Chapter Text
When Eddy comes home he sounds tired but ecstatic at the same time, a ball of energy despite the fact that his social batteries are clearly depleted. He’s launching into a story about seats and flight attendants but Brett can’t really follow, too concentrated on the sound of his voice alone.
Eddy’s surrounded by luggage and bags, but instead of walking to his room to unload and unpack, he’s still in the living room, stuck in the entrance, talking to Brett like it’s the only thing he’s supposed to be doing right now.
Brett has not said much, unsure of how his voice will come out.
He’s always dismissed those friends teasing them about being codependent because he’s never seen their point. Brett was absolutely fine with Eddy gone, he lived his normal life, worked, read Eddy’s texts, practised and went out with friends.
He has not been missing him.
Certainly not like in those movies or dramas, not in, like, a constantly-thinking-about-him way, or even a can’t-wait-for-him-to-come-back way. That’s just not who he is, who they are.
But, maybe, in the quiet moments where there would be some kind of Eddy noise, be it his violin, his dumb snorty laugh or just him existing in the flat, maybe then Brett would feel like something was missing, yes.
That’s just normal.
What is not entirely normal is the urge Brett is getting at the moment, to touch and bask and never let go. It is not a foreign thing in their friendship, far from it, but it surprises Brett with its intensity and with the lack of rational motivation behind it.
Eddy looks and sounds happy to be home and Brett doesn’t know how to say that he feels exactly the same.
He decides to just let it happen.
He cuts off Eddy mid-sentence and simply buries himself in his arms, chin locking onto Eddy’s shoulder and hands around his back.
Eddy doesn’t miss a beat, arms instinctively engulfing Brett back, leaning into him.
It’s almost as if he’d been expecting the embrace, even though Brett was barely aware he needed it in the first place.
Eddy smells like cheap aeroplane food and sweat and probably needs a shower, but what Brett does instead of teasing him about it is turning his head into Eddy’s neck and sighing deeply. It sounds exactly as relieved as he feels.
Brett’s hold doesn’t budge, arms only squeezing harder, fingers gripping and loosening in a small dance not unlike a caress.
Eddy does not move to break the spell at all; he squeezes back just as hard, nuzzling Brett’s hair every once in a while.
Brett can’t really tell how much time is passing.
He waits for it to become awkward but the feeling just doesn’t come. He waits for Eddy to let go but it isn’t happening. Right this moment, Brett thinks he’d be fine staying like this forever.
Eddy lets out a breath, a sigh, that has words to it. He says, “I missed you too.” and maybe it’s as simple as that.
“I’m happy you’re home.”