Work Text:
Cape town. 2009. The band had been touring, but right now they were in a.. rough spot. The band hadn't exactly named it, but it was obvious that Brendon and Ryan were together. And right now, it was even more obvious that they were having problems. None of them were exactly sure why. None of them talked much about it. Hell, Spencer and Jon never even verbally acknowledged the relationship, and it was a silent understanding that no one ever would.
But the tension was palpable whenever they were in a room together. There was silence. There was cold. And there was an obvious helplessness to Brendon’s energy. While Ryan would tune his guitar and write lyrics, Brendon would watch from across the room like he knew the relationship he'd been chasing after for years was coming to an end right when he thought it was how he wanted it.
=====================
Ryan didn't come back. It was 2:00am roughly, Ryan and Brendon had been in an argument about how distant Ryan was lately, and Ryan up and left the tour bus, saying nothing. That was all he ever said.
Brendon had been panicking. He'd been a mess. Spencer was there for him, he always was. But this time it didn't make him feel any better. Eventually, he couldn't stand it. He picked up his phone and dialed Ryan's number. It rang for long enough that he almost hung up, but then there was an answer.
“Yeah??” Ryan's voice sighed, sounding slurred. He was drunk. Brendon felt his stomach drop.
“Ryan- Ryan, please. Come back. We- we have to get back on the road-”
“I'm not coming back. At least not tonight.” Ryan’s cold voice cuts off Brendon’s panicked one, making Brendon’s tears come back in an instant.
“W-what?? You have to, we're on tour-”
“I'm not. I'm done with the whole thing.. ‘s not for me.”
“Ryan-” he chokes on a sob, then there's silence. What had he done?? All he ever did was ask why Ryan was being so distant. Had he dones something else?? Why wouldn't Ryan talk to him-
“Ryan.. please.. say something..”
“…”
“Say something, I'm giving up on you-”
“…”
“…”
“I'm saying goodbye.”
And with that the call was cut short, leaving Brendon with the silence and the sound of his own breathing. Then his own sobs. And all the thoughts running through his mind.
This was the end.
====================
