Chapter Text
Rye's POV
I couldn't believe it; I'd lost my best friend and my girlfriend in such a short period of time. I felt numb as I ended the livestream. Not knowing what to think or do. I made the mistake of checking social media, seeing her and her friends' posts and comments. Knowing Mikey would have something to say about the situation making the fog in my brain become thicker until it felt like I was drowning. I'd never felt so alone, even knowing the others were in the house did nothing to calm the racing of my heart as I felt myself losing grip on reality. Without realising, I had moved now being slumped against my mirror, pieces of shattered coffee mugs surrounding my hunched body.
I didn't even react to someone entering my room until I felt fingers under my chin, lifting my face upwards till our eyes met. It was only then that I figured out that the hiccupping noises were coming from my own mouth. Before I knew it; I was yelling, screaming and crying into their shoulder, the emotions that had been building up since things had ended badly with Nicole finally forcing themselves to the surface for the first time. Even the smaller arms encircling me were foreign to my skin, the feelings of emptiness and insecurity crashing through me in waves that kept pulling me further under.
As the shakes began to subside to tremors, the tears were refusing to stop as they made their way steadily down my cheeks dripping onto my t-shirt and joggers. I began to take in my surroundings for the first time in nearly an hour, judging by the clock, I saw that my bedroom had been trashed with clothes and destroyed pots strewn across the floor. I didn't even remember moving from the couch to the floor never mind the mess I had apparently created. Looking to my left, I recognised the faded blond and brunette hair that belonged to the younger boy who hadn't left my side since he had first come into my room. I also saw my brothers worried eyes as he began to quietly clean my room, returning it to how it had been before I'd flipped out.
No words were shared between the three of us as I buried my head into Brook's chest, a mixture of his heartbeat and his and Robbie's singing, reminding me of Robbie and my mum singing me to sleep when I was younger, calming me down. I knew we would have to talk eventually but the quiet was enough for the moment. I could feel myself drifting slowly until there were tentative fingers brushing the hem of my t-shirt, looking up I saw Robbie holding one of his larger, clean hoodies while Brook looked for permission to remove my top and trousers. I nodded at him and he began to undress me, wiping my clammy skin with a damp cloth as he went, before Robbie redressed me again. There was nothing sexual about it, after all Robbie was my brother and Brook's only focus was making sure I was okay, "It'll be okay." I felt Brook's whisper more than I heard it as he had come right by my ear, placing a small kiss on my temple as he moved away to get a better look at my face.
"Baby bee?" I heard Robbie's soft, questioning voice speak, "Shall we go for a drive to see the sunset? It might help you escape for a little bit and we haven't been on adventure with the three of us in a long time." I thought about Robbie's words carefully trying to decide whether it was a good idea or not. On one hand I really wanted to see the sunset and share it with Brook and Robbie like old times, but on the other hand I was worried whether it would be too much for me to handle. Brook shuffled next to me, making me sit up further and I saw the hopeful look in his eyes which helped me make my decision easier.
"Yeah, why not? It's been a while and maybe a drive and walk will help clear my head." I went to speak but my voice came out as more of a croak, my frustration must have shown on my face because the next thing I knew I was sandwiched carefully between my older brother and my best friend. Robbie moved away, stating his need to get changed and get the car ready, leaving me and Brook alone in my room which had been almost completely transformed back to its normal state. My legs were shaking as I stood but Brook held onto my arm tightly making sure I didn't fall as we made our way to his room. I sat on his bed as he got changed his eyes never leaving me, needing a constant reminder that I was there with him and that I was as okay as I could be. Once he had finished, he helped me slip my shoes on and began to lace them up for me causing me to blush and start to protest which he quickly shushed before finishing tying them. He slipped his hand into mine as he pulled me up again repeating the three words "It'll be okay," as we walked towards the car.
"Bee, you can lay down in the back of the car if you want, we've got a little bit of time before sunset so I'm going to drive around for a bit." Robbie's words made me smile, remembering all the times we had done this exact thing before he'd moved away to China for a few years. "Brook he'll want to lay in your lap if it's okay with you. He probably won't fall asleep, but touch is grounding for him when he's like this." I saw Brooklyn blush at this but he was quick to agree saying that he didn't mind and I knew then that they were the best people I could be with right now.
