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Chapter Text

The inspector was gone, everything should've been fine. But it wasn't. How could it be? He'd lost his fiancé and been exposed as a cheating scumbag in one night, worst of all his affair had gone and topped herself. For the first time Gerald felt something he didn't like, he felt powerless, powerless in a situation he had no control over. He sighed, pouring another glass of alcohol, he needed the distraction..and it seemed he wasn't the only one.

Eric walked in, presumably after Arthur had just berated him for his crimes yet again, he'd also taken a hard hit from the inspectors antics, being accused of things only a nasty chap would do, stealing from his father, embezzling funds to help pay for a lovers child, ofcourse none could've expected Eric's and Gerald's lover to be one and the same, Gerald hardly believed it but Eric did, and the thought of his love and child both being gone from the same sip of bleach made him sick. Sick enough to grab the alcohol and drink from the bottle, Gerald huffed.

Gerald: "not very dignified of you is it, drinking like that" 

Eric scoffed, wiping his mouth

Eric: "and you'd know dignified wouldn't you?. Fairy prince."

Gerald: "don't snap at me Eric. Look, we can put all this behind us and-"

Eric cut him off

Eric: "you all keep saying that!. You, mother and father, all of you one in the same. What if putting this behind us only makes things worse. You heard the inspector, fire! Blood! Anguish!"

Gerald hadn't heard the inspector, he'd been absent, elsewhere entirely but that didn't matter, not to Eric, to him the consequences of his actions lay clear and he just, couldn't get past them, he took another sip, desperate for the distraction, the buzz, desperate for things to just slip away, he wondered if this is how Eva or daisy or whatever the hell she had named herself before she died had felt

Gerald snatched the bottle

Gerald: "enough, you'll drink yourself into a coma, you know your not the only one affected here, my reputation is bound to be tarnished, irreparable!. ..and worst of all shelia won't even look at me"

Eric: "oh please..spare me the act, and hand me the drink."

Gerald scoffed again, what was this guys problem?

Gerald: "I know we don't exactly see eye to eye here but I'm not going to let you drink yourself to an early grave you are better then that eric-"

Eric: "AM I!?. Am I now?!. Better then that, that's all it is with you!. Better then what, then Eva? Then daisy? Then all those smith whatevers!. Cause I sure as hell don't feel better." 

Eric lowered his head, with all the drinking and shouting he hardly knew what he was doing, he just knew he didn't like it, and he wanted to forget it

Gerald simply sighed, he wasn't normally one for genuine comfort but, they weren't exactly in separate boats, he gave the drink to Edna who took it away with much haste before gerald moved, stepping towards Eric, he wasn't entirely sure why, but this pitiful display tugged at heart strings he didn't know he had, mabey it was another fairy prince act, or mabey just mabey this was genuine, real even.

Gerald: "Eric, look at me would you?"

Eric kept his head down, if he retained anything from his father's relentless shouting it was that you don't cry, not over something so trivial and yet that didn't stop the tears, it never did, only alcohol did, so why wouldn't Gerald let him drink, stop the tears, they were both men, surely he understood how ridiculous it was to-

Gerald lifted Eric's chin, a simple gesture, yet..unexpected..

Gerald hadn't expected to see tears stinging the boys eyes, a pitiful expression, one not to be seen on a man's face and yet..he didn't wipe Eric's tears, Eric had more then earned the right to cry in Gerald's eyes, he wasn't sure why he thought that and yet, he lowered himself, a firm yet gentle grasp on Eric's chin, just incase he tried to look away and hide himself

Gerald: "I think..you've had enough alcohol and you should head to bed..eric"

Eric didn't reply at first, he simply pulled his chin away and wiped his own tears, nodding

Eric: "ofcourse..bed yeah I- I should go to bed.." 

He turned and made his way out of the dining room, swaying and stumbling but managing just fine, Edna assisted him up the stairs from what Gerald could see, and he couldn't help but be thankful for it, atleast Eric would be safer with her then attempting to walk on his own.

Gerald took this as an opportunity to consider going home, then again Mr Birling had offered him the guest room, and dealing with his own family after this was not exactly desirable so, he made his way to said guestroom, to sleep and take his mind off the horrid evening this had been.

(2)

Light seeped into Eric's room through the curtains, he groaned turned his head away, couldn't he just stay in the darkness? His head pounded at him, throbbing and aching, surely he hadn't drank that much, he could hardly remember the evenings events, and yet..something had stuck with him, some kind of tugging feeling, God knows what, probably morning sickness from the sheer amount of booze, but Eric was dragged out of his thoughts by Sheila mercilessly flinging his curtains open

Eric: "mmm. ..seriously?. .."

