#for tradition

[codename-adler]

[icehot13]

THE SOAP OPERA CONTINUES

UNDER THE CUT BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER 3AM AND I ASSUME PEOPLE WOULD LIKE THEIR DASHES NOT TO BE FILLED WITH BABYDADDY SEGUIN DRAMA AND SUCH

JONNY’S BEEN TRYING TO THINK OF HOW TO POSSIBLY WORD THIS. HE’S JUST LOOKING OUT FOR CHELSEA - AND FOR HIMSELF, AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES HIM PAUSE. HE WANTS TO SOMEHOW DEMAND PATRICK’S FULL ATTENTION, WANTS HIM TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE CAN BE CHELSEA’S DADDY WITHOUT IT BEING A BETRAYAL TO AUBREY.

AND THEN, THEN ONE EVENING, AS PATRICK’S HOLDING CHELSEA ON THE COUCH AND AS JONNY’S TRYING AGAIN TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SAY THIS WITHOUT BREAKING PATRICK’S ALREADY-BROKEN HEART, PATRICK LOOKS UP AND SAYS “I HAVEN’T BEEN VERY GOOD AT THIS.” HE SAYS “I KNOW AUBREY ISN’T MINE ANYMORE, AND I’M WORKING ON GETTING PAST THAT. BUT I PROMISE I’M GOING TO BE HERE FOR CHELSEA MORE. AND - AND YOU. I’M GOING TO BE HERE FOR YOU.”

JONNY STILL CAN’T MANAGE TO SAY ANYTHING; THIS TIME IT’S FOR A MUCH BETTER REASON.

“JUST HANG IN THERE WITH ME,” PATRICK SAYS, “I’M GETTING THERE.”

—

“PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE,” TYLER BEGS, “DON’T TELL ME I SLEPT WITH YOU TOO I’M SO SORRY PLEASE -“

THE LOOK ON BRAD’S FACE SAYS THAT TYLER SHOULD HAVE KEPT HIS MOUTH SHUT.

“DON’T WORRY, YOU’D NEVER DO THAT,” BRAD SAYS, BITTER BUT ALSO KIND OF REALLY SAD. “TY’S AT THE DOOR.”

HE LOOKS LIKE HE WANTS TO JUST HAND AUBREY OVER TO TYLER AND STALK OUT THE DOOR AND NEVER COME BACK; IT’S PAINFUL, TO HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT AND LOVE RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT, FOR THE WAY THE MAN TYLER JUST HURT DOES NEITHER OF THESE THINGS. BRAD LEAVES THE BEDROOM AND TAKES AUBREY BACK INTO THE LIVING ROOM, AND AS TYLER SHAKILY HEADS TO THE FRONT DOOR, HE CAN HEAR BRAD MAKING AUBREY SHRIEK WITH GIGGLES, AND IN THE MOMENTS BEFORE TYLER SEES TY AGAIN, HE’S STANDING HERE, FALLING IN LOVE WITH BRAD ALL OVER AGAIN.