such a softer sin | gerbert

chapter forty

Bert jults awake and out of breath from his previous unconscious state. His body shaking and quite sweaty. Heart racing and his head pounding. Rubbing his eyes as he tries and process his surroundings. He looks around the dark room until his eyes fall onto a sleeping Gerard in bed next to him.

Bert relaxes slightly as he recognizes his surroundings. Laying back down, he snakes his arms around Gerard's waist. Calming as he takes in the soft scent of his red hair, the soft touch of his bare skin against his own. The only person who can make him feel better almost immediately after the nightmares.

"Is everything okay?" Gerard mumbles tiredly, waking after feeling him slightly move. Feeling his warm arms wrap around him from behind. Worried that something may be wrong, knowing Bert's having what he refers as 'just sleep issues' as he put it. Though it's obvious to Gerard that it's a lot more than just regular sleep struggles.

"Yeah everything's fine. Go back to sleep Gee." Bert whispers to reassure him as he relaxes back into the bed. Bert just rests his face in the red heads neck from behind as he himself manages to drift back to sleep again.

• • •

Thunder crashes outsides, rumbling the small bar they're in. Rain pours heavily outside causing the already cold temperature to intensify. It's been a long day for Gerard. He's still been really shaky today and he's really afraid of fucking up again like the other night. Tonight isn't going very well, especially not having Bert here yet.

Ontop of his morning shift which went awfully. He lost his balance and fell into some of the books he'd already gotten stacked up. It's just been a long day and he's ready to go home and relax with Mikey and Bert.

"Hey beautiful, sorry that I'm late. There was an accident on the way thag held up traffic." Bert says as he enters the bar. Handing Gerard the coffee he stopped to get him before sliding off his wet coat. Feeling a lot better today after getting some sleep last night, despite still waking from the nightmare. But it's better than loosing hours of sleep.

"Thanks, I really needed this right now." Gerard sighs sipping his warm coffee. Usually bad days like these are when he drinks. Though technically his bad day tonight was caused by the withdrawal of alcohol.

"What's wrong? Do you want to go to the back room and talk really quick?" Bert asks worriedly. Picking up on his stress. He knows how hard staying sober has been, especially in the past few days. Knowing that the stress of two jobs and taking care of a teenager full time definitely doesn't make it any easier.

"Nothing, it's just been a really long day." Gerard sighs. Though before Bert gets the chance to respond, they hear the familiar voices of his friends. Bert turns to see Dan, Jeph and Quinn all entering the bar together. Gerard chuckles as they head over to them once spotted, obviously already drinking by the looks of it.

"Hey sexy." Jeph teases jokingly as he takes his seat at the bar. Gerard can't help but to smile. Lightened at just their strong presence in the dull bar. Bert tenses, unhappy with it. But keeps in mind that they don't know about him and Gerard.

"Hey, what can I get you guys to drink?" Gerard chuckles, winking at Jeph for his cute and flirty comment. All of course wanting heavy liquor except for Dan who seems to be the rather responsible one of their friend group.

"Come hang out with us after your shift. We're not giving you the option to say no this time. We never get to see you." Quinn says. Gerard looks over to Bert, wondering if he's allowed too this time. Since last time they asked, Bert was afraid too and told Gerard not too. Which caused a fight between the two.