Chapter Text
Brad woke up the next morning with a hangover… in Conrad’s bed.
That, unfortunately, wasn’t anything new.
He stared at the brunette beside him for a minute after grabbing his glasses and slowly manoeuvred his way out of the other’s grasp. Conrad groaned and grabbed at him the way he always did and Brad had to move quickly to pull a pillow closer so the other could cling onto that instead. Conrad huffed before dragging the pillow in close and drifting off to sleep. Brad would’ve laughed if his head wasn’t killing him at that moment.
He tried to go through his usual routine. Headed to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, grabbed a bottle of aspirin and headed to the kitchen for some much needed coffee and breakfast. Only to stop when he caught the scent of coffee drifting in the air the second he opened the bedroom door and heard what sounded like pots and pans in the kitchen.
Is Julia here?
It wouldn’t be the first time Julia stopped by and found Brad at Conrad’s place. Usually she’d just leave and come back later, sometimes she made breakfast.
But Brad still frowned as he headed for the kitchen only to blink at who he saw standing in the kitchen, shovelling eggs out onto a plate before looking up at him with a smile.
“Morning Brad!”
“Mike? What’re-“
“Matt and I stayed over last night. Remember?” Mike asked with a smile as he put the pan in the sink, “You were super drunk, Matt was barely conscious. Conrad suggested having a sleep over while he clung to you like an octopus on ecstasy. And you just laughed about how his tongue in your ear tickled.”
Brad flushed. The memories rushed at him all at once and he had to brace his hand on the counter.
“Oh god…”
“Yup.” Mike scoffed, “Matt’s still passed out but I figured I could make us all breakfast. Hope you’re hungry.”
Mike kept going, grabbing the coffee pot to the dark liquid out into a cup before he spoke. “Hey, how does Conrad take his coffee?”
“Two sugars with half and half.” He said as he eased himself into one of the stools at the counter and took a couple of aspirin from the bottle. Mike shook his head before reaching back to hand the other a glass of water.
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
“So, when do you plan on telling Conrad you like him?”
Brad blinked and almost chocked on the combination of aspirin and water. He quickly took in more water to force the pills back, cringing at the bitter taste that lingered in his throat.
“What?”
Mike smirked, “You know, I’m kind of surprised that he hasn’t figured it out yet. We were hanging out for one night and even I could tell that you’ve got it bad.”
Brad flushed, “I don’t-“
“Don’t even try denying it to me Bradpack.” Mike drawled and Brad glared at the way that stupid smirk went wider. “You like him, it’s obvious. And since its somehow not obvious to you I’m pretty sure he likes you.”
“How do you know that?”
Mike gave him a very dull look, “I don’t know, maybe the fact that he was clinging to you like an octopus on ecstasy with his tongue in your ear?”
Brad flushed even more, “Conrad’s affectionate.”
“Affectionate? So that’s what the kids call it these days?”
“I’m older than you.”
“Sure.”
Brad sighed, “Conrad’s just a friend.”
“O.K.” Mike said as he set the dishtowel in his hands down and braced his hands on the island as he spoke, “Does he know, that he’s just a friend? Cause it sure didn’t seem like it last night.”
“Mike-“
“Brad,” Then Mike sighed, “Look, I’m not Alex and Matt’s passed out on the couch. I’m not going to start internet stalking Conrad or lock you up somewhere where he can’t find you.”
“Did Matt actually say that he’d do that?”
“He hinted at it, I think that’s enough of a red flag.” Mike said and Brad shook his head with a scoff as the raven finished. “No judgement, no crazy overprotectiveness. So tell me honestly; do you like Conrad? And I mean, like, do you really like him?”
Brad paused to look into the other’s eyes before setting his glass down, “I… Yeah, kind of… a little maybe.”
“A little, maybe?”
