Normally when Patrick gets out of the studio it takes him a few hours to get his head out of the music and back to the real world. But this time he's got Pete chattering away about something in the front seat and Nick drowsing against him as if Patrick's a living pillow and really, reality's a pretty nice place right now.

He indulges himself a little, stroking his fingers through Nick's soft, thick hair. Nick just murmurs contentedly and snuggles closer.

"Are we dropping him off at the hotel?" Pete asks in a slightly more indoor voice.

"Nah." Patrick pets Nick some more. "I'll put him to bed on my bus, get him up for dinner."

"You guys look kind of awesome together, Patrick." Pete grins. "He's like a really big golden lab."

"Pete, I will break the iPhone."

"What?" But Pete's innocent act hasn't worked on Patrick in years. "Oh fine. Be that way. You're just bitchy because you're meeting the family tonight."

"Oh yes, absolutely. It has nothing to do with how pictures you send to people end up on the internet, and how Nick and I would like some fucking privacy."

"Dating a celebrity now, Ric. No such thing."

"But my best friend will do all he can to make sure that it's not him that tips off the press, am I right?"

"Yes, Mom."

When Nick wakes up, he's alone. He's in a nice bed though, and it smells like Patrick, which is a bonus. He doesn't remember arriving at the venue and he really doesn't remember getting stripped down to t-shirt and boxers. It probably would have been a nice memory. He rolls over looking for a clock and finds his phone next to the bed, piled on top of his clothes. It's somewhere near dinner. He should get up. Instead he dials Kevin's number.

Patrick is heading towards the bus to wake Nick when Marcus intercepts him.

"They just arrived." He says. "Want to get this over with?"

It's probably a good idea, and it's a better one to let Nick avoid the scene where his bandmates lay into his boyfriend, so Patrick follows Marcus up a few levels to where AJ and Howie are waiting for an escort.

"Mr. McLean, Mr. Dorough. If you'll just come this way..." Marcus says, teasing. AJ's jaw drops.

"Oh you sly motherfucker."

"Hi Marcus." Howie says cheerily.

"Now I really am gonna have to kill this Patrick dude."

"AJ misses you," Howie continues as if nothing else has been said.

"Did Nick know about this? Because if Nick knew about this and didn't tell me, I'm going to kick his ass all around this arena."

"Is Nick around?"

"Dude, you know I'm not going to let you go anywhere without giving me a piggyback ride."

Once AJ is safely on Marcus' back, Patrick steps out of the doorway. "Hi. I'm Patrick."

When Nick exits the bus, he's still feeling a little raw from talking to Kevin. Pete Wentz is about the last person he wants to see, especially when he's scowling like that. He wonders what he's done this time.

"Patrick's meeting with your boys." Pete announces, sounding supremely unimpressed. "Alone."

"Crap, they're here already?" There was stuff Nick had meant to say to Patrick beforehand, to coach him through the things AJ and Howie don't need to know, and the things they don't want to know. "Why didn't somebody wake me?"

"You think I was out here for my health, Carter?" Pete moves quickly and lands a slap upside Nick's head. "Go run interference. If they maim him you're dead."

"Ow!" Nick shies out of reach. "Hitting me doesn't get me to Patrick any faster, moron. Where are they?"

Pete gestures in an upwards motion. "Couple levels up. Grab a crew person, or one of Marcus' guys."

"On my way."

Patrick's not sure if AJ prefers to examine him over Marcus' shoulder, or if Marcus is keeping him attached to his back by force. Howie's handshake is unnecessarily tight.

"Hey Patrick," he says, breezily. His eyes are dark and assessing. "Howie D. That's AJ McLean. Thanks for inviting us to your show."

It's like meeting a member of the mafia or something. Patrick didn't even know they were coming until a few hours ago, forget about inviting them, but he knows better than to contradict. "No problem. Have you guys eaten? It's dinner time around here."

"Where's Nick?" AJ demands.

"Sleeping." He's reluctant to tell them where. "He was pretty much out like a light once we left the studio."

