Archive of Our Own

He opened the door to Ray’s and led David into the living room. He flicked the lights on.

‘What is this?’ David exclaimed. The living room had been transformed into...well he wasn’t entirely sure what you’d call it. A kind of home cinema, there was a projector screen at one end of the room. In the middle, the sofa had been pushed back and in front of it a pile of blankets and cushions formed a kind of bed-picnic area- indicated by an array of plates, and bags of chips, popcorn and candy already laid out. There were also a string of fairy lights around the room twinking on and off.

‘I admit the lights are a bit much, but for reasons best known to Ray he had them so…’ Patrick shrugged. ‘Do you want to know what the movies playing tonight are?’

‘Do I?’ David said with an eyebrow raise ‘Or is this for a lecture in superheroes again?’

Patrick narrowed his eyes ‘I don’t know I can change the selection if you like…’

David rolled his eyes in concession. ‘Fine.’

‘Alright then.’ Patrick said. ‘Then tonight’s selection is Pretty Woman.’ he watched David’s face light up ‘Moulin Rouge’ he grinned ‘And Hairspray- granted not a proper rom-com but I think you’ll agree it is a very fun movie.’

‘The new version?’

‘The new version’ Patrick smiled with a roll of his eyes.

‘Correct.’ David said ‘Patrick Brewer, are you a closet musicals fan?’ he raised an eyebrow.

‘David Rose, I have been in musicals in my time.’ Patrick smirked and folded his arms. He watched the cogs turning in David’s mind thinking about that.

‘Well, that is a discussion for another day.’ David said ‘And I need pictures.’

‘There were tights.’ Patrick said enjoying this a bit too much. ‘And dancing.’

‘I will be needing video evidence.’ David said. Then smiled and stepped towards his boyfriend. ‘This is...something by the way.’

Patrick blushed a bit. ‘I thought we could have like an old fashioned movie night sleepover.’ he grinned.

‘Stay up and braid each other’s hair?’ David raised an eyebrow.

‘I thought more, ‘sneak some booze in and dare people to make out with each other.’ Patrick smiled.

David looped his hands around Patrick’s neck ‘But there’s only two of us, we’ll have to take every turn ourselves.’

‘Well isn’t that a shame?’ Patrick said leaning in for a kiss. They stood in the doorway, doing what could only be described as making out like teenagers for a minute. When they pulled away David shifted a bit and looked down. ‘What?’ Patrick asked patiently wondering if this was going to go the way of mocking his past musical experience or somewhere else. The look David gave him said ‘somewhere else’

‘Did you do this, because…’ he shrugged. It had been another week since ‘the unfortunate week’ he was now calling it. Things were good, better than before even. But still, his brain was not his friend in these things.

Patrick sighed inwardly. He should have seen this coming. David’s brain had been overdrive for the last week still, understandably. ‘No. No, I already had this planned and then I wondered whether not to...but then that felt worse and so I went ahead anyway, but if you don’t want to, it’s totally fine we can just hang out in my room and it doesn’t matter.’

David rolled his eyes ‘Well no it does, you did all this.’ he felt terrible for questioning Patrick. But he also didn’t want to feel like he was ...he didn’t even know, pitied wasn’t even the right word. A liability maybe. In need of special treatment. As if reading his mind Patrick spoke.

‘David, I wanted to do a nice, silly Date Night for my boyfriend. Because we never get any time alone. And yes ok I’m a dork and this is a dumb thing to do, but in my head it was cute and I don’t know maybe my dating game is rusty but we’ve got booze and candy and a pizza order on the way so I figure….’ he shrugged.

David felt awful. And slumped a bit. Sweet Patrick trying to do something sweet for him and he was close to ruining it by freaking out. ‘You are a dork.’ he said ‘A musical theatre dork we have just learned.’ Patrick looked at him and smiled ‘And this was very sweet.’ he still didn’t quite know what to do with himself when confronted by sweet gestures. Luckily for him Patrick, dork or not, was able to revert back to sure of himself fairly fast and shooed him into the living room.

‘So does this sleepover come with adult beverages or am I expected to get a sugar high from the pop?’

