his beer and had a hunger pang, he decided to head down to Price Slice to grab something to eat before they opened for the late afternoon.

Whilst he was in there perusing the sorry state of lunchtime offerings he heard that familiar mancunian voice that never failed to affect him, either by setting his pulse racing or by calming the constant noise in his head. He'd barely seen him since, well since he sacked him, he'd not even caught a glimpse of him darting through the village, it was like he'd disappeared off the face of the earth. He was talking to that weird blonde girl who lived with Douglas about them going into business together, when did that happen? How did that happen? They barely know each other. He slunk back into the corner to remain undetected by either of them and continued to eavesdrop. It sounded like they were trying to do some pizza business, like that was original, bound to fail, if he wanted business advice why wasnt Steven coming to him for it? Not that they were exactly on speaking terms.

Once the blonde thing had bounced out of the shop, Steven carried on with his shopping before he clocked Brendan, disappointment etched all over the boy's face, ouch.

Brendan intended to start a light conversation but as soon as he opened his mouth sarcastic ridicule spilled out instead. Something was definitely eating at Steven, and it wasn't just talking to him, so Brendan decided to offer an olive branch but it might not have come out quite as friendly or genuine as he'd hoped.

"I tell you what, when the business thing goes belly up and you need a shoulder to cry on, I'm your man. How about that?"

Ok it definitely wasn't what he'd intended, he'd meant it to sound like 'i'm sorry things aren't working out, why don't you come and tell me all about it and let me fix it for you'. Brendan never was good with words.

"I will never ever need anything off you" came the boy's response, and if Brendan admitted the truth it was painful to hear, he liked to fix things for Steven, he liked to be the one he came to.

Joel appeared at his side just as he was shouting his rhetorical retort "you reckon!"

"Has that little runt been winding you up? I don't know why you let him get away with it" the scot sneered.

Brendan shot him daggers that he didn't seem to notice before exiting the shop with Joel hot on his heels.

"Someone else has called in sick for this evening and with Ash still off you're probably going to need to step in when it gets busy tonight" Brendan ignored him, no one tells him when he has to serve in his own club. "Brendan are you listening to me"

"Ah scottish foxy, i didn't recognise you without the blonde McQueen hanging off you."

Joel grinned a cheesy smug grin and Brendan had to stop his eyes rolling out of his head.

"I've got some things to do before tonight, but there's a delivery coming, make sure you're here for it and make sure the delivery man carries the boxes of champagne in so we are not liable."

"I'm not an idiot" Joel sulked

"Yet to be seen little foxy, yet to be seen"

—-

In reality he had no things to do, no errands to run, what he actually did was go back to the flat to eat a jam sandwich and watch Knight Rider. As the afternoon dragged on he decided it was time to make an appearance at the club, and now it was perfectly reasonable time to start nursing a whisky and replaying that interaction with Steven in his head. A perfectly healthy way to spend an evening.

As he jogged down the steps into the village he shot a glance at Price slice and noticed Joel and Steven in there and it didn't look friendly, the next thing he knew Joel had shoved Steven so hard that he fell and disappeared out of view, the tell tale sound of a smashing bottle echoing from the shop. He fought every urge he had to charge into the shop and instead walked straight into the club without looking back.

Joel entered the club a few minutes later all smiles, Brendan grinned back whilst opening one of the newly delivered champagne bottles.

"All delivered and unpacked with not a single bottle broken"

"Yeah" Brendan agreed "apart from Stevens, you showed him eh?"

Joel looked momentarily startled at the mention of Steven before sinking into a self-satisfied smile "ah you saw that then?"

Brendan's smile twisted into a snarl as he sprayed Joel with the shaken bottle of champagne before throwing it on the floor and grabbing him around the back of the neck pushing him half over the bannister of the stairs.

"Arrgghh what the hell are you doing?!" the scot yelled

"You ever touch a hair on Steven's head again and I'll make sure you regret it, do you understand?!" Brendan spat

"YES!"