"And you left him alone?"

The question is ridiculous enough to have Patrick counting to ten in his head, keeping hold of his temper. "I checked in on him a couple of times. I had work to do. I was about to wake him for dinner when you two showed up."

"Let's go." Howie decides. "He shouldn't wake up alone."

Patrick and Howie follow Marcus back down into the bowels of the arena.

"Listen," Patrick starts, trying to keep his tone even and a little conciliatory. "I appreciate that he's the youngest and that you've got to play overprotective bandmate, but... is there something I should know? Nick's not what I'd call fragile."

"Nick should not wake up alone after recording a song about those people." Howie says, jaw clenched.

Oh. Okay, Patrick's down with that. He knows about issues and triggers, except he's so used to applying the knowledge to Pete he'd forgotten they happen to other people. He quickens his step a little. "He told me a little about them today. Is there a reason they're both still breathing? If you need help hiding bodies, I'm pretty sure I know people. Or at least, I know people who would know people."

"Nick won't let us." AJ explains. "Brian's working on it."

From the few pictures and interviews Patrick had screened to give himself a little bit of background on these guys, Brian does not come off as the scary one. He's a Southern country boy with charm, manners and a solid Christian faith. Maybe Nick will explain later.

"Hey guys!" Nick hails them from further up the corridor. Howie gives Patrick a significant glance. He's not off the hook yet. "Can Patrick get a last meal before you grill him?"

"Thanks for ditching us!" AJ says, letting himself off Marcus' back. "Turned off your cell and everything. That's cold, man."

Nick makes a face. "You rode my ass the whole flight, what did you expect, dawg? I was going to give you directions to the studio so you could beat up on my boyfriend before I was done with him? Studio time's expensive."

"Oh I feel loved." Patrick grumbles.

Nick swoops down on him for a kiss. This is not the chaste little kiss Patrick got at the studio. This is harder, with a little bit of teeth. Nick's hand comes up to cup the back of Patrick's head, possessive but affectionate. "Hello."

"Jeez, Nick, we get it." AJ rolls his eyes. "We'll play nice, honest."

"Yeah like I believe that one. C'mon. Food."

"Should we warn them about Panic?" Patrick asks just before they hit catering.

Nick grins at him. "What for? They weren't invited, and AJ's got Marcus anyway."

Patrick shakes his head and ducks into the room. Sure enough, the five of them have just grabbed food when Brendon slides over to Patrick.

"Why hello there," he says, dripping faux-suave. "Patrick, won't you introduce me to your friends?"

Nick snickers. "Can we at least sit down, Brendon?"

"Why certainly. I believe my friends and I have procured seats just over there." Patrick's not entirely sure how this is going to go, but he's pretty sure it's going to go badly for somebody. Still, he lets Brendon herd them over to a corner where, not coincidentally, Spencer and Jon are picking food off each other's plates. Ryan is probably off somewhere rehearsing. Brendon should be too, but Patrick's not going to remind him until this trainwreck gets totally out of hand.

"So, what instrument do you play in Fall Out Boy?" Howie asks Brendon. Nick leans his forehead on the back of Patrick's neck in an attempt to muffle his laughter.

"I.. uh.." This throws Brendon completely off his stride. Patrick would take pity on him, but Nick has decided that they only need one chair between the two of them and trying to escape Nick's clutches takes all his concentration.

"Brendon belongs to us." Jon pipes up.

"Yeah, Brendon's ours. Fall Out Boy has their own singer." Spencer agrees. "Although sometimes we lend him out. Aren't you supposed to be rehearsing?"

"I was at soundcheck!" Brendon defends himself. "Wasn't I, Patrick?" This is true and Patrick nods to confirm it. He didn't sing much, but he was there.

"Okay, so who are you guys?" AJ asks, fairly unconcerned. "This ain't exactly our scene, we sort of need a road map."

"Nick, you haven't talked about us? I'm hurt!" Brendon staggers about with a hand on his heart. "I'm wounded. Did our time together mean nothing?"