‘Both!’ Patrick said, smugly triumphant ‘I’m making cocktails.’ As David followed him towards the kitchen he stopped. ‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he asked. David arched an eyebrow. ‘Can’t come to a sleepover dressed like that.’ Patrick announced. ‘Go and get changed.’

In spite of his anxiety about it all, and the ever-present uncertainty around someone doing something nice David grinned. He leaned in and kissed Patrick’s cheek before going upstairs to change.

He got as far as pulling on his slipper-boots before the anxiety fully hit. It was ridiculous. He was being ridiculous. And yet here it was consuming him. He let himself sit there for a second. Nothing was wrong he reminded himself. And that was precisely the problem. Nothing was wrong and yet his brain was racing to find something, everything wrong. If he sat here and thought about it he could find things to go wrong. He was being ungrateful that was a start- selfish, the thing people had (often rightly) accused him of. And his lovely sweet boyfriend was going to see. Or he wasn’t going to sleep. Again. And his boyfriend was going to have enough of being around such a mess of a human and run away. Or if he let himself get really dark, really go there...just get fed up with him. That’s what happened, after all, why was this time any different. And-

‘I said get changed into sleep clothes not go to bed.’ Patrick said from the door.

‘I’m just, um.’ David jumped up.

‘Movie starts in 10 minutes David, you don’t want to be late.’ Patrick smiled and brushed over what was clearly David having a moment. He was trying to learn when to push and when to let things be. He crossed the room towards the bed, ‘Or we could…’ Patrick leaned down and kissed him. David leaned in and returned the kiss, but when Patrick reached around and tried to pull him closer, he felt the tension there. He pulled back. When he did he saw the flash of panic on David’s face. He closed his eyes briefly. He knew this could end up a spiral of anxiety if he didn’t play this right. ‘Everything ok?’

David swallowed and nodded. Cursing that Patrick could sense his tension. He should be better at hiding it. Patrick watched that internal debate happen over the course of a second and decided to try a different approach.

‘David instead of worrying you didn’t hide that well can I suggest something?’ David blinked and Patrick continued before he could object ‘Maybe focus on the fact I notice. And I care.’

David blinked at him. Patrick’s directness was one of the things that he loved (and sometimes loved to hate). Having someone call out exactly what he was thinking and feeling usually felt like an attack but this...a lopsided smile escaped. ‘You notice?’ he asked.

‘Of course, I do.’ Patrick said with his own lopsided grin. He felt suddenly sad for David, that it was such a surprise. He wrapped his arms around him and pulled him in. Relieved when David melted over him as he usually did, arms winding around his neck. After a moment Patrick pulled back, hands on David’s hips. ‘Look, let’s just go and eat some pizza yeah?’

David nodded enthusiastically. Patrick moved past him to quickly get changed, and David noticed for the first time a large red stain on his jeans as he pulled them off. ‘Erm…’ he gestured.

‘My bartender skills are lacking.’ he said sheepishly, then groaned as he realised his formally white underwear was now also reddish pink. ‘We may have to stick to wine and beer.’ he added with a small embarrassed smile.

‘You think I can’t mix a decent cocktail?’ David said with a raise of his eyebrow. Then made no secret of the fact he was still staring at Patrick in his underwear.

‘Really?’ Patrick said slightly exasperated. ‘This is not exactly a striptease here.’

David shrugged with a half-grin and made it clear he wasn’t looking away. Patrick rolled his eyes as he turned around to grab some fresh, less sticky underwear, very aware he was being watched. He changed quickly, pulling on sweat pants and grabbing a t-shirt. He turned around with it in his hand to David still watching him. And caught him flicking his eyes over his bare chest. Patrick rolled his eyes, and felt himself blush a little. He still wasn’t used to having someone be so openly, demonstrably admiring of how he looked. ‘Stop it.’ he said ‘Again this is not my best look here.’

David tried to cover his smile as he leaned on the doorframe. ‘Maybe’ he said letting the grin fully escape ‘Instead of worrying why I’m staring just focus on the fact I am.’

