Borderline, Joe/Patrick, For the peterickfics Halloween Ficathon
Title: Borderline
Author: becomingblurred
Pairing: mild Joe/Patrick
Word Count: 2259
Rating: PG-13 for language and mild peril
Summary: Curious, Patrick and Joe wander into the Pine Barrens while the band's van is broken down. What they find is a beast convinced he is the devil and convinced that they are going to live in his hell for an eternity.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fall Out Boy or the Jersey Devil. Title from that catchy Madonna song.
Author's Notes: This is for the Halloween ficathon at peterickfics. The prompt is the Jersey Devil. I'm from Jersey, and I had that "The Jersey Devil does exist!" phase when I was younger, so writing this was definitely nostalgic. The basis of this story comes from an eyewitness account that he saw the Jersey Devil serenading a mermaid.
Borderline
By Donna
Pete, Joe, and Patrick looked up at the large forest in front of them. They then twisted their hips to look at broken down van Andy was able to pull off to the side of the road. The blue-eyed drummer poked his head from behind the van and said, “It’s not... too bad. I mean. At least the car didn’t light on fire or anything,” he murmured. “And we’re in Jersey... which isn’t terrible, either.” He looked around. “Sure, it’s the middle of nowhere... but... it could be worse.”
Pete whipped out his phone and began walking around to find reception. He mumbled under his breath over and over, “Triple A... fuckin’ Triple A... we can’t fuckin’ afford this... shit, shit, shit...” He kicked the van in frustration.”
“Pete, we already called Triple A,” Andy said, walking onto the grass. “They said they’ll come in around twenty minutes.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Pete asked. “What are we supposed to do?”
“Not leave. Not get hit by a car. Hang out,” Joe listed. He looked back into the woods.
Patrick grabbed his backpack and dragged his feet toward the forest. He looked around and pushed some branches away to be fully submerged in the forest.
“Patrick!” Joe exclaimed, “Wait up!”
Patrick looked up at Joe. “Do you hear the singing, too?”
Joe’s eyes widened. “...Singing?”
“Yeah. The singing. Don’t you hear it?”
Joe cringed. “Maybe it’s a radio or something?”
“I don’t think so,” Patrick whispered.
“Where the hell are you two going?” Pete exclaimed, still holding his phone to his ear.
“We’re looking for something!” Joe yelled toward him.
“We’ll leave breadcrumbs,” Patrick added.
Pete groaned. From what Patrick and Joe could see through the branches, he began pacing.
“Where are we going exactly?” Joe asked.
“We’re following that song,” Patrick whispered.
“I don’t know where the fuck you’re getting this song thing in your head, but we really shouldn’t go very far, we’re going to get lost,” Joe hissed.
“...It’s everywhere,” Patrick announced. He grabbed a pinecone from the ground, turning it around and throwing it back.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Just... just listen, Joe. Don’t think about the van or Pete or even me. Just close your eyes and your mouth and listen.”
Joe stared into Patrick’s eyes. Patrick was still new in Joe’s eyes. He still couldn’t pinpoint most of him. He was insecure a lot of the time, however, he could let go and become something entirely different with music. Anytime music was involved, his eyes formed a fire and it spread throughout his body. Joe saw this fire igniting and he whispered, “Can I cover my eyes?”
“Yes,” Patrick said, “Just find a way to close them.”
Joe felt Patrick grab at his wrist and he shuddered. He willed his eyelids shut as he covered his eyes, Patrick’s hand still on his skin, and listened. Sure enough, he head a tenor’s voice float into his ears. He could barely capture the words, but he knew that Patrick was right.
“Where do you think it’s coming from?” Joe asked.
“I don’t know, that’s why I’m searching. I’m pretty sure it’s moving,” Patrick explained.
Joe nodded and looked around. “I think it’s going... uh... that way?” He pointed to his left.
Patrick stayed silent for a moment and listened. “I think you’re right. Let’s go.”
They turned and walked in the direction Joe pointed toward. They noticed a path became apparent as well as footprints. Joe looked down at them. “What the fuck do you think these are from?”
