Chapter Text
1.
Jonny never meant to do this to Patrick, he really didn't. Heck, he doesn't even now how it happened. One minute he was looking up at this small blonde boy loudly entering the locker room, wearing flip flops and a confident smile, and the next...Well, it happened. It's not like he had a big revelation or anything, his breath didn't catch in his throat, he didn't see fireworks, didn't hear angels singing, he didn't feel like the earth was tilting on its axe or like time stopped and Patrick and him were the only ones in the locker room, in their own world, like everything was falling into place and that for the first time in his life he was finally whole. No, it was worse than that, it was all of this and more.
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So, Patrick kind of hates him and Jonny can't even blame him for it. They don't realise what's really going on until after practice, when everyone is getting changed and ready to go home. Patrick shoulders his sport bag and is about to leave the rink and Jonny just can't. He runs after him and doesn't notice he's shaking and choking on air until Patrick turns around, looks at him weirdly and opens his mouth to ask what's wrong with him. The words never leave Patrick's mouth though, because Jonny grabs his wrist and tugs until his face is burried against his chest and Jonny can breathe again.
“Dude, what the fuck ?!” Patrick shrieks, his whole body going rigid as he struggles against Jonny's hold.
“Shhh, please...just, let me...okay ?” Jonny begs.
Jonny hugs him closer and wordlessly presses his nose against the other boy's unruly curls. Instantly, Patrick tenses even more against him and Jonny is about to apologize and step back, explain that he really doesn't know what came over him and that it won't happen again when Patrick suddenly relaxes, all muscles going lose, and pratically collapses against Jonny.
“What the fuck ?” He repeats, his voice muffled by Jonny's sweatshirt. “What the fuck...”
“I don't know.” Jonny whispers back. “I'm sorry, I don't know...”
Their coach finds them like this, silent and clutching at each other like lifelines. He sees the lost looks on their faces and swears under his breath before whipping his phone out.
Turns out coach didn't have to call Jonny's mom because she was already on the way to pick him up. Patrick's mom however is still in Buffalo since he's staying with a host family for the duration of the tornament, which makes things slightly more complicated. Afterwards, Jonny and Patrick sit in coach's office while he and Jonny's mom explain the situation to them. It seems that, for some reason, Jonny accidentally attached himself to Patrick and Patrick was receptive enough for them to create a bond. They talk about getting them tested just to make sure, but coach looks pretty convinced that it's what happened and Jonny doesn't need a test to know it's true. Patrick looks like he has just been punched in the stomach, he doesn't say a word and avoids looking at Jonny for the whole duration of the meeting.
Patrick's host mom is waiting for him when they exist the office and coach and her have a brief discussion before it is decided that Patrick will stay with Jonny tonight. Their bond is still new and separating them even for one night might have not so good consequences. Patrick glares out of the car window the whole way to Jonny's house but at least he's polite to his mom, dad and brother once they get there. Jonny's mom shows Patrick the guest room where he'll be staying and then it's time for dinner.
Dinner is tense. Jonny's parents try to fill the silence, asking Patrick about his hometown, his family, how long he's been playing and what position etc. David, Jonny's little brother, eventually pipes in when they start talking about hockey and Patrick politely answers each of their questions but everyone can see his heart is not in it. Jonny tries to join in the conversation too but Patrick keeps ignoring him so he quickly gives up and focuses on the quiche on his plate (ham and cheese, his favourite, but somehow it tastes like ash in his mouth tonight).
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The pain starts about 1am. It's like a vice around his chest, suffocating him, and then there is a fire that spreads through his veins and he has to bite his pillow to muffle his pained moans. He's barely aware of what he's doing when he stumbles out of bed and to the guest room. Patrick is lying on the bed, his covers on a heap on the floor, and at first Jonny thinks he's asleep but then he notices the grimace on his face, his hands turning white from where they're clenching and unclenching around the sheets, his chest rising up and down alarmingly fast and yeah, no. He doesn't even think before he climbs into bed and curls himself around the other boy, sighing in relief as the burning sensation slowly fades away and his breathing progressively returns to normal.
“You okay ?” He quietly asks after a few minutes of them lying together in silence.
Patrick is facing away from him but he didn't protest when Jonny plastered himself against his back and held him close so Jonny counts it as a victory.
“What the fuck did you do to me ?” Patrick chokes.
“Nothing...I...” Jonny mutters because he doesn't know.
“That was not nothing !” Patrick snaps, turning around so that he can face him. “I felt like I was going to die ! It only stopped when you fucking got into bed with me and...” He cuts himself off and flops on his back, turning his head away from Jonny. “This is so fucking gay, it's like I cannot stand to be away from you, I hate it.” He mumbles angrily, and fuck, that hurt.
“This might only be because our bond is still new, it needs time before it really settles. We should be fine after that.” Jonny tries to reason, because he's read about soulbonds before and sure, he's heard about soulbonded experiencing pain and emotional distress when separated but it usually was because they were miles and miles away from each other and for long periods of time. Patrick and him were only one room away and they couldn't even spend the night apart, it's kind of ridiculous !
“I don't want us to be fine !” Patrick hisses. “I don't want it to settle. I want it gone.”
He doesn't say I want you gone but Jonny hears it anyway.
“I'm sorry.” he murmurs, and goes to untangle himself from Patrick and leave the room but then Patrick's hand closes around his wrist and pulls him back on the matress.
“Where do you think you're going ? I don't know about you but I don't particularly enjoy being in pain and if you leave it will probably start again so you better stay here.” Patrick snaps.
“Alright.” Jonny agrees and wordlessly settles back next to Patrick. It takes them a while to fall asleep again, but when they do it's to the sound of each other's heartbeats.