Brendan let go of him roughly and began walking away

"Touch a nerve did i? Ste can't even stand you when you going to realise that?" Joel exclaimed harshly before fleeing down the stairs. Brendan stormed into the office, slammed the door and threw the desk lamp across the room before collapsing onto the sofa trying to calm his breath. Joel didn't know what he was talking about, he didn't know Steven and his relationship, the ups and downs and ebbs and flows of it, it was complex.

Ok this stand off may have gone on longer than usual, and Steven did seem more detached than he had ever before, but they weren't done, they couldn't be. Brendan knew he may have been hasty when he sacked Steven on New Years day but he was in a bad place then and he was in a better one now. It was Steven's fault anyway, harping on to Brendan that he knew him better than anyone, that they could talk and he would feel better, that he knew what it was like because he'd spent time in juvie like that was in any way the same thing. Brendan had needed to get rid of him, for a little while, and had to show him who was boss again. Pulling the random bloke in front of him might have been unnecessary, but Steven needed to be put in his place that night.

He'd always planned to give him his job back, he was going to make him sweat for a week or two and eventually Steven would come crawling back with an apology and Brendan would give him his job back and their game of cat and mouse could resume. But then there had been all that business with Declan, and Steven had made Brendan hit him again, provoked by taunting him about his relationship with Declan. Then the only time he'd seen him after that incident was the time in College Coffee and he'd been pig headed then too.

He intended to message him on his birthday, or send him a gift, it was his 21st after all, but Brendan didn't want to risk the rejection, Steven was still too volatile. He wasn't getting over it as quickly as he usually did, he wasn't coming back to him like he was meant to. Now it had been 7 weeks since he sacked him and things were as bad as that day between them.

Brendan grabbed the whisky and started swinging from the bottle to dull the ache. Why should he feel bad? Why should he make the first move? Steven should be begging for his forgiveness after he believed he was a murderer! Well after he believed he murdered those girls, obviously Steven knew he was already a murderer but that was completely different.

Steven had said he knew him better than anyone, so how could he think he killed innocent girls, how could he think he was a twisted serial killer. No, Brendan had every goddamn right to treat Steven the way he had. Fuck him. Fuck that selfish, petulant, aggravating, snappy, passionate, spirited, captivating boy. 'Fuck me' Brendan thought to himself as he groaned and took another swig of Jameson.

—-

He was up and out of the flat early doors the next morning striding through the village with purpose. He arrived at Steven's flat and knocked on the door hoping he could use the Joel incident to his advantage in some way. The door swung open to reveal Douglas dressed up in a suit, the yank stepped aside without saying a word allowing Brendan to enter. He walked into the kitchen and saw Steven, with his back to him dressed in a blazer, shirt and boxers as he ironed his suit pants, the sight was not lost on Brendan.

"Well this takes me back" he drawled

Stevens' eyes shot up startled as he stilled his actions "er, what you doing here?"

"Heard you had a bit of bother with Joel yesterday" Brendan explained

"It were nothing," Steven dismissed, resuming his ironing.

"Turn them inside out"

"What?" Steven asked

"The trousers, turn them inside out, it stops them becoming all shiny" Brendan advised. "Who died?" both the boys stared at him blankly. "The suits" Brendan offered, pointing between the two of them.

"Oh we've got a meeting with the bank to apply for a loan for the lease on Cincerity" Doug explained. Brendan didn't miss the faint annoyance on Stevens' face when Doug said it.

"Hey, well that's good isn't it?" Brendan said positively. "If you needed money you could have come to me"

"You would be the last person I would come to. Was there anything else you wanted?" Steven said sharply.

"No, i just wanted to make sure you were ok, and you are, i'll leave you two it" and he exited the flat with Douglas closing the door behind him.

He made his way back to the club and on the journey there he mulled over the interaction he'd just had. He was genuinely surprised at how grown up and professional the pair of them were, he'd scoffed at the idea of them in business yesterday, but the fact that they'd arranged a meeting with a bank to purchase the lease on an actual shop, they weren't playing around. He was a mixture of pride and jealousy, proud that Steven was making something of himself and growing, jealousy that he had no part of it, that he wasn't involved in the slightest. 'You would be the last person i'd come to' there was a time when brendan would have been the first person he'd go to, clearly not anymore.

