~22~

"You're not going to like what I have to say, Kieran." Sela said conversationally, getting up to replenish her third cup of tea, at this rate she would get drunk on the herbal drink but dealing with the difficult man on the other side of her desk was enough of a reason to.

"That's not new news, Sela." Kieran replied bluntly, his brows low on his head.

Bryan was just munching on the little cakes that Sela had offered them.

Honestly, the therapy session was progressing far better than he could have ever hoped for.

"As long as you listen, it doesn't matter much how you feel about the words I have to say." She said calmly, returning back to her seat and taking a rejuvenating sip of her chamomile tea.

"Fine, out with it." Kieran grated.

"You're not scared of leaving the people you love or being the reason that they end up like your mom did, you're absolutely terrified of being left alone and ending up like your mom." She said in crisp clear tones so he would have to listen to every word she said.

Bryan gasped silently at this, a lot of pieces falling into place but even more importantly he glanced at Kieran to see how he was taking it.

His face was an emotionless mask, expected.

But he did something that Bryan hadn't been expecting, shot to his feet and snatched up Bryan's hand.

"Fuck you and I'll see you next time, Sela." He said calmly, already starting for the door, pulling Bryan behind him.

Sela burst out laughing at this. "Sure Kieran, same time next week, make sure to take care of him, Bryan." She said to the quieter man that had listened curiously throughout the entire session.

"Um, sure?" Bryan mumbled, very lost and confused.

"Kieran?" Bryan called him in confusion, still letting himself be pulled along.

It was this image that Chloe lifted her head up to see, Kieran possessively dragging Bryan out of the office.

She gave him two thumbs up and an aggressive wink.

Bryan barely processed her actions, still trying to wrap his head around what was going on with Kieran.

"Kieran?" He tried again, his brows furrowed in confusion. 

Kieran just swung open the door to the passenger side and ushered Bryan in, closing the door gently but passive-aggressively.

Bryan just sat still, watching Kieran stride around the car, he didn't think he had ever seen Kieran get so visibly upset.

"Um…" Bryan tried breaking the silence when Kieran got in and started up the car, ruffling his hair. "You didn't like therapy?" He asked cautiously. 

Kieran whipped his head around with a frown. "Why would you think that?"

Bryan blinked in disbelief. "Why would I think that? You basically stormed out of her office, what else was I supposed to think?"

"Oh." Kieran murmured quietly like he was just realising it. "I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts for a while."

"But I'm here." Bryan pointed out, looking like he was about to ask if he should leave.

"Yeah, tell me, do you mind if we go to my place instead?" Kieran asked, an underlying hint of nervousness in his voice.

Bryan was whiplashed for the umpteenth time, it was the last thing he had been expecting Kieran to say. "No, not at all." He replied, nearly biting his tongue in worry that he had sounded too eager.

They drove in silence for a while before an audible curse from Kieran attracted Bryan's attention.

"What's wrong?"

"I forgot about an important appointment." Kieran grumbled, the wheels in his head turning.

"Can you get out of it?" Bryan inquired in concern.

Kkeran had a sour look on his face, "No but…" His black eyes flashed with something close to excitement at that. "I can get Dream to help me out instead, he would absolutely love to." He cut himself off.

Bryan was caught off guard by this. "Luna Dream?" He clarified to make sure that they were talking about the same person.

"Yeah, I'll call him when we get to my place." Kieran said shortly, providing no more explanations.

Bryan was hardly bothered, he had far more pressing things occupying his thoughts anyway.

Bryan had to swallow his gasp when they got to Kieran's place, it was more grander than he had imagined.

"Come in," Kieran invited after opening the front door. "Welcome to my place." He said awkwardly, the ghost of a smile on his face.

Bryan didn't have to jump to conclusions, it was evident that Kieran didn't bring a lot of people to his home.

It was a proper mansion located at the mouth of the woods, the interior looked straight out of a high rise movie or an interior designing magazine. 

Kieran led the way to the living room, although Bryan doubted that it was the only one.

The mansion was far too big for just one living room.

"One sec while I call Dream…" Kieran excused himself, wandering over to the far end of the living room which opened up to a lounge with an electric fireplace and a swirling staircase.

Bryan just busied himself with drinking in the sights, no surprise that Kieran's house was exactly like he was, poised and collected with just the faintest bit of longing.

He could see it in how bare the parts of the house that he could see was.

At the far end of the space, Kieran was pacing while listening to his phone ring.

Dream picked on the third ring. "He…"

"Please don't tell me if you're doing anything sketchy." Kieran immediately cut him off, scarred one too many times.

Dream laughed at this, his laughter ringing out clear like a bell. "Well, now that you mention it…"

"Dream?" Kieran cut him off.

"Oh you're no fun, Kie." Dream pouted. "So, what's up? Bryan finally left your ass?" He teased.

"No." Kieran deadpanned, fighting the urge to tell Dream that Bryan was at his place at the moment, Dream would never let him live it down

"I need a favor, there's a little issue down in Paper District so there's a meeting of sorts that I can't miss but I'm occupied at the moment so could you help me attend?" He asked nicely. 

Dream only zeroed in on one part of his sentence.  "Wait, what do you mean you're occupied?" He immediately asked and Kieran could picture him narrowing his eyes.

"I'll text you the details, thanks I owe you one." Kieran said in a rush.

"Oh you owe me something alright." Dream mumbled suspiciously before hanging up.

Kieran glanced at his phone, he would deal with that later.

He looked over at Bryan, he had far more important things to do at the moment.