“Probably a deer or something,” Patrick replied. “Or maybe whatever’s singing the song! Come on!” He ran down the narrow path.
Joe sighed and followed, shaking his head. He nearly crashing into Patrick when he stopped suddenly.
“Dude, what the...” Joe started, his voice falling flat. He looked over Patrick’s head to see a beautiful woman being circled by a twisted monster. The woman looked like something out of their fantasies, her skin the color of the inside of a pine tree, and her hair being her only form of clothes. She walked around the leaves almost as if she was dancing, sighing and whispering, “Stop your singing, you know it won’t work.”
Joe and Patrick tore their eyes off of her to the fiend that was attempting to seduce her. He had cloven hooves for feet and claws for fingers. He pawed at the ground and twisted his neck against her shoulder, his horns grazing her neck. “You know that you can not resist this song. It’s in the key you go wild for.”
The woman spun out of his grasp and said, “Watch me.” She passed by Joe and Patrick and they lost track of her when they blinked. The noticed a thin pine tree stood where they thought she was going toward and stared at each other, suddenly worried about their future.
The beast walked over to them, standing what felt like stories taller than them. “And what are you boys doing here?”
Joe and Patrick gulped in perfect time. Joe trembled as well. He tried to think over and over Holy shit. Is that Satan? in a vain attempt of Patrick being able to read his thoughts (anything was possible at this point).
“...What the hell are you?” Patrick finally squeaked.
The beast crossed his arms and smiled, his fangs shining even though there was a lack of light. “Every reason why you fear the night, every temptation you’ve ever given into, every dark cloud you’ve ever got caught under. Welcome to hell, boys.”
Joe tried to scream. This was one of the few moments in his life he really truly felt like he had to scream. He looked at Patrick, who hid his eyes behind his bangs and the bill of his hat. He could tell he was on the brink of tears or screaming as well. What else were you supposed to do when some guy with fucking goat legs just welcomed you to hell?
“Can you please let us go?” Patrick whispered.
“Why should I? You gave into temptation’s song,” the devil said mockingly.
“And we’re sorry. Please. Let us go. We’ll leave the forest. We swear.”
The devil laughed. “That’s sweet. All humans have remorse, kid. But let’s get real here: you still sin. A wife may be as guilty as, no pun intended, hell, but that doesn’t make her any less responsible for her sin. You heard the song, and you gave in. You can weave sorrys all you want, but that’s not making me forgive you.”
“Well, okay, fine! It was my fault! But not his! He didn’t hear it... I did. He should be let go.”
“Dude, that’s not your fault,” Joe hissed.
The devil laughed. “How sweet.” He pointed to the ground and it cracked open at the toes of their Converse. Roots lifted and wrapped around the boys, holding them in place. Patrick squawked, tears falling down his cheeks. Joe froze, unable to will his limbs to fight off the magic put against them. His head was spinning.
The devil stared them down, smiling. “You’re lucky I haven’t the heart to kill you... you’re both still young. I need the company. You seem to get lonely after your mother wishes upon you the title of a devil.” He laughed in a smooth tone.
Patrick looked at Joe and twitched his fingers toward him. He tried to smile, even though it was evident tears were falling down his cheeks. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Joe shrugged, the bark of the roots rubbing against his chest. “What could you do?” Joe whispered back. “You were curious.”
Patrick looked at the devil, who was currently walking around the clearing, rubbing his chin. “It’s been so long since I’ve had company... a good century or so. The mermaid doesn’t quite count since she suffocated a few minutes after she got on land. Did you know that they have gills? I didn’t. Such a let down,” the devil murmured. “What is it that young boys like you love besides fantasies with women and that terrible music I hear off the highway?”
Joe and Patrick stared in reply.
The devil groaned. “You can talk, you know, there was a reason for the lack of binds on your mouth.”
“There’s nothing to say,” Patrick said flatly.
“There’s something to say, there’s always something to say. That’s how you humans work.”
“Your mom wished upon you the curse of a devil. Which means that sometime you were a human yourself.”
“When I was conceived, yes, I was a human, but that ended within days,” the devil replied.