Patrick narrowed his eyes, and was just in reach to gently whip at David with his dirty shirt, as he walked towards the laundry hamper with it. David caught his arm as he did and pulled him into a kiss, his hands wandering across Patrick’s back.

‘Sorry.’ he muttered into his neck as he kissed him.

‘Pizza.’ Patrick replied leading him downstairs before they got carried away and missed the delivery, which was, on balance, sure to be worse than waiting a bit longer for the rest.

David made Moulin Rouge the first pick. It apparently fell into his categories of ‘ok to narrate through’ which worked well with the combination of pizza and cocktail making- David was indeed a skilled bartender. Though one very strong Cosmopolitan in Patrick decided he needed to return to beer for now or he wouldn’t be able to see the next movie. The at-home-movie-theatre seemed to be working well. The projector combined with Ray’s inexplicable fairy lights gave the room a soft glow. And they were curled up on a mound of pillows propped up against the sofa, blankets at their feet and the pizza between them. David had already started on the candy at the same time, the kind of disgusting food combination only he could manage.

‘How many guys did Ewan make realise they were gay with this movie?’ David wondered aloud. Patrick chuckled next to him.

‘Not me.’ he said.

David raised an eyebrow. Unsure if he meant, ‘I didn’t know then’ or ‘not my type.’ David didn’t like to push him to talk about any of his previous feelings there. He waited. Patrick shrugged.

‘Not my type.’ he grinned. Dammit, that cocktail was taking effect. He also caught Patrick’s devilish grin and clearly took that as an invitation. He turned the volume down on Ewan’s singing.

‘And what, pray tell, is your type?’ he asked, eyebrows sky-high.

Patrick looked down embarrassed. He’d walked into this one. He thought for a moment. ‘You.’ he answered honestly. David brought his hand up to his face covering the fact he was trying not to smile.

‘I mean this is a very particular kind of sexy.’ David said with an eye roll.

‘Yes. Yes, it is.’ Patrick said, but then his face grew serious, and he tilted his head. ‘You believe me right?’

‘Look this is pretty yeah.’ he gestured with a shrug. ‘But people don’t…whatever’

David turned his attention back to Ewan, biting his lip and not looking at Patrick. He wanted to tell him that one look at him and he was knocked sideways. Yes he was awkward, and his style was certainly...unique. But he was also, Patrick had no other word for it, gorgeous.

‘David.’ he said quietly, he didn’t move. ‘David c’mere a second.’

He turned a bit and Patrick reached for his chin, tilting it towards him and leaning in and kissing him softly.

David narrowed his eyes as Patrick looked at him. It confused him more than he let on that Patrick looked at him like, well as if he was some beautiful object he was admiring.

‘David I’m serious.’ Patrick said, flicking his eyes momentarily to the screen as Ewan hit a particularly high note. He scooted himself upright. ‘You have no idea do you?’ he leaned over to kiss David, trying to make his point. David let him but didn’t lean in. He just looked confused. And shrugged.

Patrick was looking at him like that again. And telling him he had no idea. And while his ego was big enough to enjoy that he also wasn’t that convinced. Yes, Patrick inexplicably thought he was the most attractive person in the room. But he always convinced himself it was both Patrick discovering that he liked men, and well, an absence of other men to compete with. He didn’t kid himself that back in New York or wherever he probably wouldn’t stand a chance with Patrick he’d lucked out that there wasn’t much competition and-

‘David?’

He realised he’d drifted off in his thoughts again and Patrick was looking at him with an air of amusement and confusion. Nothing particularly new there then.

‘Look I’m flattered. And my ego enjoys the boost but….’

‘David I think you’re gorgeous. Because you are. And not because you’re the first man I stumbled across or because there are no other men around.’

David frowned. ‘How do you do that?’ he said.

‘Your face.’ Patrick answered with a shrug. He couldn’t explain it but David’s face either gave away everything or nothing. And he’d got pretty good at reading it already. ‘I mean I say no men, I’m sure back in the day Roland was a catch…’

David gave him a friendly shove then scooted himself a bit closer. Patrick moved the pizza a bit and looped his arm over David, sensing he needed some kind of contact, reassurance. His face had shifted to thinking mode. They watched Ewan and Nicole sing for a bit, and Patrick absently ran his thumb up and down David’s shoulder, taking another sip of the drink, and making a face at the strength. David chuckled at him.