He walked into the club to see Joel unloading the latest delivery, Joel shot him a cold look before continuing with his task. Brendan headed for the office before turning on his heels and walking to the bar.

"Do you know what I love about kids? Boys especially?" Joel turned to look at him "it's that nothing phases them, they just get on with things. They can beat seven bells out of each other and the next day it's like nothing happened." Brendan explained matter of factly.

Joel remained silent.

"You stepped out of line yesterday Joel, but you took your punishment like a man and showed up to work today and didn't make a fuss."

Joel narrowed his eyes but Brendan knew he had his full attention.

"I like you Joel, not like that, I think you can learn from me, we can make a good team. You understand what I'm saying?"

Joel looked sceptical for a few seconds before nodding "yeah… yeah".

"Good. back to work"

—-

Brendan found himself at the Dog during the afternoon desperate for a change of scenery. Everything was sorted with Joel and there were no drama's at the club, but he just needed to get out of there. He stood at the bar and mulled over the paper whilst sipping his pint when he heard the yank speaking behind him, he turned to see Stephen and Douglas.

"How'd it go lads?" he said uncharacteristically keenly.

"Urm it didn't work out" Doug replied despondently.

"i'm sorry to hear that"

"Are ya" Steven shot back

"Yeah I just want what's best for you Steven, ok?" Brendan tried to reason

"You're loving this"

"You got me all wrong mate"

"So what, I might not be making something of myself, but at least I'm not you brendan. Doug, get us a beer." Steven turned and walked back out the door to grab a table at the front.

"He's just disappointed, we both are." Douglass offered softly.

"It's alright, I deserve it. Even when I'm genuine he doesn't believe me. I meant what I said though, I only want the best for him." Brendan stepped closer to the american "The offer still stands, i can lend you the money to get you started"

Doug swallowed hard "Ste wouldn't take your money"

"Steven wouldn't have to know." Brendan practically whispered "What do you want Douglas? Now's your chance to make something of your life. You can start paying me back when you make a profit, what do you say?"

—-

Two days, two days of slight pressure and manipulation, that's all it had taken to convince Douglass to take the loan. The yank wanted to be a good friend and business partner to Steven, that was obvious, but the opportunity to own his own business and make something of his life was too good to turn down, which suited Brendan perfectly. He really wasn't trying to play games, he was happy to be a silent partner and for Steven not to know he was involved, unless him knowing would benefit Bredan of course. He just wanted to make sure Steven was making something of himself, here, in the village, where Brendan could keep an eye on him. This new found taste for success could lead Steven god-knows-where with god-knows-who, away from Brendan and that just wouldn't do. Brendan stared at the signed loan agreement and smiled to himself, he always won.

There was knock at the office door before Rhys swung it open

"Ere i'm going on my lunch break now, bar's been stocked and there's someone here to see you, said his names Simon"

Brendan thought to himself 'Simon' it wasn't ringing any bells. He shoved the paperwork into his draw and made his way to the bar. The mystery man had his back to Brendan and was leaning against the bar sipping a beer, they weren't even open yet and Rhy's shouldnt be serving anyone out of trading hours, he made a mental note to have it out with Rhys when he was back, eejit.

"Simon, is it?

The man turned and faced Brendan "Remember me?"

"Walker," Brendan said in surprise.

"Brady" Walker raised his beer in acknowledgment. "Hope you don't mind, i helped myself"

Brendan laughed sardonically "I do, I do mind Walker. I mind a lot. What are you even doing here?"

"Well what a welcome that is, i thought you'd be pleased to see your old prison mate"

Brendan's cheek twitched as he smiled disingenuously "You should have called, i would have got a cake in"

Walker snorted "You did tell me to look you up if i needed anything, you know, after what i did for you inside"

"Mmmm, but that was then and this is now. What is it exactly that you need?"

