such a softer sin | gerbert

chapter five

His thoughts are interrupted by a buzz of his phone that lays on his shirtless stomach. Lifting it, he sees a message from the person he most wants to see. Bert: hey gee, i just want to check that you got home alright. let me know if you need anything xx

Gerard presses the call button, putting it up to his ear. Listening to the dialing beeps fill the silence. Waiting. It only takes 2 rings before it comes to an end, and Bert's voice comes through.
"Hey Gee."

"Does that offer to keep me company when I get lonely still stand?" Gerard asks softly. Part of him just lonely. But the other half honestly just wants Bert. Not just anyone. Bert. He makes Gerard feel better, feel happy. Just by being around. Bert's honestly beginning to mean a lot to him.

"Of course, yeah. I'm on my way." Bert quickly responds. His voice filling with concern for him. Gerard tells him that the door's unlocked and his room is the last down the hall before hanging up the phone. Tossing it to the side as he sips his beer while he waits.

10 minutes pass before he hears a soft knock on his room door, which is then opened. Revealing Bert. Bert sighs as he sees the beer in Gerard's hand as he lays in bed. 2 empty bottles on his nightstnad beside him. Clearly nearing drunk if he isn't already. Shirtless, exhausted.

"Hey beautiful." Bert says sadly as he walks over, sitting next to Gerard in bed. Watching Gerard sit up from laying down, but obviously a little too tipsy. "Are you okay Gee?"

"I'm okay. I'm just so tired of being alone." Gerard replies, giving Bert a soft, forced smile. Bert can't help but to feel happy by the fact Gerard called him. Gerard finishes the little bit left of his beer before reaching down the the pack on the floor and grabbing another.

Bert sighs and takes it from his hand and setting it to the side. "I think you've had enough, Gee." Bert tells him, in which Gerard nods. Bert reaches over, taking and holding his hand. He's obviously struggling with alcoholism.

"I'm sorry. It wasn't fair of me to call you." Gerard apologizes, feeling bad. He shouldn't have called him. At least not while drinking. Figuring Bert probably only likes him for the fun of flirting.

"Yes it was. Gerard I care about you, I want to be here for you when you're lonely. Or when you feel the need to drink yourself away." Bert says softly. Brushing his thumb softly along the top of Gerard's hand in which he's holding.

Gerard can't help but to smile. Gerard drunkenly lays his head on his shoulder, in which Bert wraps his arm around him. Bert really likes Gerard. He's funny, caring, beautiful. And he seems to like him back.

"This is what I needed, thank you." Gerard mumbles. On the verge of falling asleep due to an exhausting day of work and the alcohol running through his veins. Feeling better from having Bert here with him. They both have their issues, but together they can help each other.

Bert chuckles and pulls the blanket up, covering the two of them. Bert knows Gerard's position. He knows what it's like to struggle like this. He knows what it's like to dread going to sleep just to have to wake up the next morning and do the same thing over again.

• • •

Bert wakes to hearing the agonizingly annoying rings of an alarm close to him. He mumbles tiredly, wanting to go back to sleep but remembers that it's Gerard's alarm. Who's out cold, still rested into him as he sleeps. Head rested on his shoulder, his hand rested on Bert's stomach.