‘So attractive.’ he muttered. Then flicked his eyes up. ‘You’ve got no idea either do you?’

Patrick blinked at him. Truthfully no, he wasn’t sure what someone like David saw in him. He knew somehow they clicked personality-wise- in ways neither of them could explain. He knew he was perfectly normal looking, not terrible looking in fact. But he also knew he was nobody’s idea of ‘classic good looks’ or ‘hottest guy in the class’ he was the ‘nice and nice looking one’ and he’d always been ok with that. So it puzzled him when David looked at him, well like he was now. Patrick flicked his eyes back to the screen for a moment, pretending to take in Ewan and Nicole’s angst-ridden love-exchange.

‘David.’ he said finally. And was answered with a soft hmm to let him know he was listening. ‘Don’t take this the wrong way but you have what I think we’ve established is a rich dating history...surely you know...what you look like?’ Patrick felt him shift and look up. Then he detangled himself and sat upright. Patrick’s stomach did a flip, thinking he’d said something wrong. David shrugged. And downed his drink. Gesturing for Patrick’s. He finished it and handed it over. David got up and shuffled to the kitchen with the empty glasses. Patrick groaned inwardly. He’d managed to fuck that up.

David mixed the cocktails carefully. It wasn’t exactly working with high quality ingredients Ray’s liquor cabinet, but it would do. He went for a gin martini this time, sensing the sickly sweet Cosmo hadn’t been exactly Patrick’s taste. The methodical task also gave him time to think. He carried them back. Patrick had paused the movie, whether not wanting him to miss out or wanting to continue their discussion he wasn’t sure.

‘Gin Martini. Shaken not stirred.’ He said handing it over ‘Not exactly Bond’s drink but we’re improvising here.’

Patrick nodded a thanks and took a sip. It was still strong, and he couldn’t help but make a face.

‘Can you not handle your drink?’ David asked sitting down.

‘Not when it could strip paint off the walls.’ Patrick said with his eyes wide ‘Are you trying to get me drunk?’

David raised an eyebrow ‘Maybe.’ he said, taking a delicate sip and setting his drink down. He looked sideways over at Patrick. A sure sign he was thinking about something but not quite figured out how to say it. But was going to anyway. ‘Yes, I have a ‘rich dating history’’ his fingers made quotation marks in a way Patrick was reminded of Alexis and he grinned ‘But it was more from a lack of me saying no, than it was people...beating down my door to say yes.’ he shrugged again and rolled his eyes, a sure sign he was trying to say something but failing, Patrick reached over and rubbed a hand on his arm, getting his attention back ‘And look’ David continued ‘while I know I’m not like, repellant, and I’m I don’t know ‘attractive’ I’m not…’ he trailed off, then finally looked at Patrick properly ‘I guess I’ve just never been anybody’s first choice is what I mean. I’m the guy you shrug and go ‘sure why not he’s pretty enough’ not the guy anyone says ‘him, that’s what I want.’ anyway…’ he downed a bit too much of his drink and coughed slightly. When he recovered Patrick was still looking at him intently. ‘What?’ David rolled his eyes again.

‘Him, that’s what I want.’ Patrick said with a smile, and leaned in and kissed him.

‘What a line, I mean…’ he was silenced by Patrick kissing him again. ‘Well if you insist.’ he added leaning in to return the kiss. When they pulled apart Patrick was looking at him with a serious expression. ‘What?’ he said leaning back on his elbow.

‘I fell for the whole David Rose package.’ Patrick said ‘And while I do want you- and your ego- to know you are as gorgeous as I think you are, I wouldn’t have...turned my whole world upside down if I wasn’t falling for...all of it.’ Patrick finished with a nod.

