**WARNING FOR THIS CHAPTER: ASPHYXIATION. SONG HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHAPTER. WAIT TO START.**

"You're sure you've got a ride home, Ryan?" Sarah's voice was full of concern as she hoisted her purse on her shoulder. It was nearing three in the morning and the bar was closing at the earliest it had in years; effect of the new curfew the city police had enforced earlier in the week. The detectives have started to notice that the killer's regular pattern of targeting sex workers had vanished. The most recent victims, Joshua Dun and Ian Crawford, had concreted the force's suspicions that the killer was beginning to target whoever he could find, seeing as they were not in the business of selling sex.

Ryan nodded softly, sending Sarah a reassuring smile as he continued to wipe down the tables and collect the glasses. "Yes, Ms. Sarah," he said politely as he wrung his hands with the hand towel. "Ashley said she'll be here as soon as I call her and tell her I'm finished."

Sarah hesitated slightly, biting her lip in thought as she kept her body halfway inside the door. "Are you sure," she repeated once more, her eyes giving away her fear as she eyed the young man. "I really don't mind staying around to help you and taking you home."

Ryan smiled appreciatively at Sarah before giving her a faux serious look. "You've got a tired babysitter and a baby boy who misses you waiting for you to come home," he reasoned to her. "You need to get home. I promise I will be okay."

Sarah relaxed her shoulders slightly, nodding along with Ryan's words. "Alright," she said quietly. "But if you need me to come back here and get you --"

"I'll call you," the brown-eyed boy finished for her. "Go home and get some sleep, Ms. Sarah."

Sarah nodded once again, bidding a goodnight to the younger male and leaving the bar, locking the doors behind her as she exited. Ryan laughed gently, shaking his head as he pulled his wallet from his back pocket and pulling a quarter from the change slip. He then walked over to the jukebox and dropped in his quarter, selecting a song and walking slowly back to his table.

Start the song. It's MONEY by PINK FLOYD.

Ryan began swaying slightly as the music started, his fingertips brushing the wooden tabletops slowly as if he were in some cheesy old fashioned movie or music video. He felt any tension or apprehension he felt about being alone slowly fade as the words of the song began to filter through the speakers and he began to sing along with them.

He'd always been a fan of classic rock, having grown up listening to it because of his mother. The music gave him a sense of nostalgia to before his life was so fucked up, and - especially nowadays - gave him a sense of comfort being away from his mother. He needed to remember to call her in the morning.

The song continued to play flawlessly through the empty bar, the echoes bouncing off of the walls in perfect sync as he wiped off the rest of the tables and carried the dirty glasses to the back kitchen. As he rinsed the glasses, the anxious feeling that had escaped him earlier came back to him. He passed it off, though, reminding himself that he hadn't been in this city for too long and he probably hadn't even crossed paths with this killer yet. Although, his fear did get the best of him as he dried off his hands and pulled out his cellphone to call Ashley. He walked back into the main area of the establishment, walking to the register to remove the till just as his call went to Ashley's voicemail.

He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it questioningly before sliding it back in his pocket. Maybe she was already on her way; it would explain why she wouldn't answer, as she doesn't pay attention to her phone while driving. He'll just call her again when he's done counting the till. As he counted out the money and put it all in the bag that Sarah would take to the bank in the morning, he could feel that uneasy feeling settling back into his chest. It was beginning to get the best of him, so much that his hands began to shake as he was counting the one dollar bills and having to start over multiple times.

By the time he had finished counting the money and preparing to leave the bar, it was nearing three-thirty in the morning. He pulled out his phone again, redialing Ashley's number hastily before fully leaving the building. He listened over the receiver as the phone rang and rang and rang until it went to voicemail once again. Ryan could feel the anxiety bubble even higher in his chest as he realized she must've fallen asleep without meaning to. He shook his head adamantly, leaving the bar and locking the door tight before pushing away his fears and walking in the direction of his apartment.

