Discalimer: DO NOT, ABSOULTELY DO NOT OWN THE RED WINGS
Author: ME
Dedication: Stevie and Kris Draper
Rating: PG---PG13
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Shanny winced as Steve held the bag of ice up to his black eye. It stung something fierce. What was worse of course, was that Steve was giving him something close to "the Silent Treatment" It was easy, Steve wasn't a man of many words by any means. This silence was tense, irritated. That's how he knew it was a silent treatment, because it wasn't easy and loving like it usually was. Brendan sighed a little as the pain gave way to a pleasant cold numbness.
The silence continued.
Finally Brendan couldn't take it anymore, he looked over at Steve, his dark eyes guilty and full of regret.
"I'm sorry." He didn't like saying it, he didn't like feeling like he had to say it, and he didn't like that Steve wanted him to say it, but he knew he had been wrong, and that Steve had the right to be mad, he just hated that he was made to feel so guilty about it. He swallowed, his unswollen eye blinking at his lover.
Steve just started at him, his own dark eyes regarding the younger man. Finally he sighed.
"Brendan, do you even know *why* you're sorry?" Oh no, one of those games. He knew he was wrong about something, but it seemed like a bunch of things, rather than just one, and besides, Steve had one thing in mind, and Brendan didn't know which one it was. Sighing, he took a leap.
"Look, I'm sorry that I got into a fight with Tachuck tonight, I'm sorry that I let my violent nature get ahead of me, and I'm sorry that I was the instigator." He dropped the bag of ice onto his thigh and rubbed his temples. Steve finally sat down next to him and placed his hand on the younger man's thigh.
Brendan felt his heart lighten a little, that was a good motion, it either meant that he had chosen the right answer, or it meant Steve wasn't *really* angry, it meant that he was the kind of angry that people get when their kid runs in front of a car and notices it just in time to get out of the way; a relieved angry. He looked up at Steve, feeling his bruise start to throb again.
The silence went on.
And on...
And on.
Finally, Steve cleared his throat and Brendan could tell that he was about to admit something that was hard for him to admit.
"And you aren't sorry that you scared me to death? You aren't in the least bit regretful that when I saw him punch you my heart went to my throat?" Steve looked away quickly, his chocolate eyes shifting to the wall as his cheeks began to grow warm. Brendan's jaw dropped a little and he stared at the smaller man with amazement. He had known Steve for ten years now, and had been "with" him for nine of them, and he had only heard Steve say something so blatantly loving once or twice. His stomach did a flip and he reached out, touching Steve's chin and turning his lover's face towards him.
"I'm sorry." He breathed, really meaning it, and leaned in, pressing his lips against Steve's. For a moment Steve didn't react, then, he arched against Bren, their chests pressing together and Brendan wrapped his arms around the smaller man, pulling him closer and enjoying the airy feeling he got in his stomach while kissing his lover. Finally, they pulled away, their lips ruddy and slightly swollen. Steve sighed and rested his head on Brendan's shoulder grunting.
"You can get away with it this time." Brendan laughed and settled back, holding his small lover against him and feeling pleased.