Missing in Action

Chapter 009

Giving a small laugh, Ryan simply shrugged. "I think I'll probably forget about it when I do sleep," he stated. "Or get used to the thought, I don't know. Otherwise I'll just have to wrestle the mattress out of the bed and into the bathtub. Although I think that mattress is heavier than I am. It's massive, I tell you." He gave another little laugh, shaking his head slightly before he leaned in and pressed a brief kiss against Brendon's cheek. It was odd how reflexive small gestures like that were becoming. And perhaps even more disconcerting was just how natural they felt. "It's not that much of a problem," he finally lied. "What matters is that you're here and I'm here and we'll have fun with Spencer and Jon and make the best out of the time we get. Cameras are nothing against that." He winked and placed his cheek on Brendon's shoulder, letting out a deep breath. Over the last weeks he'd found out that apparently things like this that gave Brendon some sort of feeling of being the stronger one, the protector, whatever, put him more at ease. Made him forget about his inexperience or something. Ryan didn't really know, could only guess and do his best to read the tensing and relaxing of the younger boy's shoulders.

Brendon snaked his arms around Ryan's shoulders, though he kept his eyes on the door, just in case... but, no. No one was allowed into his room without his expressed permission, or if there was a dire emergency. He let out a breath, ruffling Ryan's hair and then chuckled when it tickled his chin. "Alright, as long as you're not completely freaked out. And I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun downtown, though it's more for show than anything else. There are a few discos," he scrunched up his nose at this, "and bars and such, but unless you want to go shopping, we're going to be doing a lot of sight-seeing," he paused for a moment, eyebrows furrowing. "Not to mention the bodyguards that will have to accompany us. That is, if my father doesn't tell us to stay in. He does that sometimes... he'll come back from a meeting or something and ask me to stay in the castle or the school for a few days." Looking down, he ran his free hand in Ryan's hair, feeling how soft it was, and grinned despite himself. "It's kind of odd, knowing that there are people who want to harm you-- kill you," he finished casually.

"I think that's the way it's always been," Ryan stated softly. "Figuratively speaking, if you put every person on the Earth up on a long row, those whose heads stick up the farthest are the ones it's most tempting to cut. And then of course there are politics." He rolled his eyes slightly. "I used to plan on studying law, but then I realised that I was going to encounter enough politics just from inheriting the family company and I didn't want more, so I'm probably going to get a bachelor in business and take psychology or something as a minor. Politics are tiring, but they're also the reason for most things going bad in the world. If someone is trying to kill you, then suffice to say that it has to be some big-shot politician who's behind it." He shook his head slightly again before leaning it back against Brendon's firm shoulder. "That didn't have a lot to do with anything," he said. "Sorry. I guess I just can't see it from either side. I don't understand what it must be like to know that in some way you are constantly in danger, but neither can I understand anyone wanting to kill you." He wasn't even going to mention harming. He didn't want to harm Brendon, never had. He had absolutely nothing against the other young man. But he also knew that the politicians who dictated his moves made it impossible not to do so, at least in some small way. "Suffice to say that if you spend too much time thinking about it, it will drive you crazy." He smiled slightly, a snicker teasing in his nose. "You should probably see about finding a distraction."

Brendon made a sound in agreement. "You're right, of course. Politics are disturbingly exhausting. And thinking about it does drive me crazy sometimes, but I try not to do it. Easier said than done, of course, what with bodyguards shadowing my every move. But I've gotten pretty used to it. Well-- kind of, any way," he chuckled, then looked down at the boy in his arms again. Brushing Ryan's hair back from his forehead, he grinned. "Is that what you are? A distraction?" asked, eyes bright with amusement. "Because if you are, you're not doing a very good job at the moment... in fact, I think a different tactic might work better. If you are a distraction, that is." Brendon blushed a bit, then quickly willed it away. Really, now! He was seventeen years old. It wouldn't do to be caught blushing as much as he'd been doing these past few days. It was completely out of character.