LT. E. HENRY

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”I Corinthians 16:13

[ethanxhenry]

brettgoldstein:

“Fine, huh? Are we in a 90s rom com right now? Are you gonna wolf whistle at me next?” Brett asks teasingly, smirk playing on his lips. Even though Ethan moving into his place came about kind of unexpectedly, Brett was more than happy about it, He had tried to make his place feel more like theirs, rearranging things where he could in order to make space for Ethan and getting new bedding, hoping to make it feel like hos boyfriend’s home now too. “Mm…be nice and I just might blow you. I’m more than happy to take care of you, babe.” The brunette jokes, letting Ethan pull him in, kissing him back slowly. “I love you too.” Brett murmurs, stealing another kiss before a chuckle escapes, shaking his head. “Only the best for you, Henry.” 

“I mean, you like that kind of movie...” Ethan laughs with a shrug, following Brett into the mattress slowly and letting his thumbs brush against the man’s cheeks. The point of their noses meet, nuzzling as he teasingly chases after his boyfriend’s lips before letting the other man catch up with him and growing silent into a kiss. “Tease.” The brunette whispers into his boyfriend’s lips, his smile unwinding as he pushes Brett back against the mattress and carefully crawls after him in the bed. “I like it.” It wasn’t just the sheets. Everything Brett had set out for him and gone out of his way to make him feel comfortable in his place, Ethan couldn’t even begin to thank him for. He had lost everything and yet he felt like he had stroke the winning lottery ticket in his tragedy. Hovering over the man’s figure, his elbows steadily keeping him in place, though the weight was starting to make some pressure against his ribs, he let his fingers dig into his boyfriend’s hair. “Us, Goldstein. For us. You and me, us. The best for us.”

[ethanxhenry]

brettgoldstein:

Brett hated the distance that their relationship had put between Ethan and his family, especially when his had been so welcoming. It wasn’t either of their fault’s though, he knew that. They weren’t to blame for being happy and in love. There was nothing wrong with them being together. Brett knew that, and he knew Ethan did too. Humming quietly, Brett meets Ethan’s lips with his own, fingers slipping under his boyfriend’s shirt as he kisses him back. “Mm, my head’s just fine.” He murmurs after they part, a smirk going across his lips at the double entendre. “But I don’t want to risk your stitches either, so I guess we’ll have to settle with kissing in bed. Because you really do need some rest.” The brunette points out, parting from Ethan only long enough to take his hand instead, pulling him down the hall towards their room instead. Kicking his shoes off, he plops down onto the mattress, motioning for Ethan to join him. “C’mere.”

“You are fine...” Ethan retorted playfully as he let himself be pulled down the hall by his boyfriend, not bothering in closing the door behind him as they entered Brett’s room—their room. Though he had spent many nights there before, Brett had gone out of his way to rearrange the place, to move things around, to make space for him and make him feel welcomed, from buying new sheets to bringing some of his belongings. It was their room now. Their place. Their relationship was taking a new route. Taking his shoes off, the firefighter laughed quietly as the other man called him closer, standing before and letting his hands cup the sides of his boyfriend’s neck as he tilted his head to have better access to his lips. “Are we really sure we don’t want to risk the stitches? Cause we can always have 911 on speed dial...” He added with a whine as their lips parted and he plopped down onto the mattress next to Brett, sighing with frustration and pulling the other man closer. “I love you, you know that, right? Maybe not as much as I’m loving these new sheets but that’s just maybe.”

[ethanxhenry]

brettgoldstein:

“Gladly.” Brett replies, grinning cheekily over in Ethan’s direction as they move up the stairs. “Mm, that’ll never happen. I quite like spending time with you, you know.” He points out, a soft laugh leaving his lips. He can feel Ethan’s eyes on him, moving across his body slowly, a smirk settling on his lips. “I do love sharing a bed with you.”