"This," says Nick, having finally allowed Patrick his own seat. "is Panic! at the Disco. Or, most of them. Brendon, Spencer, Jon - AJ and Howie. They're helping me out with the album."

"Hey cool." Howie beams at them. "That's really nice of you guys."

"They're also fans." Patrick could tell Nick that the narrow-eyed glare Spencer levels at him means trouble later, but really Nick probably knew that going in.

"Not me so much," Jon says. "But they're working on me. Are you guys sticking around? Ryan will be pissed if he misses you."

"We're gonna be here for a while." AJ confirms. "We need to have a talk with Patrick."

"Ah yes, band solidarity." Brendon nods. "Threaten the interloper. Very cool."

"Brendon," Patrick warns. "I'm pretty sure your boss likes me better than you."

"Oh! Um. Right. Well, be nice to Patrick. He's a nice guy."

"Brendon," Spencer says kindly. "Go rehearse."

"Yes! All right! I will see you gentlemen later!" And then he's bouncing off presumably to find Ryan or to find the lyrics to the songs he's going to guest on tonight.

"You know who he reminds me of?" AJ says, watching Brendon go.

"Please don't say me." Nick groans.

"Not you. You never managed to pull off "smooth" for more than a second or two at the age I'm thinking of. But little baby Timberlake all hopped up on Pixy Stix..."

"Yeah, I could see that." Howie nods.

"Please don't tell him that." Spencer begs.

"Okay, not to sound like a total fanboy," says Spencer, leaning forward. "But since the album's dropping in a couple of days... what's it like?"

"You haven't shared it around?" Nick asks Patrick. He kisses him on... well, on the hat. "Excellent." "You have the album?" Howie and Spencer chorus, not quite hiding Patrick's mumbled, "Well, Pete has it too."

Pete is clearly an exception to all rules of secrecy where Patrick is concerned and Nick's accepted that, so he lets it slide, instead answering Howie.

"I sent him the album a couple weeks ago, when we got the final cut." He says, not liking where Howie's expression says this is going. He tightens his arm around Patrick's shoulders. "He's my producer, D. I wanted some feedback."

"Nicky, seven tracks leaked off the album. Why didn't you tell us..."

"Yeah because the guy who's in a band and had an entire album leak weeks before it dropped would totally do that to somebody else." Nick can feel himself going red, and he needs to calm down but he cannot believe Howie is pulling this.

"For the record," Patrick drawls, putting a restraining hand on Nick's thigh. "I didn't do it. And Pete went on record with Blender that he didn't leak it either. He gave it a good review, though."

"Hey, you didn't tell me the interview went down!" Maybe if they just ignore Howie, he'll drop it. "You were there?"

"We all sat in on a phoner to make sure he didn't pussy out. They asked Pete what was in his iPod - pretty easy opening for your deal. I think he actually does like a couple of tracks."

"Cool." Nick leans in for a quick kiss to Patrick's cheek to express his approval.

"I can't believe Pete has the new Backstreet Boys record and he didn't even tell us," Spencer is complaining. He's got his cell phone out and is texting rapidly.

"Brendon, Ryan and Spencer are probably the biggest Backstreet Boys fans Pete knows," Jon confides to AJ. Nick makes a note to write an extra special thanks to Spencer and Jon on his album notes. "If he didn't send even one track to them, you can pretty much guarantee he didn't leak it."

Jon's got possibly the best earnest face Nick has ever seen, possibly because he's not faking it. Most of the people Nick knows are so practiced at "earnest" or "innocent" that they look like they're faking even when they're not.

"Of course I didn't fucking leak your album."

Nick and Patrick exchange a look that means this is not good. Nick tilts his head back to look up at Pete. "I didn't think you did, dawg. Believe me I'da called."

"No seriously." Pete says, looking past Nick to his bandmates. "Where do you guys get off, walking into my tour, threatening my singer, and accusing me of totally shitty behaviour before you've even met me?"

