Saturday // Peterick Oneshots

27. Glad You're Here

Hi here I am in all my glory with another oneshot for you guys. :) A little angsty, a little fluffy. FUTCT era. Trigger warning for mentions of Pete's suicide attempt.

Patrick woke up long before Pete did. It was always a shock when he woke up before noon, but today he was fully conscious at nine in the morning. The curtains of their hotel room were closed, but a crack between them let in a sliver of light. Patrick stared at it as he traced the tattoos on Pete's forearms. He didn't move, he barely even breathed, worried that one wrong move would make his best friend disappear.

The wounds from the past few months were still fresh. There wasn't a moment when Patrick didn't wonder if they had been too late...if he was just imagining Pete was still here in denial of what had happened.

Patrick closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Pete's arms around his waist.

Pete's chest against his back.

Pete's breath on his neck.

He was there.

Patrick sighed, shifting backwards for more contact. Pete's arms curled around him tighter. A few days ago, Patrick would've been scared he'd woken Pete up, or that Pete was holding him closer to chase away nightmares. Now, he knew it was a reflex Pete had just for him.

Patrick didn't know how much time had passed when Pete woke up. All he knew was that Pete had pressed a small kiss to the nape of Patrick's neck and was pressing closer.

"Good morning," Patrick said, a soft smile pulling at his lips.

"Morning," Pete murmured. "You're tense."

Patrick was hoping he wouldn't notice.

"You okay?"

"Just thinking," Patrick whispered.

Pete nudged him. Patrick turned around and wrapped his arms around Pete's neck. He buried a hand in Pete's hair, soft and tangled, and left it there. He locked eyes with Pete after a moment of hesitation. His heart swelled at the sight of his brown eyes, sleepy with dark circles underneath but still bright and alive.

Patrick turned and buried his face in Pete's neck. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," Pete said softly. "Are you okay?" he asked a moment later.

Patrick nodded. "Just happy you're alive." His voice cracked. He'd been trying not to show Pete how upset he was about the whole ordeal; he didn't want Pete to feel guilty about what had happened.

"Oh," Pete said softly. Patrick felt Pete bury his face in his hair.

Patrick felt the first shudder run through him, and he bit his lip, hard, to try to stop it.

"It's okay, Trick. I'm here," Pete whispered.

Patrick shut his eyes and tried to keep his breathing steady. If he was going to breakdown, he was going to do it with at least a little dignity. He weeped into Pete's neck, focusing on Pete's hand rubbing his back and the small kisses he was pressing to Patrick's temple.

"I would miss you. So much," Patrick said softly. "And I can't imagine how hard everything is for you, but just, please, please, don't try again."

Pete squeezed Patrick tighter. "I promise."

"I love you," Patrick said again. He turned and kissed Pete's cheek. His forehead. His nose. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." Pete kissed Patrick's lips.

He was there.