Once inside, Brett lets Ethan set the food down before moving towards him again, arms slipping around his boyfriend’s waist. The last thing he wants to do is pressure Ethan into talking, but he also knows that he needs to ask. He cares about Ethan, loves him, and he wants to be there for him. “Okay.” Brett finally murmurs, his eyes searching the brunette’s as they meet. ‘It is. A step, I mean.” It was definitely progress, given how Ms. Henry had initially reacted to them being together. “She’ll come around, babe. I know it sucks right now and I wish I could make things better, but…I guess all we can do it wait.” Which sucked. He hated seeing Ethan so unhappy, even if there was nothing they could do about the situation. “Mm, yeah? I think we could both use a distraction…unpacking can definitely wait.’ 

“Yeah. I know.” Or at least, he hoped. A month and one week of not being in touch with his mother was too long already and excruciatingly painful. Ethan also knew his mother was stubborn, perhaps more than him. It would take her some time to come apologizing, just as it would take him some time to forget the words she had thrown his way. With a shrug and an unconvincing smile, his eyes moved to Brett’s instead. There wasn’t really anything he could do but just being there was enough. More than, actually. He had given him a place to stay when his was destroyed. He had stayed with him when he needed him the most. It may have been only a few months since they were together, and perhaps it was a crazy notion, but Brett had become home. Not a place. Not a room. His arms was what he craved every day after long hours at work. When he was stuck at that hospital bed. Snaking an arm behind his boyfriend’s neck, the other holding onto his shirt in a fist, he pulled softly at his lower lip before speaking. “If you weren’t also recovering from your concussion, I would risk my stitches right now.” A kiss would do. It wasn’t enough. He’d be left craving for more. But it would have to do for now, sucking the air from his boyfriend’s lips as they kissed, pressing him carefully onto the wall behind them. “I really don’t want to unpack right now... unless it’s you. This is going to be harder than I thought.”

[ethanxhenry]

brettgoldstein:

“Screw you, Henry.” Brett jokes, shaking his head over at Ethan. “For your information, I don’t need crutches either.” He points out, smirking as he runs a hand down his boyfriend’s chest slowly. “Mm, well good. Not that I have anything against spending time in bed with you, obviously.” They had a hard time keeping their hands off of each other, even when they were supposed to be taking it easy. But it wasn’t just the physical aspect of their relationship that drove things. Their connection was deeper than that, it always had been. Even in the short amount of time they had been together, Brett could feel it. “Go ahead…I’ll meet you in a minute.” he murmurs once Ethan mentions saying goodbye to his dad, wanting to give them some time alone together. He follows after a minute or so though, saying goodbye to Mr. Henry as well, hanging back as Ethan and his father chat. He isn’t expecting the plate of food, nor the mention of Mrs. Henry, but it’s a pleasant surprise. A step in the right direction. “Well tell her thank you and that our door is always open.” Brett relies, offering Mr. Henry a smile as he shakes his hand back, nodding slowly. They stand there silently for a few moments before Ethan speaks, nodding at his boyfriend’s comment. “Let’s go home.” 

Turning, Brett heads back inside, grabbing the apartment door for Ethan once they approach. “You okay, babe?” He asks, his voice quiet. “We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but…yeah. You know I worry.” 

“Screw me, Goldstein.” The pulling and pushing was inevitable, Ethan’s behavior teasing and playful—happy. He was. Truly. His dad’s unexpected help had turned to be a sweet surprise, only lifting Ethan’s spirits even more despite the exhaustion of his body after the packing and the moving, and the heavy medications he had to take twice a day. “Oh, you better not. We share the same bed now...” The firefighter laughed, his lip trapped between his teeth at he took steps backwards, eyes suggestively traveling up and down his boyfriend’s body before turning on his heels and aiming for the door.

There was little Ethan could say as his thoughts were all over the place once his father mentioned his mother. His hands held onto the glass tray tightly until his knuckles paled at the grip. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to return the food or accept it, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to see the woman or not. In the end, what kept him cemented in place was the longing for his mom. Even if he was angry. Even if he was hurt. He just walked straight to the kitchen, putting the pasta on top of the stove and filling a glass of water to drink. “Yeah.” He didn’t reply right away, gulping the water before he put down the now empty glass in the sink. “I’m okay.” Closing the space between him and his boyfriend, Ethan pushed the other man against a wall as he stood before him, eyes locked on the green hues above his. “It’s... it’s a step. I’ll take it. But it will take more than pasta to make up for what happened, even if it’s the best damn pasta in all of Atlanta.” His fingers curled around the belt loops of Brett’s jeans, both keeping him against the wall and pulling him closer until he was pressed against him. “I’ll just have to distract you from worrying so much...” 

