Gerard first found Patrick inches from death.

The moon was high, stars glimmering in the dark sky and lampposts flickering like butterfly wings on the sidewalks. The air was chilled, sun gone from the sky and with it the harsh blaze that lit the city.

Hands bound behind his back, his eye black, shivering from the cold, naked. Bruises and cuts were all down his body, hands and legs shaking, blood gathering at his mouth, and nobody to save him. That's how Gerard found Patrick. It was the scent of metallic red that brought the black-haired boy to the victim.

Gerard was only looking for something to keep him full, he was hungry.

When Gerard found Patrick, he was inches from death. Enough blood for a small snack but not enough for a meal. Either way, Gerard didn't think he could do it. Patrick was crying and shaking and begging. Begging for mercy, vibrating words falling from the boy's lips slow and desperate. Gerard never felt sympathy. Not for humans. Not for the men who begged or the women who cried.

But Gerard found his heart breaking for Patrick. He was stuck. He didn't know what to do, he'd never felt so much sympathy for a human and for some reason, he did then. Without another word, he slipped the rope from around Patrick's wrists and pulled the boy onto his back. Gerard's hands were on the boy's thighs and wind fluttered through their hair as he supported Patrick's weight and flew away. It didn't take long for him to find one, but once he did, they dove toward the closest hospital, landing in an alley. Patrick was barely conscious, shivering and shaking and Gerard finally gave him some sympathy and draped his overcoat over the boy's shoulders. Brown eyes flickered over the stranger, blond hair catching the eyes of the vampire and blue eyes staring right back, lulled and dazed.

"What's your name, Darling?" Gerard murmured, supporting Patrick to the front door of the hospital and immediately heading to ER.

"Pa..." the boy breathed, "Patrick..."

"I'm Gerard," the vampire replied, "this way, Hon."

Gerard gently pulled Patrick up to the front desk. The room was empty besides the people at the front and as soon as Gerard had him there, Patrick collapsed, coughing and spluttering.

"We need him in there ASAP," Gerard said quickly. The lady took Patrick from Gerard and with the help of a man who came through the door to the backroom, they pulled the blonde back, the other lady at the front gazing at the scene.

That's when Gerard found his moment, and he took it, disappearing without a trace and a snap of his fingers.

He wasn't seen by Patrick for another seven months.

***

"C'mon kid, you promised me money for that coke."

"I-I swear I'll get it to you. You just gotta give me a little more time."

"I should fucking bash your head open, Bitch," The man growled, shoving Patrick's face hard against the alley wall, "how the hell were you planning on getting that money, huh?"

"I-I'm a prostitute, Man," Patrick cried, "I-I'm sorry, p-please don't..."

He could feel the man's smirk against his ear, "Prostitution, eh?"

"N-No, I don't-"

The man turned him around and stepped back, looking his customer up and down.

"Get on your fucking knees, take my jeans off, show me what you can do," The man replied, "Fucking beg for my cock."

"Please, I-" Patrick was cut off by that man's fist colliding with his nose then pulling up his hair.

"Fucking show me what the mouth can do or I kill you, you see this?" The man opened his jacket the slightest and Patrick's heart nearly stopped when he saw a pistol inside, "I will shoot you if you don't obey. So do as I say like a good little slut and get on your knees and suck my goddamn cock."

Patrick sobbed out, heart pounding in his chest as he finally leaned away from the man's grasp and dropped to his knees. I don't want to do this. I don't want to do this. Please don't make me do this. Please I-

He heard a sharp smack of skin on skin and a sickening crack soon after followed by someone slumping to the ground and Patrick's eyes raised immediately.

In front of him stood a tall, lanky man, taller than Patrick's attacker but not by much. His skin was pale, freakily pale, but through nothing but moonlight, he couldn't make out much.

That's when he saw the face and his heart began to pound in his chest. He knew this man. The long, black hair, the pale lips, the harsh brown eyes.

"Are you okay?" He asked, holding out a hand for Patrick. Patrick watched in amazement, eyes wide as if he forgot how to shake a hand.

"I... you're that man... that took me to the hospital... oh my god..." Patrick breathed, he eventually took Gerard's gloved hand, though, and let the man pull him up.

"You sure do get into a lot of trouble, Kid," Gerard sighs, "How old are you?"

Patrick bit his lip and lowered his eyes, "S-Sixteen."

Gerard sighed, "A bit young for prostitution and cocaine, aren't you?"

Patrick shrugged and squeezed his hands into fists, "I dunno..."

The other man's eyes flickered across the boy before he licked his lips and sighed, "You know if... if you need somewhere to stay..."

"I'm fine," Patrick snapped almost immediately. Gerard gave him a worried look but after a moment of thought, he gave in and nodded, "My doors are always open, Dude."

Patrick stared and just shook his head. That was all it took for Gerard to make up his mind.

Just like that he vanished, fingers snapping.

It wasn't til the third time they met that Patrick finally gave in.