Chapter Text
Philadelphia
3:00pm
On a Sunday
Dennis walked into Paddy's. It was dark and empty.
Groaning he switched on the lights and turned on the open sign.
Where the hell are those guys.
The bar doesn't have a set open time but you would think at least one of them would be here by now.
Dennis went around wiping tables, and counters as he heard the door open and Charlie and Frank barge in.
"Come on man! I know you have the money for it!" Charlie squeals at Frank.
"I said no Charlie!" Frank yelled back.
"Why not?!
"What the hell are you guys going on about?" Dennis asked.
"Charlie wants to rent an RV and take another road trip," Frank informed him.
"Another road trip?" Dennis laughed. "We didn't even make it out of Philly last time,"
"Exactly dude! I still want to see the Grand Canyon,"
"Charlie, do you even know what state the Grand Canyon is?" Frank asked massaging his temples.
"Yeah I do," Charlie stated
"Where is it then?"
"How do I know you know where it is?"
"What?" Frank asked.
"What if you don't know where it is?"
Dennis sighed.
"It's in fucking Arizona. You two are ridiculous!" he snapped.
Dee strolled in through the door.
"What's up, boners!" she said walking towards the back office.
"Pack up Dee! We're going on a road trip," Charlie called to her.
"No, we are not!" Frank yelled.
"I'm not going anywhere with you guys. Remember last time? When my new car was stolen!"
"What are you talkin' about Deandra?" Frank asked.
"Yeah Dee, I don't remember that,"
"Me neither," Dennis agreed not looking up from his phone.
"Wha-What? Are you guys serious?! That dumb kid we picked up stole my car!" she squawked.
"Doesn't ring a bell," Charlie shrugged.
"I don't recall that Deandra,"
"Whatever!" she snapped.
"Hey, any of you guys heard from Mac?" Dennis asked.
"No,"
"Nope,"
"Nah,"
"Well. He wasn't at the apartment when I woke up and he's not answering my texts," Dennis stated with worry present in his voice.
"So?" Dee asked.
"We always check in with each other," Dennis stated.
"He's a grow-ass man. And so are you. Why does he check in with you like you're his mama?!" Frank questioned.
"Because! They're gay with each other," Dee said expecting a laugh.
"Shut up, Dee," Dennis replied coldly.
"Yeah! Shut up, Dee!" Charlie laughed.
"He left yesterday without telling me and..." Dennis mumbles as he's interrupted by Mac coming in through the door.
"What's up Jabronis!" Mac exclaimed.
He's was wearing the same clothes he was yesterday and a giddy smile was present on his face.
Dennis stared at him.
Looking at his messy, tousled hair.
Dennis likes when his hair looks fluffy and messy. Mac usually uses so much gel to slick it back that his hair doesn't move.
Dennis analyzed Mac's glowing smile.
He couldn't help but notice how his eyes shine a little brighter and crinkle when he's truly happy.
Why is Mac so god-damned happy?
"What's got you so chipper?" Frank questioned.
"A gentleman never kisses and tells," Mac replied coyly.
"Well, you are not a gentleman, so spill,” Dee snapped.
Mac let out a giddy laugh before clearing his throat.
Dennis can't help but think about how adorable Mac's excitement was. Mac unlike him wears his heart on his sleeve. It's something he oddly admires and is jealous of. He hates how he always thinks these things about Mac and reveres him.
Dennis would never say any of this out loud but that stupid voice in his head won't ever be quiet.
Sometimes when Mac falls asleep on the couch while watching TV late at night Dennis can't help but stare at his face in admiration. He couldn’t help but notice how Mac's furrowed brows relaxed and his defined lips parted ever so slightly as he slept.
"Well, yesterday I had a date! With a total beefcake. I spent the night and I thought we were gonna bang but we just spend the whole night talking. It was awesome he really gets me you know?" Mac rambled.
The gang doesn't really seem to care except for Dee.
"That's sweet Mac. What's his name?" she inquired.
"Brandon!" Mac exclaimed as if it's the most amazing name he's ever heard.
Dennis rolled his eyes when no one was looking.
The words "he really gets me" replay in Dennis' head like a scratched record.
What does that mean? he really gets me.
It's not like Mac's some profoundly complicated person.
Dennis gets Mac.
Dennis has got Mac since they were teenagers. His jaw clenched. Dennis was used to Mac going out on Grinder meet-ups.
Mac would leave at night, hook up with shallow guys who didn't care about him and be home in the morning to make him breakfast.
Dennis could deal with that.
Nothing would ever come from those dates if you could even call them dates.
This was different.
"Where'd you meet this guy?" Charlie asked.