[ethanxhenry]

brettgoldstein:

“Uh huh, but which one pf us as stitches, hm?” Brett asks, cocking a brow back over at Ethan. Sure, his head still hurt, but at least he wasn’t in danger of tearing any stitches, at least not this time. “Don’t make me chase you to our bedroom.” He teases, a smirk going across his lips at the comment. They were officially living together now, and despite the circumstances, Brett couldn’t be happier about it. “Of course I let him in, babe.He’s your dad.” He replies, shaking his head a bit. Even though things hadn’t been great between Ethan and his family, he wasn’t going to turn them away. Noting Ethan’s sly smile and the way he was grabbing his shirt, Brett leans in again, letting their lips meet for a moment. “I think we could both use a little lying down.” The brunette teases back, reaching out to brush some hair from his boyfriend’s face. “Yeah, I’ll come say bye. Unless you want to talk to him alone?”

“At least I don’t have to use crutches.” Yeah, he should be careful. He knew that much. Despite the doctor’s orders and being conscious about the severity of his injury, Ethan also knew his limits. “It takes more than just a few stitches to stop me. Don’t be a tease.” Mirroring his boyfriend’s smirk, the firefighter couldn’t help but be thankful for the man standing before him, not only because he had opened the doors to his place for him but how, in a way, he had saved from himself and turned his life upside down in a matter of months. He wished his parents could see that, how happy he was, how much Brett had to do with it. A soft nod in his direction and the promise of some rest after bidding his father goodbye lingered in the air as he walked out of the front door. “Up to you, Goldstein.” The brunette called over his shoulder, sending Brett a wink before disappearing down the stairs. Michael had started the engine by the time Ethan got there, the man going over a few things before he reached to the backseat and pulled a glass tray full of baked pasta. ‘Your mom sent you something to eat. The two of you.’  The man addressed both Ethan and Brett then; Ethan was left speechless as he slowly took the food. ‘She’s a stubborn woman, my wife. Ethan’s got that from her.’ His lips twitched into a sad smile, turning to look at his son then. ‘She misses you. She just needs some time, but she loves you, son.’ Giving Ethan’s shoulder a light squeeze, shaking hands with Brett, Michael takes the wheel but Ethan remains with his feet nailed to the ground he stood long after the car was no longer in sight. Turning to Brett, tugging lightly at the hem of his shirt, he pressed a soft smile on his lips as he tilted his head motioning back to the building. “Let’s go home, Goldstein.” 

[ethanxhenry]

annabelle-grayson:

“Don’t start that, mister.” She scolded playfully, a warm smile on her features as she gazed over at him on the hospital bed. “Well thank you, I appreciate that sweetheart.” She chuckled, tucking some hair behind her ear. Annabelle was incredibly happy that everyone she cared about and everyone they cared about came out of the storm relatively unscathed. Sure, sitting in the hospital room with Ethan proved that not everyone made it out perfectly fine, but he was alive and talking with her, and while it wasn’t the best situation it was second best. “I’ll bring you a whole box. Just for you, I’ll tell Brett to keep his hands off ‘em.” She smiled wider, a playful sparkle in her eye as she spoke. “Honey, you did your best. It’s all Brett could ask for in such a chaotic situation.” Nodding her head, Annabelle sighed and glanced down at her lap. “Well… I found y’alls liquor stash.” She began bashfully, “And while I didn’t think I’d had all that much to drink, I guess things change when you hadn’t eaten for 24 hours. So I was slightly buzzed and decided that goin’ out in the rain, embracing the storm I guess, was a good idea. Well, I did and when that tree fell a branch pinned me and a friend of mine down on the ground. It was scary but we both made it out alright, which is good. It was real stupid of me.”

