Twoset Shorts

The Picture (angst+fluff)

-Hi hon!
Eddy's eyes shoot up from the computerscreen and over to the door where his beloved just came stumbling in.
-Oh, hi! How was the duet?
-It was great! I could tell this time he'd really practised!
-Noice!
-U-hu!
Brett races over to the kitchen to fix himself a cup of tea.
-You busy?
-Uhmm...
-You working?
-Yeah, I've finally gotten myself to write that... uhhmmm, e-mail...
-Ok. Let me know when you've finished it.
-Mhmmm...
-We need to talk.
Oh no. The 4 words Eddy hates the most in the whole world. Something's up.
He tries to look at Brett, unnoticably, tries to hide his eyes underneath his a little too long fringe.
Brett has turned his back at him, and Eddy tries to evaluate it, his posture.
It seems normal, well enough. His mood, his demeanor, every thing seems quite normal.
But those words, they always alert some thing. A storm building. And soon hitting.
There was something in Brett's voice too.
Brett suddenly turns around, facing him, coffemug in hand, gives him a tiny smile, like he uses to.
But Eddy's got perfect pitch. He knows.
His stomach is turning. Grinding on a heavy stone. Very uncomfortable.
He can't focus.
-Is there something wrong? Something happened?
Brett shrugs and shifts his weight over to the other leg. A movement that sways his hips in a way that usually makes Eddy's head spin.
-To be honest, I don't know yet. I'll soon find out.

Eddy doesn't know how to interpret Brett's very mixed signals, in an unpleasant way he's kind of curious to find out what's going on, at the same time... this can't be good. He doesn't know whether to make the process of e-mailing very long, or just finish it off and take the storm. Or whatever was coming.
Brett seems calm enough. He's not mad, he's not... giving away any negative emotions really... Eddy knows how that looks like.
This is something very different.
He looks at his finished e-mail. He's been reading it over and over several times while deciding what to do, he decides the latter. He presses the send-button and looks up into Brett's questioning eyes.
-You done?
-Yep.
Brett fishes his phone up from his pocket and fiddles with it while slowly walking toward Eddy, clearly looking up something.
He takes his seat next to him on the sofa. A little bit further away than usual. Maybe it's only a centimeter or two, but Eddy's sensitive. He sees things like that.

-Can you please tell me what this is?
Brett shows him a picture.
-It's me, Eddy confirms in a split second, without even watching it too carefully.
Oh come on, please! He knows his own, long legs, awkward posture, his own outfit...
-And what's this about?
Eddy looks at the picture again, more carefully this time.
There's a girl in it. A girl close to him. Way too close to him. And his arm's wrapped around her waist and... is he... kissing her?
It takes some time to even process what he's looking at. He's got no idea.
Confusion strikes.
-Who is she?
There it is again, that voice Brett makes when he's clearly not happy about something. It always sends shivers down Eddy's spine.
-I dont know! I don't even know her! I've never seen her before!
-Eddy, please don't lie to me.
And now desperation strikes. In waves of cold and hot at the same time. Eddy has difficulty breathing.
-I'm not lying!
And now the petty crying. Some times Eddy hates his own betraying feelings. Making him unable to keep his head cool.
Where was this picture from? From when? Was this an old girlfriend or something?
The picture is pretty blurry and it's hard to see the details, but the outfit seems kind of new...? Is it even, merch?
He would never go on a date with anyone wearing his own merch, what the actual fuck?? And...
Questions are piling, mixing with his despair, his need of Brett believing him.
-Where.. did... you.. find it?
Eddy tries to control his breathing between words.
-On the subreddit.
-LingLing..?
-Uhu.
Brett shows him.
"Eddy's new girlfriend?" the text screams at him.
-Does it say... where or when this picture was allegedly taken?
-No, it just says "spotted recently "
Eddy's struck with fear. He's scared shitless.
Is Brett gonna hate him? Leave him?
-It's fake!
His heart is pounding in his ears, he can feel every thrust of blood in his legs, his fingertips, everywhere.
As if he's already about to die, even before Brett has even announced his departure.
-Oh my God, please, believe me!
His eyes seeks to Brett's, seeks comfort, seeks trust.
And he gets it all.
Brett's calm. Totally calm.
He strokes Eddy's cheek, slowly, lets his hand rest for a while. His hand feels cold to Eddy's burning skin, in a very pleasant, soothing way.
-I believe you, he says. Slowly, in a warm, honest tone.
Eddy falls into him, his face hidden into Brett's dry and cooling neck pit.
Brett strokes his back calmly.
-I believe you. I just had to ask what was going on, you know?
-I've fucking been with you ALL the time lately! Eddy pouts and Brett smiles his safe, calm smile.
-I know. You have.
-Let me have another look at it.
They watch it one more time, their heads closer together this time, trying to find some details, which was pretty impossible minutes ago, when feelings were running way too high to even be able to actually see anything.
-It looks quite convincing though...
But that's not my hand!! Eddy points his finger at the unfamiliar hand at the girl's back.
-No?
-No, I don't think so!
Fuck, it's hard to see!
-I think you're right!
-I am!
-It's fake.
-It's fake.

