The Reformed

“Well not everyone can be perfect,” he adds, playing amount with the joke, presenting a grin. Perfect was a word Bennett had strove for, but also ran from at times. While he had hoped and wished that everything in life he do be great, he knew that perfection was pretty much unattainable, but who wouldn’t want to reach that kind of status?

“Yeah? Maybe so. But then I’d have to talk to my sister, so if you get tossed in jail… I might as well join you,” he says in somewhat of a sarcastic tone. “Parents can… be like that, I guess. I’m not excusing them, but man? Sometimes life is better when you do things your own way.”

“Well, I think I turned out pretty perfect, so you might be wrong about that,“ Ryan grinned, getting back to his cocky humor. The guy he used to be back in high school. He was still Ryan after all, just a bit nicer and a family man. “You won’t believe the people I still stay in contact with these days. Remember Gio? Troublemaker?“

“Oh damn, well that’s no good. I’ll just have to charm some other lawyer. Unless you paid my bail,” Ryan smiled. “I’d pay yours if that’s any help.“ Ryan shrugged, he knew parents weren’t perfect and he was better off without them anyway. “I’m past it now, but they were dicks even back then. They’ve never met Darna, but I don’t care, I have friends that are family,“ Ryan shrugged. “Uncles that love us are more important. So just wait until Darna has uncle Ben wrapped around her finger.“

Felix: Sorry, second fave is Adrian and third Dennis. You can go fourth and Gio last lmfao

Felix: You can do it, doesn't mean I'll pay haha! Your friend drinks way too much

Felix: Damn, fine. Give them to them. I'll go buy paint now

Ryan: I should be your third at least, knock Dennis down a spot. Wait... how does Adrian get second??

Ryan: I'll send mafia people around to make you pay up.

Gio: Sure. You believe whatever makes you feel better about yourself, babe. I'll just nod and pretend I agree 😘

Gio: Well, he can work somewhere else. Why do you have to employ him at our bar? Now I have to see his face every day?

Gio: I think you're being insensible right now and I'm hurt.

Ryan: Stop teasing and admit you're secretly in love with me.

Ryan: I need good bar staff, he's good bar staff. The fact he's easy on the eye is a business. I neeed hot men in my life Gio, don't be mean.

Justin considers the other’s answer for a second, quietly nodding along as his point started to make sense. He always thought of himself as a natural flirt so maybe that had been the case and since he had always thought the whole glasses look looked good maybe he’d turned up the charm an extra notch. “You know, you’re probably on to something. I thought I looked good with the glasses and probably turned up the flirting an extra notch. I hope I wasn’t leading anyone on without meaning to.” He laughs shaking his head. “Nah, these are non-prescription, but you could probably take them in to your eye doctor and get that fixed if you needed a prescription.” 

Ryan smiled, marrying a smart scientist was rubbing off on him “See, I’m a secret genius and you’re the only proof I have,” Ryan teased. “You suit them though so I say go for it. No one says no to extra tips, do your thing. Plus flirting can’t hurt a persons confidence, it’s nice when you’re having a shit day.” He didn’t see the harm in some flirting, as long as it didn’t go too far. Well, for Ryan at least, he was married. “I tried contacts when I was younger but they were a nightmare, I always forgot about them. Now I only wear glasses when I really need too.”

It’s probably just you. Girls listen to me all the time. Ryan….Thomas? Oh god. No. No, you don’t know me! You don’t know me and I don’t know who Dennis is at all! Look, a bird!

Oh shoot. That doesn’t work over the internet.

Er... so I’m guessing you know Dennis? I’m not some over the protective husband, Dennis can have friends outside of myself. 

“I’m glad to finally be considered a good influence,” he muses, his hand resting over his chest. It was an odd thought to think of himself in that matter, though it was also a status he had wanted for as long as he could remember.

“Nope, no gossip,” Ben says with a pout, going on to grin only seconds later. At the mention of his family, Bennett’s stature visibly changes. Lifting his glass and almost finishing off what was left, he just shrugs. He had never been on the best of terms with them. Up until college, he felt as if his only purpose in life was to be the golden boy of his family. Within the past few years, even though they had basically handed him his career, he had distanced himself from his family. “They’re uh… they’re doing fine. My brother got married, my sister is still in school, trying to be a lawyer, or something.”

“Only taken ten years, but you’re finally there,“ Ryan teased. Neither of them were good influences at school, which was probably why they got along so well. Everyone changes so at least they were both grown-ups now, better people. 

Ryan nodded, happy to hear some good news. He wasn’t close to his own family, barely seeing his parents in the last ten years. “That’s good, at least I know I have someone to call if I get in trouble with the cops,” Ryan joked. “My parents didn’t take the whole... into guys thing well so I’m better off without. Can’t choose your family, huh?” Ryan shrugged. He wasn’t upset talking about it, he was past it. If he had been able to choose family, Be would have definitely been his first pick for a brother back ins school.

