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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 15, 2013 19:35:29 GMT -5
Two Hours Later...
"Mmh..." Patrick slowly awoke, finding himself still snuggled up next to Ace. She was fast asleep with her arm still around him. He smiled and sighed, feeling warm and safe, but a discomfort in his gut nagged at him to get out of bed and go to the bathroom. Though he didn't want to leave her, Patrick ultimately gave in, slowly wriggling his way free of Ace's grip and out of the bed.
Once he had stretched and gotten his bearings in order, Patrick snuck out of the bedroom and down the hall. Before he could hit the bathroom, however, he quickly noticed that the entire apartment was empty. He was about to questions his friends' absence before he found a note lying on the dining room table, knowingly grabbing it and scanning the text.
Hey Patrick, Ace,
We're up north, snowboarding. We didn't want to bother you guys, so I'm sorry if you feel left out. We'll likely be there until sundown, so when you get the time, get your butts up here and join us! ;D
~Evan
Patrick smiled and sighed. No, he wasn't upset; he understood their motives and was actually quite grateful. Ace needed sleep more than anything, and he wouldn't have had the heart to leave her side.
He set the note back down and rushed to the bathroom, slamming the door a bit too loudly in his haste.
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 15, 2013 19:46:10 GMT -5
With a few drowsy twitches, Ace woke up, her heavy eyes squinting against the sunlight. While her pupils adjusted to the light, she started to realize that she was a little bit colder than before... and her arm was resting limply on the bed in front of her. She felt around the bed, slowly at first, then near frantically.
Panic quickly settled in as Ace sat up and looked around the room. "P-Patrick?"
She didn't see him. He was gone. The first person to allow himself to get close to Ace in years was gone!
"Patrick?!"
Ace stumbled out of bed, desperately trying to convince herself that it wasn't true. She hadn't been abandoned! She couldn't have been! Not again! Patrick wouldn't do that to her, would he?
When she bolted out of the bedroom and into the living room, she found it just as empty. Everyone had left. Evan, Swift, Kendall, they were all gone. Gone. Ace was alone. Again.
"No... No, please! PLEASE!" Ace fell to her knees and buried her teary eyes in her hands. She didn't want to believe it. She didn't want to believe that the people she had started to lean on had abandoned her AGAIN! "Patrick! Kendall! SOMEONE! ANYONE! PATRICK!!"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 15, 2013 19:50:53 GMT -5
Patrick's gaze shot up. "Ace?"
He quickly flushed the toilet and ran over to the sink, all the while calling out, "Ace, I'm in here! It's okay!" After washing and drying his hands as fast as he could, Patrick toppled out of the bathroom and ran into the living room, finding Ace crying on her knees. "Ace, calm down!"
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 15, 2013 19:54:04 GMT -5
Ace looked up, tears running down her face. "Patrick...!"
Almost instantly, she stood up and wrapped Patrick in a tight embrace, sobbing into his shoulder. "Oh, Patrick! Don't do that! Why did you leave me?"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 15, 2013 19:59:15 GMT -5
"Hey, it's okay-OONF!" Patrick was caught off guard by the hug, tensing up for a moment and turning redder than a tomato. But as Ace wept, Patrick once again softened up and hugged back.
"Ace, Ace, I didn't leave you," he assured. "I just had to go to the bathroom. I'm sorry; I thought it would be rude to wake you. I didn't think you'd flip out like this."
He let her cry as much as she needed to, leaning against her and gently rocking the both of them. "Shh... Don't you worry. I'm not gonna abandon you. I promise."
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 15, 2013 20:05:45 GMT -5
It took a while for Ace to stop sniffling and pull herself together. When she did, she realized just what she was doing and pushed herself away from Patrick, keeping her hands firmly clamped on his arms. "Patrick, I-I'm sorry. I didn't meant to overreact like that. I just..."
She tried to let go of him, but her hands refused to obey her brain's commands.
"...When I woke up... alone... I kinda relapsed. In my years of being a fallen, I've put my trust in a lot of people that have all let me down. I couldn't handle letting that happen again. I... couldn't handle being alone again."
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 15, 2013 20:13:46 GMT -5
"Oh, Ace..." Patrick placed a hand on her wrist. "I'm not gonna do that. I... I know what it's like to be pushed around... treated like a useless pawn. I wouldn't wish that kind of isolation on anyone, and so long as you're living under our roof, I'm not gonna let it happen to you."
He moved in and hugged her again. "I'm here for you. We all are. I swear, none of us will let you suffer anymore."
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 15, 2013 20:37:02 GMT -5
Ace was stunned silent. The initial shock had worn off, but she was still moved by Patrick's words. She could sense no hint of doubt in them; nothing to negate his promises. His gentle embrace warmed her to the core, much like he did while the two shared Patrick's bed.
