Chapter Text
Mesmerizing.
That's all Leon could put it in one word.
How beautiful he is, how soft, how reckless: the way he charms him with such ease and he allowed it. His curls brush against the nape of his neck. Oh, how he remembers that faint scent of coconut. Their arms wrapped around each other tightly, hands clinging onto the fabric, as if it were their last time on earth. And admittedly, that's how it felt. Because he couldn't do it–he couldn't tell Bryan how he felt.
“You can always stay with me.” He choked out.
“You know I can't.”
And why not, he repeated, why can't he. His grip tightened, body pressing further against the other—christ’s sake, what could possibly prevent him from seeing him again? Feeling the other man’s grip begin to loosen, Leon's whole body stiffened.
“Please.” He pleaded this time, “Just tell me, why?”
“Leon…”
“I want to know.”
“I just can’t…not after everything.”
Bryan loved the theater.
He remembered seeing his first play with his Aunt Lucy to watch the performance of Cinderella. Seated in a separate chair than on her lap for support, that was a privilege, and a sign that he was getting older. The same day he gets to experience a special moment that helped shape him for the rest of his life. He started dancing at home, often when his favorite cartoons played a song, or when he’s with his uncle in the garage as the radio sang, the man enjoying a cold can of beer while clapping along to the beat; Bryan jumped and twirled to it all.
They acknowledged his passion, giving him posters of famous actors or cassette tapes from all sorts of artists(including Michael Jackson). Even taking him out to see more performances at the theater. All of which were expensive, and Bryan was grateful for it. Keeping all his gifts safe in his room, posters held up high against the wall, listening to the tapes almost every day. He was happy.
“You know, we should sign you up for some classes, if you want to be an actor.” Aunt Lucy offered, piling out scrambled eggs on a thick plate in front of the two men.
“Clathes for whut?" Bryan muffled out, face full of pancakes and sausage. His gaze switched back and forth between the two.
“For singing, Bry-guy.” His uncle answered, stirring his freshly brewed mug with a spoon. His eyes gleamed in amusement from the sight of the dumbfounded boy taking a moment to register what they told him.
“Wait–...really!?” Bryan said, stunned, swallowing down his food.
“Of course, Bryan. We know how passionate you are about this sort of thing!”
“Unless you don't want to–”
“No no–I do! I do!” He shot up from his chair, bouncing in excitement.
Before his body couldn't stick around to one spot, he was now running around the house. “I'm gonna be an actor!” He chanted out.
Leaving the two adults chuckling in the kitchen and continuing on with their breakfast. After about a minute, Bryan was back on his chair; body shifting and bouncing from his mood beaming with joy, he just couldn't sit still after the news. He was going to try his hardest, prove himself as a great actor, dance on stage, and make his family proud.
TWO YEARS later, on a Saturday, Bryan was out in front of the garage; cleaning the family car alongside his uncle. It was a routine he would do with him, it also helped save a couple bucks than paying for a crappy car wash. But today felt different, a change in atmosphere the moment a moving truck drove into the neighborhood. Bryan’s curiosity had him still in place, holding the drenching sponge in hand while his gaze followed the truck until it parked a couple houses down from theirs.
“New neighbors..?” He said, turning away to look at his uncle. Only to see the older man also watching along with him.
“Seems like it,” the man hummed, settling down the hose, wiping his hands against his green flannel. Before heading inside the garage, “Hey Lucy!”
Bryan watched him go inside, leaving the boy alone with a frothy coated car, wondering if his uncle went to tell his aunt there is a new addition in the ‘family’. Their neighborhood often doesn't get new residents, they have a couple of elderly couples and families–or just one resident that wants to settle. Because of that, they attend potlucks and each home hosts it monthly. It was a rotation, and it included the Hodukavich family. Bryan personally thought Lucy made great desserts such as dirt cakes. So when the two men noticed the truck pulled in. It was a green light for an excuse to have started a neighborhood event early, a welcome party.
He had already noticed a couple of neighbors peeking through the windows, some out of their door and pulling their kids inside to prevent them from running up to the house. And honestly, Bryan was tempted to do the same, but he was old enough to know it was rude. He circled around the car, reaching down to grab the hose and clean off the soap before it dries. Deciding to pay more focus on cleaning than being nosy.
“Is it a family?” His aunt said, stepping out of the garage with his uncle.
“Not sure, we only saw the truck,” His uncle replied, his gaze shifting over to the boy,
“Have you seen them come out yet?”