"I got out a couple of weeks ago and I had nowhere else to go, I just needed some help to….get my bearing shall we say. Not going to let me drink alone are you?"

Brendan looked Walker in the eyes and then around the club, Walker was right, he did tell him to look him up if he ever needed anything, and he did owe him. Walker had pretty much saved his life inside, but right now he was inconvenient. Brendan had put prison behind him and had no interest in raking it back up again. He cursed internally, a debt was a debt. He rounded the bar and poured himself a whisky.

"You better start talking"

—-

A week had passed since Walker had shown up out of the blue, and what a week it had been. They'd spent the entire first evening 'catching up', basically after the pleasantries they got down to business and Walker had told him about a deal he had going on that he could use some help with and after hearing the details Brendan had been all too happy to oblige. The deal had gone well and Brendan had made a fair amount of money out of it, as much as he was put out by Walker's arrival he had to admit they made quite a good team.

Walker was staying in a flat just outside the village so he wasn't planning on going anywhere anytime soon, so Brendan felt like the smart thing to do was to keep him close, use his skills.

Walker was smart, capable and lacking certain moral standards, much like Brendan himself. So he'd hired him at Chez Chez, to the joy of Cheryl, who hadn't stopped drooling over him, and the annoyance of Joel who seemed to have his nose out of joint by Brendan having a new toy.

Cheryl had told them they needed another member of staff with Ash still off sick and her stepping back a bit because of her Uni course. So he'd delegated that task to Walker and Joel, unsurprisingly they hadn't been able to agree on a candidate and Brendan told them each of their picks would have a trial shift and he'd pick the lucky soul at the end of it himself. Joel had chosen Leanne, Douglas's loud blonde housemate, Brendan was in no doubt that it was his attempt to make Theresa jealous and rolled his eyes at the thought. She turned up and Brendan knew instantly this wouldn't end well, she was too interested in flirting with guys and attempting to impress people with her 'cocktail making skills'. After the 3rd dropped bottle of spirit Brendan called time

"You what? Youre sacking me?!" she gawped affronted

"Right now sweet cheeks, you actually owe me money on account of the amount of stock you've broken. I'd start walking if i were you"

She grabbed her coat and stormed out as Joel looked sheepishly at Brendan. Walker's candidate, on the other hand, was a whole different kettle of fish. He had experience, having worked at several bars before which put him head and shoulders above Leanne anyway. His name was Kevin, he was 22, blonde, blue eyes with pale skin, slim built, about 5'10 and shared quite a few similarities with a certain ex barman. Once upon-a-time Brendan would have been very intrigued by this hire, very intrigued indeed, but now he didn't spend more than a couple of minutes thinking about it. He was however, the obvious hire, which Walker didn't fail to gloat about.

Brendan clapped his hands together loudly "Well, now we have Kevin here, I'm sure there's enough staff to take care of this evening. I'm heading out for a drink, fancy joining me Walker?"

"Were in a club" Joel pointed out the irony of leaving it for a drink sullenly

"That we are little foxy, but I want to go to the Dog, that ok? Good." he turned and made his way down the club staircase, Walker close behind him.

As they walked into the pub Brendan ordered two beers and two whisky chasers from Jack.

Walker eyed him suspiciously "planning a big night are we?"

"Just celebrating a week's partnership, and here's to many more" Brendan replied nonchalantly, raising his whisky glass to the other man.

"Slainte"

"Cheers"

The men clinked their glasses before downing the contents and settling on their beers. Walker excused himself and ventured to the toilet.

That wasn't strictly true though, Brendan did have an ulterior motive for being here, as he was taking a sip of his beer, said motive walked in. Steven was looking good, after Brendan sacked him he had begun to look a bit weathered, paler, tired, messy hair, skinnier, Brendan had wondered if the lack of dual income had affected how much food they could afford in the Hay/Barnes household and inwardly grimaced at the thought. Right now though, he was looking better again, he had that golden glow back to his skin, he was standing up straighter, smiling and his hair was styled and swept to one side. He wore a blue polo shirt which brought out his eyes and fitted dark blue jeans with suede boots. An entire outfit that had been purchased by Brednan himself, he wondered if that was in any part a conscious decision, if Steven still liked to wear things that Brendan had bought him, if he thought about it at all.