"At the gym! He came over to me as I was bench pressing by myself. Asked if I needed a spotter. Said that I looked so strong I could probably add some plates with his help and I did!" Mac said in one breath.
"You should invite him on our Roaaad Triiip!" Charlie said singing out the end.
"We're not going on a road trip!" Frank yelled.
"YES, WE ARE!" Charlie said even louder.
"Plus I already rented the RV it's out in the alley," Charlie replied nonchalantly.
"You're kidding?" Dee asked.
"Go see for yourselves," Charlie nodded as they all headed to the alley.
When they reached the alley they saw a huge RV parked in the back.
"It's a Fleetwood Bounder!" Charlie said gesticulating at the huge vehicle with a proud smile on his face.
"Dude this is so sweet! I'm totally inviting Brandon,"
"There's probably no room for him," Dennis stated.
"What? This RV is huge dude!"
"Yeah, it fits up to ten people," Charlie boasted.
Dennis already didn't like Brandon and spending a week with him as Mac whores himself out to him wouldn't make it any better.
"We don't even know the guy,"
"Charlie what did you use to rent this thing?" Frank asked.
"Uh, your credit card," Charlie replied softly.
"Charlie that's credit card fraud!" Frank replied angrily.
"Nah uh dude, you added me as an authorized user," he defended.
"How long did you rent it for?" Dee asked.
"Three weeks starting yesterday,"
"Well. We ain't leaving till Friday," Frank stated.
"What? Frank, I wanted to leave today,"
"No can do Charl. I got some business to attend to,"
"Fine. Friday it is," Charlie ceded easily content with the victory of convincing Frank to go.
"Well, then I'm definitely asking Brandon to come. He's stopping by later. We're going to see a movie. Maybe I can ask him to stop by earlier so he can meet you guys!" Mac said excitedly.
He rushed inside to connect his phone to the closest charger. It had died sometime last night.
After a few agonizing minutes, the device powers on and Mac eagerly picks it up noticing a plethora of missed texts and calls from Dennis. As he scrolled through the texts he felt guilt in his chest.
What time are you coming? at 1:46 am
Hey. You okay? 3:32 am
Hey dude, you never came home last night you okay? at 11:34 am.
Mac text me back at 12:11 pm.
The back door opens and as Dennis enters Mac immediately began to apologize.
"Dennis! I'm so sorry bro,"
"For what?" he asked cooly.
"For not answering your texts. My phone had died. I didn't see them until now,"
Dennis waved him off.
"It's alright. We're in our forties. We probably shouldn't be checking in on each other like that. It's kind of pathetic,"
Mac nodded even though he didn't agree.
He likes checking in with Dennis and vice-versa.
His whole life no one had cared about his whereabouts. Except for Dennis.
Even as a kid.
He would spend all day and night at Charlie's house and his mom wouldn't even ask where he had been or call to check upon him.
"I gotta take care of some stuff in the back," Dennis mumbled as he left the room without giving Mac a chance to reply.
...
It's 10:40 and Brandon should be here soon.
The bar has had a good crowd tonight.
Mac's standing his position as bouncer checking in IDs as people walk in. Doing ocular pat-downs of everyone entering the bar.
Charlie's running back and forth cleaning any spills, while Dennis and Dee bartend.
Franks is in the back pretending to do paperwork while he plays computer games.
He thinks the gang doesn't know what he's doing but everyone but him can hear the bubblegum pop music being emitted by his Barbie online games. Anytime they bring this up Frank starts telling them they're delusional. The second-hand embarrassment became too much to bear so the gang no longer confronts him about this. It was easier, and better for business to let Frank sit back in the office without bothering them or the patrons.
The door to the bar opens and Mac feels ecstatic as he notices it's Brandon.
"I'm going to need to see some ID," he said to Brandon in a deep serious voice.
Brandon gave him a dazed smile.
"Yes sir," he stated in a deep but flirty voice that Mac didn’t register.
"No, Brandon. It's me, Mac. I was just messing with you,"
"I know, I was playing along silly," he replied ruffling Mac's hair.
"Come," he said grabbing Brandon's hand.
They walk over the bar top where Dennis, Dee, and Charlie are sipping beers during a lull.
"Guys, This is Brandon," he smiled as he talked.
"Brandon, This is Dennis, Dee, and Charlie,"
Dee extended her hand.
"Deandra, but I go by Dee. It's so nice to meet you," she said being uncharacteristically kind.
Brandon gave her a nod as he shook her hand.
Charlie extended his hand.
"Charlie Kelly, King of the Rats. A pleasure to meet you,"
"Nice meeting you," he replied in a confused tone.
Lastly, Dennis put out his hand not wanting to come off as an asshole.