Bryan shook his head, shutting off the hose once he washed away the soap. “Are we going to say hi?” He asked.
“Of course–it’d be rude not to.”
“Oh, It’d be nice to see if it is a family..maybe they'd have a girl your age, Bryan!” Lucy said, extending her neck to get a better look. Bryan’s face flushed hot; cringing at the comment.
“I don’t think so..” He murmured.
“Don’t embarrass the kid, Lucy." His uncle half chuckled, noticing Bryan’s expression.
“Oh Nick, I’m just saying that's all!” She said, chuckling along with him.
“It’d be nice if he made more friends.”
“I do have friends at school though!”
“Like who?”
“The students in theater?”
“How is that by the way,” His uncle cut in, “bet you’re the top student since you got a head start.”
“I guess I am, but I’m still learning stuff with the rest of the class.” Bryan said.
“I promise I do have friends I’m just—“
Click.
The sound was enough to stop their conversation, attention focused back to the house, the door of the truck opened. A large man stepped out, then came a woman, and lastly, a young boy. Standing close to what they assume was the mother, both sharing the same hair color, light blonde. The boy was frowning, eyeing around till he spotted the three from a distance. Bryan’s aunt gave a wave, while Bryan himself hid away behind the two out of embarrassment.
“Don’t be shy, Bry-Guy.” His uncle said, turning behind and patting the boy’s shoulder. “Let’s go give them a welcome.”
Hesitant, Bryan finally agreed and followed them across the street. Making their way into their driveway, getting a better look at the family. The father was on the more pudgy side, but noticeable enough to have some muscle, wearing a leather jacket with brown cargo pants and heavy boots. The mother was the opposite, being frail, and having a delicate summer dress despite it nearing the end of that season. But her hair laid thick and showed effort compared to the rest of her features. Their son wore a red jumper and black jeans with white sneakers. He looked well presented but his expression was the opposite of politeness, irking for a split second when they got close enough.
“Evening,” His uncle greeted first, waving at the other family. “Nice to meet you three, I'm Nick–this is my wife, Lucy.” He said, gesturing at his wife before extending his hand to Bryan. The boy froze, but before he could say anything, the mother spoke first. “It’s quite silly how it's three of us and three of you; I’m Carmen!” she said, her voice raspy yet high pitched. His aunt beamed and pulled the woman’s hand to shake. “We’re thrilled to have you all here–don't mind the neighbors, they feel the same way when seeing a new face!” She chuckled.
“Oh, I bet, honestly it startled our poor baby Leon when he pointed it out to us in the truck!” She said, and the boy, Leon, pouted from the mention of the word ‘Baby’. Bryan could relate to the cheesy nicknames but kept quiet, his eyes focusing anywhere else but the boy. Gaze now focused on the dad and his uncle helping each other with their packed belongings, already starting their own conversation. The way all four of them had started talking with each other so fast, left the two boys in the dark. But Bryan didn't mind it, it helped him avoid socializing. Despite being in drama class; he struggled talking to people. The key difference is that he knew the class and he played a role, something to mask away what he truly is.
“Hey.”
Bryan perked up, it was Leon, he was a lot closer to him. His gaze avoided his own, hands clutching onto his sleeves. As if thinking on what to say next, “Do you want to check out the house with me?” He finally spoke. And Bryan’s first reaction was to freeze up, he looked and sounded the same age–or at least around his age. And he shouldn’t keep him waiting, their silence was overwhelming despite their parents talking about god knows what. He was told to give them a welcome. After all, they were going to be neighbors.
“..Okay.” Bryan said.
The house was similar to theirs. A garage, kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms, and living room. But they did have a basement. Bryan’s house didn't have one.
“This is going to be my room.” Leon said, opening the door to reveal an unfurnished room with a couple of boxes and a small mattress leaning against the wall. “I’m hoping to add some posters like Star Wars.” He added, stepping inside the room and crouching down to open one of the boxes. “Do you like Star Wars?”
“I never watched.” Bryan said, sitting across from the other boy.
“Seriously?”
“I watched Ghostbusters and Friday the 13th with my uncle though.”
Leon shrugged in response, “good enough.”
After a minute, Leon was still scavenging through the box. And he ended up opening another one. And then another one.
