Dallon follows silently, as he left the hospital with Brendon. The younger man was silent during the whole walk to the bus station. Despite the silence that the younger man exhibits, Dallon could still feel the almost palpable anger simmering from the seams of his calm exterior of visible composure.

Even as they both reach the bus back home, Dallon didn't dare speak. He knew it's probably not the best to say his opinion on the matter yet until he calms down, despite Brendon's justified reason to be mad at his father's actions.

All he could do was place his hand on top of Brendon's; a sign of calming gesture in which Dallon hopes the younger man would comprehend.

Brendon turns to him with a tired smile, but he responds by intertwining their hands and leans his head on Dallon's shoulder. Dallon heart flutters at the gesture; it's a nice feeling that the younger man finds him as a pillar of support in his hard times. He only hopes to be one that Brendon can count on.

"I'm sorry about earlier, Dallon." Brendon apologizes once they reached home. "I just... I don't think I'm ready to see Dad yet."

Dallon looked thoughtful about it. "When will you be ready?"

"Can 'not ever' be an option?"

"That's not how it works, Brendon." Dallon points out with an unamused look at the younger man. "You can't live with the rest of your life not talking to your father."

Brendon grumbles at his lecture, muttering an 'of course I can'. Dallon rolls his eyes at the rather immature gesture.

Of course Brendon noticed his disagreement on his idea that made him frown. "You're the last person I wanted to hear lecturing me about this." He can feel the raise of Brendon's tone as he continues his words that hint feeling of hurt in them. "I thought you of all people would be on my side!"

"I understand that your anger towards your father is justified, but you need to understand that you'll have to talk to him and see if you can still fix what you have with him!" Dallon responds in what sounded desperation, hoping that Brendon could somehow understand his point.

"Stop making it sound like this is all easy for me to do! You don't understand what it's like to have a Dad like mine! Stop acting like you know what it feels like because you'll never understand!" Brendon snaps at him with a tone of anger lacing his every word.

And yet Dallon couldn't help but feel the same anger as Brendon keeps maintaining such a selfish mindset. He closes his eyes, his hands balling in a fist by his side as he takes a deep breath. He doesn't know why, but as he opens his eyes to stare at Brendon, he can feel brimming tears of pent-up frustration on the side of his eyes threatening to fall.

"Yes, you're right, Brendon." He says lowly, turning away from the younger man's anger that slowly morphs into shock. "I'll never understand what it feels like. It's not like I still have a father anyway. It's not like I still have a chance to talk to him. Of course you're right."

"D-Dallon, wait—"

He doesn't like raising his voice. Especially to Brendon. It'd be best if he collects his own thoughts and calm down his nerves. "I'll just... take a walk for a bit. I'll be back later."

A hand catches on his wrist, stopping him from leaving. "I-I'm sorry! That was insensitive of me and I know I shouldn't have—"

"I understand, Bren. I don't want to force you into something you don't wanna do. But it's just... I don't want you to have regrets in the end, you know?" Dallon explains softly, giving the younger man a small smile to convince him. "We'll talk about it later, I promise. Just, think about it for a bit, okay? If you really don't want to, I'll understand."

And despite Brendon's protest, he still leaves not because he wanted to. He just wants the younger man to think about it. It was selfish of him to make Brendon guilty like that.

He just wants Brendon to try. Because he never wanted the younger man to ever have regrets like he had. It took his father to die before he could forgive him. He doesn't want Brendon to feel the same pain.

Even if he risked their relationship for it, he's willing to take it if it'll make things better in the end for Brendon.

"You're such a sap, Dal." He can vividly hear Jordan's voice teasing him in his mind.

And honestly, he doesn't mind if he is.

****

"I feel like a jerk. I can't believe I said that."

"Well, at least you admit you were rather an asshole. I'm fine with that."

Matty is probably the last person you'd expect Brendon to talk about his problem with Dallon. But hey, he did ask the older man some dating advice before. He's rather blunt, but he'd appreciate a solid opinion right now.

