I'm the Secret You'll Swear to Keep

/Nine/

Pete wasn't speaking much. He just held Patrick close throughout the car ride. When they were safely back in the agency, Pete distanced himself. Patrick shuffled behind him and followed everyone into the elevator.

"Good luck," Ryan whispers, patting Patrick's back before exiting the elevator.

The doors close and it's silent again, far more awkward. The tension surrounding them doesn't leave, and fills the hall, and then Pete's room. Patrick sits on the edge of the bed, watching Pete do aimless things around the room.

"Goddammit, say something!" Patrick breaks the silence.

"You're an idiot." Pete seethes. "I-I can't believe you turned your back o-on me and everything I've told you."

"I--"

"You can't blame it on new surroundings anymore."

"Maybe that I'm kept in the dark!?"

"Don't flip this!" Pete growls. "Why did you go?"

"Because I needed to get away from you! From everything!" Patrick cries. Pete would burn him at the stake if he figured out Patrick wanted a measly bowl of cereal.

"Then go somewhere in here! Don't leave!"

"I don't want to be here!"

"You're safe here!" Pete's voice dries. He swallows hard to continue. "You could've been killed." Pete whispers. "God, Patrick, anything could've happened to you." 

Patrick can feel himself deflate. "Pete--"

"I thought you trusted me like I trusted you." Pete shakes his head. "I thought we were past all this bullshit. Apparently we're not." Pete turns away, his shoulders rising and falling slowly.

"I freaked out, okay? And I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Pete turns. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you. I know you think I-I'm crazy but you mean so much to me."

"You mean a lot to me too." Patrick tugs Pete against him. Like normal, Pete's arms wrap around him securely.

"Promise me you won't run out of here again." Pete mumbles. "I can't take that feeling again."

"What feeling?"

"Fear."

"It's awful isn't it?" Patrick whispers. "Makes you do some crazy stuff. Like run from pretty boys and punch holes in cheap walls."

"Promise." Pete says after a moment.

"I promise."

"Thank you," Pete mouths against the sensitive skin on Patrick's neck. 

Patrick inhales shakily, partially hoping this would go somewhere sexual. Make-up sex is actually really helpful from what Patrick's heard. But Pete pulls away, mumbling something about a shower. 

"Pete?" Patrick asks before the bathroom door closes. "Where's Ryan's room at?"

Pete doesn't hesitate to drop the towel on the counter. "I'm walking you."

"I can walk myself." Patrick frowns. "What about all that shit you just said to me? That you wish I trusted you like you trust me. It doesn't feel like you trust me."

"I have reasons to not trust you." Pete's eyes narrow.

And so it starts...

"And I don't!? I meet some random guy, go on a date, get fucked, and suddenly I'm taken to some random place?"