David looked down, smiling. He looked up and Patrick caught his eye with a smile, David smiled back. They sat for a moment like that before David lifted up his arm inviting Patrick down with him. As they turned their attention back to the screen David kissed the top of Patrick’s head. It wasn’t often he opened up like that, but when he did it was always honest, and almost frustratingly beautiful. They lay for a while watching the end of the movie. As the credits rolled David spoke again.

‘No, but really, if not Ewan who is your type?’

He felt Patrick chuckle.

‘I’m not getting away with it am I…’

‘Nope.’

Patrick sighed. There was a long and complicated list of men he maybe had thoughts about previously. But right now wasn’t the right mood. He thought for a moment longer. ‘David Tennant.’ he said finally.

‘Doctor Who?!’ David exclaimed.

‘What’s wrong with Doctor Who?’ he exclaimed back.

‘You are such a dork.’ David said fondly. ‘David Tennant.’ he muttered again.

Patrick rolled onto his side, so he was looking at David again. ‘Tall slim guy, cool clothes, wild hair...bit mad.’ he winked ‘Could say I have a type.’

David raised an eyebrow. But grinned at Patrick’s grin.

‘And what about you?’ Patrick asked ‘Do you have a type?’

It was David’s turn to look serious again for a second. ‘Yeah.’ he said slowly, ‘And you are exactly the opposite.’

Patrick grinned. He didn’t have to interrogate that to know why. Instead, he kissed David and pulled himself up. ‘I am getting a beer.’ he said handing David his drink ‘Because I will not be able to walk if you make any more of those.’

It was still early so David went ahead with Hairspray while they finished the pizza. And after David finished his and Patrick’s martini he conceded that any more cocktails were likely to end in disaster- or at least him blacking out before even the end of this movie. His need for a continued sugar high was catered to by Patrick appearing with a vanilla frosted cake.

‘I got it from that place in Elmdale’ he said ‘It’s truly terrible but the kind of truly terrible that works for a cake.’ he grinned ‘Dunno it reminded me of the kind of cake you get at a school birthday party.’ he shrugged.

‘You really did have a fun time as a kid didn’t you?’ David said, there was no malice in it, just genuine amazement at someone who had a normal time of it.

‘My family is sickeningly functional, yes.’ Patrick said ‘And incredibly normal. You would find them very dull.’

‘A refreshing change’ David said with a smile ‘Though me and mine might terrify them.’

Patrick smiled and tried to keep the uncertainty off his face. He hadn’t spoken to his parents about David. They only knew him as David-from-the-Store so far. It didn’t seem right to spring it on them over the phone. He would wait until he saw them in person he’d decided. He’d find a way to go home and visit soon. He kept telling himself, just wait until everything- the Store, David, your life, wait until it's certain, solid. Then tell them.

David caught the look on Patrick’s face. ‘I mean you don’t have to, I mean I didn’t mean I should meet them like ever I mean-’

Patrick leaned over and kissed him. His mouth tasted like cake frosting. ‘Relax David. Nobody needs you to meet the parents yet.’ he leaned in again and kissed him, hoping to distract him. It worked, it worked so well that he lost his balance at the force of David’s kiss and fell backwards, hand landing in the remains of his cake. ‘Ew! David!’ he exclaimed holding his sticky hand up. Then he shrugged and reasoned no need to waste it. And licked the frosting off one of his fingers.

David blinked a couple of times. The sight of Patrick licking cake frosting off his fingers was a lot to take. Patrick locked eyes with him and smirked. ‘Really?’ he said with exaggerated disdain, ‘This?’ he then took an exaggerated lick. David raised an eyebrow in return.

‘Just thinking I could help with that is all.’ He said.

‘Is that so?’ Patrick said, licking his thumb, ‘What makes you think I need help?’

David closed the short distance, angled Patrick’s hand and expertly licked the remaining frosting off his thumb with what could only be described as precision expertise. Patrick let out an involuntary shudder. Which only encouraged him. Patrick was very familiar by now with the skills of David’s tongue, but it was quite unexpectedly something to have them unleashed on his hand in this way.

‘Fuck’s sake David.’ he muttered grabbing his boyfriend by the sweater the minute he flicked his tongue across the last bit of frosting on his palm, a diagonal flick that all but sent him over the edge on its own. He pulled David to him and kissed him hungrily, tasting the cake in his mouth. He pulled back.

