jackwabbit | New Fic: Baby Steps (Reply)

Baby Steps

Fandom: Schitt’s Creek
Rated: G
Category: Quadruple Drabble. David/Patrick. Self-Worth Issues. Healing. It’s A Start. And That’s Enough For Now.
Time Frame: Season Four, I Think.
Spoilers: The Barbeque (dialogue referenced), general series knowledge.
Summary: They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. David isn't sure about that. But a single word? Yeah, that helps.
Note: Written for the random word prompt of “keep.” For lemonpiefirefly, with a nod to Missy for introducing me to "The Best Day," by Atmosphere. Because it's true. Every day can't be the best day. But in the end, hopefully, none of that matters.

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David had been called many things through the years.

Pet names and endearments varied by the relationship, and despite the passage of time and the past nature of those relationships, hearing "baby" or "honey" or "darling" still sometimes made him smile.

But it was the insults, some more creative than others, that had truly stuck with him, as they were wont to do. For example, he wasn't the only one to use "damaged goods" as a descriptor. And right now, he fully expected to add another name to his list of people who finally saw him as he really was: broken and useless.

He looked up at Patrick with fear in his eyes, waiting for the blow he knew would come.

Patrick was looking down at his lap. Then he sighed and looked up to meet David's eyes.

"Are you mad at me?" asked David, sounding like a child.

Patrick sighed again.

"Yes," he said plainly.

David crumpled in on himself, but before he could completely collapse onto the couch, Patrick caught his chin in his hand and made David look up again.

"Yes," he repeated. "I was mad at you."

"Was?"

"Yes. Was. I'm over it. It's not that big a deal."

David blinked, and Patrick sighed yet again.

"David," he said, shaking his head, "sometimes you're going to make me mad. Or I'm going to need alone time. Or I'll frustrate you and you'll need the same. Or... or any number of things. Every day isn't going to be the best day. But that doesn't mean you're broken. It doesn't mean I'm going to leave."

David just stared at Patrick. After a moment, Patrick continued.

"Bad days are going to happen, but I don't care. That's just life. And you're worth it."

And still David just stared, so Patrick tried once again.

"David, you're a keeper."

That's when the tears came.

Patrick bundled David into his arms and held him until they subsided.

They didn't talk about the petty disagreement they'd had. That would come later.

But just then, David added a new word to his lexicon of endearments.

And for the moment, at least, the voices in his head telling him he was nothing were quiet.

One day, Patrick would mostly silence them mostly for good with two simple words.

But that was for later.

For now, this was a start.