Gold And Coal (Ryden AU)

1.20 ◇ By Your Side

When I woke up for the third time, I didn't do so under the influence of another person, but because I was rested.

It felt good, not having to go somewhere or do something the minute you woke up.

My body was slowly beginning to heal, and I felt better than I had ever felt before.

I didn't open my eyes, but rather took joy in the cozy warmth surrounding my body.

A slight shiver ran down my spine as I felt a warm breath tickle the side of my spine and I became aware of the other body contributing to the warmth.

Brendon was still asleep, his breaths slow and deep, making my skin tingle.

It didn't bother me as much as it should be, but I turned off my conscience and gave in to the part of me enjoying this moment.

I carefully rolled over to the side, not wanting to wake the smaller boy, and opened my eyes.

There was a little daylight soaking through the blinds enabling me to examine the other.

His dark hair loosely fell in his youthful face and the corners of his mouth twitched upwards slighly every once in a while, signaling that he was dreaming something pleasant.

I pulled my gaze off him, and thought about what he had said earlier, about how Jon and I weren't going back to the factory.

He had said that he wasn't firing us, but what exactly was he doing then? If we weren't working, we wouldn't be making any money, thus, we wouldn't last very long.

I'm not saying I enjoy working at the factory, no, that place is hell, but I didn't have much of a choice. Honestly, I was lucky enough having a job in the first place.

Sighing, I decided to ask him what he meant with that the moment he woke up. I'm pretty sure Jon would do the same; I'm pretty sure he was thoroughly confused and freaking out right now.

After a few minutes, I became increasingly restless and decided to try sneaking out of the room without waking Brendon up.

I slowly entangled myself from his grip and froze as he whined softly, his hand reaching out for me. I hesitantly shoved my pillow towards him and watched in amusement as he snuggled into it immediately.

Once of the couch, I tiptoed to the door and exited the room with a sigh. I proceeded through the hall and stopped as I heard the floorboard creek on the other side of a door.

After a few moments of contemplating whether or not I should enter, I knocked on the door softly, straining my ears for any noise coming from the other side.

It was Jon who quietly opened the door and beckoned me inside.

After shutting the door behind him, I heard him let out a loud sigh, flopping down on a worn out wooden bed with a few blankets.

"What's going on?"

I was right. He was totally freaking out. His voice was panicky and his pacing earlier were prove to that.

"I don't know. I just know that Brendon's a good guy and that he wants to help us."

Shrugging, I took a seat next to him, folding my legs infront of me.

Jon didn't answer and I could literally hear the gears shifting in his mind, wondering if he should trust me, or rather, Brendon.

"What's in it for him?" His voice had calmed down considerably, but I couldn't answer the question for him.

He thought this would help him live with his guilt.

But I kept on wondering how long it would take until something bigger quenched that.

Did he realize that helping us was pretty much the same as committing social suicide?

If someone where to find out about his sympathy to us, a species so much lower than them, he would slide down the social ladder quicker than one can say 'milk'.

"I don't know. But I don't think we are in any position to question him. We're lucky enough to have been granted this opportunity of having a warm place to sleep, having a full stomach, fuck, just living for once in our sad lives, and I think we should be really damn greatful for that. Even if this were to be a trap, I wouldn't mind all that much. At least we got to experience a few things life has to offer."

I think that sufficed as an answer. Maybe I said that just as much to reassure myself as I did for him.

Obviously I was afraid of the future. It was human nature to be afraid of the unknown. But I was also really curious and if it meant trusting someone else for me to find the candle to shed light to the darkness, then hell, so be it.

"I guess..." Jon muttered.

Smiling slightly, I walked over the window and opened the blinds, letting in the small amount of light coming from outside.

"C'mon, let's see if anyone else is up," I said.

Jon nodded and together we walked out of the door, bumping into Brendon on the way out.

"Thank God you're still here!" He exclaimed, grabbing my shoulders, a grin covering his face.

I raised an eyebrow skeptically, flinching away from his touch, my heart dropping as light-hearted grin fell into a confused frown.

Nevertheless, he caught himself pretty fast.

"I, uhm, it's about your working situation..."

I touched his arm slightly, leading him back to the room we had slept in, Jon following.

"I'll pay you, as much as you need, until you find another job that you can live from."

Jon shuffled next to me, huffing in surprise.

"Are you serious?!"

Brendon nodded with a smile, shaking Jon's hand as if formalising the agreement.

"Thank you. Thank you so so much," Jon gasped, barely able to speak.

A smile fell upon my lips aswell as I watched Jon being so happy after his tremendous loss the night before.

"And now, we have to go!" Brendon grinned, patting Jon's shoulder and looking at me expectantly.

"We?" I asked, certain I had misheard.

"We," Brendon repeated, "because you, Ryan, are no longer unemployed; you're working for me."

And with that, he cheerfully called out a goodbye to Spencer, whom he probably just woke from a good night's sleep, and exited the pub, leaving me to follow.

And yet again did this boy manage to leave me so utterly speechless.

~ Tonight, I'm by your side, even in your darkest hours, I swear on my life, even when sweet turns sour, I will be by your side ~