[Declan sees that wobble, that sudden hesitation in Matthew, and he doesn't know what to do. He's not a parent, he's barely 17, and he feels that worry in his chest.
They're in public. But it doesn't matter. He turns and puts his arm around Matthew's shoulder and pulls him so that Matthew's face is against his shoulder.]
Yeah, I know.
[No one seems to be looking at them and Declan counts that as a small blessing.]
[ Matthew doesn't care if anyone is looking, except he knows that Declan does. Even so, he can't control the shudder that passes through him and the single, ragged little breath he drags into his mouth, the sound muffled against Declan's shoulder.
It doesn't last very long. By the time the service starts he's scrubbing the tears away, and then he just looks up into his brother's face and softly whispers-- ]
Sorry.
[ Ronan still isn't here. Declan's phone still isn't ringing. He needs to stop crying and start praying. ]
no subject
They're in public. But it doesn't matter. He turns and puts his arm around Matthew's shoulder and pulls him so that Matthew's face is against his shoulder.]
Yeah, I know.
[No one seems to be looking at them and Declan counts that as a small blessing.]
no subject
It doesn't last very long. By the time the service starts he's scrubbing the tears away, and then he just looks up into his brother's face and softly whispers-- ]
Sorry.
[ Ronan still isn't here. Declan's phone still isn't ringing. He needs to stop crying and start praying. ]
no subject
[He presses a kiss against the top of Matthew's head, and during the entire mass, he doesn't let go of his hand.]