Everyone knew that Ace trusted Kendall, and though she didn't know them quite as much, she knew she could put her faith in Evan and the others too. But it was different with Patrick. He hadn't hesitated to grant her sanctuary, to provide her with comfort and a place to call her own. His touch was tender, his words genuine, his dedication to her truly heartwarming. Here, in Patrick's presence, his embrace, Ace felt safe... whole... loved.
Of all the people she had tried to get close to... none of them felt as right as this.
She couldn't hold back anymore. She couldn't keep these feelings bottled up. One way or another, Ace had to repay Patrick for the kindness he had given her.
So without thinking, she did so by grabbing his shoulders, bending over and gently pressing her lips against his.
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 15, 2013 21:02:45 GMT -5
Okay... Patrick did NOT see that coming!
What the frig what the frig what the frig WHAT THE FRIG IS GOING ON HERE?!
As Ace kissed him, Patrick just stood there rigid with no idea what to do. He had never kissed anyone, let alone been kissed by anyone, so this was a completely new experience. And contrary to how he may or may not have imagined it before, it terrified him at first. Unfortunately, his other selves had to contribute their input.
ALRIGHT! First base! Ray cheered. You feelin' that sensation, Pat, buddy?
Ray, manners! Van scolded. Patrick, just relax. I know you're uncomfortable, so exercise some restraint. If you don't want this, just let her know!
But the longer it went on, the more Patrick settled into this position. He felt restrained and Ace's lip ring was hard and cold on his mouth... but Ace herself was so warm... so soft... she smelled so sweet... she looked so beautiful... she was just like him. Kind, generous, housing a gentle soul but tossed aside by those who called themselves her friend. She needed him, and it was clear now that he needed her too. That they were truly made for each other.
Yes. Yes, this was perfect. Just perfect.
Patrick?
Yes... Patrick thought. I... I want this. I need this.
Even if he was just a voice, Patrick swore he could feel Van smiling. Then give it to her.
Without holding back, Patrick leaned closer to Ace, closed his eyes and fully returned the kiss.
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 15, 2013 21:19:16 GMT -5
Ace retaliated by wrapping her arms tighter around Patrick. Everything about this -the smell, the taste, the feel- was absolutely perfect. The hole in Ace's heart had finally healed, filled not with her own self, but with a little piece of the human boy that had offered himself to her just as she had to him. Their body heat flowed from one to another, melding them until Ace felt as if they were one being.
One being... In a way that she didn't understand yet, Ace had the impression that they already were one.
I've never felt this before. Not even with Jack, Ace told herself. It feels so real, so unique. Was it always meant to be like this?
She swore she felt the warm touch of heavenly light shining down on them from above, the glorious chimes of an angelic choir celebrating the unity between these two beings.
Yes. This was meant to be. This really is God's will. This is true love... Love... I'm... in love... with Patrick...
Ace wasn't sure when exactly realization dawned on her, but when it did, she finally managed to draw herself away from Patrick with a sweet, quiet smacking sound. She looked deep into his eyes, her cheeks flushing red. "Oh... I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so forward."
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 15, 2013 21:25:03 GMT -5
Patrick felt genuinely disappointed when Ace ended their kiss. It had been so blissful, so satisfying; he never wanted to lose that feeling! But he didn't object for her sake. The last thing he wanted was to upset her.
"Oh no, no..." he breathed, taking Ace's chin and smiling at her, their green eyes meeting one another. "Don't apologize. That was... perfect."
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 15, 2013 21:30:42 GMT -5
"R... Really?" Ace smiled back, gazing into Patrick's eyes and finding herself within them.
Perfect.
She eventually came to, clearing her throat and returning to the present. "So... what happened to the others?"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 15, 2013 21:35:21 GMT -5
"What...? Oh!" In all that excitement, Patrick had briefly forgotten that other people existed. He reached behind them and plucked the note Evan had left off of the dining room table. "They, uh, went to the north mountains to go snowboarding. You feel like joining them?"
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Post by Pink Moon Wolf on Nov 15, 2013 21:39:28 GMT -5
Ace laughed and bounced with glee. "Yeah, that sounds great! I've never snowboarded before, but it sounds like a heck of fun!"
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Post by ParamountKeymaster on Nov 15, 2013 21:43:16 GMT -5
"Awesome!" Patrick crumbled up the note and tossed it aside. "Let me grab my gear! I'm sure Jen has a spare winter jacket you can borrow. Come on!" He ran back down the hall, signaling for Ace to follow.
Once back in his room, Patrick dove into his laundry pile and pulled out his coat, snow pants, boots, gloves and other such attire. Then he anxiously struggled to put them all on as quickly as possible, managing to lose his balance and stumble over numerous times.
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