It was then that I thought about the others in the house who must have heard what happened, "Brook, where are the other boys? Are they okay? I didn't scare them did I? Wait they had to listen to everything, but Jack and Andy don't like yelling. Do they know I'm okay?" I began asking questions rapidly, working myself back into a panicked state before I felt a hand over my mouth causing me to inhale sharply.
"Bee, breathe for me. The other boys went out into the studio with Sonny. When I heard the first cup smash I sent them there before going and getting Robbie so they didn't hear anything. Robbie went to tell them what was happening and where we were going while I was getting dressed." Brook spoke slowly, each word sending a wave of calm to my heart. "It'll be okay." He repeated the words from earlier again and I felt myself starting to believe them more each time.
(Time skip to after the car ride)
I spent the car ride with my head in Brook's lap and his hands playing with my hair while the two of them softly sand along with the radio allowing me to start forgetting everything that had happened that evening. When we got out at the other end, I saw that we were in a quiet area of the city with an amazing view of the sunset. I felt a smile appearing on my face as I took in the peaceful bustle of the last of the city life moving through the streets combined with the stunning sky. Brook and Robbie moved to stand on either side of me, brooks hand grabbing mine again as he pulled me slightly to start walking, I noticed Robbie drop behind slightly but I paid it no mind knowing he was okay letting Brook take care of me as he looked on.
We walked hand in hand along the street in relative silence; only speaking to point something out that we thought was interesting. As we reached some stairs Brook broke forward pulling out his phone and turning it towards me, "Baby bee, please let me take some photos of you."
"But I look awful babe." I whined, fully aware that I'd been crying for an hour and probably had really puffy eyes still, "What are people going to think if I'm posting photos normally after everything that's happened?"
"Firstly you look amazing bee. Don't worry what everyone else is going to think. I want to take pictures of you, so let me." He pushed, so I relented and sat down on the stairs, pulling some funny faces and poses in between the nice photos that would be posted. Hearing Brooks giggle as I created the faces made me even happier and I was glad that I'd decided to come out with them. Turning around I saw Robbie on his phone typing something before my phone pinged twice with notifications, the first of which was Robbie's Instagram story with the pictures of me and Brook together. The second was a text message from Robbie himself who had sent me three images of me and Brook throughout the evening, I blushed looking at the photos and sneaking a glance at Brook I saw him doing the same as me and admiring the pictures.
I walked back up the steps to my older brother who was watching us with a smile on his face. Wrapping my arms around him, I buried my head into his neck just like I would when we were children. "I love you." I reminded him sniffling. I felt his arms tighten around me as I sniffled. "Thank you for coming back to me and accepting everything. I missed you when you were gone. I always hooped I'd get my big brother back."
"Oh baby bee. You always had me. I never really left you, even when I wasn't there in person. I never stopped thinking about you and the little ones while I was there. I missed my little brother too. You'll always be my baby bee, never forget that. I love you too." Robbie murmured to me, his hold on me getting impossibly tighter and I breathed in his calming scent. "Let's go home, yeah? Get ready for bed and have a sleepover, just the three of us." He spoke outwards then, and I remembered that Brook was with us.
As we walked back to car we spoke about everything and anything that came into our heads, anyone looking at us would have thought we were mad. Switching between crying and laughing in a second, it was the most at ease I had been in a long time and I couldn't be more thankful for the two of them for always knowing how to look after me.
(Back at the house)
We'd been lying in my room for just over an hour, all the rest of the boys had been in to say goodnight and that they loved me other than Robbie who was staying on my couch and Brook who was lying in bed with me curled around him laughing about something stupid that wasn't even that funny but because we were all basically delirious, it was apparently hilarious. I started feeling myself drifting off to sleep so I snuggled into Brook more, lifting my face to his. "Thank you Brooky, I don't know what I'd have done without you and Robbie."
"It's okay baby bee, I'll always be here for you. Remember I love you and I'm not going anywhere." He leant his head down and pecked my lips a soft smile gracing both our lips. He leant back into the bed a sigh escaping him as we lay cuddled up under the covers slowly falling asleep.
No Ones POV
If Robbie was watching this unfold knowing his baby brother had finally found someone who will stick with him through everything and someone who could calm him down no matter what. Well then he'd just have to give them a small push to make sure, wouldn't he?
(Word Count: 2021)