Ethan laughed. Despite it all, the situation they found themselves in and the pain it caused around his torso, he just laughed. “Hah! Telling Brett to keep his hands off cupcakes? There’s no greater test of love right there... I really want to see how that goes.” His head hit the pillow behind him, letting out a sigh as he tried to settle on the hospital bed. He was counting the minutes to his release, being stuck in that room driving him insane by the hour. With one eye opened and the other shut, he stared at Annabelle as she spoke. “Shit.” As amused as he was to hear how it had gone for her once she found the station’s liquor stash, he was also worried about what could’ve happened. How bad it could’ve all ended. “How angry was Brett?” Despite it all, they made it out okay. A few stitches here and there was nothing compared to others. Ethan resorted to humor as per usual, his lips curving on ends. “Hey, don’t say that. I mean, yeah, it wasn’t the brightest idea but... hell. If I didn’t have to work and I had access to that stash, God knows I would’ve been caught in the same mess. Is your friend okay?”

[ethanxhenry]

“Fuck.” One in a million chances of a place being destroyed by a storm of such category sounded about right. An entire lifetime in Atlanta and not once had he seen it happen to anyone he knew. “ I bought that apartment five years ago. It wasn’t much but it was mine, you know. I was engaged, it seemed like a good fit. Nice backyard. All gone now. The apartment. The girlfriend. I would’ve never imagined this is how it all would end when I was signing that mortgage, I tell you that much.” Ethan’s gaze got lost for a moment. “Let me know if you need anything, though. Ain’t got much but something’s something, I guess. Oh, yeah? You met Brett? What you think? Solid guy, right? The bar was the worst possible place for him to be stuck at."” 

[ethanxhenry]

brettgoldstein:

Even though they didn’t talk about it much, Brett knew that the distance between Ethan and his family had to be taking a toll on him. So when Mr. Henry shows up to help move what’s left of Ethan’s things, he’s happy. Not only for the help, but the fact that Michael was showing up for his son, even behind his wife’s back. It almost feels normal, listening to all of the stories about Ethan as they pack up and move boxes, an easy smile playing on Brett’s lips. “You need to stop trying to move boxes, mister.” The brunette chides, shaking his head over at his boyfriend. “I’m perfectly capable, concussion and all.” Brett says teasingly, pausing beside his boyfriend for a moment. “Oh, hush. I like your dad.” Mr. Henry had been nothing but nice to him, and it wasn’t something that had gone unnoticed. “How’re you feeling? You can go rest if you want, we can unpack later.” He offers, leaning over to press a quick kiss to Ethan’s cheek. “In all seriousness though…it was really nice of him to come.” The relationship between Ethan and his parents had been rough since it came out that they were together, and Brett knew it had to be hard. He couldn’t imagine going over a month without talking to his parents. “Your dad’s not lame. It was nice talking to him.” 

“I’m not the only one who suffered an injury around here, you know?” Brows arched as he stared straight back to his boyfriend to make his point, Ethan just shrugged and leaned further into the counter as he followed the other man come closer with every step. His smile remains easily curving his lips and humming approvingly at the kiss. “There’s no rest for the wicked, Goldstein.” But before his boyfriend could take a step back, his fist pulled at Brett’s shirt to keep him there, close. “Yeah, I know. I didn’t know he was coming.” It was a shocking surprise when they opened the door to see his father in all his disposition. Ethan wasn’t sure how he knew Brett’s address to begin with but perhaps his nephew had something to do with that. If anything, he was just glad to see him. It had been too long, longer than ever before, since he had seen his dad. It hurt, especially since they were still just a short drive away. “Thanks, you know, for letting him in.” After the Fourth of July, after what had happened, he’d understand if Brett had any hesitance towards his parents. “I’ll just need to lie down for a minute after he leaves.” Ethan pressed his lips into a smile hoping his boyfriend understood he just didn’t want to miss the chance to be with his dad, especially since he was already wrapping up to leave. Stealing a kiss from his lips, he took a step back with a smirk. “I’ll go downstairs to say goodbye, then I’m all yours. You coming?”