“It’s just…” Brad let out a heavy sigh, “When we met, we went through some… intense stuff and there’s this thing I read about when I was trying to deal with everything. It’s called trauma bonding. When two people have a really intense traumatic experience together, they can sort of latch onto each other but as time goes by and they get better they just split apart because they realise that the only thing they have in common is the traumatic experience and-“
“You’re afraid that the only reason Conrad likes you is cause of the trauma thing.”
“He doesn’t like me.” Brad said with a sigh as he stared down at his glass, “We just went through some stuff and its totally natural to latch onto someone because-“
“O.K, I’m gonna stop you right there.” Mike said as he took a step forward, “Did Matt ever tell you how he and I became a thing?”
Brad shrugged, “He told me about the stuff that happened on Blackwood mountain. He said you got close and then you started dating.”
“So he told you about Josh?”
“Yeah.”
“That doesn’t seem like a trauma bonding thing to you?”
Brad paused, “Yeah but-“
“We finished highschool together. It’s been a couple years and we’re still together. So what if a traumatic experience is what it took to get us together. We’re here now and we’re happy.”
Brad looked back down at the glass again Mike moved so he was leaning against the kitchen counter as he spoke.
“It doesn’t matter how you get together, what matters is that you’re here now and you care about it each other. That’s all. But look… I’m not going to tell you what to do. If you’re good with you and Conrad staying friends then, fine. Don’t say anything.” Mike said as he started moving a plate onto a tray along with Conrad’s coffee, “Just make sure that that’s actually what you really want.”
Brad looked at the other, biting his lip for a moment only to start when he suddenly felt a pair of arms go around him. His first thought was Conrad, which is why he instantly felt his face flush only to pause when he saw dark skin and realised it was just his cousin.
“Mornin’.” Matt mumbled, with his head already buried in Brad’s neck. Brad just scoffed as he reached up to pat the other’s head.
“Morning.”
“I woke up and you weren’t there.”
“You slept on the couch with Mike, remember?”
Matt paused looking up and squinting through the light coming in through the kitchen window. Mike waved at him.
“Yeah, remember Mike? Your boyfriend?”
Matt rolled his eyes and let his head rest on Brad’s shoulder again before letting out a sigh. “I dreamt we were at aunt Sheila’s again.”
“Aunt Sheila?” Mike asked and Brad shrugged.
“My Mom, his Dad’s, sister.” Brad explained, “She has lives on a ranch so whenever there’s a family thing its usually at her place. The main house is kinda small though so Matt and I share the attic so we don’t have to go to one of the other cottages on the ranch like everyone else.”
“Oh.” Mike said as he picked up his own cup of coffee to start sipping from it, “Cool.” And then he gestured to the tray. “You should get Conrad’s coffee to him. Maybe… talk a little.”
Brad flushed again. Matt lifted his head to look at his cousin with a frown.
“You O.K?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“You’re sure, what were you two even talking about?”
“Nothing, just… stuff.”
Matt nodded and pressed a kiss against his temple, making Brad cringe. “Matt, cut it out.”
“Wait, if I was on the couch with Mike, then where were you?”
Brad felt his flush burn darker, “Spare bedroom. That’s where I always sleep when I stay with Conrad.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah.” He said shrugging out of Matt’s grasp to pick up the tray, “I should get this to Conrad. Thanks for making breakfast Mike… Mike?”
The other was staring right through them, clearly off somewhere else only to start when Brad addressed him.
“Oh, what?”
“I said thanks for making breakfast.” Brad said just as Matt slipped into the vacant seat beside him. “Are you O.K? You kinda spaced out for a second.”
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” He said setting his cup down and nudging the tray forward, “Go on, before it gets cold.”
“Yeah yeah.” Brad said as he picked up the tray and left the room. Mike watched him go before looking over to Matt and giving him a smile when he noticed the other with a hand braced against his head.
“Coffee?”
Matt looked up at him and smiled, “I love you.”
“I know you do.”
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Conrad woke up and Brad wasn’t in bed. He groaned at that oh so annoying oh so familiar feeling of being hungover. But somehow, the thing that annoyed him more than anything is the fact that Brad was up and not in bed with him.