Sheila shrugged and crossed her arms

Sheila: "it's your own fault, your the one that got all squiffy not me"

Eric sighed and hid his head in his pillow

Eric: "I liked you better before you got all socialist and started thinking.."

Sheila picked up a pillow and tossed it at him, hitting the poor lad right in the head

Sheila: "shame, Now get up, Mother and father are already awake, and Gerald Is already annoying me with that stupid bloody ring of his." 

Sheila left, and something snapped in Eric's head..gerald. . Something happened with gerald that evening he was sure of it, he could hardly recall and yet each time he did that sickening tug grew, he figured gerald was making him feel sick, ofcourse that's it, couldn't be anything else at all.

Eric dragged himself out of bed and dressed himself, the bare minimum ofcourse, a shirt and pants, he didn't bother with his overcoat, where was the point, his father would yell regardless of what he did, after all he's nothing but a nuisance in comparison to Gerald

Gerald had been sat, the ring in his hand, fidgeting with it, Sheila wouldn't even glance at him, as soon as she came downstairs she started talking to Edna, laughing and smiling..Gerald couldn't help but be jealous, jealous that she wasn't smiling for him, laughing with him, something pulled him out of his thoughts, the staircase creaked as Eric came down and sat, slumping in his seat.

Mr Birling sighed

Arthur: "And what time do you call this"

Eric: "well I belive we call it quater to one" he retorted, rubbing his eyes

Sybil: "Eric there's no reason to be snappy with your father, you brought all this on yourself, stealing, getting a girl pregnant, you ought to be grateful we managed to pay off those officers Eric or you'd be in alot of trouble."

Eric was going to retort when out of nowhere gerald spoke up, and stood up, sorting the cufflinks on his wrist before sitting down besides Eric

Gerald: "if I may, I believe Eric's learnt his lesson don't you? I'm sure the scare of prison is enough to set him on the straight and narrow eh old chap?" 

He patted Eric round the back and smiled that stupid playboy smile, The kind that made you trust him, if you were an idiot that is, and boy were Eric's parents just that, sybil smiled and turned to Arthur, who cleared his throat and spoke

Arthur: "well gerald, if you think this is enough for him then, I suppose your right, but this doesn't mean your every working near my factory again boy. Do you understand?."

Eric huffed, ofcourse he understood, His father wouldn't let anything happen to his precious money making scandal, he nodded, hearing his father's words crystal clear, after which Mr and Mrs Birling excused themselves, Eric didn't know why, honestly he didn't care, why should he? All he cared for was the shining bottle of port left on the table, his father's glass carelessly abandoned..he knew he really shouldn't, but who cares? I mean really one drink wouldn't hurt, so he sighed, dragging himself up and picked up the drink, lifting it to his lips and taking a sip before giving in to temptation and drinking the rest of the glass in one go.

Sheila sighed and rolled her eyes, sauntering over and putting her hand over the bottle before her idiot brother could refill the now claimed glass

Sheila: "really? Now? You wanna get squiffy, my god Eric you've been awake what five minutes?."

Eric groaned, he was in no mood for another pointless lecture.

Eric: "oh what, an inspector decides to drag all our dirty little secrets out once and suddenly your in charge? I don't take orders from dad and I certainly won't take orders from you."

Sheila glared at him, Eric tried to glare back but, he was in no mood, he groaned and put the glass down, stepping away, Sheila stood up straighter, glad her idiot brother saw some sense before picking up the bottle and taking it away herself.

Eric sat down, well more flopped down in a huff, back on the chair, leaning his head dover the back a hand over his eyes, you'd think with all the alcohol he's had in the past he'd be better at overcoming the dreaded hangover, yet no it was as relentless as his families opinions.

He hardly noticed Gerald walk over from behind the couch and lean over him, that was until he started talking.

Gerald: "she's...right, you know"

Eric huffed. All these bloody lectures, unnecessary ones at that, were grating on him even more then his headache was

Eric: "that sounded painful for you to admit. And she's not, right. She's opinionated and bossy and- ..well, she's Sheila." 

Gerald huffed and moved round the couch

Gerald: "that doesn't mean she can't be right, Eric. Atleast get something to eat before you drink yourself to death" 

Gerald walked out of the door, leaving Eric alone

Eric huffed..he just wanted a drink, was that so wrong? All he wants is the drink..or is it the buzz..or is it that light fizzy feeling that numbs his senses, blurs his vision, fills his brain with bubbling ignorance..no. he just wants a drink..that's all..a drink.