[ethanxhenry]

Ethan, his father and Brett had spent the entire morning at his old place, packing whatever was salvageable and putting it on his truck to bring to his boyfriend’s. Though he hadn’t really reached out to his father for help, Michael Henry had insisted upon hearing about the collapse of his son’s building and the firefighter’s decision to move in with his boyfriend instead of crashing at their home until everything was sorted out. For as close as they had always been, the last month was just awkward and difficult to all of them since the incident during the Fourth of July barbecue, but the man was trying to slowly get back into his son’s life even if he had to do so behind his wife’s back. For the most part, even if at first Ethan had been slightly hesitant, the help and the company was not only welcomed but pleasant. Even if he had stubbornly tried to help and move things around, the pounding around his stitches whenever he tried to do more than he should quickly set him back. Watching his father work with Brett, though, talking casually and sharing young Ethan stories and his years in the fire department memories he knew like the back of his hand because the man would retell them over and over again through his lifetime, it was a big deal to him. Leaning over the counter at Brett’s kitchen, laughing at one of his father’s horrible dad jokes before the older man disappeared back out to the driveway, the brunette just stared at his boyfriend with an idle smile on his face. Above all, he was happy to see how accepting the man was towards his boyfriend, repetitively thanking him for what he’s done to help and offering his contacts to Brett if he ever needed anything. “He’s lame, I know. You can say it.” He added, shaking his head still at his dad’s silly jokes and shrugging apologetically at his boyfriend. 

@brettgoldstein

[ethanxhenry]

rhettellison:

 LET’S BUILD OURSELVES A TIME MACHINE. ft. @ethanxhenry

When it came to friendships, Rhett really didn’t have that many. He was a pretty closed off person, not wanting to hurt anyone else the way he had hurt others in the past—-or lose anyone the way he lost Ryder. But there were a few people who were able to bust through the walls and imprint in his life to where he actually kept them around. One of those people happened to be Ethan; a long time friend who he actually enjoyed hanging around. Someone he cared about, even those his ability to care wasn’t that great. But it was what brought him all the way out to Midtown, walking up to his friend’s place that had since been destroyed by the storm. As he stood at the base of the wreckage, Rhett let out a small sigh—-hating the sight before his eyes. It took him a moment, but he soon stepped forward, kicking through the debris before walking over to where he found Ethan standing. “Hey man… This is…” he paused, looking around for a moment. “Shit, this is bad.” The obvious, but it was true. “Didn’t realize it hit down here so hard.”

Though the doctors had warned him not to make any drastic movements or heavy liftings, Ethan had trouble following the orders. Just a few days after being released from the hospital, the firefighter had managed to go back to his place if only to witness the extent of the damage with his own eyes. Half of his belongings was already in boxes, the other half not salvageable piled up in plastic bags. The entire building was a wreck. Almost everything was lost. As he stood in the middle of what used to be his living room, Ethan just sighed. All the hard work, all the sacrifices put into buying this piece of land, the memories in it, all lost. He didn’t think it possible to mourn a place but there he was, quietly saying goodbye to what used to be his home when he heard the all too familiar voice. “Yeah, it’s gone.” The brunette sighed before turning to look at Rhett, his lips twitching into a small smile that never truly reached his eyes as he greeted the man. “You look alright. Guess it’s true what they say, only the good die young and all that shit...” He teased. “Wanna lend me a hand getting this boxes to the truck? I’ll pay back with beer.”

[ethanxhenry]

rosiesthorne:

“His name is Benny.” She answers as she hurries after him, somehow getting a very ‘superhero’ vibe from the guy. Something tells her this isn’t the first time he’s decided to save an animal and she couldn’t help but feel super grateful to be able to catch his attention. She anxiously stands by the entrance as soon as he stepped into the building. But then upon hearing the familiar whimpering of her dog, an astonished gasp leaves her lips the second she found the stranger returning with Benny in his arms. “Baby! Thank heavens you’re all right!” She scoops the Bichon Frise into her arms and showers him with kisses before looking back at her savior. “Thank you so much, love! I was so ready to just have a breakdown in front of everyone but you saved my day. May I ask for the name of our hero?”

“He’s okay.” Ethan mutters, not sure if to appease the woman or himself about the animal’s state. It reminded him of his own cat, wondering if that’s how Slugger had been when Brett had walked into his destroyed place to retrieve the animal while he was at the hospital still. His eyes still on the dog, the firefighter laughed and shook his head at her words before looking back to the woman and reaching a hand in her direction. “Ethan. Hero is a big title, though.” 