In that moment the boys almost sympathized with the devil. They looked back at their binds and took it back.
Patrick twitched his fingers toward his back pocket. Joe watched. Patrick looked at Joe and said, “Whatever happens, just try your best to get out of here.”
Joe nodded slowly. “And you? We need a lead singer.”
Patrick smirked. “A minor detail.” He looked at the devil and changed up his posture to look more enticing. “So are you really Satan or are you just a poser?” he purred, craning his neck.
The devil became rigid and slammed his feet toward him. “Of course I’m Satan Don’t you see the horns?”
“Then call upon my sins right now?” Patrick said, smirking.
The fiend frowned, exposing his pointed canines. He looped over toward Patrick and sized himself up against him, even though he clearly had a foot or so up on him. “You intruded on me in an intimate moment. You’re a liar and clearly, you have no regard toward anyone, seeing as though you dragged your friend into this mess.”
Joe winced. While he knew by now this guy couldn’t have been the devil (even though, he was right, he did have the horns), they were still tied up and he was really holding out that Patrick had a plan of comic book proportions.
The devil grabbed Patrick by the chin and pulled his head up. “I think I may have to gag you.”
Joe saw the flash of a pocket knife in Patrick’s hand (Since when did he carry that? It must have been a day he felt exceptionally defensive). He sawed at the branch and smirked, not saying a word until what felt like every tree in the forest cried out and withered.
“What did you do?!” the fiend gasped, pulling back, leaving slashes on Patrick’s cheeks.
“What if I’m the devil?” Patrick asked, swinging the pocket knife. He looked at Joe and jerked his head toward the path they went on to end up in this mess.
Joe nodded and scrambled out. Patrick looked at the beast and shrugged. “I guess you’re going to have to find company another way.”
The beast launched toward them and they ran. They looped and twirled, trying to remember their steps as they ran for their lives. They saw an opening, unsure if they would end up on the right stretch of highway when they escaped, but tucked and rolled anyway. They screamed as they got hit by roots, branches, and leaves, and poked their heads from the mess of limbs they left. They saw the devil barreling toward them, stopping dead in his tracks at the edge of the forest. He glared at them, baring his teeth. He could tread no farther. Patrick and Joe looked at each other and back at him.
“You’ll come back,” the devil cried, “You always do! You always are tempted! It’s in your nature!” he hissed. Suddenly the trees that surrounded him turned into pine-tinted people, wrapping their willowy arms around him. He cried out in a sharp voice against the sky and became consumed within the forest.
“He can’t escape,” Joe whispered. “They won’t let him.”
Patrick stared at the trees, dropping his pocket knife.
Joe turned to Patrick and gasped. “Dude! That was awesome! We just saw the fucking Jersey Devil and we lived to tell the tale! That’s amazing. That’s kickass. That’s just... just... unbelievable! No one’s going to believe us!” He hugged Patrick and laughed.
Patrick gulped. “They won’t, won’t they?”
“Nope, but it’s okay... it’ll be between you and me. So it’s alright.”
Patrick nodded slowly. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“...What’s between you two?” Andy asked, walking up to them. “Don’t tell me you went into the forest to have sex.”
“No!” Joe exclaimed, “We just...” he looked at Patrick. “We just had a bit of an adventure.”
Patrick nodded, kicking his knife under the brush. “Exactly,” he said.
“Okay, the Triple A guys came, so... get over there,” Andy said, looking them up and down. He shrugged and walked over to the van again.
Joe and Patrick looked at each other and laughed. “He totally knows something’s up,” Joe whispered.
“Oh well,” Patrick said, sighing.
“So, like... what happened back there... you always put your life on the line?” Joe asked. “And you aren’t the devil, are you?”
Patrick sighed. “No, I’m sorry, I’m not Satan. And I took the risk because... I don’t know. I do it for people I love.” He quickened his pace.
“...Wait. So you love me?” Joe asked, catching up.
Patrick stopped. “Yeah, I guess... in some way.”
“So... like you meant it?”
“When I didn’t want you to get killed? Yeah. I meant it.”