He had only gone a couple blocks when he heard the sounds of car tires approaching from behind him along with headlights completely lighting up his path. The young male felt his breathing quicken as the car slowly began to get closer, and he stuck a hand in his pocket to wrap around the small bottle of mace that Ashley had gotten him after the attack. He kept casting his eyes to the side of him, waiting for the car to approach as he set his finger on the button of the pepper-spray.

As the car pulled up directly beside him, he whipped the bottle out and held it in front of him, shielding his face in attempt to not let this person see him. He was was taken by pleasant surprise when he heard a voice that calmed him immediately. "Ryan," Detective Urie said softly and in worry, "what are you doing out walking this late?"

Ryan dropped the arm shielding his face and the pepper-spray in relief as he shoved it back in his pocket. "My apologies, Sir," he said in a rushed voice, coming down from his fear. "I just got off work, a-and Ashley didn't answer her phone and I know I should've called Ms. Sarah to come back and g-get me but.. would you mind taking me home?"

Brendon wasted no time in nodding and unlocking his doors. "Yes, of course I'll take you home," he said in disbelief. "Get in the car."

Ryan obliged immediately, going to the passenger side and climbing in, throwing on his seat belt. "Thank you so much," he said quickly through scared breaths. "I know it was stupid of me to be out this late, I'm very sorry."

"It's alright, Ryan," the older man replied softly as he put the car back in drive and started back in the direction that Ryan was headed. "You're safe now, and that's all that matters. Now, how do I get to your apartment?"

Ryan gave him the directions, realizing he was only about five blocks from his apartment at this point. Once they pulled up in front of the collection of homes, Ryan hesitated getting out of the car before turning to face the older male. "Would you mind waiting out here for a moment?" His question came out timid and soft as he played with the seat belt. "Ashley might've locked the door.."

Brendon nodded softly, his lips pressed into a thin line. "I'll sit here until you tell me it's okay to go," he said softly, one hand still on the steering wheel as he watched the younger male unbuckle his seat belt and exit the vehicle. Ryan walked quickly over to his apartment, going to test the door handle and sighing as he realized that it was - indeed - locked. He pulled out his house keys and unlocked the handle, attempting to open the door only to stop when it wouldn't budge. "Ashley," he whined softly, guessing she must have locked the deadbolt as well. He pulled his phone out and tried calling her again, listening patiently as it rang all the voicemail for the third time that night. He sighed again and left the doorstep, making his way back to Brendon's car.

Brendon was looking around the parking lot from the driver's seat when Ryan knocked on the window, pointing in a downward motion to tell him to roll the window down. Brendon did so, looking at Ryan questioningly as he leaned over the passenger seat. "Um," Ryan started nervously, "she locked all of the locks and I can't get in."

Brendon mulled over the words for a moment, licking his lips in though before speaking again. "Do you want me to take you to the station for the night, or--"

"Could I stay with you?"

Ryan's words took the older man by surprise, his breath almost catching in his throat as he eyed the hopeful look on the younger male's face. He sighed softly, moving his head to look in front of him as he shook his head softly. "Ryan, I don't think that's a good idea.."

"Please, Brendon," Ryan replied desperately. "I really don't want to spend the night in the police station, and you're one of the only people in this town that I can trust right now."

Brendon looked back at Ryan at the sound of his name, hearing how absolutely beautiful it sounded slipping past his lips as he sighed in defeat and put the car back in drive. "Get in," he said softly.

A large smile graced Ryan's face as he climbed back in the car and fastened his seat belt again. "Thank you, Brendon," he began to gush happily. "Thank you so much."

Brendon just smiled as they made the trip to his apartment in silence, nothing but the soft buzz of the car engine resonating throughout the space of the vehicle. Once the two men pulled up to the home, they both exited without a word and walked up the steps to Brendon's door, Brendon's mind running with thoughts he shouldn't be having and Ryan's mind filling with a happy nervousness. Once inside, Brendon locked the doors again and led Ryan over to the couch, where he offered him a blanket and a pillow and began to head back to his bedroom when he was stopped by a small hand wrapping around his bicep.

