"I always knew you wouldn't, and now you make it sound like I was throwing balls or something," he said, smiling a little, because he needed to look at the bright side of things.
"I know, but I've... I literally have just pieced it together, Marcus. As soon as he told me how he was feeling, I started interviewing people. Immediately," he said. "I couldn't go with one person. That's not research, that could be anything."
Patrick shook his head. "I'm not kissing anyone, I'm not getting close to anyone. I always wear robes, no contact. I don't even shake hands, and when I do, I make sure to wash my hands and cast a spell. I'm doing it even though he's not around. He's tried to stay away, too."
When Marcus got up, Patrick followed him and pub his arms around him, pressing his forehead against Marcus'. "I have to find a way to cure this, but it's going to take time, and... I miss you, I miss the club, but this is important work. I never thought it'd get personal. Even in hindsight, I don't know that there's much different that I would have done."