Memories from the night before slowly but surely creeped back to him. Conrad found himself annoyed and simultaneously embarrassed by himself. Annoyed since Brad seemed so ridiculously distracted with Matt there and embarrassed since he remembers how clingy he became with every drink he threw back, because of how distracted Brad was.
It was made even worse by the stupid knowing look on Mike’s face, just about every time Conrad dragged Brad into his side and Brad just giggled uncontrollably under the warm haze of alcohol.
The night before Conrad realised two things. One, Brad is entirely too close to his cousin. And two, he may have a serious crush on his brother in-law. Not that Conrad wasn’t already at least somewhat aware of his slightly nonplatonic feelings towards the other, but the night before he realised just how bad he really has it.
Because Matt was there and for some reason, with Matt there Brad seemed so much more relaxed. He laughed more, he didn’t seem half as self-conscious as he normally was, he joked and babbled on and Conrad hated that he couldn’t bring out the same reaction out of the younger man when it was just the two of them. He spent at least half of the evening wondering why Brad wasn’t like this all the time. Maybe Brad is still a little uncomfortable after what happened on the boat all those months ago. That would make sense. Maybe being around Conrad reminded him of that terrible night at sea, but Conrad hoped that that wasn’t the case.
He hoped that maybe Brad was still just shy. Alex mentioned once, how Brad could get awkward and self-conscious around people he liked. Though that conversation came up when the older Smith was complaining about some guy that Brad used to date and how he always knew the guy was bad news.
But Conrad didn’t want to get his hopes up, he didn’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on the younger man in case it wasn’t what he thought. For now, it should just be enough that Brad stays over right? Brad comes over, they hang out and Conrad can show up at his apartment whenever he likes as well. For now that should be enough.
Just then he heard the door open, but he still wasn’t willing to lift his head until he caught the smell of coffee.
“Hmm…”
“I have breakfast.”
He finally looked up when he heard Brad’s voice, lifting his head just in time to see the younger man carrying a tray into the room.
“Bradlebury… you’re a total lifesaver.” He said as he forced himself up. His head was pounding but thankfully there wasn’t any nausea. He shoved the covers until he could move a little better and sat up just as Brad moved over and set the tray down on the bed. Conrad reached out for the coffee. He took a sip and let out a heavy sigh at the taste of caffeine that sent a thrill of a buzz to his brain.
Brad sat on the bed beside him.
“Feeling O.K?”
“Yeah.” Conrad said, “I could really use some aspirin, though.”
“Here.” Brad took the bottle from his pocket and shook out two tablets to give to Conrad, “Got em from the bathroom earlier.”
“Thanks.” Conrad said as he popped the pills into his mouth before swallowing them down with a sip of coffee. “Making me breakfast in bed and everything, huh?”
Brad scoffed, “Mike made breakfast, actually.”
“Mike?” Conrad asked with a frown before the night before fully came back to him, “Oh, right. They’re still here?”
“In the kitchen. I hope you don’t mind-“
“No. No its cool.” Conrad answered, “I just kind of forgot they were here.”
He really did, it was a weird thought that it wasn’t just him and Brad in his apartment. That means Matt is still here too.
Conrad stuffed a forkful of eggs into his mouth.
“They probably won’t be here long, do you have any plans for today?” Brad asked and Conrad swallowed with a shrug.
“No not really. Why?”
“Well, we never finished that movie marathon the other day. So I figured-“
“Yeah, sure.” Conrad said with a smile, “We could’ve finished it if you didn’t leave so early.”
“I had a test, Conrad.”
“Which wouldn’t matter if you just moved in here already. You spend most of your time here anyway, right?”
“Only cause you keep snatching me on the way home.” Brad said dryly with a shake of his head before taking in a deep breath and letting it back out, “But… I guess, it could make things a little easier, if I moved in here.”
Conrad stopped eating, “Yeah?”
“And you said I won’t have to pay rent, right?”
“Yeah – I mean – no, you won’t.” He kept still, coffee up mid sip since he wanted to make sure what was actually happening was in fact happening. Brad looked away.
