Chapter Text
The first time David cried in front of Patrick was exactly one month after they’d met. And crying in front of your new business partner wasn’t exactly the look David was going for.
In his defence, he also wasn’t intending to cry. And he also wasn’t intending Patrick to see.
It had been a long morning and it was only 11 am. His Mom was being particularly ‘Moira Rose’ as his Dad was fond of calling it (behind her back obviously). And if he was honest David wasn’t even sure what about. All he knew was it was loud at the Motel and his Mom was a lot of the noise. And so when she’d said ‘Your little Store’ during one of her rants he’d reached the end of what little patience he had and stormed off to his ‘little store’ and everything had gone wrong.
Patrick wasn’t going to be back until after lunch. He had a meeting at the bank in Elmdale, signing the last of the forms and doing the finance stuff that David was in fact relieved not to have to take on. And so he was dealing with deliveries and suppliers. Except it was all going wrong.
The wrong delivery of moisturizer had come. He had no idea what it was or who it was for but it certainly wasn’t theirs. And now they were going to be down a substantial set of stock. And the supplier wasn’t answering. At the same time, a shipment of cheese had come in that was definitely off. And had leaked. And was currently stinking out the bathroom because he didn’t know what else to do with it. And he was aware- before Patrick reminded him- that he still hadn’t called the electrician. But the phone hadn’t stopped ringing every time he’d got off it, with apparently every supplier confused about something. Finally, an email had pinged in with a request for ‘Urgent Documents’ that he’d never heard of. And he panicked. And started to stress-cry.
Everyone was right. It was a stupid idea and he couldn’t pull it off. Everything was a disaster. He’d lose all the money he’d invested, and all the loans before they even opened. Everyone would see that David Rose was a disaster as ever, who couldn’t do anything right. All he’d wanted was to finally get something right. Hot tears rolled down his face and he didn’t bother to stop them. He couldn’t do anything, but he could unpack bath salts. So he didn’t that. Except on opening the box, he cut his hand. Just a paper cut really but it was enough to fully push him over the edge.
‘Fuck! Fucking fuck!’ he shouted to nobody grabbing his hand. He sunk down behind the counter and cursed to himself letting himself cry for a second.
Then the door opened.
‘Fuck’ he muttered. If it was Stevie he might get away with some light mockery now, and get left alone. Anyone else he was only proving their point.
‘David?’
Of course it was Patrick. Back early. Why was he so efficient? He didn’t answer for a second.
‘David?’ Patrick sounded concerned. Of course he was, the door was unlocked, and he was nowhere to be seen.
‘I’m here.’ he said with an air of defeat.
‘David?’ the third one was confused. David sighed and rested his head against the back of the counter.
Patrick followed the sound of David’s voice to the other side of the counter. He was slumped on the floor, holding his hand. Patrick’s first instinct was he’d hurt himself, and he panicked slightly.
‘Are you ok?’ he said, rounding the counter and crouching next to him. It was only then he realised David was crying. Just a bit, he looked like he might have been crying more but it was now just a soft sniffle. ‘David what happened?’ he leaned over and instinctively rested a hand on his knee, before becoming very conscious he’d just rested his hand on his knee. David didn’t reply. He dipped his head sniffing.
‘Great.’ he muttered ‘Now you know what a disaster I am.’
‘Are you hurt?’ Patrick noticed he was holding one hand out, and he reached over and turned it over. He felt David start a little ‘Sorry.’ he muttered. It was just a cut, looked like he’d opened a box and got the sharp end of something. It had stopped bleeding either way. ‘You’ll live.’ Patrick said with a smile. Then shifted himself to the ground next to David.
‘I don’t know how to do it.’ David sniffed.
‘Do what?’ Patrick shook his head confused.
‘All of it.’ he gestured ‘I’m making a mess.’
Patrick nodded slowly. ‘Well David, while you do excel at making a mess whenever I ask you for any inventory lists...look at this place.’ it was his turn to gesture.
‘It’s a mess.’ David sniffed.
‘David.’ Patrick said with a little chuckle ‘It’s full of products waiting to be shelved. You’ve got all new furnishings, a sign...some kind of design concept that I really don’t understand but that’s ok, I’m just the numbers guy. You’re doing it.’ he smiled, and rested a hand on David’s shoulder. He finally looked up again. He knew David lacked confidence in his abilities but he hadn’t realised it was getting to him that much. ‘But if you want more help, ask me, that’s what I’m here for.’
‘I thought you were numbers guy?’ David said a little smile creeping in. Patrick hadn’t laughed at him. This was...new. He felt himself calming a bit.
‘I can count body milk as we unpack it though.’ Patrick smiled. ‘And I know I nag you to do stuff, but if you’re, you know overwhelmed or whatever because there’s a bunch of stuff you’re doing I don’t know about...tell me.’ he knew he was hard on David, mostly teasing him, it was his way of being friendly especially in the face of...whatever he was feeling here. Not helped by the fact David looked over at him with a lopsided grin right at that moment.
‘You really do want to help?’ he looked confused even though he was smiling.
Patrick nodded. ‘It’s our Store. And you’re my...friend.’ he ventured. ‘I mean if…’
David did that thing again where he tried not to grin and failed. Covering his mouth with his good hand. ‘Yeah you’re my friend.’ he said looking down. He didn’t know why that was making him embarrassed. ‘In case you hadn’t noticed I’m wildly popular around here, so you’re lucky to get in on that list.’
‘Oh me too. Very in demand. Surprised I’ve got time in my social calendar to work.’ Patrick grinned. ‘Stay there.’ he said getting up.
David heard him walk around the counter and go and grab something from the fridge. He returned with a juice bottle.
‘Rehydration.’ he said ‘Can't have you getting a headache.’
David smiled and took it gratefully, taking a swig. Sheepishly he handed it to Patrick who smiled and took a sip.
‘It’s all going to be ok David.’ Patrick said resting a hand briefly, and immediately self-consciously, on David’s back.
‘Well, I’m glad someone is still very sure of themselves.’ David said, raising an eyebrow. Then he nodded slowly. ‘It might work right?’
‘It just might all work out ok.’ Patrick smiled, handing him back the juice, then standing up. ‘Come on.’ he said offering a hand ‘Walk me through the disasters I missed.’
David nodded and took Patrick’s offered hand, it was cool and soft. When he got to his feet he forgot to let go for a second. Until they both awkwardly dropped the other’s hand. ‘Um right, yeah so these came.’ David gestured at the boxes, before launching into a monologue on the unfolding disaster.
Patrick listened nodding patiently, making a list of things to do to fix it in his head. But at the same time marvelling at David’s passion. How much he clearly cared about all this. How knowledgeable he was without realising it. And how confused he was by all this. By now he was starting to feel about his business partner. How he thought he felt. On top of a new business and a new town, now there was this. Whatever this was.
‘Patrick?’ David interrupted his train of thought. ‘I said what are these figures here? I can’t do it and you're the numbers guy…’ David flailed his arms and Patrick snapped back to reality going over to help him.