"He'll come back, don't worry." Matty reassures him, blowing off a puff of smoke from his thin chapped lips. "But you gotta trust Dal when he does these things. From personal experience, I know he kicked some sense in me with something. He's oddly good at that."

Brendon turns to him, having suspicion whether it was something or someone Matty was talking about. 

As much as he wanted push the question, he had too many things in his mind right now to even do so. He takes a puff of his cigarette, and exhales the smoke from his chest, creating intricate swirls dispersing into the darkish blanket of the night sky.

"So what's up with you? What started the lover's quarrel then?" The curly haired man asked rather cheekily that made Brendon's cheeks warm. Lover's Quarrel. He would be lying if he said that didn't make him flush. Technically, he and Dallon are a thing now. But he doesn't need to prove that right to the English man.

"It's just... an issue with parents, and all that. I don't get along with Dad and I never really wanted to talk him." Brendon explains, looking down at the continuous progress of life right below their feet, people walking pass the street and move on with their lives.

"Dallon wanted me to talk to Dad and at least fix what I have with him. But shit, I got mad because seeing my Dad really just took a toll on me and—"

"You let your anger out on Dallon then."

Brendon shamefully confirms it, hanging his head low. "Y-Yeah. And I said something insensitive."

He worries when Matty doesn't respond. Maybe the older man is formulating on murdering him. But honestly, he feels like he deserves it.

"My Mum thinks I'm a terrible influence to my brother." Matty says eventually, taking a puff of smoke and exhaling it. A familiar gesture to calm a person's nerves. "Instead of spending my holidays there with my family and little brother, I'm here instead."

"You and your mother don't get along?"

Matty shrugs nonchalantly, not facing him as he continues. "Yeah. She called me the black sheep of the family. I'm just a hormone-filled, joint inhaling drunkard who would be an awfully terrible influence to my good little brother. Or so she says."

Brendon couldn't help but think how horrible it is to hear that from your own parents.

"But hey, I've come in terms with it that it's true." Matty drops his cigarette once it's almost gone. Brendon watches it fall down to the ground, lost in the darkness of the pavement. "Look at me. I'm a mess, and still am."

Brendon chuckles a bit at Matty's words, as he remembered Dallon. "You're trying. And besides, that's not how Dallon sees it. He talks about you as if you save the world or something."

And Matty returns the chuckle, shifting his gaze from the scenery to lean against the railing, finally facing him with an amused smile. "Does he now?"

Brendon tells the English man all about Dallon's obvious admiration for the older man that made both of then laugh. He realizes how nice it is to talk with someone about it. He knew he should have talked about his emotions in a better way than what happened between him and Dallon.

"Are you still mad at your mother?" Brendon dared to ask once silence befalls between them. He knew it was a sensitive topic for Matty as well. But he wanted to know how he fares with the harsh words that his mother does to him.

With a shook of his curly head, Brendon starts to see how Dallon really did admire the older man. "I was mad for her actions, her words. But never at her. That's something Dallon made me realize. She just wanted a good family. A loving husband with two well-raised children and a dog in a lovely, suburban home. Cliché as it sounds, I used to think how obviously impossible it is, as she forces me to be a good child."

Brendon can see Matty's lips set into a thin line as he continues his explanation. "But I guess, I finally understood when Nana told me Mum never had a great childhood, let alone raised in a good household. What we have right now in England is more than what she had, and she just wanted to live in her dream that she couldn't have as a child. That's when I understood."

Matty shrugs, smiling again but with a far off look in his steely eyes. "While I'm sorry that I ruin that dream of hers most of the time, and that we don't get along well, I hope she knows that I'll always be her child. And I'll be here if she needs me."

"What ever fit you had with your Dad, you should talk it out, Bren." The curly haired man says, acknowledging him with a soft smile. "When I get back to England, I'll probably do so with my Mum as well, and be the brother that I should be. They can't make me change who I am, but I can be a son and brother in my own way that would make them proud. Hopefully."

"Talk to your Dad. If you can't do it for your Dad, at least do it for Dallon." Matty say, as his lips begin to morph into a grin. "He always wanted what's best for everybody."

