I'm the Secret You'll Swear to Keep

/Six/

"He's scared of me." Pete buries his face in his hands.

"He's not." Brendon rubs his back. "He's scared of everything. He's scared of the unknown."

Pete looks back to the boy sleeping on Brendon's bed. Patrick cried for what seemed like hours, but was probably twenty minutes.  Brendon's muscle tank was soaked in tears and snot when Patrick's cries were hushed. He'd worn himself out. Pete's glad the tears are gone and his breathing his even. 

"I want him to feel safe."

"And he does," Brendon meets Pete's eyes. "With you."

"You saw him, Bren! He ran from us, called us crazy."

"Laura said he held your hand."

"Yeah?"

"You calm him down. He held your hand because he was nervous and afraid."

"I don't know, Bren. After we said it straight to him, I don't think he's trusting anyone right now."

"It'll take some time."

"I haven't even told him anything important." Pete frowns. "Laura told him I'm an agent and he freaked. I can't imagine what he'll do when he finds out the rest of it."

Brendon sighs, looking to the small boy. He's curled up beneath Brendon's blanket, face squished against a pillow. His cheeks are puffy from crying, and his lips are pink and chapped. Strawberry blonde locks scatter around messily, and his skin is slowly returning to it's normal pale tone. Brendon's got to admit, he's gorgeous, but not his type. 

"Do you like him?" Brendon asks, watching Pete's eyes glaze over Patrick. His eyes are full of sadness, infatuation, and a primal protectiveness. 

"A lot." 

"Does he know that?"

"I've said it," Pete sighs. "But he's doubting it."

"You're not suppose to fall for him, you know."

"I know, Bren." Pete frowns. "I-I just did."

"I know, Pete. I know."

~~~

"He might freak out!" Pete exclaims.

"He won't! It's just Ryan."

"Yeah, it's just me."

"But he doesn't know you." Pete argues.

"He'll get to know me."

Patrick cracks his eyes open. There's a man next to Brendon, slightly taller in height. He has an arm around Brendon, holding the man close.

"Get him out, okay? Patrick doesn't trust new people right now." Pete shakes his head. "He barely trusts me."

"I trust you." Patrick sits up, blinking sleep from his tired eyes.

Pete turns. "Hey, 'Trick," He whispers softly. "How are you feeling?"

Patrick hums. "Alright, I guess."

"Do you want to go to Pete's room? Or stay here?" Brendon asks.

"I'm not five." Patrick mumbles.

"I'm sorry," Brendon shakes his head. "I thought it'd make you comfortable."

Patrick doesn't respond. He hugs his knees to his chest and looks at Pete. His eyes want to fail him, and he's dangerously close to falling asleep. Why is he so tired? Is it because of the insane things his mind has had to process? Yes.