Brendan had been in College coffee earlier and overheard Amy telling Tony that Steven and Doug had secured the lease on the shop and were going to celebrate at the dog this evening, hence Brendan arranging this impromptu visit, and even better, he had a mate along with him, so he couldn't be accused of loitering or stalking, with any luck Steven might even be a bit jealous.

He watched intently as Steven spoke animatedly to Tony whilst Amy, Douglas, Texas and Dennis sat and chatted around a table and Riley bought a round in. Steven suited this, being social, conversing with everyone and anyone, he'd always admired that about him, he really did light up a room. Walker had returned from the toilet and sat on the bar stool with his back to the celebrating group. He pretended to listen whilst Walker chatted about some contacts he had that would be good for the club, all the while watching Steven. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Steven make a move and knew he was heading for the toilet.

"Steven" Brendan called out casually as he walked past. Steven looked at him and only half rolled his eyes. Progress.

'What?"

At that point Walker turned on his stool to face Steven as well,

"I hear congratulations are in order" Brendan stated nodding over at the group sipping prosecco. Steven didn't respond, in fact he was just staring at Walker. Brendan looked between the two of them before Walker spoke.

"Hello again Ste, we have to stop meeting like this" Walker grinned

"Am I missing something here, you two know each other?" Brendan wafted his fingers between them.

"Yeah, Ste here helped me move into my flat just over a month ago"

"Right, I wasn't aware you were a removal man these days, how'd that work with your little chicken arms? Did you carry the lamps?" Brendan said with faux humour, more than slightly annoyed that he wasn't aware of their acquaintance.

"Ah i just met him in the coffee shop in the village, it was more Amy's idea than anything, said he was at a loose end as he'd just lost his job isn't that right Ste?" Simon explained.

"Yeah," Ste croaked. The only word he'd said since he stopped actually.

"Ah, guilty" Brendan said, holding his hands up "but I hear you and Doug are starting your own Deli, right?"

"erm…yeah" Ste shot a glance back to the group

"Oh this is what Amy was talking about last week, Congrats mate, what a great start to the year eh?" Walker said with a wink.

Since when were Walker, Ste and Amy pally, chatting in the coffee shop, in the village helping him move? What the fuck? Brendan didn't like it one bit.

"Let me buy you a drink to say well done" Brendan offered "bottle of champagne?"

Ste ignored his offer "how do you two know each other?" he looked at Brenden for the first time since this exchange had begun.

Walker went to say something but Brendan beat him to it "Business associates. He's working at the club now too".

"We go way back" Walker added and smiled at Brendan, he must have sensed that Brendan didn't want Steven to know they met in prison for whatever reason, and was taunting Brendan with that knowledge.

"Oh" Steven said in barely more than a whisper.

Brendan was getting used to Steven's cold shoulder or sharp remarks, but this was odd behaviour even for him. Was he annoyed that Walker was friends with the person he hates? Was that what this was about? The thought stuck in Brendans throat.

"So, champagne?" Brendan repeated his offer

"No. No, ta" but Steven stayed where he was, no attempt to walk back to the table or continue to the toilet.

"Do you want to join us?" Walker asked

Brendan looked at him incredulously, what was he playing at? Who was he to invite Steven to join? And more importantly, was Steven going to accept his offer?

'I've got… i need…to go, toilet" Steven stumbled over his words before darting into the Loo.

"Something I said?" Walker joked, turning back to the bar. Brendan just huffed out a laugh whilst staring at him in mild confusion at the scene that had just played out.

When Steven eventually exited the toilet he made a swift return to his group and remained out of eyesight for the rest of their evening. When Brendan and Walker left the pub he noticed that Steven had already gone, despite the rest of the party, including Amy, still being there.

When he made it back to the flat, he pulled out his phone and thumbed a message.

I meant what I said at the pub, Steven. Well done on getting the business. BB

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