Chapter Text
Brian didn’t sleep last night, he’d spent the whole night thinking about getting everything done, leaving on time, not forgetting anything, well that was part of what kept him up, but the idea of spending his time with Mat was what he was most looking forward to. They’d spent a lot of time together since the last tour, but it was never the same as seeing him every single day like it was on tour, it felt more intimate spending so much more time with him, something he couldn’t always do when he had to spend his time catching up with his family, and working on other important things, touring felt like vacation to him in a way, and he’d been looking forward to it all year. It was early in the morning as he finally got the trailer packed, but it took him a lot of energy since he was so exhausted. As he slammed the door closed he felt reminded of the tour from a decade ago, touring with their friend and former band member Tom, andtheir opener The Smith Street Band, and how they were even able to rent a tour bus. He wasn’t too upset at the downgrade, this tour wasn’t as much of an investment, and even if it was he preferred to spend his money in less luxurious ways, and the van always treated them well enough especially now that they could afford spending the nights in hotels. Natalie was the first person he picked up, and then Erik, and then Rosh, and then planning to finally start the road trip after grabbing Mat, or he hoped to as the text message “here.” on his phone sat on delivered. He waited a minute before calling.
“Hm?”
“Dude, we’re here, what are you doing?”
“Uh… SHIT! Give me a minute Bri-“
“Well hurry up! We got a far drive to Kentucky!”
“Okay okay!” Mat spoke “AHG!” He shouted before Brian could hear shuffling.
“What is happening?” Brian asked.
“I uh… DAMN IT!” Brian heard a thud as Mat shouted.
“You alright over there Matty?”
“Mhm..” Mat mumbled “I'll be there in a minute!”
“Alright-“ Brian heard the call end as he sighed. He hardly noticed his foot tapping as he glanced at the clock, then remembered it was a few minutes off before checking his phone to make sure he read it correctly. They weren’t in a rush, the first show wasn’t until tomorrow, but Brian was ready to go, and was worried about traffic making the trip last forever, he was getting antsy as he watched through Mat’s window. He heard the rest of the band laughing as they were waiting but all he could do was watch as minutes passed. He was about ready to call Mat again, and yell at him to hurry it up. He saw Mat leave the house only 20 minutes later, struggling to carry stuff to the trailer, Brian stepped out to help him.
“Im sorry about-“
“Dude, I told you to be ready last night! You took 20 minutes to get out here? Are you serious?”
“I’m sorry-“
“You could’ve told me this morning to wait before leaving y’know, maybe I wanted to sleep in an extra twenty minutes but no! I have to wait for Mat, who I told yesterday to be ready on time, only for him to guess what!? Not be ready!”
“Brian I know im really-“
Brian began shoving Mat’s stuff into the trailer. “You think we’ve been doing this shit for so long you would learn how to be prepared, but apparently-“
Brian hardly noticed Mat had walked away until he heard the slam of the van door. He rolled his eyes as he noticed Mat had left his stuff. Brian finished putting Mat’s stuff into the trailer and then got back into the van.
“Don’t worry about him, he’s just being a-“ He heard Natalie’s voice cut off as he opened the door.
Brian sighed before speaking. “And you made me put your shit away?” Brian spoke before he looked at Mat who was holding his face in his hands. “Mat?” Brian’s voice softened as he heard Mat’s sniffling before looking up opposite of Brian’s direction.
“I’m good… just drive..” he choked out along with a shrug.
Brian sighed, he wasn’t sure what to say, he immediately felt like a dick for yelling at him like that, he wasn’t sure where it came from because it’s not like there was a rush, and even if there was, that wasn’t any reason to yell at him. Brian sighed and he almost opened his mouth to apologize before Mat spoke again, this time his puffy face looking at Brian.
“I don’t know what the fuck you want me to say!” He shouted, the group was quiet, Mat hardly ever raised his voice and it almost startled them. “I’m sorry! I already told Natalie, Erik, and Rosh that I'm sorry and I tried apologizing to you and you’re clearly just being a dick!”
Brian’s eyes widened as he listened to Mat, he was shaking, Mat never yelled like that, not to anyone let alone Brian of all people. It wasn't just that, what made it even worse was that Brian had already felt like a dick, and Mat had just confirmed it. Brian nodded. “Okay…” he choked out. “I’ll uh…” Brian cleared his throat before looking forward to avoid looking at Mat, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tears rolling down from his eyes. “I’m just gonna drive…” Brian used his shoulder to wipe away the tear on his facing hoping it wouldn’t become more noticeable.
