Jerking awake, Gibsie rubbed his palm over his face, breathing hard and ragged. He could still taste the water in his mouth, the feeling of panic as his lungs filled and burned to the point of bursting.

Forcing his thoughts from that day out of his mind before Gerard lost his shit and did something reckless, he rolled out of bed, landing on his hands and knees in the darkness of his bedroom, still desperately clawing for air.

Pulling his torch out from the drawer in his night stand, Gibsie flashed the universal signal at the bedroom window discretely across the street from his.

Three clicks and extra-long flash at the end.

SOS.

Holding his breath, Gibsie waited for response.

It came several minutes later in the form of their front door opening and quickly closing.

And there she was.

His angel.

His heart sped up and slowed at sight of you scurrying across the street in your unicorn onesie.

Grabbing ahold of his duvet, Gibsie wiped sweat from his brow before making a bolt for the landing, hurrying to intercept you before his parents could.

Or worse.

Him.

Three soft taps on the door and a pink slipper through cat door, and his hands were shaking from the exertion it took to keep his head and not rip the door off its hinges to get to her.

Hastily unlocking the deadbolt, Gerard turned the key in the door and yanked it open.

"Cuddle time?" You asked, your eyes bright, cheeks flushed from night air.

Exhaling a ragged breath, Gibsie nodded and walked right into your arms.

"Come on Gerard," You coaxed, cradling his face in crook of your neck. "I've got your back."

You had a lot of things.

His back.

His attention.

His heart.

His soul.

Every dirty broken piece.