#ty&zane

’Sixty.’ Ty repeated, voice like sandpaper. His eyes were moving fast, taking in every inch of Zane, but his expression never changed. Zane wondered what Ty saw, after these years, in him, because Ty didn’t change, not really, except for a few more lines on his forehead, but Zane, he looked at himself in the mirror and his hair was gray, the scruff on his face more white, the wrinkles around his eyes deeper and constant and though his eyes had the same dark colour, they were older, much older. He was getting old, and he was wasn’t suprised, nor did he really mind, and when his morning runs were becoming harder to do he didn’t think much of it, nor the pain in his lungs and sides after he finished it, and when he stopped running altogether, Ty seemed to enjoy the morning cuddling more than he was bothered by Zane not doing any sports.

’But’ Ty started again, waving at the unfolded papers, full of medical words he didn’t understand, ’You quit smoking. Years ago.’

Zane couldn’t help but laugh; it came out sounding wet and muffled and insincere and he had to look away. He wiped at his mouth before turning back to Ty.

’You know it doesn’t work that way.’

He thought of the times Ty told him ’those things’ll kill you’ and judging by the look in Ty’s eyes he was thinking about the same thing. Zane distantly felt the irony of the situation and fought back a snort. Any other time when Ty was right, he would be shouting ’Told you so!’ with a grin on his face, most likely while escaping from a revengeful Zane across the house but now he was silent with a shade of guilt in his eyes, cast down to the floor.

’Shit I did to my body doesn’t just disappear without consequences’ Zane continued, sounding calm and composed. ’I think I was lucky to-’

’Shut up.’ Ty growled. Zane was suddenly very well aware of the distance between them and he wanted to cross the room and wrap Ty up in a hug, but Ty was completely still, muscles tense and Zane had no idea what was going through his mind – hell, he didn’t know even what he was thinking, himself. He was prepared for Ty to be angry, to break down, to shout, to fight, but he was becoming more and more anxious with each moment Ty spent motionless.

The bell to the bookstore chimed, startling them both. Zane made a vague gesture, but Ty was examining the floor, unwilling to look up. Zane sighed quietly. They’d have to have that conversation eventually, and it’d better be soon. But apparently, not now.

’I’ he started, waving at the door. Ty nodded jerkily, and raised his head only to see Zane exiting the room and the cat following him downstairs.

His shoulders slumped the moment Zane disappeared to the stairs. He let out a shaky breath and slapped a hand on his mouth to muffle the sound. He heard Zane talking to the customer downstairs, in a cheerful, light manner as he always did. He had regular customers, people knew them around here; sometimes, they’d just come around for a talk or to think. Some evenings they had a book club meeting in the reading area.