Social Norms (Synacky)

Chapter Twenty-Six

The next morning, Brian awoke to the odd sensation of a warm body pressed into his side. His eyes snapped open and he looked down, to see Zacky firmly pressed against him, fingers curled against his bare chest. He smiled softly, pressing a kiss to Zacky’s forehead.

Zacky’s lips turned up slightly, but his breathing remained deep and even. Brian sighed, content as he watched his boyfriend. He ran his thumb over Zacky’s cheek, observing the peace that took over Zacky’s features. He really was beautiful. He ran his fingers over the smooth skin of his jaw line, up over his temple and into his dark hair.

Brian thought about last night. Zacky had said that he loved Brian. Was he serious? Had he meant it? Or was that just words of passion uttered in the heat of the moment? Did Brian love Zacky back?

No, no, no. That was too much to think about. Brian didn’t know what love was.

He ran his fingers over Zacky’s chest, to that scar on his side. He stroked over it gently, feeling the raised, puckered tissue. What had happened to him? It looked painful, a white line that twisted sharply to form a sick looking “J.” It wasn’t too large, but it was very prominent.

 Zacky stirred, and hazy, sleep-filled eyes blinked up at Brian.

“Good morning, baby.” Brian whispered, lips brushing against Zacky’s gently. A lazy grin spread across Zacky’s face, and he reached up to touch Brian’s cheek gently.

“Hi.” He replied, voice hoarse with sleep.

Brian figured they should be getting up soon, but they were both too comfortable and warm to bother. They just lay together, Zacky tracing invisible lines on Brian’s chest absently.

“Are you sore?” Brian asked after a while, running his fingers repeatedly through Zacky’s hair.

“Just a little. But a little is good.” Zacky tilted his head up to kiss Brian’s jaw. “I’m fine.”

Brian decided not to mention what Zacky had said last night. He didn’t know how to respond to it. He wasn’t sure if he loved him back. He had thought that he loved Michelle, and look where that ended up. He didn’t even think about her anymore.

“Hey, “ he murmured, “We gotta get up.”

“What time is it?” Zacky asked, reluctantly looking around the room for a clock. Brian turned to glance at his alarm clock on his night stand.

“Half past eleven.” He replied, and Zacky groaned.

“But I don’t want to get up…” he whined, and Brian chuckled.

“We’ve got to go to practice today, and you need your guitar. Besides, we’re going to tell the guys about us today. Okay?”

Zacky sighed, “Alright.” He slid out of bed, and Brian watched him as he slipped into his clothes. “I’m going to go home and shower and stuff. I’ll see you at practice.”

Brian was still brooding over whether or not Zacky meant what he said. He thought about bringing it up, but instead he replied, “Okay.” He clambered out of bed, wrapping his arms around Zacky. Zacky returned the embrace, kissing Brian’s temple.

“I meant what I said last night,” he murmured against Brian’s skin, and Brian pulled away to look at Zacky. He smiled nervously under Brian’s gaze, shifting from foot to foot, waiting for his response.

“I know.” Was all Brian could think of to reply with. Zacky looked a little disappointed, but he smiled softly.

Zacky saw himself out, and Brian hopped in the shower.

~*~

Brian pulled into Jimmy’s driveway that afternoon, seeing that everyone else was there.  Playing. He parked, sliding the keys out of the ignition and slipped out of the car, watching them jump around, playing their hearts out. Matt screamed into a cheap mic, Jimmy was twirling his sticks and mouthing the words, and Justin and Zacky were jumping around, fingers flying across the frets.

Damn, Zacky was hot.

Brian watched him, watched the way he stalked around, headbanging and leaping and being fucking attractive. He was sweating in the California heat, causing some of his hair to stick to his forehead, black shirt to cling to his skin.

The song was Turn the Other Way, Brian could tell because of the riffs he’d helped Zacky write.

When they finished, they all shared hi fives, congratulating each other, and Brian grinned. “That was fucking awesome, you guys!”

“Thanks, man.” Matt replied, and Zacky blushed under the praise, Jimmy leapt over his kit and nearly tackled Brian to the concrete.

“Hey, motherfucker!” he shouted down Brian’s ear, “What’d you think of that fucking song?”

“It was great!” Brian grinned at Zacky, shooting him a quick wink. “I love it.”

Zacky gave him a warning glance, and Brian rolled his eyes playfully. It wasn’t like they had to hide it anymore, they were coming out to the guys today anyway. Matt already knew.

“By the way, where were you yesterday?” Justin asked, “Both of you. We were going to play together, but you didn’t show so I couldn’t do shit and had to sit around while Jimmy and Matt worked on lyrics.”

“About that… I want to tell you all something important.”  The guys all perked up at this, looking at Brian quizzically, and Zacky have him a harsh glare. Brian looked at him quizzically before continuing hesitantly. “I um, I thought you all ought to know that Zacky and I are-“

“Done with the solo!” Zacky interrupted Brian abruptly, and Brian frowned. What was going on? Why didn’t Zacky want the guys to know? But he went along with it.

“Uh, yeah, we worked on the solo for Matt’s song yesterday, and it’s all perfected now.” Brian raised an eyebrow at Zacky, and he shook his head minutely.

“That’s why we weren’t here.” Zacky added.

“Oh, cool.” Matt said, “Let’s hear it. I’ve got the piano riffs down and Jimmy and Justin have their parts finished. It’s almost ready to go on the album.”

So, the day went on like any other day. Brian and Zacky sat on amps at the back of the garage, and worked on the riffs for Thick and Thin, and Brian asked under the noise of everyone’s music, “So why couldn’t we tell them?”

Zacky sighed, shaking his head as his fingers flitted over some chords. “I’m just not ready yet. I hope you understand. I don’t want to be kicked out of the band for dating you or anything…”

“They’re not going to kick you out, Zee.” Brian replied, “You know that.”

“I don’t want to take my chances. We’re getting so close now, and if they kick me off like we did with Wendt I’ll be really fucking disappointed.”

Brian sighed. “So when will we be able to tell them?”

“Let’s just wait a few weeks okay? Then you can tell them and I’ll be all for it.”

“Okay.” Brian agreed. He could manage that. Besides, it was just Jimmy and Justin who didn’t know. He could wait another week or two. “Let me hear Thick and Thin from the beginning.”