~24~

Bryan watched Kieran pace a couple minutes more and he had had enough. "Are you coming back or do I have to come meet you?" He asked dryly.

Kieran winced but trudged back to him, sitting stiffly on the couch beside Bryan.

Bryan wasn't letting him escape so easily, getting up to come and sit directly beside him, sidling closer.

"Is what Sela said true?" He asked carefully, looking straight up at Kieran.

Kieran felt cornered by the look in Bryan's eyes, his thoughts had been a whirlwind ever since they left Sela's office, her words refusing to sink in.

"I don't know."

Bryan heard Kieran's words but it was very different from what his vulnerable eyes said.

He had no idea what pushed him to say it but the words left his mouth before he could stop them.

"I'm not going to leave, it doesn't matter what we are." He started in a soft voice, sounding wistful.

"I'm not staying because of what I can get from you but because you're a wonderful person and I want to stay." He ended with a smile.

Kieran took one long indecipherable look at Bryan and then swooped down on him.

 Bryan hadn't been expecting this outcome so he was more than a little startled when Kieran tackled him down to the couch.

When he regained his bearings, he found Kieran just laying on his lower half, his head resting on Bryan's chest.

Bryan laid back against the pillows that broke his fall with wide eyes, he glanced down to find Kieran holding him tight with no plans to let go.

"Kieran?" He called out in a slightly confused voice.

"Let's stay like this for a bit." Kieran's muffled voice floated over.

Bryan had no complaints about that, he had never imagined in a hundred years that Kieran was one for physical affection, yet here he was cuddling him.

It had been a spur of the moment to suggest that they go for therapy, he never imagined that it would get him to this point.

Hesitantly, he reached out to gingerly touch Kieran's hair, his fingers barely brushing the tips of his dark blond hair when Kieran lifted his head slightly so that his hand would be buried in his locks.

This was soothing, just quietly enjoying each other's company.

The big house was so quiet that if Bryan listened hard enough he could hear both his and Kieran's heartbeat intermingling.

He wondered how Kieran had managed to stay all alone in this large house for so long, hadn't he been lonely?

Actually, all Bryan had to do was glance down at Kieran holding on to him like he was scared that he would disappear to grasp just a bit of how lonely he must have been.

Even while his mom was alive, she hadn't paid him the attention or given him the affection that a child needed from their parents.

He must have been starved of love considering that he had managed to successfully push everyone away.

Bryan gently smoothed down his hair, listening to Kieran's breathing gradually slow down.

Had he… was he sleeping? Bryan lifted his head to check, surprise etched on his face when he found Kieran's eyes closed.

He looked so peaceful while sleeping, his features softening, making him look very young.

Even in his sleep, his hands still clutched Bryan's shirt, it was adorable.

A word he would have never dreamed of associating with Kieran.

What did this mean for them though? He meant every word he said about staying even though they never got together, it would kill him but he would take that anyday over losing Kieran for good.

He wasn't going to push or pressure Keiran, they had all the time in the world anyway and he just started therapy, not exactly the best foundation to build a relationship on.

He hadn't been expecting to fall asleep too, Kieran's warm weight and steady breathing slowly lulling him to sleep.

Bryan woke up to find Kieran gone, he had also been moved to what had to be Kieran's bed.

For one thing, it was really big and the room actually managed to look lived in even though everything was spic and span.

He rolled out of bed still groggy, the shades were drawn so he couldn't tell what the time was but he was curious so he got up to check.

He was on the second floor, he found out after pushing open the curtains. It was forest all around but it was no different from the Pack Houses.

It was already late afternoon, he had been asleep for a couple hours at most, the sun would set soon, he needed to get back to the Pack House.

Pattering out of the lavish bedroom, he made his way downstairs in search of Kieran.

As soon as he got to the living room, the smell of cooking attracted his attention and he let the smell of food lead him to the kitchen where Kieran was standing over the stove.

Bryan froze at the doorway for a full minute, still trying to come to terms with what he was seeing.

It did make sense that Kieran would know how to cook, considering that he was the one taking care of himself but Bryan's brain kept rejecting the image.

"You know how to cook?" He blurted out before he could stop himself, stepping in.

Kieran turned around at this, alerted to his presence. "You're awake." He perked up, lights in his eyes, only for them to dim as he processed Bryan's words. "Wait, what do you mean?"

Bryan just walked past him, searching around the kitchen for something.

"What are you doing?" Kieran raised a brow.

Bryan turned around to stare at him like it should have been obvious. "Looking for where you stashed the evidence of takeout, of course." He said with conviction.

Kieran scoffed at this. "Little shit." He muttered under his breath. "Try to make yourself useful and help me set the table." 

Bryan was caught off guard when Kieran made his way over to him, he had been laughing at Kieran's reaction to his taunts when he choked on his laughter as he felt Kieran wrap his arms around him from behind.

He would never get used to Kieran being clingy.

Kieran just physically moved him to the table and left him there to go check on the food.

Bryan shook his head fondly at this, getting started on setting up the table. 

He had come here to ask Kieran to drive him down to the Pack House but if Kieran wanted him to stay, who was he to disagree?