Archive of Our Own ^beta

Flicking his lighter between his long slender fingers with one hand, and the other groping his hair attempting to make it stick up right, completing whether or not he should have used more Butch Wax.

As you can tell, he was distressed.

His pink motorcycle jacket shrugged off one arm and sitting restlessly there, his boats and jeans covered in dirt and mud.

Flowers and a broken candy heart box sat next to him on the muddy ground.

Henry took a glance at the box, sighed, and then reached into his pocket.

A second later he pulled out a box of Newport cigarettes. He shoplifted them from the nearby shops, that and a bottle of alcohol.

Oh how he needed to drink away his sorrows. The day had been a whole horror show.

''The fuck are you doing Henry'' The voice startled him and caused him to begin to start coughing the smoke out of his mouth.

''Fuck. . . you, Patrick, I was having a good drag'' He coughed out. Henry then re-lit his cigarette and placed in on his arm.

His skin began to slowly turn red, then black as the fire burned his flesh. When the cigarette finally went on, he touched the mark and hissed.

''Well, serves you fucking right dumb ass. C'mon I'll walk you home'' Patrick says looking down at the pitiful boy, his hair becoming slacked and covering his eyes, the bruise on his right eye and the dried blood on his lip and nose.

''Fuck. . . second thought we'll go to my house, get you clean up you know?''

''Come on, Henry'' Patrick said extending his hand down towards the boy. Henry declines it and gathers up his cheap flowers and box.

''Fine. Be that way. Go back to your shitty dad, maybe he'll fucking beat you to death this time'' Patrick grumbled taking his hand back and walking towards his own house.

Henry doesn't say anything, he knows he doesn't mean it he never does. Wiping the dirt off his jeans and jogs towards Patrick.

Boys both silently walked to Patrick's house, the lower window still had its lights on and the house, even though the door was closed, still smelled like the dinner they had.

Patrick pulled his key out of his back pocket and unlocked the door. Mrs. Hockstetter appeared in a tight dress, faking a hour glass body type.

''Avery you're home already?'' She said, lipstick smearing her smiling lips.

"She does that sometimes ignore it.'' Patrick whispers in Henry's ear before responding to his mother with a quick yeah.

They both crept to Patrick's room, posters of bands and women were tapped on the walls. Along with a cigarette ashtray and empty bowls and plates of food.

''So, why does your mom call you Avery?'' Henry asked moving trash out the way and plopping himself down on the bed.

''That's my brother and he died'' Patrick said it like it was nothing, ''Quit stalling, where were you being a pitiful excuse for a home outside earlier, hm?''

Henry avoided eye contact

''No answer huh.'' Patrick said taking a seat next to Henry ''Well, I answered your question it's only fair if you answer mine.''

''Fine.'' Henry stated, leaning over and resting his head on Patrick's shoulder. The dead flowers and the crumbled box still in hand.

''I confessed this kid and they told their friends and I got into a fight with them-''

''Just them?''

''No, not just them''

''They told my dad about the situation, and when I got home he-'' Henry paused and took a gulp of breath

''He beat the shit out of me. Didn't stop even when I passed out. It went on for I don't know how long, I felt dead.'' He admitted.

''This kid you like, what's their gender?'' Patrick asked seemingly innocent.

''You already know that fucking answer'' Henry replied.

''Yeah, well I liked to hear you say it.'' Patrick said, his cheshire cat like smile glowing in the dark.

''It was a boy. I like boys. My dad fucking whooped me because I'm a homo.'' Henry said ''There happy?''

''Very." Patrick said, stroking Henry's inner thigh.

''Stop that.''

''Stop what?''

"Trying to seduce me.''

''I'm not''

''You are''

''So what if I am?''

''I don't like you. What don't you understand?''

''Were you the boy who I confessed to?''

''No but I could be''

''No one will ever love, no one but me.''

Henry sighed and took a sad look around the room

''You're right.'' Henry complied ''You're the only one who loves me in this god forsaken world.''

Patrick smiles and pulls Henry closer towards him, pulling him into a hug.

''That's right Henry, I'm the only one who loves you. Not even your own dad does'' He whispers in his ear.

''No need to remind me'' Henry mumbles against Patrick's chest while Patrick presses a kiss to his forehead.

''Here.'' Henry said handing Patrick the dead flowers and broken box.

''I know it ain't much but Jamie destroyed the shit when I told him'' He admitted.

''No way. You liked Jamie fucking Moore, the skater boy?'' Patrick laughs looking Henry dead in the eye.

''What you jealous?'' Henry coos

''Maybe I am. Maybe I'm debating on kicking the shit of out him right now'' Patrick says honestly.

Henry laughs, before asking if Patrick got any beer.

''Of course I do'' Patrick responded before slipping off the bed and reaching under and grabbing two bottles.

''Here's one for you baby boy~'' Patrick said with a wink passing the bottle to the boy.

''Shut the fuck up.'' Henry said bringing the bottle closer to his lips, feeling the tangy liquid hit the back of his throat. Oh how he felt alive. He finished the whole bottle in a matter of seconds and that made him smell like a mini bar.

''Damn you really drinking away your problems huh?'' Patrick said with a smirk, taking a sip of his own drink. ''Shut up Pat'' Henry responded laying his bottle on the floor and lying in Patrick's lap.

Patrick already got the clue and started rubbing and fiddling with Henry's hair.

''Hey Henry, have you uh. . . ever thought of I don't know. . . maybe getting out of here. Going somewhere more real.''

''Is this not real enough for you Pat?''

''No'' Patrick responded

''Am I real enough for you?''

Patrick gulped

''Yes''