[ethanxhenry]

aidenhayes:

“I threw them in the trash with love and devotion. That’s how I handle feelings.” Aiden quips with a self-satisfied smile, though he’s just glad those headphones are out of his hair. No need to concern himself with that bullshit anymore. Upon hearing his friend’s answer though, Aiden cringes at the image and shakes his head. “Tough love. I’m sure people will remember your sacrifice. That’s why firefighters are more well-loved than cops. As for myself, as you can see, I am unscathed. Still handsome as ever. My place wasn’t as lucky.”

“Then I consider myself lucky to be the recipient of so much love and devotion.” Ethan added with a hand to his chest and a tilt to his head, a teasing grin on his lips forming though he was trying to keep his features still. It was a light effort to bring up humor in such dire times though he sighed heavily after hearing the fate of his friend’s place. “Yeah, my place wasn’t either. It’s just—you never think this would happen to you, you know? You read about it on the papers or see it in the news but you never think it’d be you someday who loses their home to a damn storm... do you have somewhere to go in the meantime?”

[juliannafairmont-blog]

Walking on Broken Glass | Ethan & Julianna

[ethanxhenry]

juliannafairmont:

      Leaning down, Julianna put a hand on the man’s shoulder to lend support. At this point, he needed all the support he could get. The pain and wincing was hurting her on the inside, but if she let one tear slide down her cheek, she would only make the situation worse. Once hearing his directions, she nodded to his words. “I can get it.” Thinking of where the supply room could be, she planned out her next movements before watching the man show his cut. “O-Oh my god,” When her eyes fixed on his wound, she couldn’t help but show weakness. It looked bad and infection was starting to show. “G-Gauzes, antiseptic, bandages… got it.” Taking in a deep breath, she let it out with a nod. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Squeezing his shoulder lightly and giving him a light grin, she stood up and went on her way.

      Practically running downstairs, Julianna stayed close to the wall and started to move past people. Everyone was crowded around each other and practically touching elbows. Rushing as fast as she could, she finally made it to the supply closet. Accomplishment settling in, she turned the doorknob and pushed on the door. She turned the knob all the way, but the door wasn’t opening. The supply closet was locked from the inside. Cursing to herself, she slammed her hands against her face and felt defeated. Tears rushing down her face, she made her way back to the badly hurt man. Spotting him still against the wall, she took a large gulp before approaching him. “T-The d-d-door…” She stuttered, knowing what to say but the words weren’t coming out. Closing her eyes, she opened her mouth again and spit them out. “T-The supply closet is locked from the inside. I-I don’t know what to do…”

Ethan shut his eyes not because he didn’t want to look at the bloody mess on his torso but because he was trying very hard to control the pain, pressing his hands to the wound in a failing attempt to stop the bleeding as he rested his head back against the wall. He tried to nod as the woman repeated the items he had asked for, holding his breath instead of replying before he watched her turn around. Whatever amount of time he sat there waiting for her was probably not as long as it felt until her return. Every second felt like minutes, minutes turned into what felt like hours—his vision started to blur, a fever slowly creeping up and making him feel lightheaded, hot and shivering. 

The supply closet is locked-- 

Eyes opened slowly, lips parted as he tried to catch his breath. The supply closet is locked from the inside. “I—” They were at the station, he knew the place like the back of his hand. He had grown up in it. He was there every day. It was his second home. And yet his head blanked when he tried to think of where he could find another first aid kit that didn’t involve going outside the building into the garages to the trucks. How was the supply closet locked! “It’s okay.” The firefighter mumbled, trying to sit straighter. “I’ll just—here, help me get this goat off. I’ll—” He started to move, shrugging off the coat from one shoulder and wincing in pain as he moved to the other. “I need to take my shirt off. I can strip it and use it to wrap around me, put some pressure and stop the bleeding until the ambulances come.” If any was on the way, that is. He also felt like distracting her, trying to not let show too much of his pain. “Is there- is there anyone here with you? You can go to them if you need to. Let them know you’re okay.”

