"I'm just going to go take these to, Patrick." Pete says as he takes the opposite staircase from Ryan.

"You know how bad you're going to make me look with Brendon? Since when do you buy random flowers?"

"Since I'm dating someone who deserves random flowers." He grinned.

"Uh huh." Ryan raised an eyebrow. "I think you looooove him."

"Shut up, Ry."

But Pete smiled. Because, no, he didn't quite love Patrick yet. His cold heart wasn't prepared to. But maybe he could. And maybe he was getting pretty damn close.

"Pete and Patrick sitting in a tree. L-O-V-I-N-G." He frowned. "Damn, that didn't come out right. I think I'm a letter short or something."

"Ryan and Brendon sitting in a tree. N-O-T-H-I-N-G."

"Fuck you, Wentz!" Ryan yelled as Pete raced up the steps to Patrick's room.

Pete was excited. It didn't make sense. He'd just seen Patrick a couple of hours ago. But he missed him as if he hadn't seen him in years. Was that normal? What did that even mean?

He bet he looked good. Patrick always looked good. Even when he first woke up. He looked like an angel. Just like Ryan said. Funny, the man everyone in business calls Satan, gets to be loved by an angel.

Because Patrick was an angel. He was even named after a saint. And maybe Pete could love that special, little man sooner than he thought possible. Because Patrick was pure. And Patrick was kind. And Patrick was... Kissing Andy?

Pete stood there. He stood there and just watched his boyfriend kiss his ex. He was crying and Andy was holding him. But Patrick didn't look as if he minded. And then he pulled away. So suddenly that it shocked Pete. He rushed towards the door and paused. So, he finally noticed him.

Pete looked at Patrick's face. It was flushed and tear streaked. He looked afraid? Pete felt his heart twist but he quickly reacted. Shutting himself down emotionally like he'd taught himself to do so many years ago.

Andy stared at him wearing a cocky expression. Or maybe that was just the way his face looked. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered. Because Pete didn't feel anything.

"P-Pete-" Patrick stammered.

"These are for you." He pushed the roses into Patrick's arms with more force than necessary. Patrick grabbed them.

"T-Thank you."

He looked worried. Like he was wondering what Pete was going to say or do next. But Pete didn't even know what he was going to do himself. And he didn't care.

He turned to face the little ginger watching them. "Leave." That was as much as he ever wanted to say to the man.

"Patrick-" Andy reached for Patrick's arm and Patrick moved away from him.

"Don't. Touch. Him." Pete grounded out each syllable separately.

And suddenly Pete couldn't remember if he'd had his morning cocktail earlier. He was seething. Seeing red. Because he did care. He cared that the man he trusted was kissing someone else. And that, that someone else was standing in front of him. Trying to touch him.

He was going to kill him. Maybe even both of them. How much time would he do for a double murder?

"Listen, Wentz." He said his name sourly. "I can touch whoever I want. You aren't my boss." He reached for Patrick again. "Baby, aren't you coming with me?" This time his hand glazed Patrick's arm.

Pete snapped.

He didn't even remember moving. But suddenly he was launching towards Andy. He felt his fist connect with the other man's face. Once. Twice. Three times. And then Andy fell. Pete felt a rush go through him at the site of red trickling down the man's face. He drew back his fist again, only to be stopped by a pair of pale arms wrapping around him.

"Pete! Stop!" Patrick shrieked.

And then Ryan was there. Standing beside his best friend. He didn't ask any questions. He just walked over to Andy and grabbed him up by the collar of his shirt. Pulling him from the room. Away from Pete. Pete would have to thank him later. But right now he had other things to do.

He snatched out of Patrick's arms. Glaring down at the small man standing before him. He was still angry. Livid actually.

"You fucking idiot." Pete spat the words. Patrick sniffed. "How dare you protect him?"

"I was protecting you." Patrick took a step back from him. Smart man. "I didn't want you to hurt him too badly and have to deal with the press. O-Or the cops."

