Head over Heels || brance

XVI

That night in the hotel room, Bruce and Vance found each other whispering nonsense in the middle of the night. Amy had fallen asleep but just like the night prior, Vance was taking up the bed maybe it was purposefully, but this time he was awake.

They were a few inches away as they were having a conversation about Bruce's father, Bruce had to hold his hand over his mouth when Vance would say a insult that Bruce couldn't help but laugh and agree with it.

"You did suck today, Yamada." Vance spoke, his voice soft in the darkness where only these two existed.

"Shut up." Bruce rolled his eyes knowing that Vance couldn't see it.

"I've never seen you stay at a base before."

"Well, you only came to two games, so don't parade me like that." There was a hint of quietness that held a bit longer and Bruce thought maybe Vance had fallen asleep.

"I've seen more than that. I've came to your games before." Bruce's heart swelled at that, knowing that maybe him forcing Vance to come wasn't too bad if he had already been going.

"Really?" He whispered, his voice holding amusement. He felt the movement of the pillow as Vance nodded his head.

"Yeah. Don't let that get to your head."

Bruce snickered. "Too late, my ego just got a whole lot bigger knowing you willingly come to my games." He heard Vance groan beside him. "Imagine that, Vance Hopper coming to my baseball games when he doesn't like me."

"Oh my god, shut up." Bruce laughed as he felt Vance's hand push at his face. "I can't stand you."

"I know. You've told me before." Bruce kept his smile on his face knowing that Vance probably couldn't see him but he couldn't help but stare in Vance direction in hopes to see his eyes as he stared at Bruce annoyed.

"If I don't remind you, maybe you'll think otherwise."

"Oh, I could never think otherwise." Bruce moved to lay on his back, closing his eyes to maybe try and fall asleep first so he could take up the bed.

"I heard what that big guy told you," Vance began, and Bruce opened his eyes to look over at him. "Would you try to move down here and join their team?"

"Why? Would you miss me if I left?"

"Never. In fact, I wouldn't mind it." Bruce couldn't help but laugh a little, he always found it amusing to annoy Vance.

"Yeah right. You'd miss me and you know it." Bruce jumped as he felt a pillow hit his face. He laughed and then covered his mouth as he blocked his head from another hit.

Bruce pushed the pillow away, grabbing it and trying to rip it from Vance's hands. He turned onto his side, pushing the pillow again as Vance pushed it toward him to try and smack him on the head.

It was easier for him to move without the pillow barricade there this time.

Bruce let go of the pillow just as Vance hit him with it again. Bruce picked up his own pillow going to hit Vance with it and he knew he was successful when he heard the impact.

"Oh, you're dead, Yamada." He turns his head before he saw the silhouette of Vance sitting up and heaving the pillow above his shoulder before it came down on Bruce's chest.

Bruce giggled, hitting Vance's cheek, seeing his long hair move with the hit of the pillow.

The two kept hitting each other until eventually Vance hit Bruce's arm making the pillow fall out of one hand enough for Vance to grab it and now have two pillows. Bruce turned to face the wall, holding his hands above his face as he felt the pillows take turns hitting him.

Bruce's laughs filled the room, soft and quiet to not wake up Amy. Vance threw the pillow on Bruce before putting his pillow back, laying on it with a 'huff'.

"For a baseball player, you suck at hitting." Vance breathed and Bruce had to mentally facepalm as if Vance hadn't compliment his swings before.

"It's a pillow, not a baseball bat. I'd totally school you if it was one."

"You wish. I'd have you knocked out with one tap." Bruce laughed, looking over at him. "If it makes you feel bad, I'll tell Amy you won against me."

"Bite me."

"No thanks, you probably taste disgusting." Bruce could practically hear Vance's smirk with that line and Bruce wanted to slap him. "K, I'm going to sleep." Vance rolled over, his back facing Bruce and Bruce couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"Oh." He mumbled to himself, quiet but loud enough for Vance to hear.

"Aw, you want me to keep talking to you, Brucey?" Vance spoke in a whiny voice and Bruce gently kicked his leg.

"You wish."

Vance turned back around to face him. "Go to sleep then."

Vance had taken the opportunity to steal the bed when Bruce hid beside the wall and Bruce knew he wasn't going to get much of a sleep either way.

"I'm not tired... and this bed sucks."

"What are you talking about, I had a great sleep last night." Bruce rolled his eyes.

"Of course you did. You took up more than half of the bed."

"You looked comfortable this morning."

Bruce felt his cheeks heat up at the thought of how they looked that morning. Him in Vance's arms, warm and comfortable. He hated that Vance had woken up to see that, he wondered how he felt or what he thought when that was the situation.

Bruce could imagine Vance's brain shouting disgust his way, but part of him hoped Vance longed to stay that way just as much as he did.

"Come here." Vance whispered, his voice barely there. Although Bruce could barely see him, he knew how close he was. "If anyone asks, this happened when we were asleep."

He moved closer to Vance, feeling Vance's hand on his back as he got comfortable on Vance's chest. He laid his head down, wrapping his arm around Vance's torso just like he had that night prior, Vance's other hand coming up to rest on Bruce's arm.

Bruce could hear Vance's heart beat, the rhythm sounding balanced compare to Bruce's which was practically beating out of his chest. The arm that was previously on Bruce's back slowly went up into his hair, he could feel Vance's fingers run through his black strands and it made Bruce feel like he was melting into his touch.

"I'm not taking that offer... for that baseball team." Bruce whispered out, closing his eyes as butterflies filled his stomach.

"Good." Vance whispered back, sounding like he was on the edge of sleep. "I would miss you... and if you ever bring that up, I'll punch you."

Bruce laughed softly as he listened to Vance's heart beat as he rose with each breath Vance took. Feeling as Vance's fingers ran through his hair, his other thumb rubbing up and down on Bruce's arm. And he couldn't help but melt at how soft Vance was when he got tired.

He never saw this side of Vance, he doubted anyone did, but the more this relationship went, the more he saw Vance turn from his tough exterior to this sweet guy that Bruce never knew existed.

If you were to ask Vance Hopper a month ago to hold Bruce so he could sleep, he would curse you out and walk away, but here he was, staring at the ceiling to make sure that Bruce fell asleep first.

Vance didn't like this, he didn't want Bruce to do this to him, to make him feel this way. But Vance was awake last night, he had woken up when Bruce first cuddled against him, and since that moment, he wanted Bruce in his arms again.

He hated what Bruce was doing to him.