//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Just Bros Being Bros // by DualSoul1423 //------------------------------// Flash stared hard at the envelope on the table in front of him, almost as though he was trying to will it out of existence. University of Manehattan was proudly stamped on the face of it, and he could tell that Timber had already read its contents based on the clean tear along the top. He didn’t need to read the letter inside, because he already knew what it said. He could feel the lead weight in his stomach as he swallowed, working up the courage for what came next. Looking up from the letter at Timber, who had been silently sitting across from him, Flash gave a huge, happy grin. “I’m so proud of you, dude. Congrats on getting in.” With a small smile, Timber nodded slowly. He opened his mouth for a second, and then closed it again, unable to find the words he was looking for. A second more, and he finally responded. A simple “Thanks, man,” was all he could utter. Flash’s smile melted into a frown, his eyes returning to the envelope. He took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully before speaking again. “You know you don’t have to go, if you don’t want to, Timber.” “I never said I didn’t want to go.” Their eyes met, both with different kinds of frustration dancing beneath the surface. “This is your dream school, isn’t it? You should go, I’ll be ok.” Flash tried his best to sound reassuring, but he wasn’t sure if he was reassuring Timber or himself at the moment. Timber reached out across the table and took Flash’s hand in his own. Holding it tight; not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to feel his pulse. “It is, and I want to go, but I also don’t want to leave you.” Laying a hand over his boyfriend’s, Flash tried to smile again, but couldn’t quite manage it this time. He tried to think of what to say, but his emotions were so twisted up at the moment, that nothing came to mind. He so desperately wanted to come up with anything to say that would make this situation better, something that would cheer up Timber, and let them smile together. As much as he wanted that, he knew that it wasn’t going to be so easy. He had known it for the past two months, and he had dreaded it every time they held hands, hugged, or kissed. “It’s funny, isn’t it? In a screwed up sorta way.” When Flash finally spoke again, his voice was low and cracked from the tightness in his throat. “I wanted so badly to help you get over your break up, that I accidentally set you up for another.” Timber squeezed Flash’s hand tighter as he shook his head. “No, you didn’t. We-” Interrupting him, Flash raised his voice, choking out his words. “I mean, I’ve been thinking about it since we started dating. I knew you wanted to go to Manehattan University, and I still agreed anyway. It was doomed from the start.” “Flash, you-” “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice just above a whisper, “I just wanted you to be happy.” The two of them sat in silence for a moment, with Timber still holding Flash’s hand tightly. At some point, Flash started squeezing back, hard enough to actually hurt, but Timber didn’t say anything. They sat like that, the quiet stretching for what felt like forever. When Timber finally spoke, his voice was tender and patient. “Are you done yet, dude?” Flash’s face twisted in confusion, tears in his eyes. “What are you talking about? Done doing what?” Timber gave a weak chuckle, shaking his head. “Being stupid. Are you done being stupid?” “Am I missing something?” An annoyed scowl was on Flash’s face now as he blinked away the tears. “Are we breaking up or not? Because I’m getting some mixed signals here.” Taking a deep breath, Timber gathered himself for a moment before shaking his head again. “I don’t want to break up, Flash. I want to figure this out. That’s why I called you over here. So we can talk, maybe think of a solution together. I don’t want to break up.” Flash let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, wheezing slightly as he slumped over. “Jeez, you couldn’t have said that before I had a meltdown there? I really thought we were breaking up over this.” “Sorry, man! I thought you were going to break up with me when I told you. I’ve always been bad at communicating my feelings, you should know that by now!” The two couldn’t help but awkwardly laugh together, feeling equally relieved over the quickly rectified misunderstanding between them. After a moment of chortling, the pair refocused on the dilemma that still stood at hand. “So, you want to go, but you also don’t want to break up.” Flash raised an inquisitive brow at his boyfriend. “Yeah,” sighed Timber, “Which is easier said than done. I’m going to be moving far. Really far. So unless you want to come with me, we’re going to have to make this a long-distance sort of thing.” Flash bit his lip, thinking about Princess