Neighbour

13.

Eddy thanked the kind café lady as she came with their food. Brett also mumbled out a quiet 'thanks', but he honestly looked like he was trying to disappear. He had adjusted his shirt several times already to try and cover his bruise that was so much more obvious in daylight, and Eddy really just wanted to help the guy.

"I'm sorry about my weird mood, I'm just so tired," Brett excused himself, not looking up from his noodles that he just shifted around in the bowl with his chopsticks. "It's probably too much information, but I had a fight with Mike yesterday and it's just... it's so tiring."

"Is that why you have the... the bruise?" Eddy asked carefully, not expecting him to be so upfront about it. Maybe this would be easier than he thought?

"No, no," Brett said quickly, shaking his head. He pulled his shirt up a vitagain and crossed his arms over his chest as he said it, still avoiding Eddy's gaze. "Not at all, you've gotten it wrong. Nothing's happening."

"You sure? 'Cause I heard... I mean, last night? It sounded like you were in pain. I got really worried about you, honestly," Eddy said softly, looking around to make sure nobody was listening in. "I've heard you guys before, but not like that..."

"Oh, you heard," Brett mumbled, shaking his head. His tongue darted nervously over his lips to moisten them. "It's... it's not how you think... it's..."

"Hey babe!"

Both guys turned as the familiar voice sounded by the door. Eddy couldn't help the little frown that flashed over his face as he recognized Brett's boyfriend.

"Didn't expect to see you here," Mike said, grabbing a chair from a neighbouring table and sitting down next to Brett, who honestly looked like he wanted to puke. "What a nice surprise."

"You know I eat lunch here every day, how is this a surprise?" Brett asked before Mike leaned in and placed a firm kiss to his lips. He allowed it, but didn't really offer much back.

"So, who's your friend?" Mike asked, and Eddy was kind of surprised Mike did recognize him. They had met in the hallway a few times.

"It's... You know Eddy? Our neighbour?" Brett said softly, seeming to question the same thing as Eddy did. "Well, he got the... the substitute job, the seat next to mine, so I thought..."

"So you thought you'd invite him for a lunch date. How sweet of you," Mike interrupted him, shutting Brett up. He turned to Eddy after and offered his hand to shake. "Don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Mike, Brett's boyfriend."

Eddy took the huge hand and shook it, whimpering a bit when the handshake was a lot firmer than your average firm handshake. Mike just laughed.

"You're a weak one aren't you?" he chuckled, and Eddy just forced a polite smile.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Eddy," he said a bit flatly, looking over at Brett who looked like a scolded child now that Mike had shown up. As if he didn't look vulnerable enough already.