“Jeez. I’ve never been told that. Wow. Thanks, Patrick.” He hugged Patrick tightly. “I love you, too.”
end
Author: becomingblurred
Pairing: mild Joe/Patrick
Word Count: 2259
Rating: PG-13 for language and mild peril
Summary: Curious, Patrick and Joe wander into the Pine Barrens while the band's van is broken down. What they find is a beast convinced he is the devil and convinced that they are going to live in his hell for an eternity.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fall Out Boy or the Jersey Devil. Title from that catchy Madonna song.
Author's Notes: This is for the Halloween ficathon at peterickfics. The prompt is the Jersey Devil. I'm from Jersey, and I had that "The Jersey Devil does exist!" phase when I was younger, so writing this was definitely nostalgic. The basis of this story comes from an eyewitness account that he saw the Jersey Devil serenading a mermaid.
Borderline
By Donna
Pete, Joe, and Patrick looked up at the large forest in front of them. They then twisted their hips to look at broken down van Andy was able to pull off to the side of the road. The blue-eyed drummer poked his head from behind the van and said, “It’s not... too bad. I mean. At least the car didn’t light on fire or anything,” he murmured. “And we’re in Jersey... which isn’t terrible, either.” He looked around. “Sure, it’s the middle of nowhere... but... it could be worse.”
Pete whipped out his phone and began walking around to find reception. He mumbled under his breath over and over, “Triple A... fuckin’ Triple A... we can’t fuckin’ afford this... shit, shit, shit...” He kicked the van in frustration.”
“Pete, we already called Triple A,” Andy said, walking onto the grass. “They said they’ll come in around twenty minutes.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Pete asked. “What are we supposed to do?”
“Not leave. Not get hit by a car. Hang out,” Joe listed. He looked back into the woods.
Patrick grabbed his backpack and dragged his feet toward the forest. He looked around and pushed some branches away to be fully submerged in the forest.
“Patrick!” Joe exclaimed, “Wait up!”
Patrick looked up at Joe. “Do you hear the singing, too?”
Joe’s eyes widened. “...Singing?”
“Yeah. The singing. Don’t you hear it?”
Joe cringed. “Maybe it’s a radio or something?”
“I don’t think so,” Patrick whispered.
“Where the hell are you two going?” Pete exclaimed, still holding his phone to his ear.
“We’re looking for something!” Joe yelled toward him.
“We’ll leave breadcrumbs,” Patrick added.
Pete groaned. From what Patrick and Joe could see through the branches, he began pacing.
“Where are we going exactly?” Joe asked.
“We’re following that song,” Patrick whispered.
“I don’t know where the fuck you’re getting this song thing in your head, but we really shouldn’t go very far, we’re going to get lost,” Joe hissed.
“...It’s everywhere,” Patrick announced. He grabbed a pinecone from the ground, turning it around and throwing it back.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Just... just listen, Joe. Don’t think about the van or Pete or even me. Just close your eyes and your mouth and listen.”
Joe stared into Patrick’s eyes. Patrick was still new in Joe’s eyes. He still couldn’t pinpoint most of him. He was insecure a lot of the time, however, he could let go and become something entirely different with music. Anytime music was involved, his eyes formed a fire and it spread throughout his body. Joe saw this fire igniting and he whispered, “Can I cover my eyes?”
“Yes,” Patrick said, “Just find a way to close them.”
Joe felt Patrick grab at his wrist and he shuddered. He willed his eyelids shut as he covered his eyes, Patrick’s hand still on his skin, and listened. Sure enough, he head a tenor’s voice float into his ears. He could barely capture the words, but he knew that Patrick was right.
“Where do you think it’s coming from?” Joe asked.
“I don’t know, that’s why I’m searching. I’m pretty sure it’s moving,” Patrick explained.
Joe nodded and looked around. “I think it’s going... uh... that way?” He pointed to his left.
Patrick stayed silent for a moment and listened. “I think you’re right. Let’s go.”
They turned and walked in the direction Joe pointed toward. They noticed a path became apparent as well as footprints. Joe looked down at them. “What the fuck do you think these are from?”
“Probably a deer or something,” Patrick replied. “Or maybe whatever’s singing the song! Come on!” He ran down the narrow path.
