Social Norms (Synacky)

Chapter Fifty-Four

Author's Note: Guys, this is the last chapter :( I hope you all have enjoyed my story! Be expecting an epilogue, but probably not a sequel. Thank you all for the votes and comments, I read every one and they never fail to make me smile! You guys are the best readers ever!

If you'd like to read more of my stuff, I've got a Jimohnny completed and part of another Synacky up. You should check them out!

Let me know how you feel about this one!

-foREVerADeathbat

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“Have you ever had a midnight date, with starlight and fireflies as the only source of light?”

They were planning their Zacky-Gets-To-Stay-In-Huntington celebration. Sprawled across Brian’s bed, limbs tangled together, Brian could not have been happier.

Zacky began school next week. Brian was a little bummed that they wouldn’t be able to see each other during the day, but practice would still be every afternoon. Nothing much would change. He was taking up his Pops' offer to work with his cement business, so he'd even be making some money.

“No.” he said, “Have you?”

“Not once.” Zacky was playing with the fingers on Brian’s right hand, kissing each of his knuckles gently. “I think we should try it.”

And that night, they did. They went to a little meadow in the middle of nowhere, spreading out a blanket and kicking off their shoes. The air was mild, the faintest hint of fall carrying cool air in the soft breeze that swept over them. Zacky had brought jars, and they spent the evening catching fireflies.

It was fun, okay? Although it was juvenile, the childish things had become some of the most thrilling aspects of Zacky, and Brian didn’t even ask about it, eyes sweeping over the landscape as he searched for the brief light that signaled a firefly.

He listened to Zacky laugh as he leapt after one of the insects. Brian loved seeing him so happy, and right now he was absolutely carefree. They caught as many as they could and put them in the jars, setting them down on the blanket to act as a lamp for them.

It didn’t work. The fireflies would light up every so often, but it wasn’t nearly enough light for them to be able to see clearly with. So they let them go, and Zacky curled up close to Brian, head on his chest.

“I can’t believe you were able to change his mind.” He breathed, kissing Brian’s jaw gently. “No one’s ever been able to get to him like that.”

“What can I say? I’m just special, I guess.” Brian looked down at Zacky, seeing the flash of white as he smiled.

“Yeah, you are special.” Zacky kissed Brian’s neck. “You are beautiful and wonderful and perfect. I’m sorry that I’ve ever doubted you, I’m sorry that we fought and that…” he frowned. “That I didn’t forgive you sooner.”

Brian took Zacky’s hand, running his thumb along the back of his hand, and he chuckled a little. “You’re so silly, Zacky.” He whispered, pressing his lips to Zacky’s hand. “You’re my silly little ZeeZee.”

Zacky’s eyes brightened, “I’m very surprised McKenna said my name…”

“Me too. She doesn’t really warm up to people very fast. She must really like you.”

“I like her too. She’s a doll.” He yawned. “I’m gonna have kids one day.”

Brian liked the idea of kids. McKenna really wasn’t all that much trouble, the pros definitely outweighed the cons. Sure they needed discipline and sometimes they were gross, but for the most part they were cute and did cute things and loved you with all their innocent little hearts.

Zacky rolled on top of Brian suddenly, straddling his thighs, and Brian raised an eyebrow at him, running his hands up and down Zacky’s arms. “What’s up?” he asked, and Zacky kissed his nose.

“Nothing. I just… I just really like you, and I’m so blown away that I’m going to be able to stay here with you and who knows? It may just last forever…” he flicked his tongue over his snakebites, “I mean… I’m not saying… I-It’s not that I’m implying that I want to be together with you forever, but- oh god, that sounded bad. I-I do want to be with you forever, but it’s soon to be thinking about that and I-I guess I just meant-“

And Brian kissed him, pulling him down to Zacky was pressed flush against him, tongue sliding into a mouth that was not as hesitant as it had been when they kissed the first time. Zacky gripped his hands in Brian’s hair and Brian cupped Zacky’s face in his hands, savoring the taste of Zacky on his tongue. When they pulled away, he murmured, “I know what you mean.”

They kissed again, and Brian forgot about everything, about all that had led up to this moment and everything that would happen in the future. All that mattered was now, and Zacky’s touch and those tender, soft sounds Zacky made that were the most beautiful sounds Brian had ever heard. And it was then that he knew in his heart that there would never be anyone else other than Zacky. They would get married, and if they didn’t, Brian never would. He had gotten too accustomed to everything that was Zachary James Baker, and anything else would be much too low for his standards.

For the second time, he realized he was in love with Zacky. Only this time, he realized the full extent of it.

He didn’t know there were tears slipping down his temples to his ears, until Zacky swiped at them softly and whispered, “What’s wrong?”

“I-I’m just so happy you’re mine, Zacky.” Brian whispered, “You’re mine and I fucking almost lost you and I don’t know what I would have done with myself if I had. You’re my anchor, Zee, you’re my other half. I don’t ever want to lose you.”

Zacky smiled warmly, kissing Brian’s cheek. “I feel like you’re going to be stuck with me for a very long time.” He said, “And that’ll be okay. It’ll be great.”

They sat in silence for a while, listening to the crickets. They could hear the sounds of the city, and if he listened hard, Brian could detect the tug and pull of the waves on the beach.

“You know what? I think we’ve defined a new normal.” Brian said at last. “At the beginning of this summer, I would never have pictured myself where I am today. I’ve changed, you’ve changed, the people around us have changed because of us. Or maybe, we’ve all changed because of you.”

“You think so?” Zacky asked, then “I guess you’re right. We’ve taken what is socially acceptable and said, ‘To hell with it!’ And I guess since we stuck to that, it changed what other people thought as well. And we changed them for the better didn’t we?”

“You did, Zacky.” Brian touched Zacky’s cheek. “I just happened to be one of the people you influenced the most.”

“What would we call that?” he asked, “What exactly did I accomplish, then?”

Brian’s smile was soft and smooth, and he pulled Zacky down so their foreheads were touching. “Well I guess…” he paused, trying to form the right combination of words together. “I suppose you just changed a social norm.”

Zacky laughed. “Oh, shut up.” But they both knew he was right.

Brian whispered, “Kiss me.”

And Zacky did.

And Brian’s perfect summer ended in the most perfect way possible:

Snakebites, emerald eyes, calloused fingertips, and everything that was his Zacky.