Twilight. Doubts of the validity of a relationship between two people with such a separation between them began to worm their way into his mind. Even still, Flash made an effort to push them aside, because if it meant staying with Timber in the long run, it was worth the difficulties that would come with it. “I mean, hey… I’m willing to give it a shot if you are, dude.” “Just keep in mind that means I’m not going to be able to cook for you anymore,” teased Timber with a snarky smirk, “At least, unless you come to visit. Are you sure you’re going to be able to survive without me?” Flash nodded thoughtfully at the notion. “That’s true… I’m going to have to learn to live without your awesome home-cooked meals. The real question is, are you gonna be able to live without all of this?” replied Flash as he broadly gestured up and down himself. Timber blushed slightly, rolling his eyes. “You’re an idiot, have I mentioned that?” “A few times, I think,” responded Flash, with an amused grin. The expression didn’t last though, as the weight of the situation resettled in his stomach, pulling down the corners of his mouth with it. Chewing on his cheek, Timber was quiet, trying to work out the logistics of the problem at hand, along with potential solutions. He knew that there wasn’t going to be any easy way around it, no simple solution. As fun as it was to joke about it, long distance was no laughing matter. It was a deciding factor that would make or break most relationships, and he knew that his was no exception. Flash watched his boyfriend mull it over in his head in silence for a moment, trying to think of some way to contribute. He knew he wasn’t the smartest guy in town. He wasn’t even the smartest guy in the room. Even still, Flash knew that he had something to offer that was invaluable here. Rainbow Dash might be the Element of Loyalty, but he was the next best thing. Standing up, he kept a firm grip on Timber’s hand. At first, Timber looked perturbed by the sudden movement, but when he saw Flash’s calm expression, he too was calmed. Flash gestured towards the bed, with a nod of his head, and Timber rose from his seat to follow. Flash towed his boyfriend over to the bed, and laid down first before dragging Timber down beside him. He wrapped an arm around Timber and pulled him close, holding him tight against his chest. The two laid there like that, with Timber tucked in Flash’s arms, resting his head on his boyfriend’s chest. Listening to the steady, strong heartbeat, like the very first time that Flash held him like this, two whole months ago. It wasn’t exactly the same though, because last time it felt hopeful, as Timber had imagined how many times in the future he would hear that rhythmic thump-thumping. This time, it felt foreboding, and Timber found himself treasuring the beats as if they would suddenly just leave him at any moment. They were a palpable reminder of just how close Flash and Timber had become over the past few months, and it was something he would miss dearly. “You know I love you, right?” Timber hesitated for a second, before quietly answering. “I know.” “Not just in a ‘I love you bro’ kinda way.” Timber managed a small chuckle, before nodding. “Yeah, I love you too, you dork.” He pushed his face into Flash’s chest, taking comfort in the familiar scent. “Do you have a plan?” When Timber didn’t respond, he said, “In that case, here’s mine. First, you go to Manehattan.” Timber looked up at Flash expectantly, his brow furrowed with concern. Before he could interject however, Flash continued. “Secondly, I’m going to stay here and get a job.” “What kind of job?” “We’ll see, that’s not important right now. Third, I’m going to come visit you, one week out of every month. I’ve got a car, I can make the trip.” Timber opened his mouth to retort, but chose not to, instead letting Flash finish first. “Lastly, I’m going to wait for you to finish University and come back. And when you do, we’re going to live together. How’s that for a plan?” A moment of silence passed between them before Timber finally smiled, saying, “That’s not really a plan, dude.” “It’s good enough for me. How about you?” He could have thought about all the problems with Flash’s “plan.” All the ways that things could go wrong, or the situations where things might not work out. However, Timber couldn’t help but feel inspired by his boyfriend’s simple bravado. The boldness of the claim gave the illusion of certainty. After all, if Flash was so certain it would work out, who was he to refute it? Surely if they both believed it together, it would come to replace whatever other reality they face. “If it’s good enough for you, then it’s good enough for me.” And so the two laid there, together for the rest of the evening, only getting up again to eat dinner together, before falling asleep in each other’s arms like they had done so many times already. Like how they would so many times more.