"I don't need your protection." Pete stalked towards him.

"Well you got it anyway. Because I love-"

"Stop with that bull shit!" He yelled.

Patrick flinched. Hurt crossing his face. Pete didn't care. He should be the one hurting.

"I-It's not bullshit. I love you."

"Ha! Is that what love looks like? You kissing other men? Because I don't want it."

"He kissed me. Please let me explain." Patrick continued backing away.

"No. I don't want to hear anything from you. You fucking cheater."

Pete felt something under his feet. He looked down at the roses Patrick dropped when he grabbed him. He lifted his foot and stomped them until they were flattened and ripping apart.

"That was unnecessary." Patrick's eyes began watering again.

"You're unnecessary."

It was a juvenile comeback. One someone would use in middle school. But it still hurt.

"Pete please let me explain!" He begged. "I was waiting for you-"

"And what? I took so long that you had to try to fuck your ex?"

"That's not fair!" Patrick cried. Still backing away from the angry Pete.

"Fuck being fair! I let you in! I opened up to you!" He yelled.

"I know. I'm so sorry. But it's not what you think!" Patrick was raising his voice now too.

"It's never what I think!"

"I didn't mean to hurt you-" Patrick's back hit against the large mirror. He and no where to run.

"Hurt me?" Pete laughed. It was a dark sound. "I'm not hurt. I'm pissed."

"Pete-"

"I'm not stupid enough to let someone like you hurt me!"

Patrick's lip quivered. "Careful with your words before you accidentally say something you'll regret."

Pete was standing directly in front of him. Trapping Patrick between himself and the glass.

"You're the only thing I regret!" The words roared from his mouth. Spit like venom. And they burned just the same.

"I can't believe I let myself fall in love with someone as hurtful as you."

"Stupid you." Pete smiled crookedly. "I just needed you to make a deal."

"You asked me to stay after that."

They weren't yelling anymore. And that was even scarier to Patrick.

"That was just for sex. I would never love someone like you."

So many emotions poured from Patrick at those words. He had a hard time focusing on just one.

Before he even knew what he was doing, he reached up and slapped Pete. Hard. The stinging sound filled the room. His eyes widened and he stared down at his red palm in shock.

Shit. Pete was going to hit him back.

Pete's hands reached up to grab Patrick's shoulders. He slammed him roughly against the glass mirror. Knocking the wind out of him. In that moment, Pete remembered he didn't take any pills that morning.

Patrick whimpered when Pete grabbed him just to slam him against the glass again. His hands reaching up towards the smaller man's neck. Patrick was never more afraid of anything in his life.

He stared up at Pete with rounded eyes. Pete stared back with dilated, dark, impassive ones. Patrick whimpered again. That whimper was going to be the death of Pete.

His hands encircled Patrick's neck before loosening immediately. He knew he couldn't hurt that damn kid. Even if his life depended on it. His hands traveled up Patrick's neck until they were holding his face.

And then he kissed him. Hard. Patrick responded immediately. His arms grabbing Pete's waist closer to his. This wasn't like their other kisses. This was an angry, painful kiss. It almost hurt. Lips being slammed together. Teeth gnashing. Criminal tongues fighting for taste. This felt like hate. This felt like goodbye.

Pete was the one to pull away. They were both panting for air. Pete was glaring at Patrick. Patrick was fighting back more tears.

"I never want to see you again." Pete told him in a cold, dull tone. Patrick didn't respond. He saw that coming a mile away. "Ryan."

Ryan appeared beside him instantly. Ryan was always there. Ryan was the only person Pete could depend on.

"Yes?"

"Show Patrick out. And have his things and a check sent to his apartment immediately."

"I don't want your money." Patrick seethed. He stormed past Ryan. Out of the room. Ryan turned and followed.

Pete watched them leave. His anger bubbling back up. He should have taken his pills! Be turned to the mirror. Slamming his fist into it. Letting all the pent up frustration go into the swing.

The glass shattered under his punch.