Look away (BxB) [COMPLETE]

Bonus Chapter: Bran

⚠️ ASSAULT AHEAD

The bed was cold. The entire penthouse was cold. Cold and grey and dark. At least the view was nice. Brannon Begum looked over at the empty spot by his side, it had been empty for so long. He turned over, tucking his naked toes way between the covers. He really had to start closing the window at night. Old habits die hard. He stood up, stretching as he yawned. All sorts of joints popped and he groaned in contentment. Walking past the mirror covering the wardrobe door, Bran traced his finger over the scar on his back, gritting his teeth. Unfinished business.

The kitchen was just as cold as the rest of the penthouse. Bran was not in the mood to cook. Not that he could, but making as much as a sandwich was too much of an effort and he didn't want to have to do the dishes afterwards. Instead, he took a shirt off the floor and pulled it over his head before stepping out of his boxers to change them and put on pants. The lousy outfit would do for a quick run to the nearest coffee shop. Dragging his fingers through the curly hair, he sighed deeply as he stared at himself in the mirror by the front door. There were bags under his eyes and the black eye on his right side had gotten yellowish and ugly. He pulled his simplest zip hoodie over his firm arms. His reflection was horrid, wild and wicked, a face he barely recognised as his own. The baseball cap on his head was old and worn. Bran found it beside a dumpster when he was walking home from the grocery store one evening. It was perfect for a disguise, something he could use when avoiding paparazzi or fans.

The heavy door shut behind him and he jogged down the stairs, preferring not to take the elevator since it had a large mirror. He popped the earbuds out of their case and putting them in his ears, quickly shuffling a playlist to block out any sounds around him.

It was raining outside, pouring even. Bran sighed deeply as he stepped out into the downpour, deciding that he did not care if he got sick since he was off from work and practice, recovering from a few minor injuries he had gotten after the last game of the super bowl. They had won the entire thing, much thanks to Bran — according to him at least, but Bran had sprained his right wrist and gotten his head slammed into the ground after a nasty tackle. He could not play without his throwing hand so until it was fully healed, he was stuck at home working out and taking it easy. The rain quickly forced its way past his clothes and ran down his back like maggots crawling on his skin.

With every step, his body would hurt just a little, he had gotten used to it but knew that if he did not look it up, or could become a problem. At the age of twenty-seven, he still had not been in a lasting relationship. Before his father passed away last year, he had told Bran that if he wanted a family and a healthy relationship, he had to start working on better himself. Unfortunately, Faki Begum would never get to see the results. He had suffered a stroke at the age of fifty-six, an early and unexpected death. Now there was only Bran's mother left, but they rarely spoke as she feared to be around her son without the company of her late husband. The last Bran had heard of her were plans of moving into their Hawaii mansion and retire.

The cafe was full of teenagers sitting around and chatting loquaciously. Bran recoiled at their behaviour and age, hating how obnoxious he presumed them to be.

"Welcome!" The young cashier said as she saw him walking up to the register to order. Bran nodded, smiling softly and gently, beautifully.

"Hello. Could I have the focaccia with chèvre, apple slices and honey, please?" He asked politely. The cashier stared at him as if starstruck, seeming to have recognised him. Internally, Bran swore and groaned in annoyance. He hated meeting fans when he was off work.

"Y-yes of course! Would you like sunflower seeds on that..?" She stuttered. Her eyes were wide and sparkling like a child on Christmas.

"Yes please, and a large mocha," Bran said and pulled out his card.