Social Norms (Synacky)

Chapter Thirty-Two

He didn’t answer the phone when it rang. He knew it would be Jimmy with the “Where the hell are you?” talk. And he didn’t want to deal with that. He didn’t want people to know he was so upset over his grandfather, who would probably be fine.

So Brian ignored everything but McKenna. She was good, she only cried once and that was because she needed a diaper change. Which Brian reluctantly handled.

He put on some Nirvana on the stereo, pulled out McKenna’s Fun on the Farm set, and settled in for a long afternoon of oinks and moos. McKenna loved the attention she was getting from Brian, babbling nonsense mixed with a few words like “sleepy” and “bye bye” and giggling to herself at a joke only she could understand.

Brian was setting McKenna in her high chair for lunch, a bowl of lukewarm spaghetti-o’s waiting for her, when he heard a knock at the door. He sighed, setting her food before her before going to answer it.

Brian’s heart fluttered at the sight of Zacky in front of him, but he pushed that down, asking “What are you doing here?”

“You uh… you weren’t at practice.” Zacky’s voice cautiously tiptoed around the harshness in Brian’s. “I brought my guitar, I was wondering if you wanted to practice some here.”

“No.” Brian replied. “I don’t.”

“Hey.” Zacky stepped past Brian and into the house, concern clearly visible in his expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’ll get you some fucking tabs to work on.”

Zacky slid the strap of his guitar case off his shoulder, and before Brian could turn to go to his room, Zacky wrapped his arms around him. “Baby…” he murmured, lips fluttering against the junction between Brian’s neck and shoulder, “Talk to me. What’s bothering you?”

“Nothing!” Brian replied, meaning to pull away, but instead sinking into Zacky’s touch. “Maybe you’re bothering me!”

Zacky chuckled, hands cupping Brian’s face, before moving up to his hair. “I doubt that.”

Brian didn’t want to kiss Zacky. Wait, yes he did. He wasn’t expecting the kiss and by the time he could remember he was feigning anger to get Zacky to go away, he was already kissing back. He closed the door with a slam, shoving Zacky against it, pinning his hands above his head. The kiss was good, much needed, and hot, leaving Brian breathless, and the taste of Zacky on his tongue.

Zacky moaned softly, tugging a hand free, and Brian gasped when it pressed against his crotch. “F-Fuck, Zack!” he groaned. Feisty fucker, what had him so desperate all of the sudden? “S-Stop, we can’t.” he managed, and Zacky chuckled.

“We can. When will your folks be home?”

“Tonight, but-“ Brian groaned as Zacky squeezed lightly, “Cut that out! W-What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing. I feel fine. Better than fine, actually.” Zacky kissed the corner of Brian’s mouth. “Come on, Brian, please?”

“N-No, Zacky.” Brian managed to sputter, and it was gone. All of the contact. Zacky pulled away, biting his lip and nodding. “Okay, I understand.”

They were both silent, panting, trying to catch their breaths and ease the sexual tension. Finally, Brian muttered, “McKenna’s here.”

Realization flickered across Zacky’s face, and he nodded, “Oh, okay. I’m sorry.”

A clatter came from the kitchen, and Brian ran in to see what mess McKenna had made. She was giggling and clapping her hands, and her bowl was face down on the floor, its contents everywhere.

“Shit.” Brian muttered, grabbing some paper towels and kneeling to clean up the mess. He grinned though, as McKenna looked at Zacky shyly, covering her face with her hands.

“Hi.” Zacky said kindly, and Brian looked up to see Zacky smiling warmly at McKenna. “I’m Zacky. What’s your name?”

McKenna looked at Brian, reaching for him. Brian threw away dirty towels, then picked her up, wiping remnants of sauce from her face. “Tell Zacky your name, McKenna.”

She buried her face in Brian’s neck, and when he repeated himself, she turned towards Zacky and whispered, “Kenna.”

“Kenna? That’s a pretty name, I love it!” Zacky pointed at Brian and asked “Who’s that?”

“Bribri.” McKenna gripped Brian’s shirt tightly in her little fists, and he kissed the top of her head.

“Aw, that’s adorable.” He fawned, “She’s adorable.”

He stepped forward, touching her cheek gently, and she smiled shyly at him, reaching out for him. “May I…?” he asked Brian, and he shrugged, handing McKenna to Zacky.

Zacky took her, spinning around with her, and she squealed with laughter, shouting “Again! Again!”

They spun until Zacky was staggering and dizzy, both of them laughing.

Brian smiled fondly at them, the two people he loved probably more than anyone else in the world.

Wait, loved?

Brian watched them, as Zacky proceeded to tickle her and she giggled some more. “Hey, let’s go into the living room.

Brian sat on the couch while Zacky and McKenna rolled a ball on the floor, and Brian told him about Pops. “He’s broken his hip, that’s all. He’s gonna be fine. But I’m still worried.”

Zacky frowned, rolling the blue ball to McKenna. “I’m so sorry, Brian. I know what you’re going through, and stuff like this sucks. I don’t blame you for not coming to practice today. Breaking a hip is a really scary thing, especially for someone older. Are you and your grandpa close?”

“Yeah. He’s my favorite of my grandparents.”

The room filtered into silence, In Utero finished playing, and McKenna paused from her constant babble as she explained something incoherent to Zacky.

“Do you really love me, Zacky?” Brian blurted suddenly. He knew it probably wasn’t the best time to have that conversation, but it was on his mind and he needed to get it off his chest.

Zacky took a deep breath. “Yes.” He replied, intercepting the ball before it could roll past his reach.

“Why?” Brian asked, “And how do you know?”

Zacky looked up at Brian. “I love you, because you care about me. Me, the weird, quirky, shy Zacky that acts like a six year old most of the time. You make me feel so wanted, and it caught me off guard, to be honest. I fell head over heels for you, Brian. I want more than anything to make you happy, it’s the best feeling in the world when you smile because of me. Whenever you touch me I feel lightheaded and I a blaze sparks in the pit of my stomach. I can’t get enough of you, Brian. I’ve… I’ve never felt like that before, especially so quickly, we haven’t even been dating for very long. And I was in denial for a while, too. I didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to admit that I loved you. But that night, when you told me all those things, it just came out. And I don’t regret saying it.” He smiled sheepishly, “And that’s it, I guess.”

Zacky grunted a little in surprise and at the impact when Brian threw his arms around him. All sorts of crazy emotions thrummed through Brian’s veins, and this was the most efficient way he could think of to deal with them. Zacky returned the embrace, and Brian pressed his lips to Zacky’s in a rough, haphazard kiss.

“I think I love you too.” Brian murmured, “Pretty sure I do, actually.”

Zacky smiled, kissing Brian’s cheek softly. “Well that’s nice to hear. Pretty sure is always better than nothing at all.”