[ethanxhenry]

brettgoldstein:

“We don’t have to make it a big thing. Pizza and cupcakes sound good to me.” Brett replies with a nod, a quiet hum leaving his lips. He knew that if it were up to The Graysons - specifically Annabelle - they’d want to do a whole big to do, and they’d probably rope Ethan into it as well. “I’m not great at being the center of attention, if you haven’t figured that out yet.” It wasn’t that he wasn’t proud of himself, because he was, but he didn’t think he needed a party every time he passed some milestone. Letting thee subject drop, Brett chuckles, listening to Ethan try to defend his shirtless Instagram photo. “Uh huh. Mowing my non existent lawn. I tried the we were on a run excuse, but AB didn’t buy it one bit.”

Kissing Ethan back, Brett smiles against his boyfriend’s lips, pulling back after a few moments. “Mm, we’ll make it. We made it through my crutches.” He points out, lips finding Ethan’s jaw again, lingering against his skin. He can feel the mood shift though, pulling back in order to look Ethan in the eyes, waiting for whatever he’s going to say next. “Okay.” Nodding, Brett offers the brunette a smile, settling back against the pillows again. “That’s probably a good idea…I’m not sure how many more fits either of us can throw before we end up getting kicked out.”

“Hey, it’s not me you’re gonna have to convince there!” Ethan let out a breathy laugh. It didn’t take him long to get to know the way the Graysons functioned and he was sure they wouldn’t let such a milestone pass without a big hurrah. He also knew Brett enough by now to know that he wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t like being the center of attention. It made Ethan smile, his eyes soft as he looked at his boyfriend, humming in response. “You know? I’m not even sorry, Goldstein...” He added through a smirk, brows arching in a challenge as he shrugged. It felt like a long time ago and yet, now that they were in a very similar situation, it hit him how it really hadn’t been. How much had changed since. 

“Yeah,” The brunette whined quietly, his lids heavy as his boyfriend’s lips brushed past his jaw. “We barely made it through.” It wasn’t going to be an easy task. It wasn’t already. The pain of the restraint visible in his agonizing eyes as he looked back at Brett, already dreading the upcoming two or three weeks until his stitches were gone when his thoughts moved from one issue to the other. “Exactly, so that way they can’t kick you out.” It made perfect sense to him though he also knew it wouldn’t make things any better with his mother. She hadn’t minded when his emergency contact was his fiancée, though, so  sooner or later she’d have to get used the new changes in his life—and Brett. “Although, we should really consider not ending up in this same spot again anytime soon. You need your new shoes... I’ll—stay away from windows if I can help it.”

[ethanxhenry]

brettgoldstein:

“Mhmm. Not for another couple of weeks.” Brett murmurs, a small smile flickering across his lips at the feeling of Ethan’s fingers in his hair. It was hard to believe that only a few months ago they had been afraid to look at each other too long, afraid of what was building between them. They had tried to ignore it, but they couldn’t. And when it came down to it, Brett didn’t regret a single thing. The stolen kisses and the sneaking around were a part of their story now. “You were shirtless in my apartment…it wasn’t exactly the most subtle of pictures.” The brunette finally teases, smirk playing on his lips. He doesn’t mind any of the teasing though, not really. He’s had worse from Annabelle over the years. “Oh my god, stop! You know we can’t do anything until we’re both healed, so don’t tempt me.” It had been hard enough the last time, and now with both of them hurt, Brett knew it’d be torture. But they could handle it - as long as they were together, nothing else mattered.

Shaking his head at Ethan’s teasing, Brett can’t help but chuckle, pressing a kiss to the top of his boyfriend’s head as his eyes close. “You should rest.” He murmurs as he runs his fingers through Ethan’s hair pausing at the mention of his emergency contact. Brett knew that that meant Mr. and Mrs. Henry. They hadn’t seen much of Ethan’s parents since the 4th of July, if at all. But Brett wasn’t going to let the thought of seeing his boyfriend’s family again scare him off. “There’s no where else I’d rather be right now, babe. Really. I’m fine right here.” 

“It’s just right around the corner.” The smile on his face traced back to the exchange of texts during the storm, on how one day many years from now, fingers crossed they’re still together, they’d look back at this milestone and be able to see how far he’d come from this moment. Wrinkles formed around his eyes as he tried to contain a laugh, thumb brushing down his boyfriend’s cheek as he watched a smirk forming on Brett’s lips. “We’re guys. We can be shirtless at each other’s places for no reason... maybe I was, helping you with  mowing the lawn or something.” The brunette tried to defend himself even if it wasn’t valid, even if Brett had no lawn for Ethan to be helping him with... but before the man could point that out, Ethan pressed his lips against his boyfriend’s, muffling his whine in the kiss. “These stitches are so an inconvenience...” 

