Peter Pan: Back to Never-land (A queer re imagining)

Part 2: Sawyer:

It's been a few weeks since the boys saved me from Hook's crew and I can honestly say being a lost boy is quite a far cry being a pirate. There's no one breathing down your neck to work harder or sticking a sword in your neck when you do something wrong.

No, here we get pretty much free roam of the forest. Peter does call on us from time to time to help him out with collecting dinner, cooking or cleaning or sometimes helping out with the younger boys but even then he's kind and doesn't push us. Peter may still be hurting over what went down with Ace, they both are but they are still kind to us. They aren't saying what went down, to protect each other and stop us from picking sides or something but it's obvious they are both hurting. The only thing Peter said to me was "sometimes loving someone isn't enough." When I tried to pry early on. But I've left him alone since, I don't want him to be more hurt. But I worry about both of them and just wish they would sort it out.

"Hey you!" Patrick says and he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. Now, Patrick is wonderful. I have really enjoyed getting to know him the last few weeks.
"Hi." I say softly and I spin around to hug him.
He kisses the top of my head and then he starts helping me pick berries as per Curly's request.
"The little ones need some fruit." He had said and I said I'd seen some berries that I thought would be great. So here we are.

I study Patrick's face as I work, the way his green eyes always look like they are twinkling, the way his small pointed nose points up a little when you're looking at him side on. His skin is clear but for a smattering of freckles that bridge his nose. He's beautiful. Most definitely Prince level beauty. But I know he had it rough too, like the rest of us. That's why we are all here. My point is why is someone as beautiful as Patrick choosing to spend his time with someone like me.
I'm basically always scared and I try to cover that up with a false confidence that I think just makes me come across as awkward.

"Whaaat?" Patrick whines when he catches me staring at him. How is it when he whines, it sounds playful?
"Uh, nothing." I say and I blush. Smooth Sawyer, real smooth.
Fear builds in my chest, this is the part where I freak him out and he runs for it, like he probably should. That would make more sense than what happens next.
He suddenly grabs my hand. I freeze.
"Hey, it's okay." He gives me a kind dimpled smile. "You think I don't do the same thing?you just never catch me." He laughs.

Right, he's mocking me. That makes more sense. Also who is he staring it like that? I pull the basket of berries under my arm and start to make my way back to the house. Couldn't he be straight up mean instead, mocking is perhaps the cruelest form of sneaky mean. Why are you crying Sawyer? Geez.

"Sawyer!" Patrick calls a few times until he catches up to me. He's apparently fast. He grabs my wrist and I try not to let him see my face but he's surprisingly strong too.
This look of complete shock and concern comes over his face. He's concerned now? What is he playing at here?

"Sawyer, what's wrong?" He asks. "Did I upset you?" He frowns. I don't know what he is trying to do and I sure as hell don't know how to deal with it.

"I'm sorry I was staring okay? You're just.. uh.. nice to look at.. I didn't mean anything by it.. but if you're going to mock me for it, like Sawyer is so dumb he doesn't get social cues.. I don't need this." I throw my hands up in the air at a complete loss for what else to do in that moment.

Patrick's face softens and he smiles but there's something sad about it. Maybe pity?

"Sawyer, I wasn't mocking you.. I would never do that. I guess I was trying to say that you're nice to look at too." He says and a blush runs up his neck.

"Oh." I say wiping my eyes with the back of the palm. I really don't get social cues and it's messing me up.. bad.

Patrick takes my hands in his. They are warm, and I can feel my always tense body relaxing at his touch.
"I'm so sorry Sawyer, I will be straight up with you about exactly what I'm trying to say from now on okay?" He says. He gets it, I don't think anyone has just got it before.

"Thank you." I say softly. He runs his fingers through my hair and brings me closer to him.
We sit like that in the grass, eventually laying back to look at the clouds in the sky above us.
Patrick's arm touching mine and one of his feet resting against my own. I feel as light and fluffy as one of those clouds.
"It's okay Sawyer, you're safe here, with me." He says with a tired smile.