Club - a Breddy Fanfic.

115) Coffee

Eddy opens his eyes with a start and blinks against the light that peeks into the room from the other side of the curtains. It takes one bewildered look around until he realises that he is in Brett's bedroom and that the room is without the owner himself. Another blink and his brain has started up enough to remember that Brett said that he has rehearsals. If he has left already it must be late. Eddy yawns and stretches his arms above his head until he feels the bones crack.
He sits up and swings his legs over the edge of the bed, leaning his neck as far as he possibly can to the side, first right and then left, aligning his vertebrae with another gruesome sound.
He yawns again. He has slept surprisingly well, possibly for a good while, judging by how rested he feels. Who would have expected that after hearing he has an audition on Monday? Just thinking about it makes his insides crunch together. God. The audition. He feels the spiral starting up, head spinning, breath quickening. No. He shakes his head sideways. Not going there today! Quickly he regulates his breathing to avoid getting into his panic mode; in-two-three-four, out-two-three-four, repeat. A minute later he can see clearly again, the crisis averted.
He scans the room in search of his clothes. Thinking about clothes makes him remember yesterday. God, that was good! Suddenly he spots them on the desk, carefully folded, a white paper on top of it. Eddy rushes over and quickly scans the letters written in Brett's illegible handwriting:

'Have rehrsals this morning and had to leave. Hope you slept in a bit. Will b back around noon with BBT. <3'

Eddy chuckles. A heart? Who would have thought Brett would ever write him a heart. What a sap. But secretly he enjoys it very much. With a wide smile he puts his pants and shirt on.

"Morning." Mason manages within his yawn, startling Eddy out of his attempt to prepare something that resembles coffee.

"Morning." Eddy jumps back in a hurry like he's caught doings something he shouldn't. When he entered the kitchen, just now, it felt like he was invading Mason's territory anyway, because isn't Mason always the one who cooks and putters around in this small space? Who is he to break into it?

"Brett left and I'm trying for some brain juice. Want some as well?" he apologises for his presence.

Mason looks disapprovingly at he teaspoon of instant coffee Eddy is putting in a cup, some grains spilled on the side as the kettle whistles, and shakes his head sideways. "Eddy... mate, that's no coffee. It's more like you're making mud, like a two year old. Gimme that."
He takes the cup from Eddy's hand and pours it in the sink. He ostentatiously opens the top cabinet on the right, takes his coffee percolator, fills the bottom part with water, the filter with ground coffee out of a glass jar, screws the top part on and puts it on the stove.
"The morning needs good coffee, Eddy." he says sternly, but winks directly after. "I'll make us some. Just 5 minutes. Let's get some food ready in the meantime."

Within ten minutes Eddy finds himself seated at the dinner table across Mason with perfect scrambled eggs on toast and a delicious smelling cup of coffee. Mason is such a mother hen, always taking care of everybody's needs. Brett holds him in high esteem, so he really wants to be on Mason's good side. Eddy moves a bit restlessly on his chair, deciding if he should take a bite or a sip, not knowing what would be the right the right etiquette in this situation. He sighs. He's so not good at socialising, much less when he's just woken up. Why is he always so awkward like this? He knows Mason well enough to see that he won't care what he does, so why this shyness?

"It's the first time that we're alone like this, huh?" Mason remarks casually, carefully looking at his eggs and not him.

"Yeah." Eddy replies instantly, beyond grateful that Mason has started the conversation where Eddy faltered. Did Mason feel his nervousness?

Mason takes a sip of his coffee and lets out a sigh that is almost a moan. "God. This is good. Needed that so much." he closes his eyes, clearly to revel in the experience. Eddy snorts at the exaggerated way to enjoy one's first sip. "Hmm?" Mason smiles at Eddy's chuckle. "You taste it, Eddy. Then you know what I mean. It's so much better brewed like this."

Eddy takes a grateful sip, all tension gone now. "Oh! You're right. This is good!"

"Told you." Mason smirks, leaning back and then picking up a fork for his food.
Eddy looks at the utensils and his smile evaporates. He hates forks with all his being. They're so clunky compared to chopsticks, making him feel clumsy as he wields them.
Mason chuckles while pointing at the hated trident. "I think you're like Brett in this?"
Eddy's eyes fly at Mason's blue ones. What the hell? Does this man read minds?
"I'm used to Brett eating, so don't worry. You can't be worse handling forks than he is." Mason winks at him once more and directs his focus towards his food again.

Eddy takes the fork and takes a bite. "This is perfect, Mason. Wow. You're great at this." Eddy says before stuffing another bite into his face.

"I'm great at a lot of things." Mason laughs. After a long moment and a few bites in silence he continues. "But there are a lot of things I'm quite insecure about as well."

Eddy sees him looking at him through his eyelashes, instantly putting Eddy on guard. What's this about? Does this have something to do with him? He swallows with some difficulty.
"About what?" he inquires cautiously.

Mason plays with his fork for a few seconds, spinning it between his fingers. Show off.
"Well. I'm new at the gay thing." He reluctantly discloses. A long pause stretches. "And you are not. So..."

------
A/N: Sorry for the late update today! I have been stuggling a bit last couple of weeks, so everything is last minute. BUT!!!!: I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for the 30K+ reads and 1,5K+ (almost 1,6!) stars. It's mindblowing. I'm ever so grateful and happy that people are reading and liking my brainchild. It keeps me going (story wise and life 🥰). Also a major shout out to proofreader-sama. Without her this story wouldn't be the same. I owe you so much.