Work Text:
it was close to 2:00am, and Ryan was passed out on the couch in his apartment, the TV still playing and a cup of coffee left half empty on the table. he'd been home from touring with The Young Veins for about a month but he's barely had the time to start processing anything; the band breakup, everything that did and didn't happen between him and Brendon, any of it. he wasn't taking it well, even if it was a hell of his own making.
bzzzt... bzzzt... bzzzt... "hmm..." Ryan stirs in his sleep and reaches blindly for his phone, only half awake.
bzzzt... bzzzt... bzz- "hello??" his voice is scratchy and quiet. he rolls over on the couch to stare at the ceiling.
"ryaaan! god, it's been a while.." Brendon's voice comes over the other end of the phone slurred, and theres a bunch of different voices chattering in the background.
"..."
"Brendon??" Ryan eventually answers, sitting up on the couch now, rubbing at his eyes to wake himself up.
"why are you calling me? are you out drinking??" he asks with a hint of worry and exasperation.
"just- just a little bit. me and Pete."
Ryan flinches slightly, remembering the argument he'd had with Pete when he found out Ryan was leaving the band.
"Ryan.. you still live in LA? did you go back to Vegas?"
"yeah, I'm still in LA.."
"..."
"do you think we'll ever be okay again..?"
that makes Ryan pause. between the press coverage and the writing of their first album and then touring with the new band he never really gave himself the time to think about everything that happened.
"I don't know, Bren.."
"it's been a year now.." Brendon mumbles, sounding disappointed.
"I thought I figured out how to let you go.." Ryan sighs, running his fingers through his hair. he glances at the clock. it's 2:30 by now.
"Ryan, I miss you.. please.." Brendon's voice cracks slightly. he sounds like he might cry.
"Brendon, you're drunk. get some sleep."
"Ryan, don't avoid this-"
"do you have a ride home?"
"..."
"yeah.."
"go home. get some sleep."
there's a moment of silence from both sides, then Brendon speaks up, quieter.
"goodnight, Ryan.. see you around."
"..."
"bye, Bren.."
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