"Dennis, Nice to meet you, Braden," he introduced himself deciding to be an asshole anyways.
"It's Brandon," Mac corrected him.
"Okay, whatever," Dennis replied with a charming smile to look like less of an ass.
Brandon hadn’t let go of Mac's hand the entire time and Dennis forced himself to look away from their public display of affection.
We get it. You're like super into each other.
Dennis glared at Brandon realizing he's is slightly taller than Mac with a similar but leaner physique.
Wavy dirty blond hair nicely styled and bright blue eyes that are lighter than Dennis' own eyes.
He's attractive Dennis seethed.
That's probably why Dee was so forward with him, and why Mac is so obsessed with this guy.
"So you guys all own this place?" he asked trying to make conversation.
"Yeah, except for Charlie. He sold his shares for a sandwich,"
"You weren't even there Dee!" Charlie chides.
"Yeah, and it was half a sandwich," Mac laughed.
Brandon laughed awkwardly.
"You guys are kidding right?"
"Nope," Mac quipped.
They continued to make conversation telling Brandon about their craziest schemes.
Dennis was quiet the entire time but again no one cared or even noticed.
"We've got to go soon," Brandon said sadly. "The movie starts in like 20 minutes,"
"What are guys going to see?" Dee asked.
"The new Thundergun movie. I got us tickets to the early midnight screening," Brandon replied.
"You guys are seeing Thundergun?" Dennis asked.
"Yeah,"
"Really? Mac and I planned on going to see it on Friday," Dennis quipped.
"Oh. Well, there's no harm in watching it twice," Brandon replied.
"Sorry, bro. I forgot we had planned that. We can still go see it Friday,"
"No. No. It's okay. I can find someone else to come with me,"
Mac cringed.
He knew Dennis was upset.
He hated making Dennis upset.
"No, dude. We can still go," said Mac trying to defuse Dennis who gave him a curt nod.
"Well. It was nice meeting you all," Brandon stated as he and Mac left the bar.
"Your friends are... cool," Brandon said as they got into his car.
"Yeah, they're the best. But uh, did Dennis seem mad? I know we had agreed to see it on Friday but if he could go to an exclusive release I wouldn't mind him ditching me,"
"Is. Is there something going on?"
"What?"
"With you and Dennis?"
"Yeah, I'm afraid he's upset with me," Mac answered aloofly.
"No, did you two date before or something?"
"What? No. Dennis isn't a gay man like I am. He's my best friend,"
Brandon nodded.
Something felt weird about their interactions.
"Well, he seemed jealous," Brandon blurted.
"What? No, he did not,"
"Yeah. I mean he accidentally called me by the wrong name. Then he was acting super possessive and upset about the movie thing,"
"So you agree that he seemed upset. Oh no. I hate when Dennis is upset,"
"Are you not listening?"
"I am listening,"
"He was also glaring at me and rarely spoke. So either way, he must not like me,"
"That's just how Dennis is. It takes him a while to warm up to people,"
"So he's just a natural asshole," Brandon tried to joke.
"He's not an asshole," Mac said sternly.
"I'm just kidding,"
"Oh,"
The way Brandon judged Dennis after only having known him for a while made him upset. Mac knew Dennis was an asshole sometimes but he could also be sweet and caring. Like when Mac would fall asleep on the couch Dennis would cover him up with blankets and take off his shoes.
Or how Dennis would text him when he was out at the gym asking how he was doing and if he was coming home soon. They were two guys in their forties who weren't married or had kids (except for Brian Jr.) so there was no one to care for them. Except for each other.
Mac remained quiet for the rest of the ride.
"You okay?" Brandon asked as he parked the car.
"I'm fine,"
"I'm sorry about what I said about Dennis. He's your friend and I shouldn't have called him that,"
Mac was shocked at the sincere apology. It had been years, decades actually since he had heard the words "I'm sorry" that weren't said to manipulate him.
"It's okay. I'm sorry. I overreacted," the words tasted foreign on his lips but Brandon's smile eased the discomfort.
They walked into the already dark theatre.
"What about here?"
"Yeah, that's fine,"
They sat in their seats and Brandon placed an arm around him as Mac leaned his head to his chest.
Mac heard the sound of Brandon breathing and felt his chest rise and fall.
He even noticed his breathing change to match Brandon's and he felt dazed.
He'd never been in love but this was the closest he ever felt to it. He felt safe and cared for in a way he had rarely if ever had felt before. In a way that up until this point only Dennis had made him feel.
Throughout their friendship, Mac has loved to take care of Dennis. It gave him a purpose. but something he loved more than that was when Dennis would show that he cared for him.