Joe sighed and followed, shaking his head. He nearly crashing into Patrick when he stopped suddenly.
“Dude, what the...” Joe started, his voice falling flat. He looked over Patrick’s head to see a beautiful woman being circled by a twisted monster. The woman looked like something out of their fantasies, her skin the color of the inside of a pine tree, and her hair being her only form of clothes. She walked around the leaves almost as if she was dancing, sighing and whispering, “Stop your singing, you know it won’t work.”
Joe and Patrick tore their eyes off of her to the fiend that was attempting to seduce her. He had cloven hooves for feet and claws for fingers. He pawed at the ground and twisted his neck against her shoulder, his horns grazing her neck. “You know that you can not resist this song. It’s in the key you go wild for.”
The woman spun out of his grasp and said, “Watch me.” She passed by Joe and Patrick and they lost track of her when they blinked. The noticed a thin pine tree stood where they thought she was going toward and stared at each other, suddenly worried about their future.
The beast walked over to them, standing what felt like stories taller than them. “And what are you boys doing here?”
Joe and Patrick gulped in perfect time. Joe trembled as well. He tried to think over and over Holy shit. Is that Satan? in a vain attempt of Patrick being able to read his thoughts (anything was possible at this point).
“...What the hell are you?” Patrick finally squeaked.
The beast crossed his arms and smiled, his fangs shining even though there was a lack of light. “Every reason why you fear the night, every temptation you’ve ever given into, every dark cloud you’ve ever got caught under. Welcome to hell, boys.”
Joe tried to scream. This was one of the few moments in his life he really truly felt like he had to scream. He looked at Patrick, who hid his eyes behind his bangs and the bill of his hat. He could tell he was on the brink of tears or screaming as well. What else were you supposed to do when some guy with fucking goat legs just welcomed you to hell?
“Can you please let us go?” Patrick whispered.
“Why should I? You gave into temptation’s song,” the devil said mockingly.
“And we’re sorry. Please. Let us go. We’ll leave the forest. We swear.”
The devil laughed. “That’s sweet. All humans have remorse, kid. But let’s get real here: you still sin. A wife may be as guilty as, no pun intended, hell, but that doesn’t make her any less responsible for her sin. You heard the song, and you gave in. You can weave sorrys all you want, but that’s not making me forgive you.”
“Well, okay, fine! It was my fault! But not his! He didn’t hear it... I did. He should be let go.”
“Dude, that’s not your fault,” Joe hissed.
The devil laughed. “How sweet.” He pointed to the ground and it cracked open at the toes of their Converse. Roots lifted and wrapped around the boys, holding them in place. Patrick squawked, tears falling down his cheeks. Joe froze, unable to will his limbs to fight off the magic put against them. His head was spinning.
The devil stared them down, smiling. “You’re lucky I haven’t the heart to kill you... you’re both still young. I need the company. You seem to get lonely after your mother wishes upon you the title of a devil.” He laughed in a smooth tone.
Patrick looked at Joe and twitched his fingers toward him. He tried to smile, even though it was evident tears were falling down his cheeks. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Joe shrugged, the bark of the roots rubbing against his chest. “What could you do?” Joe whispered back. “You were curious.”
Patrick looked at the devil, who was currently walking around the clearing, rubbing his chin. “It’s been so long since I’ve had company... a good century or so. The mermaid doesn’t quite count since she suffocated a few minutes after she got on land. Did you know that they have gills? I didn’t. Such a let down,” the devil murmured. “What is it that young boys like you love besides fantasies with women and that terrible music I hear off the highway?”
Joe and Patrick stared in reply.
The devil groaned. “You can talk, you know, there was a reason for the lack of binds on your mouth.”
“There’s nothing to say,” Patrick said flatly.
“There’s something to say, there’s always something to say. That’s how you humans work.”
“Your mom wished upon you the curse of a devil. Which means that sometime you were a human yourself.”
“When I was conceived, yes, I was a human, but that ended within days,” the devil replied.
In that moment the boys almost sympathized with the devil. They looked back at their binds and took it back.
