Allegro con fuoco

XXV

He didn't make it out of the street before he was crying, and there was only one place he could think to go.
The park.
The familiar gravel crunched under his feet as he ran towards their bench, to the place that was once their safe haven.
Maybe it was still his safe haven.
People were milling around by the pond with colourful ducks in it like he had never been away. Women were pushing strollers, the little kids on the grass over there were trying and failing to throw a boomerang and get it to come back. He saw it all through teary veils, like it was a different world, one that he wasn't a part of. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed Brett as he reached the bench and sat down.
"Hey! You done eating already?"
"Brett." he whispered, and he could feel the mood on the other end change instantly. He could hear the shocked intake of breath.
"Shit. Eddy, what happened?"
"Brett, I... she kicked me out." He was actually crying now, he couldn't stop the tears that were falling anymore, and on a whim he got up and ran over the grass field, through the trees to their spot. He leaned against the tree he had leaned against so many times with Brett, but in much better circumstances. He let himself sink down on the ground and buried his face between his knees.
"Eddy. What happened?" Brett said urgently on the phone. "Where are you?"
"In the park. I... I told her about Todd and Ian."
"Oh, Jesus fuck. Sit tight, I'm coming."

Why did this hurt so much? I mean, it wasn't even about him, was it? And yet he couldn't stop the tears that were falling on the dry ground underneath his legs, couldn't stop his chest being wracked with sobs, couldn't seem to catch his breath.
How long had he sat there? He had no idea, but suddenly there were quick footsteps behind him and Brett burst through the branches.
Oh.
Oh, it was so good to see him. He was there, like an angel, like a hero in a play. He had come this way, so fast, to help him. Eddy cried more because of how sweet it was.
Brett crouched down beside him and put his hand on his thigh.
"So it was a train wreck?" he said calmly, and Eddy nodded. He took a deep breath and willed the tears away.
"Pretty much. I don't even know why I told her. It just... it seemed like she knew already."
Brett shrugged.
"Maybe she did. News travels fast."
Eddy looked down at the dry ground under his knees and tried his hardest not to start crying again.
"I don't... Brett, she wanted me to move back in there. That's how fucking strongly she hates gays, that she doesn't even want me living in the house with some."
"Jesus." Brett said. Eddy could tell very clearly that he was shocked, though he tried not to show it. 
"Yeah."
"Are you... I mean... are you going to..."
"What? Move back? No!" Eddy said vehemently. "Never. I told her that."
"Wow."
They sat in silence for a while then, Eddy sitting, Brett on his hunches beside him, but to be honest Eddy was feeling better already, just because Brett was there. And it was weird, but he finally got it now, he finally got why John left his family and moved away so he could start his life with David, somewhere else.
Nothing trumped having love, in the end. Nothing.
Eddy took a deep breath.
"So... yeah. I guess we wait and see."
"Yeah. I'm real sorry though, Eddy."
Brett sat down on the ground as well now.
"How did you get here so fast?" Eddy asked him. Brett smiled.
"Todd drove. He's outside the park, waiting."
"That... wow, that's so sweet."
Maybe it was Brett's proximity, or the fact this used to be their safe haven, but he was calmer now. The tears had stopped at last, and he swiped the last of them off his cheek.
"We'd better get to him, then." he said, but then Brett gave him a tiny, crooked smile.
"Yeah?"
And even though it was only one little word, only one smile, he recognised the invite. And it changed the mood abruptly. It had been ages, eons since they had been there, in the park between the trees, taking chances.
Could they?
"You have a different idea?" he asked him almost teasingly.
"Maybe?"
Before he knew it he was leaning over to his love, and their lips were softly meeting.