such a softer sin | gerbert

chapter eighteen

As the two talk, Bert's phone dings with a message. He continues what he was saying as he fishes his phone from his pocket and un-locking it. Stopping mid-sentence with a loss of breath when he sees the message left on his phone, and who it's from.

Zach: who the hell do you think you are leaving me on read? avoiding me for that fucking redheaded bartender? i'm calling you later, and you better answer robert. 

After Bert cuts himself off mid-sentence, Gerard glances up from wiping the bar. Immediately growing concerned as he examines the petrified expression on Bert's face. The tears that gloss over his beautiful blue eyes. Making Gerard internally panic.

"Bert? What's wrong? Who was it?" Gerard worries, dropping the cloth in his hand. Though as he says that, it quickly hits him who could have upset him this much with just a text. Knowing it was Zach. "Let me see."

Bert just sets his phone onto the counter top as he glances up to the ceiling to keep the brimming tears from falling. Gerard reads the text that Zach sent him, feeling himself grow angrier. Who the hell does he think he is? That he can just come back and control him.

"I've got to go." Bert says as he stands from the bar stool. He grabs his coat and sliding it on before taking his phone back from Gerard's hands. Just needing to go home and be alone right now.

"Bert-" Gerard tries to stop him. But he just walks away and exits the bar. Gerard's heart aches, knowing how upset Bert is. Knowing that this has just destroyed him. Gerard grabs his phone and calls him, though he gets no answer.

He can't even begin to imagine what it's like. Gerard can't believe how obsessed Zach seems to be with Bert. He left him in the worse way possible, and now that he sees that Bert's spending time and moving on with another guy he suddenly misses him?

After another long hour of working in worry at the bar, the clock strikes 11 and Gerard's let off from his shift. He goes home and reads Mikey to sleep before going to his bedroom. The only thing he can manage to think about is Bert.

Gerard lays in bed alone, sighing softly as he stares at his phone. Sitting and waiting for something from Bert. Anything. A call, a text. Anything to tell Gerard that he's alright. It's been a few hours, has Zach called Bert yet? Did Bert answer it?

As Gerard sits and waits, he hears footsteps from the hall. Gerard sets his phone aside. Figuring it's Mikey who's either scared or can't sleep and want to get in bed with him like he often does.

Though when his bedroom door is opened, it reveals Bert instead of Mikey. Gerard's heart breaking as he examines his red rimmed eyes, the red tip of his nose and the tears that gloss over his eyes, threatening to slip with a single blink. "C'mon baby."

Bert gets into bed with him, hugging Gerard immediately. Gerard coos him as Bert cries into his bare shoulder. "It's okay, it's all going to be alright."

Bert chokes on his sobs, his chest burning. "Why won't he leave me alone Gerard, I just wanna move on. I just wanna be happy, I deserve to be happy but he won't let me."

"I know baby, but we're going to figure this out. Did he call? Tell me what he said." Gerard whispers as he rubs Bert's back. Resting his face in Bert's hair as he allows him to get it out, praying that he didn't answer him and give Zach what he wanted.

"I-I didn't answer his call, I couldn't bring myself to talk to him. Gerard he's going to be so angry." Bert panics, sniffling softly. Attempting to calm himself down, but fails. Bert's terrified with a capital t. He can't handle Zach and his anger anymore.

Gerard squeezes him closely. "He will no lay a hand on you. I won't let him, okay? He can't hurt you anymore Bert."

"You don't know Zach like I do. He doesn't give up, and he isn't afraid to fight. Zach always gets what he wants, non matter what." Bert sniffles, his tears finally coming to an end. Though he remains in the arms of Gerard, just needing to be with- to feel him right now.

Gerard kisses Bert's head as he runs his hand softly along Bert's back. "He can't control you anymore. He can't hurt you anymore. He can't do anything to you."

Gerard just pulls the blanket up and over the two. "Just rest baby. You're safe, don't worry about him right now. Just calm, we'll figure this out, okay?"

Bert places a soft kiss in Gerard's neck where his face rests. Managing to calm down and relax from Gerard's reassuring words and tight grip. Gerard plays with Bert's long black hair, beginning to softly hum as they lay together in the dark.

From the soothing sound of Gerard's hums, the warm grip and the exhaustion from crying, Bert slowly drifts to sleep. He honestly doesn't care about the fact that Mikey may see them in the morning, he just really needs Gerard right now.

Gerard sighs softly when Bert falls asleep, covering them up with the blanket more. He feels so bad for Bert. Their relationship had to have been worse than Gerard had originally suspected. He's going to talk to Bert about it in the morning, but for right now it's just better for him to sleep.

He loves Bert so much, he can't stand to see him so upset like this. He can't stand to see someone hurting Bert like this. And he isn't going to stand by and let Zach do this to him.

[This physically pained me to write but uhh, I have plans and ideas. Also I may update again tonight since this one was so short xx]