He has a point, but Nick's waiting for the moment when the "my band against yours" lines get drawn. Patrick squeezes his thigh and tries talking Pete down.

"You remember how pissed and paranoid we all got when Infinity leaked, Pete." He says carefully. "I'm sure they didn't mean anything by it, did you guys?"

AJ nods, looking sheepish. "We just don't know you dudes, is all." He shrugs. "It was a shock, hearing Nick had given you the album."

"Nick's not always very smart about who he hangs out with," Howie says doggedly. Nick's heard the sentiment before but to call him out about in in public...

"Fuck you, D. If you think for a second I would've done anything to jeopardize this album, then you really don't know me at all." In the back of his head, Nick knows this is something he should have warned Patrick about. Logically he can recognize that Howie's gone from "concerned bandmate" to "concerned ex-boyfriend", but whatever Howie's motives, if AJ doesn't step in soon it's going to get messy.

Instead of AJ, it's Marcus who suddenly moves to stand in front of Howie, blocking him from Pete. "Pete and Patrick are all right guys, Howie D. You have my word."

This, plus AJ's hand on Howie's shoulder, is enough to deflate Howie. He nods and holds his hands up in surrender. Nick stands, not waiting around for more. He turns to Pete. "Is your dressing room free?"

Pete's eyes widen, but after a look at Patrick, he nods. "Yeah sure, man. C'mon. You look like you could use another nap anyway."

Instead of Nick reaching for Patrick, it's Patrick reaching for Nick this time, insinuating himself under Nick's arm and hanging onto his waist as they walk down the halls towards Fall Out Boy's dressing room.

"Can you keep 'em out for a little while?" he requests, sinking down on a couch. "I gotta talk to Patrick."

"It's getting kind of close to show time, dude." Pete warns.

"Everyone else is okay," Nick assures him, feeling tired. "Just my guys. If Marcus can't take care of 'em, just stow 'em somewhere."

A mischievous grin flits across Pete's face. "I can handle that."

"Pete," Patrick warns, making room for himself next to Nick, his warmth already seeping through Nick's bones. "Don't get them so lost we can't find 'em after the show, okay?"

"Uh huh."

It's not the most reassuring answer, but Nick's too disappointed in his guys to care. After everything else today, he needed them to go easy on him, and they seem to have forgotten that. He pulls Patrick close.

"Sorry," He mumbles into Patrick's hat.

"It's okay," Patrick says gently. "They don't know me, they don't trust me. I get that."

"No, Howie was outta line." Nick sighs. "I didn't mean to sleep so long before the show. There's stuff I was gonna tell you."

"Like.." Patrick prods.

"Like Howie and I sort of had a thing." Much easier to say to Patrick's hat than to his face.

"Okay that sounds like something Pete would say. A thing... involving what, kissing? Sex?" Patrick seems remarkably calm. Not that Howie is in any way competition right now, but Nick appreciates the lack of drama.

"Comfort sex. Pretty often. It was like... five or six years ago? For most of one tour. While AJ was going down the bottle."

"Ah." Is all Patrick says, but he hugs Nick a little. "So that was Howie being, what? A little jealous?"

"I think he thinks he's got extra rights to me, or something." Nick tries to explain. "Maybe especially when there's a guy involved, but you're the first real important guy I've had since him, so I'm not exactly sure."

"Well, I'm glad that I'm important." Patrick says. He sounds pretty happy about it, so Nick feels it's safe to tip his hat up a bit, get a peek at his face. Patrick's smiling. "So is that the worst they're going to throw at me?"

Nick laughs weakly. "Yeah, probably. AJ's probably chewing Howie out right about now, and they'll be too embarrassed to say much more. Hey, if we're lucky they won't even stay around for the show."

"I've had three Backstreet Boys check me out now. You think I'm safe?"

"Hell no. Still gotta deal with Brian."

"Right, Brian." Patrick props himself up a little. "Explain to me how Brian's the scary one?"



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