such a softer sin | gerbert

chapter thirteen

Gerard lays in bed with a smile on his face as he talks on the phone with Bert. Bert hasn't been coming to the bar again because of Zach. He hasn't been there all week. Though they meet up for coffee every morning, it's not enough.
"I miss seeing you more, seeing you several times every day."

"I know, I do too. But I'm gonna start coming back to the bar for your shift like usual. I'm just afraid that Zach's gonna show up. He's just going to be angry that I didn't answer his text." Bert says, sighing softly over the phone. He's been really depressed these past few days after getting that text from Zach last weekend.

"Bert I'm not going to let him even talk with you, let alone lay a hand on you." Gerard says. He hates that Zach has this effect on him. This hold over him.
They've been broken up for several months now, yet somehow Zach is still controlling his life.

"And what exactly are you going to do Gerard? There's no going against him, no fighting him. There's nothing anyone can fucking do when it comes to Zach." Bert says angrily over the phone. Not meaning to snap at Gerard like that, just really frustrated.

Gerard remains silent, a bit taken back by Bert's small, sudden burst of anger.
Gerard honestly can't blame him for it.
Bert seems to be really scared of him. He's never seen him like this. He's never heard him get angry like this, never seen him so afraid.

"Shit, I'm sorry Gerard." Bert sighs over the phone. Calming down a little bit. Taking a deep breath and letting the guilt set in."I'm really sorry, that wasn't fair. I just don't know what to do."

"It's okay. Understand this Bert, you two aren't in a relationship anymore.
He cannot come back and control you. He cannot hurt you anymore, do you understand me?" Gerard says. He can't imagine what it's like dealing with this. What their relationship was like.

He cannot hurt you anymore.
With those reassuring words spoken, Bert manages to take a deep breath and rexlax for the first time this week.
"Thank you for dealing with me when I get like this, I didn't mean to lash out earlier. It wasn't fair of me."

"Of course Bert. I can't blame you.
If you need anything at all, I'm here for you, okay? You know where the key to the apartment is. My volume is always up. I'm always available for you, okay? Even if I'm at work, call me, get me, whatever you need." Gerard says. He needs Bert to know he's here for him, no matter what.

Bert softly giggles. "Thank you so so much. But what about you, loverboy? How have you been this past week that we haven't been able to spend much time together? How's Mikey?"

"We've been really good actually. I've honestly just really missed seeing you.
But uh, I have the weekend off. Mikey's planning on spending it at his friends house. So I guess I was wondering if you were free?" Gerard asks, biting his bottom lip. Nervous to ask him.

"This is the first time I've ever heard you nervous. Of course I'm free, a weekend with you? I'll clear anything off my calendar." Bert playfully teases Gerard about being nervous to ask him. Knowing how flustered he probably is.

Gerard chews his bottom lip, holding back a smile. Now extremely excited for this weekend. "Good. But I have to get to bed, are you gonna be okay?"

"I'll be fine. You get some rest, okay? Call me if you need anything at all." Bert reassures Gerard that he's fine.
He knows how worried Gerard is about him. Bert hates that he worries but knows that he isn't going to stop.