Work Text:
“That idiot!” Perrin’s french accent was strong as his anger grew and he paced the room. “How many times have I told him to fight back? How many times have I taught him to throw a punch? Too damn many!”
“I know. You gotta let him come to his senses on his own time.”
Russel had passed on the cigarettes, and Perrin had been too agitated to light one, instead just holding it in his hand and flailing it around. Russ sat on a large padded chair, his bald head catching the light from the lamp a few feet away from him. Perrin was pacing the small area of the room.
“You keep saying that! But he isn’t coming to his senses, and I have to watch my friend get his ass kicked every day!”
“At least you’re not watching anymore,” Russ pointed out, “since Murdoc stopped doing it in front of you after you kicked his ass back.”
Perrin stopped pacing to glare at the other man, who raised his chocolate brown hands above his head in surrender, admitting that was fucked without words.
And it was fucked. Perrin didn’t want to have to monitor 2D, and 2D didn’t want to be monitored, but it was feeling more and more like that was the only outcome where the blue haired man didn’t suffer Murdoc’s constant abuse. It was abuse, Perrin would die on that hill. Russ had recommended not saying that to 2D for fear of “scaring him off.” Perrin hated it. But if it got 2D out of this situation faster…
Perrin would deal with dancing around the word.
.
“You mother FUCKER!”
A french accent suddenly ripped through the room, as well as a flash of brown and blonde hair. Perrin was standing in front of 2D’s limp form, Murdoc breathing hard in front of him.
“I have put up with you for too long! Get away from him la chatte!”
Murdoc scowled and said in his grimy voice, “Oh and what are you gonna do about it, fa–”
A loud bang went off and everyone went quiet again. Perrin was holding a gun in his hand, pointed at the ceiling and smoking. 2D managed to get up to grab the other’s leg and beg him not to, but the ringing in Perrin’s ears was too loud.
“Out.”
The french accent was masked for a moment, to be heard as clearly as possible.
And Murdoc left.
.
“Perry?”
The crack in 2D’s voice made Perrin’s heart ache. He’d been happier since leaving the band, able to get his mind off Murdoc. Perrin even quit smoking to avoid reminding 2D of the man. But now his voice was broken.
2D got himself a girlfriend from the looks of it. Moved in a flat with Britt Ekland. Which was fine, it wasn’t like it made Perrin feel anything deep in his gut, not like it made him realize anything about himself. Nope. It was cool. He got his own flat. Now he was in a hotel room with 2D drinking some cheap alcohol.
“Yes, D?”
“Murdoc was a really bad guy, wasn’t he?”
There were tears in his eyes. Perrin’s heart felt like it was going to claw out of his chest. He couldn’t speak, so he simply nodded.
“Why didn’t I realize?” 2D’s voice caught in his throat, and then he was sobbing into his hands. Perrin wrapped an arm around the other’s shoulders, when suddenly the blue haired man was crying into his chest and clutching him close. The brunette had seen him cry before, but never like this, never these heaving sobs that shook his whole body. Perrin rubbed his back in a weak attempt to help.
“No one told you,” he finally whispered. “We thought you needed to realize. I tried to– but I wasn’t good enough. I’m sorry.”
Now he was crying too. Not as much as 2D, but still. He tried to hide it but failed terribly.
“Oh no now you’re crying too I‘m sorry— why are you laughing?”
Perrin couldn’t help it. The ruffled blue hair, the tear stained face, the genuine concern in his voice. It all made the brunette burst out in broken, choked sob-laughs.
“You look stupid,” Perrin managed.
“‘uddap!” 2D groaned as his head landed on the other’s chest again. Perrin let his fingers run through the soft blue locks. He loved this, being this close, feeling 2D’s every breath, syncing it like they were one entity. He loved the laughter and tears that shook both their bodies. He loved this.
He loved 2D.
They dissolved into drunk giggles, Perrin feeling warm for more than one reason.
.
<D3: Plane tickets r herw!
<D3 sent one attachment
Perrin stared at the picture on his phone. He was alone in his flat, a beer bottle in one hand, cans at his feet. He reread the words on the ticket over and over. 2D was going home. Back to work with his dad. He was leaving. Perrin wanted to cry.
He hadn’t responded to any of 2D’s recent messages. What was the point? The love of his life was leaving before he could even tell them he was in love.
A part of him scoffed at his blatant acceptance of defeat. He was Perrin, the man who had built himself up from square one. The man who had made himself a man, who almost had enough money for the surgery he’d been waiting forever for.
He felt more confident in his drunken state.
“But what’s it worth,” he whispered into the stale air of his apartment, “when he’s leaving?”
Me: call me when you can
“I love you,” Perrin said into the phone as soon as the ringing stopped.
“What?”
“I’ve been in love with you for a long time and I never said it. Now you’re leaving back to your hometown, so I am.”
“Over the phone?!” 2D squeaked out. That hadn’t been the reaction the brunette was expecting.
“I-I can’t- how am I supposed to say it back over the phone? Come to the airport if you can– please do.”
Perrin sat up. He was in his boxers and a stained grey tee.
“On my way.”
.
He didn’t know why he brought a suitcase. It was probably stupid of him. Why in the world would 2D want him to travel with him so suddenly? But he couldn’t help hoping.
“D!” He called as soon as he was out of the cab. (He’d managed to throw on a pair of jeans and a leather jacket.)
“Perry!”
They ran up to each other before stopping and pausing awkwardly when they got close. Neither knew what to say. 2D spoke first.
“I like you a lot. I don’t know about love, but I’d love to– I really like you,” he stammered out.
Perrin felt like crying tears of joy. He suddenly embraced the other, whispering how much he loved the other in his native language. 2D hugged him back.
“Can I come with you? For a little while?”
“Yeah I’m sure my dad would love to meet you,” 2D said with a smile as he pulled back.
“Great.”
.
Perrin had to go back to his flat in LA. And his job. And a drug dealer he owed money to who'd been sending threats for the last few days.
He hugged 2D at the airport, promising to visit and text and call and all that. 2D promised the same.
”I wish you didn’t have to go,” 2D mumbled. He’d been stuttering less lately.
”Me too. But hey, I’ll be back. No way I’d leave you behind.”
2D smiled. Perrin was proud of him. He’d come a long way since they met. Even just since he left the band. It was amazing to watch. Perrin felt lighter as his lover got happier.
”I love you,” 2D whispered.
Perrin leaned in and kissed him.
2D wasn’t as bad as he constantly said he was after Paula left. He was tense and awkward, sure, but Perrin loved that about him. He loved the way he froze up before relaxing slightly. He loved the way he leaned into it. He loved the way he slipped his hands over the Perrin’s on his face.
Perrin loved him. So he said so.
”I love you too.”