He couldn't help but smile at that, because it's true.

Brendon settled with a choice. He will talk to his Dad. He'll do it on his own and try to fix if there's anything fixable at all. And just as Matty says, he can do it for Dallon's sake.

Before he parts ways with the older man, we ought to ask the question that he's been curious about for a long time. "Matty, how did you meet Dan?"

The way the older man's eyes shift into something indescribable for Brendon should have been indication that there's really something more between them.

"If you wanted it in a more romanticized summary, Dan saved my life. More or less." Matty says, as he hides his hands in his pockets, shrinking his shoulders. Brendon assumes this is the most sheepish he's seen from the usually default deadpanned expression from him.

"I was in a bad time at Uni. A lot worse, actually. What I am today is 20 times worse when I was at the beginning of Uni. Drugs, alcohol, sex. It was part of me that gave me a bad reputation. But really, majority of the people in Uni are like that." Matty explains, but Brendon can see that there doesn't seem to be any hesitation when he said it. It's as if he told this lots of times.

"I remember getting in trouble with the Dean and went to her office. Surprisingly, that's where I met Dan."

Brendon raised an eyebrow, kind of surprised. "Dan doesn't look like the type to get in trouble."

"Definitely." Matty says with a laugh. "I usually get in trouble with common stuff. No surprise there. At that time, Dan was a journalist major or something and he got in trouble because of an article he made. Though I never really knew what is was, unfortunately."

That's something new. Brendon didn't think both men would have gotten along that easily. They're different in distinct ways that would make you think they'd never be friends at all. "How did you two get along then?"

Matty laughs again, his eyes crinkling with warmth. Brendon is starting to notice how Dan seems to be the only one who can make him ruin his stoic facade. "Dan and I keep making faces at each other behind the Dean's back as she lectures us."

How can he not laugh at that as well? Despite Dan being a quiet guy, he didn't know he was that mischievous.

"Ever since then, we were attached to the hip. Dan didn't really have that much friends, and so am I. Who in their right mind would want to be friends with me with a reputation like I have?"

"Obviously Dan isn't in his right mind." Brendon jokes good naturedly that let out the laughter from Matty's lips.

"Indeed. He has odd quirks, and he likes all these weird films. His taste in music is obviously the most diverse than anyone I've ever met. He's a nerd." Matty shook his head, rather affectionately. Brendon wonders if the older man even realizes he's doing it.

"And then he left Uni during junior year wanting to pursue his own thing. Not sure if the café thing was what he wanted to happen, but he seems happy about it. The arse never even told me where he was going. He just came to me one day and told me he's quitting Uni and left the next day."

He wonder what Dan was even thinking at that time. And as to how Matty even found him, he guesses the older man might have the resources. From what he knows of the curly haired man, he never does things unprepared.

"So, let's just say his presence made me feel less shit about myself. He believed in me more than I did myself. Dan didn't even realize he saved me into going somewhere deeper and much worse than I already am." The man beside him says sternly, but with that soft expression in his features that tells everything. "I owe him."

It's now or never, while Matty's in a telling mood. He wants to push the question. "There's more you're not telling, isn't it?"

The other man gives him a light punch in the shoulder, raising an eyebrow at him along with his amused smile. "You asked how I met him and I answered, mate."

"Hey—"

"And even before you get straight to that question, I'll answer it now. We're just friends." Matty interjects, dismissing whatever question he had in mind.

"But you like him more than a friend, right?"

He would have expected any hesitation or denial from Matty. But obviously, this man loves to defy expectations. So without even blinking an eye, he responds. "Yeah, well... More than a friend is quite an understatement."

Okay. Brendon should have know but it still surprised him. "Then why don't you tell him?"

Matty mumbles under his breath, the words 'nosy kids' barely audible from his lips but Brendon still heard it that made him chuckle.

"You two really do fit together. Bunch of brats snooping my choices in life." The older man says eventually with a tone of mirth in his voice. That's when Brendon notices Matty slowly morphing into a stern demeanor, sighing before he continues.

