care >> brohm

(real)

It was one week later when a woman in the grocery store bumped into Bryce, apologized, and continued on her way.

Ryan laughed playfully at his taller friend, nudging him and continuing down the aisle in search of fruit- god damn, he was an adult, adults ate healthy- but Bryce was standing still, an expression of disbelief on his face. Confused, Ryan watched and prepared to question. Just like that, however, the situation caught up to him- and he was gaping, open mouthed and wide eyed, full of just as much wonder and surprise.

"She saw you," he said, tone breathless. "She-"

"She saw me," Bryce confirmed, his own voice small and childlike, a giddy smile encroaching on his expression. "Oh my god-"

"What the hell-"

"I can't believe-"

"Holy shit, dude-"

"Oh my god-!"

They stared at each other, like idiots, aware but uncaring of the looks being sent their way by fellow shoppers. Ryan's expression was fading into confusion whereas Bryce looked so happy he appeared in danger of fall to the floor and crying right in the middle of the supermarket, something Ryan thought was probably not god in the long run.

"How?" he asked, finding his ability to question, and Bryce had his hand covering his mouth to conceal an incredibly too wide smile, a grin that flashed every one of his white teeth on prominent display. "I- I thought you said-"

"Holy shit," Bryce said, awed, not even apologetic for interrupting Ryan. "Look, Ryan- finish what you're doing, I'll meet up with you later, okay?"

"No, not okay-!" Ryan protested, but Bryce was gone, turning down aisles and presumably out of the store itself. The man pinched the bridge of his nose and took in some deep breaths, trying to slow his whirling thoughts.

Never mind health, he was going to need some comfort food to get through whatever the hell Bryce was doing.

-/-/-/-/-/-

Ryan dropped the bags to the floor and his keys on the counter with loud clattering noises, making the likelihood that he'd broken something fairly high. He was too distracted to mind, stepping into the living room without putting the groceries away, and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Bryce!" he called, probably loud enough for the neighbors to hear, not that he really cared at this point. "You said you were going to explain!"

"I will!" Bryce promised from behind, making Ryan whirl around to face the taller man. He looked tired, maybe even a little sickly and out breath, but he was beaming. "I will, I just- I wanted to make sure."

"Are you okay?" Ryan asked, an unsure chuckle falling from his throat. Bryce shrugged, not giving an answer- god damn that was frustrating- and sat down on the couch. A few deep breaths later, Ryan joined him, huddled onto the opposite cushion.

"I'm becoming real," Bryce said excitedly, without much prelude. At Ryan's confused and skeptical look, Bryce grinned even larger- was that really possible? "I was- before, you were the only one who could see me, and I could teleport kind of easily, and I couldn't see colors or hear well- but I guess the last day or so everything's come back around. It's insane, I had no idea how much I was missing. Color? Hella weird. I don't understand it."

"Slow down," Ryan commanded, and Bryce obeyed, for once. "Becoming real? What happened?"

"I wasn't completely in the world before," Bryce said, slow and nearly patronizing. At Ryan's annoyed glance, he seemed more apologetic. "Sorry. But really. That's why we try to find our soulmates so hard, that's how we become real."

"But you found me months ago," Ryan pointed out, only more and more confused. "Why is it happening now?"

The smile on Bryce's face was playful, and Ryan wasn't so sure he liked it. "Because you like me now!"

Ryan froze, feeling his heart still and then kickstart at a much faster rate. "I- no?"

"Yes," Bryce corrected, leaning forward. "Sorry, it's the rules. I become real when you fall in love with me. And it's already starting, which means you like me."

"You like me," Ryan rebuked, spluttering, trying to regain his footing in this conversation when his face was surely red as a tomato.

Bryce released a fucking giggle. "Yeah, but we already knew that. This is a new thing." He fell back against the armrest, setting a hand over his heart. "That's so cute Ryan, you should have told me!"

"Shut up," Ryan said, trying to manage crossness, but the tone that came out was way too fond, even for his ears. Bryce snickered and Ryan covered his face with a pillow, feeling way too much like a child. "Shut up!"

"Okay," Bryce conceded, nudging Ryan's knee gently with his foot, and getting to his feet. "You're so cute. I'll put away your groceries and you can come to terms with the fact you like me, sound okay?"

"Fuck you," Ryan said, his voice muffled by the pillow, and Bryce laughed delightedly as he walked away. When the footsteps stopped in his kitchen Ryan allowed himself to uncover his face, even though he felt the flames of embarrassment still lighting his cheeks.

He knew he didn't like Bryce- the kid was too tall and weird and lanky, his height perfect for someone- well, Ryan's height, he guessed. He was a little too cute too, with his laugh that sounded like a bell ringing and his endearing clumsiness and his pretty large eyes and his soft hands and his awkward humor and his light banter and the way he never swore- like a child, this man was basically a child, there was no way Ryan could ever find himself liking someone like this.

Frustrated, he dropped his face back against the pillow, and resisted- just barely- the urge to scream into it. Of course he liked Bryce. Of course. He'd known that, deep down, but hearing Bryce call him out on it was a whole other thing, something he was going to have to come to terms with.

"Uh....?" Bryce's voice sounded from the kitchen, ringing with confusion. "Where do you put your cans?"

At the sound of the voice, Ryan couldn't resist a light twitch of his lips, and he groaned internally- fuck, he really had never stood a chance.