“Mhm..” Mat sniffled before looking at his own hands. The van was quiet for a while before Mat's voice spoke again. “Can I play something? It’s quite…”
“Oh yeah!” Brian smiled, trying to move past the tension left in the van as he handed Mat the aux cord. Mat smiled as he plugged his phone in, Brian immediately recognized the song playing, and saw Mat banging his head. Brian laughed as he turned to Mat who was singing along to Motorcycle. Brian joined in almost forgetting about the mood he was in a few minutes ago, they laughed again before Summer Shandy came on.
“Back On Top?” Brian asked with his eyebrows raised, recognizing Mat’s intention on choosing it.
Mat nodded. “Thought it only made sense!”
Brian agreed with a nod. “Good choice!” The two of them laughed before singing again, and although they’d been rehearsing Back On Top a lot for the tour it felt nice to sing it all together.
“Not to be rude,” Mat began, “but you look tired.”
“How could you tell?” As if on cue Brian yawned. “I barely slept…” Brian admitted with a chuckle, but “barely” was still an overstatement.
“I gotta use the bathroom, we could stop somewhere and I can take over.” Mat suggested, Brian smiled.
“Yeah, that'll be perfect!”
Mat smiled again. Hours passed before the sun was setting and the music in the van had changed to some of their personal favorites, Mat had turned down the music as he noticed Brian dozing off a few hours before, and he was now knocked out, he tried focusing on the road but luckly the freeway was practically empty as he glanced over, he could barely hear his quiet snoring past the music, he sighed as he turned his head back to the road, nothing but darkness, and the few light on the road making it just bright enough to see. He hardly paid attention until the gps told him to get off the freeway to the hotel they would spend the night at before continuing the drive to Kentucky the next morning.
The rest of the band hopped out of the van as soon as they parked and were already walking into the hotel, Mat waited a little before waking Brian up.
“Bri?” Mat rubbed his shoulder and heard him groan slightly. “Brian?” Brian hummed before opening his eyes, and looked at Mat, he quickly wiped away the drool on his face. “Wanna go in?” Brian looked out the window to the hotel before nodding, Mat stepped outside meeting Brian on the passenger’s side, Mat shut the door behind him as Brian leaned his head against Mat.
“You know I love you Matty.” Brian spoke as he heard the van beep as Mat locked it.
“I do, I love you too Bri.” Mat patted Brian’s shoulder as they walked into the hotel, they didn’t say another word as Mat brought them both to their room before falling asleep.
-
The drive the next day was similar to the day before but without the argument, but still tension from their unresolved one from the day before, but Mat tried to ignore it as he drove, tried ignoring how Brian hadn’t even apologized, ignored that yelling back at him and calling him a dick wasn’t much better, how Brian’s voice shouting at him still lingered in the back of his head guilting him over his stupid mistake of sleeping in. It took them a few hours before making it to the venue and another couple hours of setting up and doing sound check before they were about to go on stage, Brian looked at Mat and gave him a smile but Brian could tell the one he gave in return was fake.
“Matty…” Brian spoke.
“Hm?” Mat hummed as Brian placed his hand on Mat’s shoulder before stepping in front of him.
“10!” The loud speaker started counting down as Brian spoke over it.
“I’m really sorry! I was gonna apologize and then you called me a dick and i-“
“9!”
“I couldn’t even think straight, and i just feel so so-“
“8!”
“So bad!”
“7!”
“I’m sorry.” Brian waited for Mat’s response as he finally saw Mat’s smile become genuine.
“6!”
“Thanks…” Mat looked at Brian who was smiling again too.
“5!”
“Sorry for sleeping in…”
“Shh!” Brian interrupted. “You already apologized!”
“4!”
Mat chuckled as he glanced away before feeling Brian’s hand on his head.
“3!”
“Come here…” Brian pulled Mat into a hug, finally feeling like there was nothing between them as he felt the warmth of Mat’s body, and could feel the smile on Mat’s face against his body.
“WELCOME TO THE STAGE THE FRONT BOTTOMS” Brian almost jumped as he heard the words.
“Fuck!” He quickly grabbed his guitar and handed Mat his sticks before rushing on stage, looking at Mat who was laughing now that Brian was the one to make them late, even if by just a second.