"Yeah, she'd probably switch potions at the last minute and I'd be in the morgue before anyone could diagnose me," Marcus snorted, rolling his eyes.
Marcus could handle Tracey, but he was glad that Patrick had talked to his mother after she had barged in on him at the club. For all that he was annoyed with and disliked Patrick's mother, she was his mother.
"All the same, the gift always included the deed to the flat and all the furnishings. I've always told you that I don't have family of my own and what's the point of having galleons if you don't spend them on those you care about," Marcus said with a shrug. Of course, not everyone agreed with that logic.
Marcus shifted, trying to get comfortable. "There's a pain potion but I'd frankly prefer the taste of a brandy over that," he admitted. "I don't suppose you'll let me do that, so if you'd be so kind as to get the phial from the bathroom. I took a dose this morning and it's wearing off, which is why I'm in pain at the moment."
His expression darkened, and pain be damned Marcus sat up and cupped Patrick's cheek tightly. He forced the younger wizard to look at him directly in the eyes. Damn that bitch...
"You are not a whore, Patrick," Marcus told the man, his voice commanding. "Please tell me that you don't believe that, yeah? Because you aren't."
He softened, though his lips were pressed tightly. "If this is anyone's fault, it's mine. If it wasn't me that you were involved with, your mother would have kept her fucking mouth shut. I never thought she hated me that much that she would treat you this way because of your involvement with me."
Marcus kissed Patrick's forehead, then pressed his own against it. "I'm sorry for all of this."