‘David.’ he said quite seriously. ‘We’re moving on to the making out part of this slumber party ok?’

‘Should I bring the cake?’ he asked with a raise of his eyebrows.

‘You’re gonna need that sugar afterwards.’ Patrick said in a low growl as he kissed David’s jawline. He extracted himself from the embrace and stood up. ‘You coming?’

David acted quicker than Patrick and before he could get up had used both his longer limbs and the element of surprise to flip Patrick onto his back and pin him down. Patrick giggled. Actually giggled, made worse by David kissing his neck exactly where he knew it was ticklish.

‘David!’ he exclaimed. David pulled back, raised one eyebrow and then kissed his neck in exactly the way he knew could be his undoing. ‘David.’ Patrick said again his tone entirely different now. ‘We should go upstairs.’ he whispered as David worked his way down his neck somehow also undoing his shirt while holding him there. He paused. And pulled back, a look of pure mischief in his eyes.

‘I don’t know what kind of slumber parties you went to, but the whole point is not to be in your own bed.’ He resumed the far more important task of undoing Patrick’s shirt.

***

Patrick pulled the blanket over them to keep off the slight chill and pulled David into him. Their bodies were sticky, possibly from frosting as much as everything else because it now seemed to be everywhere. He laughed again as David found some on his neck and kissed it off.

‘Well that was new.’ he mused.

‘Which bit.’ David nuzzled into his neck, perhaps looking for more frosting.

‘Well, the food, the floor and…’ Patrick tilted his head up and kissed him ‘That position.’

‘It sounded like you enjoyed.’ David grinned into his kiss.

‘Well we will have to test it a number of times to make sure but experiment one was a success.’ Patrick smiled kissing him again. David deepened it for a moment before pulling back again, his eyebrows meeting in the middle again.

‘It’s ...ok right. I mean the…’ he gestured vaguely at their still entwined bodies.

‘I would think some of the noises of agreement proved that.’ Patrick said ‘Though like I said some more test runs of that position might be needed.’ he leaned in for a kiss, which David returned lightly and pulled back again, he bit his lip.

‘The stuff...about not feeling...right.’ he looked up ‘Did you mean…’

Patrick sighed a bit and sifted on an elbow so he could look at David, and brush his currently wild hair out of his eyes.

‘Well yeah.’ he said ‘I mean not just the…’ he mimicked David’s gesture ‘But all of it. But yes, that. Wasn’t right. I didn’t know it wasn’t right but...look David if this is a way to get me to confess to mind-blowing orgasms with you…’

David put a hand on his cheek and kissed him softly. ‘I’m sorry.’ he said quietly.

‘What you sorry for?’ he asked with a frown.

‘That you never felt right before.’

Patrick kissed him, ‘I do now.’ he said, rolling back over and pulling David with him. ‘I do now, all the time ok?’

David nodded and kissed him, deeper this time, running hands over his arms, down his sides, eliciting a soft whimper in response. They kissed, hands wandering for a long time, unhurried, unclear whether it was leading anywhere, eventually, they settled into kissing, Patrick’s leg hooked over David’s hip, a mess of blankets around them.

‘You make me feel right David.’ Patrick murmured into him between kisses ‘You make me feel right ok?’

David kissed him again. ‘You make me feel right too.’ he locked eyes with Patrick, ‘There were a lot of people before you. Like a lot’

‘Ok, David.’ Patrick smiled into a kiss to show he was teasing.

‘I had fun...sometimes.’ he kissed him ‘But nothing felt as right as this.’

Patrick pulled him into another deeper kiss. ‘Good.’

David burrowed into him for a bit and Patrick smoothed his hair down, letting him settle a bit. He knew expressions of emotion set David whirring for a bit and he often needed a moment after. One of the quietly endearing things he’d learned that nobody else got to see. After long enough he kissed his hair.

‘Right, c’mon one more movie and plenty more snacks.’ he shifted so David had to move, with a groan.