He was jerked from his thoughts by the sound of clinking ceramic and cutlery, he assumed it was Edna taking pity on him and waved his hand dismissively

Eric: "Edna please, I'm in no mood for tea"

The last thing he expected was to hear a deep chuckle, it took him a moment to process that the person putting a tray on his lap was most certainly not Edna, he glanced up to see..Gerald? Placing a tray of..presumably breakfast on his lap

Eric: "wh-...what is this-"

Gerald huffed, amused

Gerald: "come now Eric, surely you know what a breakfast is?"

Eric would've been more offended if he wasn't so..confused

Eric: "yes I know what it is gerald- why are you bringing me it?"

Gerald sighed as he pulled a stool up infront of eric and sat down

Gerald: "well, Edna and Sheila were talking and i-"

Eric cut him off

Eric: "and what, you got nervous to interrupt Sheila? Wow, scared of a lady are we?"

Gerald huffed and paused

Gerald: "..not quite. I felt it would be rude to interrupt thier conversation, and admittedly I don't quite trust you to feed yourself so to speak, now either your going to pick that fork up with your hand, stab it into some food and eat, or ill unfortunately have to treat you like a child, and neither of us want that so..Come on, eat up"

Eric sighed and picked up the fork, he figured the egg was the least nauseating thing there and brought a piece to his mouth before pausing, hesitating and glancing to gerald

Eric: "..are you really going to watch me?"

Gerald: "yes, until you finish the whole plate, and the juice"

Eric looked at him, like he was insane, cause he was.

Eric: "..do I look like a child to you? I don't need supervision"

Gerald made a noise of, clear debate

Eric huffed 

Eric: "I do not! This is ridiculous it's demeaning and-"

Eric was cut of by gerald taking his hand, just as gently as the night before, and moving erics hand to put the fork with the egg he'd been clutching in erics mouth. Eric looked at gerald, similar to a deer in headlights, a very, very confused deer.

Gerald: "..I did warn you, you know"

Eric took a moment before pushing Gerald's arm away, taking the fork out of his mouth and speaking or- shrieking, depends who you ask

Eric: "are you mad?! What was that why did you-"

Gerald put the fork back in his mouth

Gerald: "eat the food- ..look. I don't exactly enjoy this so don't look at me like that. But if you want to drink yourself till dawn I'm going to makesure you don't die doing it. ..besides, you are most definitely a child"

Eric chewed the egg and took the fork out

Eric: "I'm not a child. I'll feed myself, get away from me." 

Gerald raised an eyebrow and, as if to prove a point, Eric kept eating of his own accord, each time Gerald moved his hand he'd pull back and glare at him, warning him.

After a while gerald was happy with the amount Eric had eaten and got up, not even saying goodbye and just, walking out, leaving Eric on the couch with a mostly eaten breakfast on his lap.

Eric's thoughts were rampant. Why the hell did gerald do that?! What could've possibly possessed him to even think that was okay?!- and- ..why was he so gentle? No. No. Absolutely not!. He's a- he's gerald! He's an upper class airheaded man about town with a finger in every woman whose ever had the missfortune of smiling at him!!- So..why the hell was he treating Eric like that..he was most certainly not a woman.

Eric became aware of the fact he'd finished the food and went to shout for Edna but..hesitated, before taking it into the kitchen himself.

Sheila, who had been talking to Edna in said kitchen, noticed this.

Sheila: "wow, first gerald gets his own food then you bring yours back on own? I'm somewhat impressed"

Eric huffed and placed the tray down, rubbing his eyes, Edna went to step forwards before Sheila put her arm out and shook her head

Edna: "..ah- sir, are you, alright?"

Eric hardly noticed the question, but he hummed and nodded

Eric: "..hm? Oh..fine, I'm fine, just..headache is all.."

Sheila smirked

Sheila: "to much port?"

Eric simply groaned

Eric: "don't you start.."

With that he pulled himself off the kitchen side and walked out, going back upstairs.

The next day or two followed a similar pattern, naturally he avoided his parents and much to his pleasure they avoided him, however Sheila had convinced the house staff to keep the alcohol away from him and Gerald...Gerald was wierd. He kept bringing Eric food, sometimes he'd stay and watch other times he put it infront of eric and, walked away..eric would eat ofcourse, he wasn't an idiot and he didn't want to starve but..the idea that Gerald would just, make him do it was a bit of a push factor for him. 

One night eric was up late, everyone else had turned in for the night while eric stayed downstairs. He took the opportunity to grab a bottle of, God knows what from the pantry, he knew it was alcohol though, it had that sick aroma that only fermented drinks do, and drinking it burned through his throat in sweet relief.