“Then, I guess – I don’t have a reason to say no-“
“So you’re moving in?” Conrad asked cutting him off, Brad took in another deep breath before letting it out.
“There’s something we need to talk about first.”
Conrad frowned as he set his cup down, “Ohkay?”
Brad shifted on the bed, still not looking up at the older man as he spoke.
“That stuff that happened… on the boat?” Conrad sat up a bit more as the other continued, “It was bad, really really bad and intense and… it took a really long time for me to feel O.K after it happened. I know it took you a long time too.”
“Brad-“
“Let me finish, before I lose my nerve.” Brad said quickly, swallowing hard, “But after everything happened, it felt good seeing you again and hanging out. I’m really glad you decided to move here, it feels good being around you… I like you Conrad, but I mean I like you, you know?”
Conrad blinked, “I-I think so.”
“And it’d be really great if you liked me too, but I don’t want to make this into a big deal if it isn’t… If you don’t feel the same way cause, it’ll be so awkward if we’re living together and with Alex and Julia too. I don’t-“
Brad was cut off when Conrad suddenly pushed the tray aside and leaned over to press a kiss on the younger man’s lips. Brad’s eyes went wide and he froze just as Conrad’s hand went up to cup his cheek and he pulled back with a grin.
“Brad, you have no idea how happy I am that you said that.”
Brad blinked, Conrad could feel the heat rushing up to the other’s cheek as he flushed. “I… really?”
“You wanna know the real reason I want you to move in here? Its because I can’t sleep when you’re not here-“
“I-“
“And I know its not just cause of the stuff on the boat.”
Brad sighed, “Are you sure? Because I read this study on traumatic bonds formed in-“
“You have no idea, how adorable you are, do you?” Conrad grinned, he felt the other continue to flush under his hand and leaned in to press a kiss on his lips, “And you’re smart and so… good. I just, I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. Not if it means I won’t get the chance to be around you anymore. So if you’re serious about moving in here and about liking me then, I want you here with me. Not just in my apartment, I want you with me. If you’re O.K with that-“
“I am.” Brad said quickly, a smile spreading over his lips, “I’m more than O.K with it.”
“You’re sure-“
Brad suddenly leaned in and kissed him again, pulling the other closer to deepen the kiss. Conrad felt his lips pull into a smile as he tilted his head and pushed the other onto his back to deepen the kiss.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matt was at the kitchen island, pouting.
“You should be happy for him.” Mike said as he slid into the Brad’s previous seat and Matt gave him a withering glare.
“I am.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“There isn’t a problem. Brad likes him and-“ Matt sighed, “I can tell that Conrad likes him too and as much as I hate to admit it, they’re weirdly adorable together. I’ve never seen him so happy before.”
“And that’s why you’re mad?”
“Yes.” Matt mumbled before leaning over to rest his head on Mike’s shoulder, “He was supposed to stay innocent and pure forever. I mean, what am I supposed to tell Alex?”
Mike frowned at him, “You know, you two get me a little worried when you talk like that.”
Matt rolled his eyes, “He’s my baby cousin.”
“He is older than us.”
“That’s beside the point... You know what I’m grateful for?”
“What?”
“I’m grateful that despite everything with Blackwood mountain and Emily, I gave you a chance and you gave me a chance. I hate to admit it, but Conrad seems like a good guy. I think Brad’s going to be really happy if he gives Conrad a chance too.”
Mike grinned, “Is Alex going to be happy about it?”
“Eventually… hopefully.” Matt huffed and Mike laughed as he wrapped his arm around Matt’s shoulders, “We should probably go now, give them a little privacy.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, besides. I still have to pay up on yesterday’s bet, right? Or does Wolfy wanna call a rain-check on that?” Matt asked with an arched brow. “Cause I don’t mind waitin-“
“Yeah let’s go.” Mike said as he quickly got up and head straight for the living room where the rest of their stuff was. Matt just laughed.