"C-Can you stay here with me for a bit," were the words that left Ryan's lips and sent shivers down Brendon's spine. He sounded so small yet so confident that Brendon would agree to stay, and that is exactly what made him do so. He nodded softly, sitting down on the L-shaped couch about two feet away from the younger man.

Ryan looked a bit disappointed by the distance, but didn't comment or try to move closer as he just lied down diagonally from him. Brendon had an arm draped over the back of the couch and one leg crossed over the other as he smiled at the curly-haired boy who pulled the blankets up to his chin. After a few moments of silence, Ryan found a small bit of confidence, in which he used to address the older man softly. "Brendon?"

Brendon rose his eyebrows softly, letting out a small hum in response as Ryan sat up slowly, still facing him. "Why did you say it wouldn't be a good idea if I stayed here tonight?"

The detective felt himself gulp slightly, his words almost leaving him as he watched Ryan look at him with the softest and smallest eyes he'd ever seen. He sighed softly before shaking his head gently. "It's hard for me to control myself around you, Ryan."

The younger male felt himself smile to himself as he inched just a bit closer to Brendon. "Oh?" His question received another small hum from Brendon as he inched himself even closer. "Why is that?"

Brendon felt himself tense slightly as Ryan spoke to him, his voice almost coming out in a needy whisper as he was moving closer and closer to Brendon with each passing second. "I'm sure that's pretty obvious, Ryan," he said softly. "I'm positive you know I'm attracted to you immensely."

Ryan just gave a soft hum of approval at Brendon's answer as he was close enough now to almost feel the heat radiating off of the older male's body. "Then you have to know that I'm attracted to you, as well," he spoke in a near whisper which caused Brendon to turn his face slightly to look at the younger man. Now that their faces were closer than they ever had been, he was able to take in all of Ryan's features, and he felt his heart nearly stop. The prefect cheekbones that hovered above those beautiful lips seemed to be full of pure sin, along with a jawline that looked like it could cut glass. Brendon felt himself shudder softly as Ryan's hand found its way to settle on top of his own. "I may have had an idea," he replied softly.

Without thinking Brendon launched forward, taking the younger man's face delicately in his hands and crashing their lips together. Once again, Brendon nearly felt his heart stop at how marvelous this experience was. Ryan began to kiss back, his intentions being fulfilled as Brendon lied him back against the cushions and bruised his lips with his own.

Brendon's brain, however, was going to dark places. Immediately after feeling how perfect Ryan was, he began to remember how imperfect he himself was. He wasn't good enough for Joshua to stick around, he damn sure wouldn't be good enough for Ryan to want to stay. He couldn't think of this angel boy leaving him, but that's what they all did, that's what they all wanted to do, but, this one, he couldn't afford to lose.

Those thoughts are what brought his hands down to softly lay against the base of the younger boy's neck and caused him to bring his mouth to whisper into his ear. "I'm so sorry, my love," he said softly.

Ryan, too caught in the moment, replied with a soft and oblivious, "For what, Bren?"

Brendon sighed softly as he felt Ryan's hands roam his back and shoulders, feeling his heart break at what he knew had to be done. "I'm sorry for everything I'm about to do."

Before Ryan could question the older man's words, he felt pressure being applied to his neck and thumbs being pressed against his trachea, completely blocking his air flow. He began to panic, immediately starting to fight against Brendon, clawing at his arms and hitting weakly at his shoulders. After a few moments, he felt his vision begin to blur and his body begin to respond slower to what was happening to him. Just before his consciousness completely slipped away, he heard Brendon whisper a phrase softly into his ear that followed him to unconsciousness.

"Forgive me, Angel."