He didn't know how much he'd had when he heard the stairs creak, the bottle was noticeably lighter and he could hardly focus on getting the cup to his lips anymore. Eric simply sat, his head in one hand and a drink in the other, ignore whoever or whatever was on the staircase. he couldn't focus on it if he wanted to. He just drank best he could. ..ofcourse drinking didn't exactly make him feel better about anything. The buzz? It wasn't a happy one, that fizzy feeling like your bodies covered in pins and needles? It's not as relaxing as you'd think..he didn't do this to feel better, no one does...he did it to be numb, to loose the responsibility that used to drag him down. To not have to be in control..he preferred it this way..in this state where a chap can easily become nasty, because even if he was nasty, it wasn't his fault, it was the port or the champagne or whatever he decided to indulge.. atleast it was..now even drinking felt heavy, like he was drowning all over again in the buzz.

The figure from the staircase moved closer, sat beside him, and put thier hand over the cup, lowering it till it could gently slip it out of Eric's hand, placing it quietly on the table. Eric didn't dispute, how could he? He was hardly in control of his own body. The hand moved hair from erics face and stayed there by his face for a moment. Eric couldn't help it..he needed something to drag him out, out of the blur just, for a moment. So he leant against the hand..the gentle hand, cool against his face, flushed with alcohol. He felt the hand hesitate but, ultimately rest on the side of erics face, the figure even used the other hand to move the rest of erics messy hair out of his face. His eye half lidded, breathing from his mouth..he looked a mess, the figure took pity on him, and yet, they couldn't deny the tug they felt, seeing the boy so helpless, weak, like prey, easy to- They repressed those thoughts quickly, before finally speaking up

Gerald: "..you've really got no self control have you, even sober you give in to your alcoholism..your a mess"

Eric didn't deny it, he hummed and groaned, words were to much, he was tired and dizzy and just, wanted everything to go away. 

Chapter Text

Eric wasn't sure how he got into bed, he'll he didn't even remember going up the stairs but he woke up startled, running a hand through his hair, staring blankly at his bedroom wall, how had he gotten up here? Had he dreamed that whole day, what time even was it..and why did gerald-

he was snapped from his thoughts by Sheila walking in

Sheila: "come on brother its time to- ..oh- your..awake- Blimey you could've told me, mother and father have been calling you for ages"

Eric blinked absently..calling him? For what? More reprimands?

Sheila simply came closer

Sheila: "you look like you've seen a ghost, are you not well?"

Eric turned away, leaning back and stretching

Eric: "im perfectly well thankyou..just, had a weird night, is all"

Sheila stifled a laugh and smirked

Sheila: "oh I can imagine, Edna told me all about it, it must say going for my ex fiancé is a bold move brother but you can have the rotten sod"

Eric paused..what- what did she just say? Who-

Sheila interrupted his thoughts again

Sheila: "I'll just tell mother and father your unwell, give you time to recover, Goodness knows gerald never does"

As she left the room Eric found himself staring at the door, absolutely confused. He didn't understand a word of that, more importantly he was half certain he couldn't remember whatever it was either. And what would Gerald have to do with it? Did they wrestle? Eric knew he could get aggressive when drunk. He hoped he hadn't marked Gerald in some way. His father would kill him.

Eric eventually mustered the courage to go out and face the day. And Gerald. Perhaps he should apologise? I mean he couldn't remember what he did but he knows he was drunk so probably not anything good. Afterall he did Eva while drunk. And that was most definitely not a good idea. Is this that socialist thing Sheila was on about? Great. Hes been infested.

Eric made his way through a hallway. Enraptured by his thoughts hardly paying attention to his surroundings when he walked into what he assumed was a wall, but walls dont catch you. And walls dont apologise. He'd walked into Gerald of all people.

Gerald: "still hungover are you?"

Eric blinked and stepped back pulling himself from Gerald's grasp

Eric: "not at all. Im perfectly fine"

He subconsciously scanned Gerald's body for any bruising or signs of erics drunken state, he did take note of Gerald's attire. It was more casual and laid back then Eric had seen before.

Eric: "are you in your nightwear, Gerald?"

The taller man seemed to redden and look away, rubbing the back of his neck in a sheepish manner

Gerald: "yes well- I have no work today so I have been taking a more laid back approach to the hours. I see your not exactly dressed yourself"

Eric looked down at himself, Gerald had a point. He had a half buttoned shirt and nightwear pants on.

Eric took the moment to apologise for whatever he did last night.

Eric: "im..feeling poorly for you."

Gerald raised an eyebrow and stared at Eric, before Gerald could question anything Eric had gone past him.

Eric mentally congratulated himself, he had apologised so well and clear, he was somewhat proud of the progress. Even if it was from the teachings of that damned inspector.