Empty Gold - {ryden}

5. Altschmerz

5. altschmerz (noun) - weariness with the same old issues that you've always had

Brendon had a skip in his step the entire way home. Ryan showed so much promise, and there wasn't a doubt in his mind that he would be a very nice and beneficial addition to the shop. It also helped that the two of them got on very well, because, no matter how talented a person is, it won't do you any good to work together if you don't get along.

As he shoved his key into the lock of his front door, he could hear the television murmuring softly in the background and he sighed to himself. He knew we'd have to have this argument-slash-conversation sooner or later, but, honestly, he wasn't really about it at the moment. He pushed into his apartment, closing the door and locking it behind him before speaking. "I thought you'd be asleep already," he said as he walked into the kitchen as set his bag down on the bar. "Or out. 'Not like you to be home this time of night."

"Cut the shit, Bren," she replied, not taking her eyes off the screen. "I really don't have anything to say to you right now."

Brendon rolled his eyes, reaching into the fridge and pulling out a bottle of beer. "You've always been so dramatic," he said, turning to the silverware drawer and grabbing the bottle opener, popping the top off the bottle. "And yet, you always got mad when Mom and Dad would call you a drama queen."

She shook her head, an angry, stoic look on her face. "I just can't believe you," she nearly whispered. "He hasn't even been gone for a month, and you're already trying to replace him. What the hell is that about?"

Brendon leaned against the counter, bringing the bottle to his lips and taking a long swig. "It's not like I'm the one who made Mike leave," he responded, voice leveled and low. "He made that decision himself, and you know why he did."

"Because he was uncomfortable around you--"

Brendon let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, 'cause he has the right to be uncomfortable. I'm not the one who cheated on my boyfriend with his sister and then broke up with him to be with her."

Her cheeks went bright red and she ducked her head. "That's not fair," she almost whispered. "You know we didn't mean for it to happen that way."

Brendon took another swig of the bottle and looked over at his sister. "How else would it have happened?" His question was cold, all of his malice pointed at her. "You'd think, out of every one in the world, I could trust my sister to not hurt me like that."

A tear slipped down her face as she turned to face her brother. "Bren, I'm sorry."

Brendon ignored her, taking the last swig of his beer before putting the bottle in the trash and heading off to his room. He opened the door and sighed softly. "Ryan's working with us," he said, tone hard and authoritative, "and that's that. If I find out you're making his life hell, I will fire you. Don't think just because you're my sister that I will tolerate hate in my shop." He watched her nod before nodding to himself and slipping into his room.

"Goodnight, Sarah."

* * *

Ryan was smiling the entire way to the shop. Today was going to be his first official day as an apprentice, meaning that if he got the opportunity to tattoo someone, he would be shadowed by one of the other artists. He was still nervous about tattooing on someone, even though Brendon had let him tattoo him, and it had come out perfectly fine.

Speaking of Brendon.

Brendon made Ryan feel so welcomed, in ways that the others hadn't. Of course, Patty took Ryan under his wing and the others were nice to him. Brendon trusted him enough to tattoo him. Brendon trusted him enough to give him an apprenticeship at his shop. Brendon had walked him home in the midst of a storm - albeit, they were going the same direction anyway, but still. Good things like these didn't just happen to Ryan, and he was waiting for something bad to come out and knock him down to his knees.