Con Brio: Todd and Ian's story

44) Todd

Never, ever in a million years could he ever have predicted what happened last night. He's slept deeply, so deeply that even though the night has been short he feels good when he wakes up. Refreshed. 
Not a hint of the tears that flowed so freely the night before. 
And as he gets up and moves around the room while Ian stretches out and yawns in the bed he feels... free. 
When has he last felt this free? He hums some Shos while he pulls on some clean clothes and brushes his teeth. 
"Up for some breakfast?" he asks as he skips back into the room. 
Ian raises his eyebrows. 
"I'm really glad to see you in such a good mood."
Todd walks to him and kisses him on the forehead. 
"Your merit, baby. Your merit."
Ian's eyes shine as he drags himself out of bed and into the bathroom. 
Last night feels like a dream, but Todd knows very well it really happened. It was hard, it was great. It was difficult, it was the best. Has he ever been that vulnerable before? Has he ever been that real?
But the very best of it all was how Ian reacted. He loves him. He really does. He's showed him beyond a shadow of a doubt that he does. Todd's heart makes a little jump as Ian comes back out of the bathroom and smiles at him. He walks forward and grabs him, sways back and forth as if they're waltzing to the Shos he just hummed. He kisses him just under the ear. 
"Your merit." he whispers again and he can feel Ian glow. 

Those rice balls really are awesome. They sit down close to the breakfast bar and dig in enthusiastically. And look, he loves those boys upstairs with his whole heart, he really does. But to be completely honest he wishes he could take the day off. Not rehearse, not have a concert. Not even see the boys, just go to that little Italian place they went to a couple of days ago, and this time order one portion of tiramisu with two spoons. 
It's not going to happen, of course. He's an adult. So is Ian. They have responsabilities. And he wouldn't miss the concert for the world, obviously. Not in real life. But is it so wrong to day dream, just a little? Before he can even begin to think whether he'll share this particular phantasy with Ian he can see them walking in. 
Brett and Eddy. His dearest friends. He looks up to them and smiles, but then the smile freezes on his face. 
What?
The way Eddy is walking...
What. The. Fuck. Eddy has bottomed? Since fucking when?
"Good morning." he says calmly as the boys get to their table, checking himself before he can blurt out the wrong thing. 
"Good morning." Eddy enthuses. "Looking forward to today?"
"Absolutely!"
Fuck, it's a good thing Eddy can't read minds. He quickly looks down at his rice balls before Eddy can manage to read his eyes. 

What is it with this night they've all had, apparently? Is there something in the water here, or something? He knows Eddy will have absolutely no idea at all about what happened with them last night, even though part of him really wants to share it. Part of him wants so desperately to explain to someone he trusts what happened, what Ian did for him, how awesome he was, how strong. 
But he can't, not now. And most certainly not here. So he eats his rice balls and leads the way out of the hotel and towards the venue. 

Show time. It'll be awesome.