"What makes you think I didn't tell him?" 

Brendon blinks at him, trying to process his words. "W-Wait, you did? You confessed to him?"

"Yup." He says, as if it wasn't a big deal. "Long before he left Uni, I told him. And just to remind you that Dan is an odd sort, he doesn't believe in labels."

His brows furrow in confusion at that. "What labels?"

Matty ruffles his hair, though to Brendon it seemed like a frustrated action. "He's just... he has no idea with those things like having girlfriend or boyfriend. He said was..." He trails off, trying to remember the word.

"Asexual." Brendon finishes for him.

"Yeah."

"But you can still ask him out, even if he is, you know?"

Matty chuckles rather bitterly with a shook of his head, but Brendon can see that the older man doesn't seem to have regrets about it as he turns back to him with a small smile.

"He really doesn't want to. And besides, I'm glad he did that. Reject me, you know?" He says as if it's final. "To Dallon and everyone who knows me, they know I had a lot of ruined relationships. Dan doesn't care about that, but I'm a selfish person, Brendon. I want to keep what's in my grasp. You think I would let my feelings destroy what I have with Dan?"

He runs his hand through his curls, brushing away the strands of hair blocking his eyes. "God or whatever deity it is out there knows that he means too much for me to let that happen to us."

When Matty notices his disagreement, he just keeps his smile. It wasn't a sad smile, more like a tired one. It's as if he's been through a long battle. And somehow, Brendon realizes the smile is already enough of an answer when he adds "I'm already happy with what we have and that's what he wants. Why ask for more if it feels enough?"

That's the only answer he knows he'll get from Matty but it does explain a lot. Dallon's words at that time now make sense to him. "There are fights that can only be won when we learn that it's time to quit."

So in a way, Matty did win. And he's happy with what he has. Why ask for more, right?

Both men say goodbye to each other, having carried a lesson in each of them as they went their respective ways.

As he returns to his room, he retrieves his phone from his bag and dials a number. He knows it's finally time to make a call.

"Hey, this is Brendon. Can we meet up somewhere tomorrow?"

****

"And if you have a minute, why don't we go

Talk about it somewhere only we know?

This could be the end of everything

So why don't we go?

Somewhere only we know."

Dallon sighs, looking up at the sky as he leans against the bench, absently petting Zero's fur as he sings softly into the night.

He's awfully terrible at this whole relationship thing. All he could think about is if he really did the right thing to just leave Brendon alone. 

But he wanted to sort his own thoughts and calm himself. That's all he could do, and he would rather choose this than fighting with the younger man.

"C'mon, Tea! My hands are cold." A voice from afar called out. Dallon could see two figure from where he is. He can barely see what they look like from his point of view, but he can see the other person catching up to the other expectantly waiting figure.

"It's not my fault you forgot to bring your jacket, Wal. Here, wear my jacket and hold my hand."

Dallon smiles softly as he watches the two figures walk off, hand in hand. He's rather jealous at how simple it is for the both of them. 

Maybe he should learn a thing or two from them and just go with the flow with whatever he has with Brendon. And even if problem arises, they can talk about it. He will talk about it to the younger man and they can fix it together.

They can fix it. Together.

"Somewhere only we know..."

****

[A/N: Sorry it took so fricking long! Here it is!

So, okay. I'll be honest, I love writing Brendon and Matty's discussion. It feels a bit too real? I can't explain but i really enjoyed writing it. Also, can you just imagine Dallon singing Keane's Somewhere Only We Know? It reminds me so much of Dallon's voice i can clearly imagine Dal singing it!

Oh, and ArtfulWalrus and Tea (i'm sorry i forgot your username), this is just a bit? sorry i couldn't make it much more but i hope you guys like the mention hahaha

Anyways, guys. Please listen to The Maine. I will not shut up about this band and they are so good. You guys deserve to hear a great band and they really are great.

Okay, that's it. I hope you guys like this even for a bit? Sorry for the mistakes and thank you for reading! Enjoy your day!]