“What are you looking for?” He asked. Peering over Leon’s shoulder to see a couple books, socks, smaller boxes that he assumed were action figures, based off of the vibrant and spunky design imprinted on it. The boy tensed and rubbed the back of his neck, his demeanor changed.
“I have this toy gun,” he said. “But I can't find it.”
Bryan blinked, “really?” He was impressed. But also feeling a little upset with him, the toy gun sparked his interest. “I can help look.”
Leon kept his gaze low, lost in thought then murmured, “hold on.”
He stood up and walked to the door, peeking through before shouting.
“Dad!”
“What.” His father answered.
“Where’s the toy gun–it's not in any of my boxes!”
“What do you mean?”
“It's not with my stuff!”
Leon huffed until he backed away from the door, standing closer to Bryan in a quick manner once he heard the heavy steps closing in. His father now standing at the doorway–his expression was…upsetting.
“Did you lose it?” His father said sharply.
“No.” Leon answered, defensive. Bryan noticed him taking small steps back that he was now beside the boy. Bryan was still. “I remember packing it!”
“Christ, Leon–are you sure?”
“Yes!”
Another set of steps were coming in, lighter and quick. Behind Leon’s father, a face peered over; it was his uncle.
“Everything okay?” He asked.
“Kid’ can’t seem to find his toy gun.”
Leon’s father sighed, his composure getting less tense the moment his uncle came in.
“I didn’t lose it..” Leon huffed and plopped down beside Bryan.
“You probably did, we can look for it once we have everything inside.” His father answered quickly, turning around to face Bryan's uncle. “Sorry about this, he gets upset fast.”
“No, I hear you, my sister was like that.” He chuckled lightly, looking back at the boys. “By the way, we bought pizza so it should be here in around 20 minutes.” He said, “Take another look and if you can't find it in here then maybe in the other boxes–we still have a couple left in the truck.”
Leon perked up, he seemed to like that idea(and maybe the mention of pizza). Bryan smiled seeing that the tension had died down. “Thanks Uncle Nick.” He said.
His uncle smiled back and guided Leon’s father away from the room, continuing their conversation. The two boys were left alone again. Sitting in silence until Leon spoke up, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“..With me and my dad just now.”
“Oh.” Bryan glanced to the side then at the open boxes, some items were left out on the floor. “How about you show me the other stuff?”
Leon blinked, looking in the same direction Bryan was facing, “uhm, yeah, sure.”
The pizza arrived, steaming hot and paired with a couple paper plates and cups filled with cola. Bryan sat on the edge of the sidewalk, taking small bites because he kept burning his tongue. But at the corner of his eye, Leon was halfway done with his slice.
Bryan let out an astonished chuckle.
“Doesn’t your tongue hurt?”
“..no?” Leon muffled in response, looking at him, visibly confused. “Why?”
“Cause it’s hot!”
“I can eat yours if–”
“I said it was hot, not that I didn't want it!” Bryan shoved Leon away when he got close. “You aren't even done with yours yet.” He pointed at his plate. Leon shrugged with a messy grin.
“Bryan!” His aunt called to him, Bryan whipped his head around to look at her, catching his attention. “We’re going to head back home in a bit, it's almost seven.”
“But it’s the weekend!..” Bryan whined.
“Yes, but Leon and his parents drove all the way from Carolina. Do you know how long a drive that is?” She raised her brow, arms crossed with a smirk.
Bryan didn't say anything.
“Exactly.” She chuckled.
He sighed, finally taking a proper bite of his pizza. “Okay,” he murmured.
“We can always hang out tomorrow or at school.” Leon said. Bryan paused, looking at the other boy. “At school?” He repeated.
“Oh, cause, I’m going to Harrington.” Leon nibbled at his crust, “since…you know, I still have to go to school.” Bryan flushed in embarrassment, of course, he forgot they’ll see each other at some point. They would be at the same school–not to mention they're in the same neighborhood. They can see each other at any time if they want to. “Right.” He mumbled.
Bryan and his family gave one last goodbye to the Kennedy’s. The sky was already dimming and the street lights sparked to life; it was past seven. “So,” Uncle Nick spoke first, cutting the silence during their walk. “You seemed to have gotten along quite well with Leon.” He smiled.
The boy grumbled in response, he didn't want to deny nor admit it. Today was interesting, he is happy that he made a friend without having any issues involving his anxiety. Other than what happened in Leon’s room.
“We’ll take that as a yes.” His aunt chimed in with a giggle, Bryan kept quiet with a smile.