Relaxing on the couch with his little brother was almost just enough to make him feel like things were finally back on track. Just enough nostalgia for him to finally catch his breath. Of course, things were far from over. So far from over. But for Aris, it felt like the largest part of it had come to pass; there was still the matter of his monster behind all of this but…he’d leave that for another day. Today had already been enough of an emotional roller coaster and he’d hate to press Copper more.
“No,” he starts gently “I didn’t even tell Ryan. All I said to him was that I had an address and I was going. The only ones who know are myself and the PI and any PI who would crack under the attentions of a lunatic is one that wouldn’t have been in the business as long as he has…he’s had some…high profile clients,” a grimace but he doesn’t elaborate simply gives his brother another warm smile “I promise.”
That wasn’t his place to comment on, not really; there was still a very real part of him that carried some guilt over forcing himself back into Copper’s life. And while he knew their family would respect his wishes…he also knew all too well how worried they are. “…If you’re still not comfortable letting them know…you could just let them know that I’m here with you–I’m sure that alone will help alleviate some of the stress.”
He half twists on the couch to start to finally shrug out of his coat now that they were seated here playing catchup. Now that the initial heated moments had passed. He leaves it folded atop the arm of his side of the couch, a crooked grin tossed Copper’s way as he speaks “Hey I’m glad you’re finally letting yourself enjoy your youth,” he couldn’t exactly relate what with the whole…one guy for the past near decade kinda thing “I don’t know if I’m cut out for similar adventures but then again…I’ve never tried,” a shrug “Guess I won’t know until I try right?”
He still wasn’t sure. The easiest way for someone to get over a breakup was to find comfort in the bed of another, or so he read. But he never thought he’d have to take up that kind of advice. His smile falters and he sighs, glancing forward as one hand rubs at his jaw “Either way…if I decide to move on I guess there’s no better place to do so than here, huh?”
There was always the numerous dating apps he knew of in passing, but he’d never dabbled. Hell the breakup was barely twelve hours old and he was already thinking about his future conquests? He felt sick. Pinching the bridge of his nose he lets out a measured breath, then another.
And then Copper is offering to open his door up to him?
He drops his hand and casts a surprised look his way. “That’s…very generous of you Cop but I’d hate to intrude,” more so than I already have anyway “Though…I’d love a place to crash while I apartment hunt at the very least…think Brooks will let that fly?”
Aris had no qualms about sharing a space with his brother, they’d lived in the same house for most of their life up until the fire so it would hardly be anything new. Still, he was too hung up on having mostly his own space; having largely moved in with Ryan years ago while his dads always promised to have a space at him should he ever need it. At least he never truly had dire need of it before it went up in flames. “For now though? How do you feel about getting some grub?” he claps his hands “Show me your favourite restaurants? I’m sure this place has a lot of hip and tasteful little joints just begging for my patronage.”
Although Copper was starting to feel better about all of this and found that for the most part, he was really glad that his brother was here, he still felt guilty about a lot of things. For one, seeing Aris in person was a reminder of just how badly he’d hurt his family and friends when he’d left without a word. It was something Copper knew, but he’d blocked it out of his mind. However, it was difficult to do that with Aris right here. But Copper knew he didn’t deserve to suppress that feeling. Maybe Copper had left for their own good - and he still believed that to be the case - but he was realizing that the way he’d done it might not have been best. And to add to that guilt, Copper felt sick when Aris mentioned Ryan again, knowing that he’d destroyed a strong relationship. The entire family had liked Ryan, and now that was done, though there was a part of Copper that didn’t like the fact that Ryan had given his brother an ultimatum, especially one involving Aris’s own brother. Maybe he wasn’t as good of a guy as the family had thought. Or maybe that was just something Copper was thinking now to make himself feel better about the life he’d shattered, the life that had until very recently been shared by Aris and his boyfriend.
But Copper was too emotionally drained to think about that anymore today - this conversation had taken a lot out of him. He was glad when Aris told him the circumstances of how he’d found him, how no one except Aris and the detective knew the address. “I hope he destroyed any physical evidence of where I am,” Copper stated. Then he asked, “Do you think...you could ask him to do that?” He had visions then of Derek breaking into the PI’s office and finding his file on Copper, on finding where his obsession had escaped to. “And maybe we should give him a picture of Derek in case he tries to hire him too.” Then Copper sighed, realizing, “I guess it doesn’t matter though. He could just hire a different one. I mean, if you found me that way, who’s to say he couldn’t either? I...I thought I covered my tracks better.” Copper felt that familiar unease, trying to remember how long ago he’d started feeling that way about Derek. It hadn’t been right away, but he thought it had been by his sophomore year at Brown, a feeling that had only blossomed as the years had gone by. Would that feeling ever go away? It wasn’t likely, not until Derek was caught, if that ever happened. The police hadn’t really taken his claims seriously until the incident on his birthday, not in Portland or Providence, so the file on Derek was hopelessly slim. If Derek really wanted to remain hidden, Copper thought that he could.
Realizing he had been in a bit of a daze, Copper snapped back to reality, apologizing, “Sorry, Aris...got stuck in my head a little bit there,” smiling sheepishly at his brother. It was something he’d always done, but usually it was while thinking about some new story he wanted to work on. Somehow Copper’s life had become the story though, something you might see on a Lifetime movie of the week, something called like Fatal Obsession or something. Maybe one day if this ever blew over - one day far in the future - Copper would use what he’d been through to write a book about something of that nature, but he wasn’t sure if he would ever get to that point, even if Derek was caught soon. “Maybe we should just start by telling them you’re with me,” Copper decided. “I’ll think about telling them where I am, and in the meantime, I’ll try to keep in better touch with them and my friends back home.” If this ever blew over and he could return to Maine, Copper wanted the people he’d left behind to still love him; he knew his family would, but would his friends?
Laughing, Copper repeated, “Enjoying my youth? Is that what I’m doing?” But he knew that Aris was right. “Lately I’ve been trying to reel it in, but it’s difficult,” he went on, thinking of the other day at the gym with his trainer. He’d stopped himself short of going all the way, which he thought was progress. “I’m being smart about it though, so don’t worry,” he reassured Aris. Patting his big brother on the shoulder, Copper told him, “You don’t have to decide right now. A lot has been happening. Maybe just take time for yourself, or go out and meet people without any expectations, see where that goes. Just go at whatever pace feels comfortable.”
Even though he knew they couldn’t live together forever - and hadn’t given Aris’s relationship with Ryan and Copper going to school several states away from home - now that they were back together, Copper hoped that he and Aris would at least be roommates for a little while. “I’ll talk to him, but I doubt he’ll mind,” Copper told Aris. “Worse case scenario, if he doesn’t want to share the bathroom, you can just use mine.” The mention of food had Copper’s stomach grumbling, and he liked Aris’s suggestion. “That sounds perfect,” he agreed. “What kind of food are you in the mood for? We’ve got lots of options. Italian, Greek, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, sushi, burgers, pizza. You name it, we’ve got it. Well, probably.”
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