Brotherly Bonding [BoyxBoy]

Brotherly Bonding- 14

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This is Tyler's POV!

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Aaron is out, has been for most of the day. He left with his camera and told Ash that he would be taking more shots. I don't know what he does with all those photos, I can only imagine all those albums he must hide somewhere. And it's because of this that, at seven thirty, Ben, Jesse, Tanner, Ash, Devon and I are all milling around the kitchen, making the attempt to put together a competent meal. Devon is flipping discount chicken in the oven as Jesse reaches a hand over to stir the maceroni. I have to say, we can still make a damn good meal even with a budget. Granted, it isn't cheap. What else do you expect with nine people in the house, only one of those being a person that eats like a bird?

Tanner is cleaning off vegetables and Ben chops them. I smile at him as I fall back a bit, letting the busy people carry out their jobs. He's been getting better, it's been a week since his outburst and amazingly, Ben is his chipper self again. No gloominess, moodiness, or any variation of dismal attitude. It was awkward at work, knowing Samantha was watching in confusion as I strained myself, constantly moving. I would be cleaning the station, then when a customer came in I'd dash to the register (where I was supposed to be working at) and take the order. Then I'd go back and throw together the smoothie and ring them up. All as Ben sat there, staring off into space.Tiring.Though I hate to think I would have been hesitant in the first place, I don't feel I need to watch at all as he slices the carrots and celery. On closer inspection, they actually kind of resemble what Aaron's would look like... almost. They're at least straight, and for the most part even.

"Hey lazy ass, make yourself useful and get me another fork," Ash says as he tosses the utensil my way, with a smile to show the words are in good humour, "I dropped that one."

"Oh come on man," I reply, "you don't need to rewash it. Just spit, wipe, and voilà!"

I spit into the scoop of the spoon, wipe it with my shirt, then replace it on the table. Ash's lip raises a little, but I can see he's trying to fight it. A futile mission. "But that's Ben's place..."

He always sits there. "He won't mind," I tell Roden with a wink. With an exasperated sigh, Ash pushes past me to check Devon's work. With anyone else we would be upset, constantly having a hand on our shoulders and someone breathing down our necks; but it's Ash.

"Are you done yet?" I complain, squirming. I hear Ben chuckle and chop down his knife a final time, scrape the remains into the pile, then turn around mutely. Always the useless wastes of skin, we stand resolutely in the centre of the kitchen. "Hey Benny, you know what I'm REALLY tired of?"

"Uh...." he says intelligently as I back him into the counter. "What's that?"

"Not being able to do this," I say loudly, placing my hands on his hips and hoisting his slim figure up. As I do so, I press my lips to his. Once our skin connects I no longer have a great awareness of my surroundings, but I know that everyone had stopped working when I first spoke, and no one is talking now. Or moving. A soft intake of breath, a gasp, maybe even a laugh or disgusted sound- I expected something. But not one of these is issued as Ben slides his hands up my chest and around my neck, visibly returning the kiss to prove I'm not just forcing myself on my poor cousin. We hadn't discussed this; I decided spontaneously to bite the bullet. Looking on at the person that made me feel warm when I'm cold, happy when sad, and loved when alone, I just knew it needed to be done, now. Not later, and not just soon. I had to face the facts: we are handcore procrastinators and that probably isn't going to change. We're undeniably in love, that isn't going to change either, and there's just no way we can keep it unsaid. But judging by reactions, that's all they were waiting for; us to finally get out with it.