Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 83: Quite the Phone Call

A/N: A reminder that the characters in this fic are indeed fictional and are not representative of any real people whose names or relations they borrow.

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"I uh... was going to ask if I could talk to her, I don't actually have a way to contact her directly, don't have a number or anything and didn't want to be sketchy and ask Chris or the parents for it," Brian admits, his voice turning a strained tone that Shayne barely recognises.

"So you... called me to talk to her? Why?" he asks, his confusion audible.

"I mean, it's genuinely good to have a chat to you too, but uh... there was some stuff in a couple of the Smoshcasts I've watched that made me want to talk to her about something. And like, it's nothing about you guys or her, it's actually about me, but... yeah," Brian explains, hesitant.

"Can I ask what it was?"

"I wasn't exactly planning on telling you, not exactly... prepared," he admits, with a long sigh.

"I can't think of anything that you'd be comfortable talking to her about but not me," Shayne comments, before quickly adding, "but if that's what it is, then it's fine, you don't have to tell me. I'd have to ask her if she's okay with talking to you..."

"Maybe I... should tell you. Some of your content kinda told me you'd be okay about this too," Brian admits, but his voice is small.

"Yeah?" Shayne prompts, not sure what else to say. Brian falls into silence for a moment, but Shayne stays quiet too, letting him have space.

"So, um, it was... mentioned in the episode with both of you which is how I know you're okay about it, but I also... ended up watching the one where Courtney... came out. And I maybe..." Brian pauses, before his tone shifts, "fuck it. So, yeah, also... not straight. I don't really... label myself. But, um, kind of in a long-term relationship with a guy. Kind of been terrified of telling family that for a long time."

"Absolutely not going to judge you for that, Brian. What's his name?" Shayne asks, managing to filter the complete shock out of his voice so he just sounds... vaguely supportive. He is, truly, but there are a few questions raising in his mind.

"Josh, actually. I um... kinda live with him. We've been together going on five years. And I... guess I probably should have assumed you'd be cool with it, but everyone else just... it worries me, especially given Dad's history with military and all. It's a lot of the reason I've kept my distance from family, and it's probably why I've been kind of hostile to anyone you and Chris have brought home. Kind of jealous you got to do that," he admits, and it makes Shayne give a rough sigh, processing his thoughts for a moment before he replies.

"I understand that you're worried and it's hard to tell family something like that. Feeling jealous that it's easier for us to introduce partners into the family is valid, I get that. But... it's not really a valid excuse to be shitty to Courtney and Julie, and I'm quite sure there's a hell of a lot of not-straight men who manage not to take that out on their siblings' partners," he replies, carefully.

"Yeah, I know, you're right. I've... kind of built myself over quite a long time into this position where it was easier to assume you'd all be horrible about it. And I pushed it to the point where I believed it, and I kinda told people you all already were, even though I... don't really know."

"How out are you in your life over there in New York?" he asks, the puzzle starting to click together in his mind.

"I'm... pretty much totally open about it, yeah. At work and in my social life and... with Josh's family. I kind of just do all my family stuff with them, and they think I don't associate with my family much because my family isn't... accepting. I've never directly lied but... it's kind of just become what everyone thinks, and I don't correct them. Which I know sounds... really shitty, yeah, but it's just kind of how I've lived for a while. Few things in the last year or so have given me a kick to rethink it all, though," Brian admits.