Stubborn as he was, Ethan’s eyes opened wide the moment he heard the word rest thrown at him instead, his eyes scanning Brett’s face when silence fell upon them for a moment. They both knew who his emergency contact was. Just thinking about it had him swallowing and taking a deep breath in anticipation. As much as he missed his mother, as worried as he was, he was also still afraid their reunion would just hurt him further. “I was thinking...” Clearing his throat, voice serious but low, Ethan met his boyfriend’s eyes. “I mean, I just thought about it now but, you’re my boyfriend. We’re moving in together. We’ve been in the hospital twice in less than half a year. Hopefully we’ve met our quota for a while but, if I listed you as my emergency contact, you wouldn’t have to sneak in if something happened.”

[ethanxhenry]

aidenhayes:

“Dude, I gave you those headphones as a token of my love and devotion and yet you didn’t think of it as the first thing to grab?” Aiden asks, feigning a look of betrayal. Though, he really couldn’t give a damn about those crappy headphones. It’s amazing how Ethan thought it would be nice to keep a pair instead of just throwing them to the dumpster. He’s quite a thrifty guy, Aiden believes. “It’s probably in hell by now, waiting for me.” He shrugs with a small smile breezing across his features. “But whatever. How are you holding up, by the way? That storm did a number on a lot of people and I’m just assuming you’re no exception since… you know, your job is to be everyone’s hero but you’re no Superman.”

“You were trying to sell them off and then threw them in the trash...” Ethan stated matter of factly, finding amusement in the conversation as it went back to the rip off headphones he had taken from the other man not too long ago. “They worked just fine.” The firefighter added with a shrug, a small smirk playing on his lips faltering only after Aiden’s question. “Some tree branch broke through a window I was trying to shut close and cut through, got an infection... even Superman has his kryptonite, I guess. How are you? How’s your place?”

[ethanxhenry]

annabelle-grayson:

“Alive and kickin’, huh?” She said with a chuckle, shaking her head slightly. She may not have known Ethan all that well, but she could tell that he was just trying to keep a brave face. “Well I’m so glad you still have all your limbs.” She teased gently, “But in all seriousness, please let me know if you need anything, alright? I know hospital food is absolutely horrid so I’ll send Brett with food for you every day… and all the red velvet cupcakes, of course.” She smiled, reaching out and gently squeezing his hand. “Anything you need, really. I’m here.” Bringing her hand back to her own lap, Annabelle leaned back in her chair and smiled warmly at him, shaking her head slightly. “We’re both just fine, darlin’.” With a soft smile, Annabelle shook her head once more. “Oh sweetie, you have nothing to apologize for. If anything I should be the one apologizing to you. We all should have stuck together and then… everything happened and we all kind of, separated. So I’m sorry hon. And I’m really happy you’re alright. Truly.”

“Only the good die young.” Ethan added, joining in the woman’s chuckles for a moment as he winked in her direction. “Thank you. I’m glad you still have all your limbs too.” He appreciated Annabelle’s concern, lips pressed into a smile as he nodded softly, humbled, grateful for her care—not only for him but Brett. She was his boyfriend’s family, and family always came first. “Hopefully I’ll be out of here by tomorrow... but I’ll take you on that offer. Tabitha’s red velvet cupcakes are pretty much what I think heaven would taste like.” Returning her hand squeeze, the firefighter just followed her back to her chair with his eyes as he let out a soft sigh. So much had happened in a matter of hours. Streets were destroyed. Houses were lost. Relationships broken. He couldn’t help but feel slightly guilty for what Annabelle’s sister was going through. It hit too close to home. He was too familiar with it. Not from Nikita’s end but from Colt’s. What he had done hadn’t been so different. “I know. Brett asked me to take care of you...” But no one could’ve possibly imagined the series of mishaps that followed that night after they had separated. “So what happened after that?” He asked, curious, having lost contact with most of his friends after the tree fell on the roof and he was called to help right before his injury.