thinking about gansey going over to the barns for easter (I know niall’s irish ass wouldn’t do the egg hunt, but maybe aurora would for her boys). they’re all traipsing around the fields collecting eggs and even before it's over ronan is bitching and moaning about how declan is a cheater, but then gansey catches declan nudge an egg out from underneath the shed, into a more obvious spot, and walk away without picking it up. he watches matty run over and get it. it happens again and again and gansey is perplexed. at the end of it all, he watches declan have nearly no eggs in his basket, but matthew is happy with his haul and when ronan boasts in victory, declan catches his eye and winks at him.
i rly like the concept of the lynch bros all being different sexualities like. declan: straight (ik ik but walk w me), ronan: gay, matty: most bisexual to ever bisexual
No lights were on at the Barns when Declan arrived, which was annoying, because Declan had driven all the way there specifically to see Ronan, who was supposed to be here.
It used to be that Ronan was always here, but that was no longer the case. He was busy these days, which was good, probably, but made him even more difficult to get a hold of than he already was.
But today, Declan had it on good authority from Adam — who he’d been forced to ask as Ronan hadn’t returned his messages — that his brother was, in fact, in residence at the Barns, and would be for at least the next couple of days.
So now Declan had driven all the way here, and Ronan was nowhere in sight.
The good news, however, was that his car was here, which meant that Ronan was indeed somewhere on the property. (Unless of course he’d been kidnapped, which honestly wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility, but Declan wasn’t going to entertain that train of thought until it became necessary to do so.) The bad news was that the property was sprawling and Declan really didn’t want to play hide and seek right now.
He pulled on his old boots and stomped towards the outbuildings, repeatedly dialing Ronan as he went.
The first two barns Declan tried were a bust, but as he pushed open the door to the third, the crack of light from outside shined in and illuminated Ronan, sitting in a desk chair with his feet propped up on the table in front of him. His arms were crossed, and his head was bowed in sleep.
Propped up against the wall beside him was a broom, and as Declan looked around, the rest of the floor did look freshly swept. Ronan had obviously been doing some of his old childhood chores, and just the thought of it sent a wave of strange grief through Declan, so suddenly that it almost knocked him off his feet.
He didn’t think Ronan had meant to fall asleep here. He said his brother’s name, quietly, and then louder when there was no response. An old familiar dread welled up, reminding him of the sight of Ronan in his unnatural, unwaking sleep, back when their world was collapsing around them.
He stepped forward and put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Ronan, hey.”
Ronan jerked awake, ready to fight immediately, and Declan felt his own heartbeat slow in relief.
Recognition flooded Ronan’s features and he slumped back in the chair, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes. “What the fuck, Declan, you scared the shit out of me!”
Declan scoffed. “I scared you? I’ve been looking all over the place for you!”
“Jesus. I didn’t even know you were coming, otherwise I would’ve been in the house. You could have called first.”
“Oh, could I?” Declan laughed sarcastically. “Now why didn’t I think of that?” He could see Ronan’s phone on the table and he looked at it meaningfully. Ronan took the hint and picked it up, and his expression went slack as he finally took note of the number of calls and messages he’d missed.
He didn’t even have the good grace to look guilty. “It’s on silent, man, what can I say?” He grinned at Declan. “Anyway, nice to see you. Always a pleasure.”
Declan scowled. “You are such a dick.” He turned around and started trudging back to the house. “Come on,” he called over his shoulder. “I need coffee.”
Inside, he left Ronan to coffee making duties while he went upstairs to freshen up a little bit, and change into something more comfortable. It was already early evening; he decided he may as well stay here for the night and head back in the morning.
When he got back downstairs, Ronan blinked at him in surprise.
“What?” Declan asked.
“Nothing. I just don’t remember the last time I saw you out of a tie.”
Declan rolled his eyes. “I don’t always wear ties, Ronan.”
“Okay,” Ronan said, but in a tone that made it clear he was only humouring Declan. He was uniquely annoying in the way that siblings are, a trait both he and Matthew had down pat. Still, they didn’t seem like themselves if they weren’t making fun of him, so Declan would take it.
They were his little brothers; he’d take anything they threw at him.
Ronan poured Declan a mug and then put it down on the kitchen table. He poured his own but left it on the side, then leaned back against the counter. His posture had turned defensive, but Declan thought he was probably just anxious.
Well. That made two of them.
“What’s going on, then?” Ronan asked. “What’s so important?”
Declan fiddled with his watch. “Relax. It’s a good thing. Just…everyone’s so busy lately and I wanted to tell you in person. I wanted you to hear it from me.”
Ronan ran a hand down his face and sighed. “If it’s a good thing then why do you look so fucking nervous? You’re freaking me out.”
“I’m not—ugh, whatever. I asked Jordan to marry me.” Declan cringed internally; that had come out blunter than he meant it to. “And she said yes. We’re getting married.”
There was a silence as Ronan processed this, and Declan watched him process it. Then Ronan’s face split in a huge grin and he launched himself at Declan.
They still weren’t huggers. Not really. There had been notable exceptions, of course, but these had usually been in highly emotionally fraught moments. Declan couldn’t remember the last time Ronan had hugged him in joyful abandon. It would have been in childhood, if ever.
Ronan seemed to realise this at the same time as Declan had, and he sprang back, looking abashed. The hug had clearly been an accident, an automatic response. He cleared his throat. “Congrats, man. That’s awesome.”
Already, Declan missed the Ronan from just a second ago, whose immediate and unfiltered reaction to this news was to embrace his brother. Declan knew he wasn’t the most huggable of people, but that had never stopped Matthew, and he didn’t want it to stop Ronan, even though Ronan wasn’t all that huggable either. They shouldn’t have to feel embarrassed to show each other even the tiniest modicum of affection.
Declan smiled and shook his head. “Thanks. You wanna try that again?”
Ronan rolled his eyes, but Declan thought he looked relieved as he stepped forward and allowed Declan to hug him. It was an awkward sibling hug, complete with pats on the back. But it was a start.
“Alright, that’s enough of that,” Ronan said. He sat on the kitchen counter because he had no regard for furniture, and Declan sat in a chair at the table and picked up his coffee mug. He felt better now that he’d told Ronan. It felt more real.
“Do you wanna be my best man?”
Ronan grinned again, clearly unable to stop himself. “Fuck yes, I do. Does that mean I get to throw your bachelor’s party?” He cackled. “Ohhh, you’re gonna hate it.”
Declan hadn’t even begun to think about a bachelor’s party. Whatever monstrosity Ronan planned was a future-problem.
“Alright, calm down, we haven’t even set a date yet. One thing at a time.”
“Well, don’t take too long, because Jordan is way too cool for you.”
“Oh, I’m well aware,” Declan said with an easy smile. “And so is she, for that matter.”
Ronan laughed. He was clearly in a good mood, and the fact that it was Declan’s happy news that had caused it was an incredibly warming feeling. They were a far cry away from where they’d been just a couple of years ago.
man i can’t wait for declan to go bald at 27 from all the stress and then people start mixing him and ronan up for realsies. this is the only reason why ronan would actually grow his hair out sorry fandom