Eddy's brain is getting back on track, slowly.
-I'm sure someone professional can confirm it is, if you want to?
-Why?
-Just so... you know... you can run it by someone else than me, so you don't have to... doubt it....
-Eddy, I already told you I believe you!
Brett's index under his chin, forcing their eyes to meet. He's still calm.
-We don't have to do that. I asked you, I got your answer, that's all I need.
Brett pulls him into his arms. Holds him, tight. Once again, tears are falling from Eddy's eyes. This time, tears of gratefulness. Relief.

Eddy breaks free.
-So what do we do about it? We'll have to get it deleted, no?
Brett shrugs.
-It's fine by me. Let it be. So many people already saw it. 12.000 likes.

-We'll have to react on it in the next episode. Brett's voice is dry, Eddy doesn't know if that means he's amused by the thought or annoyed by it.
-I don't wanna do that!!
Brett laughs.
-I don't mind it really. You can have your girlfriend.
-You're so funny.
-I know.
-But we had to talk about it though.
-I'm glad we did.
-Me too.
-I mean.... Brett shifts his legs awkwardly.
-Now all the fans believe you're straight, that'll take the focus away from the two of us.
If you think that's a good thing?
Or maybe this could be the right time to announce our relationship, officially?
-I don't know....?

There's a pause a couple of minutes.
While they're thinking about it, still looking at the picture, it looks weirder and more stupid each minute passing.
Eddy breaks the silence.

-Imagine all those broken Breddy-hearts.... , he says softly.
-You mean the shippers?
-Yeah
-Yeah, damn, a long trail of shattered Breddy-hearts.
They burst out in a happy laugh.
-To be honest, it's none of their business anyway.
-True.

Another long pause.
Eddy's paranoia hasn't quite left his body yet.
-This post is made by someone who knows us.
-Huh? How do you know?
-Someone who wants to hurt us.
-Why do you say that?
Eddy's eyes are watering again.
-They went for me, because they know I'm the weakest link, they know I'm the sensitive one, I am the one to get really hurt from this, and they knew. That means they know us. In person.
-No. I think you're wrong. What you're saying doesn't make sense. I'm the one they tried to go for. Clearly they don't know I'm the calm, the more reasonable of us. I'm not that easily hurt. I'm good with what you told me. To me, this is out of the way. We talked about it, problem solved. I'll even forget about ut right now if you'll let me.
Imagine if it was the opposite? If that was me on the picture!
-I'd have freaked out SO hard!
-You would. You wouldn't have believed me if I told you it was fake. Even if all pro's in the whole world could confirm it was, even if every living creature had told you it wasn't me in the picture, you would still not have been able to let it go. You would still have been thinking about it, it would have bothered your mind for the rest of your life!
-That's true.
-You would have been so upset and scared you would have needed therapy!
It's a little tiny crack of teasing in Brett's voice now.
-I don't think even that would've helped.
-Probably not. Now, THAT would've been harmful to us!
-True.

-Come here.
Brett leans back at the sofa, pulling Eddy down with him.
Eddy curls up almost like a cat, as close to his love as possible.
He can feel Brett's heartbeat, still slow, strong throbs against his face.
-I don't get how you can be so calm!
Did you even once believe the picture was real?
-No, not really. But I had to ask.
-I love you.
-I know you do. You would never do that to me. You're too afraid of losing me.
-You're right.

They both close their eyes and Eddy feels how everything's settling, finally, inside him.
His own heart rate is slowing down, the temperature is getting closer to normal. His face is cooling, and the warmth is spreading, slowly softening up his stiff and tensed up fingers and toes.
Everything is getting back to normal.
Back to perfect.
He lets out a content, deep sigh.

Never mind The Picture.
It's forgotten.
Almost.
That'll have to do for now.