Accidentally in love (mxm)

Chapter 23

Pitch's heart beat so fiercely he could feel it throughout his entire torso, as he slowly lowered the empty flask that had priorly contained the last remains of the love potion.
It hadn't been his intention to use it; he had only wanted to talk but after Jack attacked him, he had resorted to something incredibly stupid for the lack of a better option. He didn't want to fight Jack anymore; not now and not ever.

Of course, he was well aware that what he had done was awful and would, ultimately, end up hurting him even more, but he didn't care. He didn't care that he was forcing someone to love him against their will; he didn't care that it wasn't real; and he didn't care that it would end up destroying him.
He wanted those three days back.
He wanted Jack to love him again, even if it was only due to a potion.

Didn't he...?

Pitch could barely breathe as he waited for the unconscious teen to wake up, and with every passing moment he regretted his idiotic decision more and more. What had he been thinking?!
He didn't want to force Jack to love him; he wanted Jack to love him out of his own free will.
Except he never would...
But was this truly better?

While he had been waiting for Jack to wake up, he had been praying and hoping that Jack would want to talk to him; that maybe his feelings lasted beyond the spell; that maybe they could somehow work it out, no matter how unreasonable and impossible he knew that was, but after Jack had attacked him he had panicked and used the potion in one last, pathetic, selfish attempt to avoid the inevitable.
Just like last time, the potion would wear off in three days, after which Jack would be far angrier than before because this time Pitch had used the potion on purpose, fully knowing what it would do and with every intention to take advantage of it.
What was wrong with him...?

Pitch knew what was wrong with him, he just didn't want to admit it; he was so unspeakably lonely that he was willing to pay any price just to be loved one more day. Even if that love wasn't real.
It was the only love he would ever get.

Jack stirred, nearly making Pitch's heart stop. The amount of potion he had used was a bit less than last time; would it work anyway?
A small part of Pitch hoped it wouldn't, but the rest hoped it certainly would.

"Jack?" he whispered nervously, kneeling in front of him but too scared to touch him.

Jack opened his eyes, looking momentarily confused before he smiled that radiant smile that made Pitch feel as if someone had kissed his soul.

"Pitch!" He yelled happily, pouncing on him and wrapping his around him in a firm embrace that Pitch returned immediately, feeling so overwhelmed he could barely breathe. The potion had worked. Jack would love him for a little while longer.

Unable and unwilling to release him, Pitch held the freezing body as tightly as he could, burying his neck in Jack's cool, slightly damp hair that smelled like winter, until the boy started to squirm around.

"Pitch, are you okay?" he asked softly, pulling away a little to give him a concerned smile. It looked so genuine. As if he would actually care.

Not trusting himself to speak, Pitch nodded, pulling away and getting up, pulling Jack up with him by his hand.

"It smells so good here! I'm starving!" Jack continued happily, apparently having no recollection of the fight from a few minutes ago.

Even though Pitch was beyond happy that the potion had worked, there was a small nagging in the back of his mind that told him that this wasn't what he wanted. He wanted the real Jack.

"Did you cook all this for me while I was sleeping?" Jack gasped happily as he danced into the kitchen, looking around the mess Pitch had made.

Before Pitch had found his voice again, Jack came over with a small giggle and a suggestive, naughty smile.
"Maybe I should have waited for breakfast in bed so I could show you just how grateful I am."