Chapter Text
“You're late. Again,” Ronan said from the couch. Adam almost jumped out of his skin. Opal was already in bed, the lights already off. He was late coming home by several hours and Ronan was not happy. “There are leftovers in the fridge.”
“Thanks.” Adam took off the loosened tie that was hanging around his neck and tossed it on the kitchen table. “I'm sorry I'm late, I had a party I had to make an appearance at.” Ronan grunted in response. Adam sighed. “Get on with it, then.”
“What the fuck, Parrish?” Ronan stood up to face Adam. “You've barely been home these last few weeks.”
“I know,” Adam said quietly. Ronan softened ever so slightly at the sight of Adam, jacket slung over his shoulder, top buttons of his shirt undone, hair a mess from running his hand through it after it had been artificially slicked back with product. But he was still too upset to just let Adam slide on this, again.
“Do you still want this?” Ronan matched Adam's tone.
“Of course I still want this.” Adam walked forward to take Ronan's hands in his, something that he knew would calm Ronan down.
But Ronan was already strangely calm. “Okay, but is it what you still need?”
This seemed to surprise Adam. “Yes,” he said adamantly.
“I don't think that it is.” Ronan said, his eyes welling up, but he refused to let them escape. “We're just going different directions, Adam.” The use of his first name meant he was very serious about what he was saying, and he could tell it worried Adam. “I just want to stay here and take care of the Barns and Opal. You're busy. You want to go places, be someone, make a name for yourself. There's just not room for us in your life any more.”
Adam's chin was trembling slightly now. “Are you breaking up with me?”
“No,” Ronan said. “You're breaking up with me.” Ronan tried to give his normal shark smile, but it rang false. “You're breaking my heart, Parrish.”
A single tear fell from Adam's eye and he didn't bother to brush it away. He nodded slightly. “I'll crash at one of my friend's houses. I'll be back for my stuff later this week.”
“Good, be safe.”
Adam nodded to himself again. He picked up his tie from the table and walked past Ronan. When he got to the front door, knob in hand, he paused and then ran back to Ronan. He threw himself into Ronan's arms and began to cry harder. Ronan stroked his hair and let him get it out of his system. When Adam finally pulled back, he wiped his eyes and took a calming breath. Ronan knew he would be fine.
“Maybe one day, we'll be on the same page,” Adam said, hopefully.
“I won't be going anywhere. I'll be waiting when you're ready,” Ronan promised.
A small smile came over Adam's face. He met Ronan's eyes for minute, as though he was trying to memorize every last detail of his face. Then he turned on his heel and left, not daring to look back.
When Adam was gone, Ronan finally allowed a couple of his tears to fall, but he quickly put a stop to it. This didn't have to be the end forever. One day Adam will have achieved his dreams and be ready to settle down. And Ronan would be there when he was. He couldn't ask Adam to stay any longer.
But he could ask him to come back.