Con Brio: Todd and Ian's story

11) Todd

It's a relief, when Todd wakes up and realises it's their day off. And not a moment too soon, because he was utterly exhausted last night and then they went out anyway and got pretty drunk.  Ian must have been exhausted too, because it's almost eleven and he is still snoring lightly in the bed beside him. It's adorable. Todd looks out at the window and tries not to wake him up. God knows he doesn't sleep enough. 
He remembers sitting in the restaurant yesterday, how Ian vanished for way too long. How worried he was, and yet he knew he wasn't allowed to go check on him. 
Ian would never let him do that. 
He stares at the little strip of daylight that comes through the grey curtain as he remembers Ian's nightmare, the night before last. He has had them for a long time, he knows that, he's sat with him through enough of them, but they seem to be more frequent at the moment. Is Ian okay? And if he's not... is it his fault? Has he somehow done something to make him worse? 
Well. Even if he has, that means he can also do something to make him better, right? Brett is taking Eddy to some hill today where they sell tea, and where they can hike, apparently. He tried not to grin as Brett told him that. How far will they make it into the forest before they suck each other? He smiles into his pillow and shakes his head at himself. 
Look, they can go and do that, and he can show Ian a good time. He deserves to have a good time. Todd reaches for his phone very quietly and googles what to do in Taipei. 

"Good morning." Ian says quietly. Todd hadn't even realised the snoring had stopped. 
"Hey! Sleep well?"
"Yeah. You? Bit less tired now?"
"Yeah." Todd answers as he turns around so he can see his best friend. "Feeling okay, I think I got away with the alcohol. Glad we have a day off, though. So, I was thinking, there's a big market a quick metro ride away and after we could walk to huge concert hall. Apparently with a massive organ. You wanna go check it out?"
Ian seems to hesitate for a millisecond, then he smiles. 
"Sure. Sounds great. I just... I would like to get some practice in too, if I can."
"Yeah, of course! I think we can actually go to the music school and get a room if we want."
"Cool. Maybe do that after breakfast?"
Look. If it would have been Brett or Eddy Todd would have laughed at them, called them overzealous. But there's something in Ian's beautiful, deep eyes, that stops him, that makes him nod. 
"Of course."

---

Of course, Ian was right. Actually getting some practice in has been great. They got a room each, so he's been able to really dig into the Shostakovich he's been learning. And now his fingers feel surer, his arm feels looser. And what's more important: Ian looks marginally calmer. 
Oh, how Todd wishes he could fix it all, for him. He could show him, you know, what love is. He could protect him, keep him safe. He blinks quickly and looks away, stopping those thoughts dead. Look. He's in Taipei, and they are on a metro to a cool concert hall. That's what he should be focusing on, not on pipe dreams. 

"Wow, is that it?" Ian pipes up as they walk along the pavement. They've walked around the market, buying nothing but some rice roll thing, and now a huge building is rising in the distance, an incredibly Asian looking one with red pillars and several rooves that turn upward. It's gorgeous, and Todd walks faster. 
"I think so!"
"Can we go and see the organ?"
"I think so. I think you can go in with a guide or something. I checked: there's no performances." 
"Wow, Todd. I love it."
Something trills in Todd at the sound of those three simple words coming from the quiet, soft-spoken man that walks beside him. 
I love it. 
He wants to give this man the world, the moon and the stars.