Patrick twitched his fingers toward his back pocket. Joe watched. Patrick looked at Joe and said, “Whatever happens, just try your best to get out of here.”
Joe nodded slowly. “And you? We need a lead singer.”
Patrick smirked. “A minor detail.” He looked at the devil and changed up his posture to look more enticing. “So are you really Satan or are you just a poser?” he purred, craning his neck.
The devil became rigid and slammed his feet toward him. “Of course I’m Satan Don’t you see the horns?”
“Then call upon my sins right now?” Patrick said, smirking.
The fiend frowned, exposing his pointed canines. He looped over toward Patrick and sized himself up against him, even though he clearly had a foot or so up on him. “You intruded on me in an intimate moment. You’re a liar and clearly, you have no regard toward anyone, seeing as though you dragged your friend into this mess.”
Joe winced. While he knew by now this guy couldn’t have been the devil (even though, he was right, he did have the horns), they were still tied up and he was really holding out that Patrick had a plan of comic book proportions.
The devil grabbed Patrick by the chin and pulled his head up. “I think I may have to gag you.”
Joe saw the flash of a pocket knife in Patrick’s hand (Since when did he carry that? It must have been a day he felt exceptionally defensive). He sawed at the branch and smirked, not saying a word until what felt like every tree in the forest cried out and withered.
“What did you do?!” the fiend gasped, pulling back, leaving slashes on Patrick’s cheeks.
“What if I’m the devil?” Patrick asked, swinging the pocket knife. He looked at Joe and jerked his head toward the path they went on to end up in this mess.
Joe nodded and scrambled out. Patrick looked at the beast and shrugged. “I guess you’re going to have to find company another way.”
The beast launched toward them and they ran. They looped and twirled, trying to remember their steps as they ran for their lives. They saw an opening, unsure if they would end up on the right stretch of highway when they escaped, but tucked and rolled anyway. They screamed as they got hit by roots, branches, and leaves, and poked their heads from the mess of limbs they left. They saw the devil barreling toward them, stopping dead in his tracks at the edge of the forest. He glared at them, baring his teeth. He could tread no farther. Patrick and Joe looked at each other and back at him.
“You’ll come back,” the devil cried, “You always do! You always are tempted! It’s in your nature!” he hissed. Suddenly the trees that surrounded him turned into pine-tinted people, wrapping their willowy arms around him. He cried out in a sharp voice against the sky and became consumed within the forest.
“He can’t escape,” Joe whispered. “They won’t let him.”
Patrick stared at the trees, dropping his pocket knife.
Joe turned to Patrick and gasped. “Dude! That was awesome! We just saw the fucking Jersey Devil and we lived to tell the tale! That’s amazing. That’s kickass. That’s just... just... unbelievable! No one’s going to believe us!” He hugged Patrick and laughed.
Patrick gulped. “They won’t, won’t they?”
“Nope, but it’s okay... it’ll be between you and me. So it’s alright.”
Patrick nodded slowly. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“...What’s between you two?” Andy asked, walking up to them. “Don’t tell me you went into the forest to have sex.”
“No!” Joe exclaimed, “We just...” he looked at Patrick. “We just had a bit of an adventure.”
Patrick nodded, kicking his knife under the brush. “Exactly,” he said.
“Okay, the Triple A guys came, so... get over there,” Andy said, looking them up and down. He shrugged and walked over to the van again.
Joe and Patrick looked at each other and laughed. “He totally knows something’s up,” Joe whispered.
“Oh well,” Patrick said, sighing.
“So, like... what happened back there... you always put your life on the line?” Joe asked. “And you aren’t the devil, are you?”
Patrick sighed. “No, I’m sorry, I’m not Satan. And I took the risk because... I don’t know. I do it for people I love.” He quickened his pace.
“...Wait. So you love me?” Joe asked, catching up.
Patrick stopped. “Yeah, I guess... in some way.”
“So... like you meant it?”
“When I didn’t want you to get killed? Yeah. I meant it.”
“Jeez. I’ve never been told that. Wow. Thanks, Patrick.” He hugged Patrick tightly. “I love you, too.”
end