What a lovely, fulfilling day. Dennis wouldn’t ever be sure of what normal was, but this – this felt normal, this felt like a normal he could get used to. As he stood before Ryan with a slack grin on his face, it all so faded as he blushed at the way Ryan’s arms wrapped around his waist. After everything he’d been through, all of the insecurity he felt in his body, it was still so… foreign to think that someone wanted him and was able to see him more intimately. He met Ryan’s eyes before letting out a playful squeak at the kiss. “Yeah? Let’s start with that kind of talk then,” he said as he pressed his lips to Ryan’s, unable to resist his husband’s charm. “You want to maybe lead the way? Or the conversation?” The truth was that Dennis couldn’t decipher what Ryan wanted to talk about, but with the mood he set he just wanted to be with his husband.

It was amazing to be back home with his husband, he didn’t want to spoil the evening by bringing up the incident but they had to talk about it. Avoiding the topic wouldn’t help anything. “We should probably talk about what happened, not to spoil the moment,” Ryan said with a shrug. “Then we can have some makeup sex to get past it.” He raised a suggestive eyebrow, more excited to get to the making up. He leaned in closer, hands holding Dennis’ hips to keep him close. “I know we don’t want to, but we might as well get through that horrible stuff and get back to the good part.” Ryan didn’t want to talk about it, but they had to. “Can you just explain why? That’s all I need, just so I know why it happened and what we can do to stop it getting to that point again. I thought we were done.”

Hissing at the thought, Ben slowly shook his head. “You better keep her on a short leash while you still can.” To imagine Ryan as a dad was still something he was having trouble wrapping his head around, but Bennett could tell how much he loved the journey that parenthood had took him on. A very small part of him was envious of this life he’d built. Though, he was more happy for Ryan than anything. Nothing was better than seeing those who were important to you, living their best lives. “No, not anytime soon at least.” 

“Like we’re causing trouble without doing anything,” he adds on, laughing to himself. He did love the good times they had back then, but those memories belonged right where they were–in the past. “I’ll try my best to do the same,” he assures, only to let out a laugh moments later. “No, you don’t have to worry about that…” trailing off, Ben brings a hand up to wipe over his face. “I’ve just been keeping busy.”  

Ryan laughed, thinking of the things he had to come. He was going to be in so much trouble when Darna reached her teens. “I’ve got uncle Ben to keep her on the straight and narrow, while Gio leads her astray,” Ryan teased. “You’ll have to meet her next time, she’s basically a mini Ryan, which I’m sure will make you love her instantly.”

Thankfully the past was in the past. He didn’t want to bring any of that backup. Ben being in his life was going to put some pressure on Dennis, but they could get through it. “Nothing dramatic? No gossip? How disappointing,” Ryan teased. “You don’t seem to have changed much, I mean, yeah, matured and stuff, but everything feels the same. Hows the family?”

Gio: We all know she's smart like her OTHER PARENT

Gio: Wow I see how it is

Gio: I mean CLEARLY I know he's hot but that's BESIDES the point RYAN

Gio: You know, the money I save on those drinks I give back in nice tips which keep your employees happy so really I'm like doing you all a favor

Ryan: Lies, she’s smart because of me. I’m the brains.

Ryan: I’ve got to have something good to look at when I’m working long ass shifts. Plus your ex needs a job.

Finding the light in the conversation, Bennett let out a throaty laugh. “I’d love to see the day that little girl serves you some karma,” he agrees, finding himself more and more comfortable around Ryan as each minute ticked by.

“Yeah, that sounds good,” he nods, knowing very well he wouldn’t be able to put it any better. “Anything’s possible. Especially since you have this place—that makes it even more possible,” he jokes, giving his friend a grin. “I’ll keep that in mind. It would be nice to have another place to stop by after work that isn’t infested with creepy old guys.”

Ryan laughed, because he knew it was only time before his girl was a troublemaker. She had Ryan as a father and Gio as an uncle, she stood no chance. “Especially as I own a bar, she’ll be sneaking alcohol in her teens, probably with Gio’s help,” Ryan said with a sigh. “Not winning you over with the idea of having kids, am I?” 

“It’s nice seeing you again, I’ve missed this. Feels like we’re back in class causing trouble. I’ll definitely keep in touch,“ Ryan promise.d He didn’t want to give up their possible friendship now. “Anything new with you? Any changes? Don’t steal my glory by telling me you came out just after me,“ Ryan teased. 

As a girl, I resent that. Oh, thank you so much! Say, I’m Imogen. Just so you’ve got a name when you come to my funeral.

You know I’m right, unless it’s just the fact girls don’t listen to me. I’m Ryan, so you have a name for the guy that’s giving your heartfelt funeral speech. Didn’t we go to school together? I recognize you from somewhere.