it was only an occasional thing. patrick did not always do this, but sometimes he wanted to feel nice. feel pretty. so when pete came home early, patrick was terrified. his secret shame was no longer a secret. only a shame.

he whimpered out, hearing the bedroom door open with no time to hide. "honey?" pete's voice called as he stepped in, looking at his husband wearing a pale blue skirt stopping just above his knees, and a black sweater tucked into it.

patrick froze. eyes wide in terror, wondering what must be going through pete's mind as he set his things aside and closed the door slowly. "i-i'm sorry..." he whispered, tears filling his eyes.

"why didn't you tell me?" was all pete asked in return, watching patrick stagger uneasily.

"scared..." patrick mumbled, staring down at his feet, hands clasped tightly together.

"why?"

"you would l-leave me..." tears fall from his cheeks as his eyes squeezed closed. "th-think I'm weird. call me names..." his words barely above a whisper.

pete frowned, taking a few steps to close the small gap between he and his husband. a curved knuckle found its way beneath patrick's chin to gently raise the fallen head. "'trick," he spoke softly. "look at me, please?"

patrick's wet lashes lift to reveal his teary eyes. "I'm sorry," he whispered again, few more tears spilling onto his pale cheeks.

pete only shook his head, gently wiping away the salty streams flowing from the man's eyes. "don't apologise for any of this." he spoke with a soft smile.

"but—"

"no," pete said, pulling patrick into a hug. "I would never leave you for this. never call you names over anything, patrick. you know that?"

patrick nodded slowly, taking a moment to let the words sink in. to let the truth he may have known all along sink in. "i-i guess so," his muffled words spoke into pete's chest.

gently pulling patrick from the hug, pete looked down at his husband. "I would never leave you over this. I would never call you names for this." he spoke, brushing patrick's hair from his face. "you aren't weird for it either, 'trick. it's okay." he said softly, nodding his head slightly in attempt to assure the small, sensitive man.

patrick nodded in return, giving pete a tiny smile. "okay..." he whispered. "th-thank you..."

"you don't have to thank me, baby." pete said, giving patrick a quick, gentle kiss. "you look amazing, by the way." he said softly once he had pulled away.

a soft blush found patrick's cheeks as he looked away shyly, whispering a small "thank you."

"of course." pete smiled, chuckling softly as patrick looked away. "would you like to show me any other outfits you've got?" he asked, smiling at patrick who nodded timidly.

"mhmm," he hummed lightly before glancing over to the closet. "sit down! I'll show you my favorite!" he smiled, suddenly feeling much better about the whole situation, as he ran to the closet to get an outfit to try on for pete.