Temptation and Reason

Chapter 14

"Gee, what am I doing here?" Pete heard the unmistakable voice of Patrick. He wanted to run out of the back room Gerard put him in. He wanted to embrace the boy and never let him go.

"I just wanted to talk," Gerard said calmly.

"And we couldn't do this at my place? You know I didn't want to leave my house."

"That's what I wanted to talk about. Ever since Pete.."

"Don't say his name." Patrick spoke up. Pete could hear the strain in his voice.

"Patrick, what happened? You were so happy with him." Pete could hear subtle sniffles through the door.

"You were there Gee. He cheated on me," Patrick rose his voice, getting upset with the situation.

"He cheated on Mikey, not you." Gerard kept his voice steady.

"If he could do something like that to someone like Mikey, who's to say he wouldn't easily do it to someone like me." Patrick's voice started strong, filled with betrayal, before ending in a whimper.

"I saw the way he looked at you Pat. He wouldn't have done something like that. He loves you." Pete's heart cracked when he heard Patrick scoff at the statement.

"Don't tell me he's got you fooled too," Patrick said bitterly.

"I know what I saw. That's not something you can fake," Gerard let out slowly.

"Since when did you take his side?" Pete went to open the door, but paused as he held the knob in his hand. He needed to wait just like Gerard told him to. He need to trust him.

"Since I watched the way you looked at each other that first night in this arcade." Pete cracked the door open enough to see the two men standing in the middle of the room. Patrick's back was to him, but he could vividly make out his features from him memory.

"I could see what you guys would start to have on that first date."

"How?" Patrick aggression was replaced with soft whispers of hope.

"Both of you were glowing anytime you looked at each other. I could tell you two had something special."

"It's too late now," Patrick sighed. "He wouldn't want someone like me back." Pete watched the boy hanging his head down.

"Are you sure about that?" Patrick gave a small nod. He brought his hand to his face. Pete's heart sunk as he saw his boy wipe away, what he assumed, tears. Gerard looked over at Pete and gave him a nod. Pete immediately left the back room and walked up behind Patrick.

"You're wrong, Pattycakes." Patrick turned around. Pete frowned at Patrick's tears soaked cheeks. The boy quickly wiped them away and dropped in head, ashamed of his crying.

"What are you doing here," Patrick mumbled.

"I want," Pete paused. "I need you back," Pete corrected himself. He reached his arms out to pull Patrick against him, but the boy took a step back.

"I think I'll leave you two alone," Gerard said in a low voice and went to the back room.

"I never cheated on you," Pete started. Patrick let out a mocking laugh that mixed with his cries.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"If you're still going off what Mikey said, there's not much I can do to change your mind. What I did to him was awful, but I was completely loyal to you. I can't force you to believe me. All I can do is say how much I want you back."

"I don't know if I can do that. I won't know if you really cheated on me or not. Even if you didn't, I don't think I could ever stop worrying that you are capable of doing it to me one day." Pete let out a sad sigh.

"I don't want you to feel like you need to worry about me being faithful. I want you to know that I care about you so much. I spent the past two weeks trying to drink away your memory because it was easier than dealing with the fact that you were gone." Pete lightly gripped Patrick's chin and tilted his head up to look into his blue eyes.

"But you were always there, in the faces of other people and every time I closed my eyes. I couldn't escape the thought of you and I drove myself insane trying to do so. Patrick, I know I've made a lot of mistakes. I was born to make bad choices and go to hell, but meeting you made me want to change that." Pete let out a small chuckle at Patrick's confusion.

"I've lost so much, but losing you was the worst thing that's every happened to me." Pete ran his hand down to Patrick neck. He fit his hand on the back of his neck, holding him lightly but securely.

"Patrick, you make me feel things that I've spent my whole life running from and for some reason, I don't want to run from you. I'm willing to give everything I've kept hidden to you. If you're willing to accept everything I am, I want to be with you again." Pete bit his lip nervously, eyeing every little movement Patrick made.

"Why me?" All Pete could see was how vulnerable Patrick looked. Patrick's eyes were wide with multiple emotions swimming in the iris. Pete let out a breath he was holding. He could see the fear, hurt, and pain that matched Pete's behind those beautiful eyes.

"I love you..." Pete whispered. Patrick gasped in surprise. Pete could hear his heart pumping against his chest. They were both stone still, neither daring to break their silence.

Pete hesitantly leaned in. He paused right before connecting their lips, giving Patrick a chance to stop him. Patrick leaned up and closed the gap between them. Pete closed his eyes and pressed their lips harder together. Patrick snaked his arms around Pete's neck.

They pulled away to caught their breath. Pete smiled when he heard Patrick let out a small giggle. He felt himself wanting to melt at the sweet sound.

"I love you too, Peter panda," Patrick whispered and kissed Pete again. That did it. Pete was a puddle. He moved his arms to wrap around Patrick's waist. They pressed their foreheads together, smiling like idiots as they gazed at each other.

Pete loved the feeling Patrick gave him. He never wanted to let go of Patrick ever again. This boy was his purpose, his whole world. Patrick was his soulmate.

"Well, I'm glad that's solved." Gerard came out of the back room and wrapped his arms around the couple. Patrick let out another heart melting giggle and tightened his arms around Pete's neck. "How about we celebrate with pizza?" Pete nodded, not taking his eyes off Patrick.

As Gerard went to the kitchen, Pete led Patrick to one of the tables. He pulled the chair out for Patrick before taking the seat beside him. Their hands were locked together. Patrick was looking down at their intertwined hands as his thumb stoked Pete's.

"Pete?"

"Yes, Patty." Patrick took a deep breath to calm his nerves.

"There were times when I saw you looking or talking to someone when you thought I wasn't paying attention," he started. "Who were you talking to?" Pete looked down at their hands. He placed a hand over Patrick's shaking ones. After a moment, he looked up to meet Patrick's eyes. He smiled his boyfriend before speaking.

"My angel was telling me that I better not do anything stupid to lose you." Patrick smiled and rolled his eyes.

"I'm being serious." He nudged Pete's arm.

"I am too. Without him, I would never have known that you were the one." Patrick shook his head, still smiling. 

"Alright, where is this supposed angel then?" Pete's smile faltered for a second and his gaze dropped down to the table.

"I don't know. I lost him after I lost you." Patrick reached his free arm up and wrapped it around Pete's neck, pulling him close.

"Well, you got me back. Maybe you'll get him back too. Then, you can thank him for me."

"Thank him for what?" Pete tilted his head to the side, leaning in slowly.

"For getting your stubborn ass to open up to me." Pete smiled as Patrick connected their lips again. 

"I love you, Pattycakes," Pete mumbled into the kiss.

"I love you too, panda."