Word Count: 356
Warning: addiction
"I want to come clean."
Piers doesn't look so well, Dean notices. The realization sends a shock through his body, and he's alert and on edge. "What's going on?"
At first Piers doesn't speak. He stands there, wringing his trembling hands together, bouncing nervously on the balls of his feet. Dean has never seen him like this. Not really. Maybe he's noticed the little cracks and breaks here and there, but it has never been this bad.
"I…" Piers swallows. "I have an addiction, Dean."
Dean doesn't know what to say. Part of him wants to joke. Yeah, I get it. You're addicted to me. But he can see the seriousness in his boyfriend's eyes.
"Alcohol," Piers adds.
Dean has noticed, of course. It's hard not to. Piers is haunted by his past, and it's far too easy to drown the demons with burning liquor than to face them.
He feels miserable. How could he not see how bad it really is?
No. It doesn't do anyone any good to beat himself up over it. Maybe he didn't realize the extent of it, but it's out in the open now. There's a chance to make things okay.
"I think…" Piers groans, scrubbing his hands over his face. "Fuck. I think I need to go to… to… rehab."
He says the word like it's dirty, like needing help is something shameful. Dean's on his feet in an instant, moving closer and taking Piers by the hands. "Hey. It's okay. I'm proud of you, okay?"
Piers scowls and tries to pull away, but Dean doesn't let go. A moment passes, and his boyfriend relaxes into the touch, his head resting on Dean's shoulder.
"I haven't done anything to be proud of."
Dean shakes. "You have. You're giving yourself a fighting chance to get better," he says. "If that isn't amazing, I don't know what is."
It's going to be a big change, and he knows it won't be easy. Still, Piers is his boyfriend, and Dean will do whatever it takes to see him happy and thriving. They will get through this, and it will all be okay.