After some cleanup, and a re-arranging of blankets Patrick built them a little pillow nest, arriving with popcorn, and wine.

‘I feel more cocktails are not going to do us any good.’ he made a face.

‘You are correct.’ David said ‘I could feel the hangover kicking in already.’

‘Mmm.’ Patrick mused. He settled down, smiling when David slotted hismelf under his arm. Popcorn on his lap, and wine glass in hand they settled in quietly.

‘This thing corners like its on rails.’ Patrick muttered absently along with Vivian on screen a few minutes in. He felt David’s eyes on him immediately. He glanced over. ‘I may have seen it before.’

‘Patrick Brewer.’ David smirked ‘Secret Romcom fan?’

‘My mom really likes this movie.’ he said eyes fixed on the screen. ‘Shut up David.’

‘Hmm.’ David muttered with a smirk.

They settled in eating popcorn and drinking, Patrick let the familiar movie wash over him. He was actually quite fond of it, the performances were brilliant, it was funny, and sweet. When it got to the opera scene, he sensed David shift. He glanced over, and David was crying, just softly.

‘Hey.’ Patrick said.

David wiped his face. ‘Just what he says, about if you love it...it becomes part of your soul. I just always felt that way about...things. Art, books, whatever.’ he looked down. ‘It’s silly.’

Patrick put down his glass, tilted David’s chin up towards him and kissed him.

‘It’s beautiful. And it’s beautiful you think it’s beautiful.’ he eased David towards him a little more and reached down, taking David’s left hand in his, gently entwining their fingers he squeezed. They’d never done that before. It just hadn’t been a thing they’d done, but he wanted to hold onto David right now, so he did.

‘She rescues him right back.’ Patrick said softly with the end of the film, and wiped at his eyes. He’d never done that before. Not at this film. A little wave of something washed over him an he was crying heavier than just a few tears at the end of a movie. David was there immediately, limbs all around him, hand in his hair.

‘Yeah she rescues him right back.’ David said, and Patrick knew he got it. He never felt like he needed rescuing until he had someone to rescue right back. He let himself have a little cry on David, the cry they both needed maybe as he felt David’s damp cheek when he reached up to kiss him. David snuggled back down under his arm, and everything settled suddenly. In Ray’s weird little living room where he’d made a mini cinema, everything felt right. He felt David sag against him and fall asleep. He’d move him eventually, they were in fact too old to do a real sleepover on the floor. But for now the weight of him warm and curled up against him was nice, it felt right. So he stayed a while.

It was four in the morning when David woke up. They’d moved to the bed, Patrick was very correct they were too old to sleep on the floor. Apparently though, not too old to go in for round two- without the sticky cake this time- and they’d passed out in a tangle of limbs. He’d woken up, as he often did in the night, with Patrick under him, safe and warm. He’d had a lot of ‘sleepovers’ in his time, but Patrick’s weird little room in Ray’s weird little house, was the first one he never wanted to run off home from. He wanted to stay here all the time, if it meant this sweet good man was here with him. Patrick stirred a bit and David settled back down.

‘You awake?’ Patrick murmured.

‘Mmm.’ he said ‘too much sugar.’

‘Mmm.’ Patrick agreed a hand coming to his hair, petting it, soothing him. David didn’t know if he’d worked out how soothing it was but perhaps his leaning in like a cat gave it away.

‘Patrick?’ David said, tracing a finger across his bare chest.

‘Mmm.’

‘This was the best sleepover I’ve been to. Even better than Paris Hilton’s.’

‘Who?’

‘Are you serious?’

Patrick laughed under him and kissed his hair.

‘Well, this was my favourite too. Even better than Billy Ironson’s in the fifth grade. And his dad owned a pizza place.’

‘See that’s where we differ, I’d pick Billy and his Dad’s pizza.’

Patrick laughed again. ‘David?’

‘Hmm.’

‘I think you’re better than pizza.’

He wanted to give a witty retort. But he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. So he reached up and kissed him instead. Patrick’s hand was soon back in his hair and he was pulling the blankets over them and settling down. The best part was Ray was away for another night, so he didn’t have to leave this slumber party just yet.