[Ficlet] Jet-Black Mirror: Waiting for the Moment to Arrive
Title: Waiting for the Moment to Arrive
Character/s: Mikey Way, Gerard Way
A/N: Set after the band filmed the video for 'Vampires'. Part of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer/ My Chemical Romance crossover. Originally posted in St. Hap's Coffeehouse wrap-up post. Rough cut.
The house is quiet when Gerard finally pads out of the basement. The front hallway light is on, as it's been on for nights now. Not that this is new - it's always left on when his mother is expecting them home. Reflected through the front windows, the light casts strange, pointed shadows across the living room. Gerard thinks of leaving candles burning for the dead, so that they can find their way back to their loved ones. He thinks of jack-o-lanterns [Frank, he thinks of Frank] and how they protect, repelling evil spirits. None of this is new - this combination of familiar thoughts hitched on rooms from his childhood part of the late-night routine that comes with being home. But Gerard feels like he's still dreaming. The carpet fibers drag against the bottom of his bare feet, like they are trying to pull him back, keep him from opening the front door. He watches as his hand - he knows it's his hand, with the nails bitten down, the faint bruise across the right knuckles - reaches out for the door knob.
He slips the locks, the slide of metal on metal a quiet conversation, pushes the door open slowly. If this was a horror movie, there'd be the long, rusty scream of old hinges to accompany the reveal. But it's not a horror movie. It's not a dream either. This is real life - one with happy endings, though. Because Mikey is sitting on the porch steps, leaning his shoulder against the railing. Gerard stares, mouth hanging open, at the familiar curves of shoulders and back.
"Mikey?"
Mikey turns on the step and smiles up at him. He doesn't have his glasses and his eyes gleam, dark beneath his bird's nest of bangs.
"Hey Gee."
Everything snaps into sharp, clear focus then and he's rushing out to the porch and pulling his brother into his arms.
"Mikey! I've been so worried, you fucker! We've all been worried and searching for you..."
"I'm sorry, Gee. I didn't mean to worry you. How long has it been?" His voice is calm.
"Four days, asshole."
"Huh."
Mikey's only wearing his blue t-shirt and Gerard frowns. He rubs his hands briskly down his brother's arms. "Jesus, Mikey You're freezing. Come on, you need to come..."
There's suddenly a hand covering Gerard's mouth. He blinks in surprise at his brother. Mikey's hand is cold and firm.
"No, Gee. I think it's best if I stay outside. Uninvited."
He watches Gerard steadily as he speaks. A shiver jitters its way up Gerard's spine as the words sink in. Mikey waits a beat longer, then moves his hand away.
"Really?" Gerard asks, he can't help glancing at Mikey's throat. He sees unbroken skin, but there's a dark stain on the collar of Mikey's shirt. He meets his brother's eyes again.
Mikey nodded, gaze never leaving his brother's face.
"Fuck."
"Yeah."
They sit side by side, and stare out at the street. In the distance, a dog barks.
"Well, you can't go around like that. It's cold out. You'll be noticed."
Gerard stands, and turns to go back into the house. "What clothes do you want... ?"
Mikey shrugged. "Something dark. Something that blends."
Gerard nodded. Mikey grabbed his wrist. His fingers are like iron bands encircling the bones.
"You want to get dressed too, Gee. And maybe leave Mom and Dad a note."
For a moment, Gerard can't think. He's lightheaded, dizzy with his brother's words. Mikey doesn't let go, just waits.
"Yeah. Yeah, okay."
Mikey smiles and lets him go.
Gerard goes inside to find the clothes he wants to die in.
~~~
Character/s: Mikey Way, Gerard Way
A/N: Set after the band filmed the video for 'Vampires'. Part of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer/ My Chemical Romance crossover. Originally posted in St. Hap's Coffeehouse wrap-up post. Rough cut.
The house is quiet when Gerard finally pads out of the basement. The front hallway light is on, as it's been on for nights now. Not that this is new - it's always left on when his mother is expecting them home. Reflected through the front windows, the light casts strange, pointed shadows across the living room. Gerard thinks of leaving candles burning for the dead, so that they can find their way back to their loved ones. He thinks of jack-o-lanterns [Frank, he thinks of Frank] and how they protect, repelling evil spirits. None of this is new - this combination of familiar thoughts hitched on rooms from his childhood part of the late-night routine that comes with being home. But Gerard feels like he's still dreaming. The carpet fibers drag against the bottom of his bare feet, like they are trying to pull him back, keep him from opening the front door. He watches as his hand - he knows it's his hand, with the nails bitten down, the faint bruise across the right knuckles - reaches out for the door knob.
He slips the locks, the slide of metal on metal a quiet conversation, pushes the door open slowly. If this was a horror movie, there'd be the long, rusty scream of old hinges to accompany the reveal. But it's not a horror movie. It's not a dream either. This is real life - one with happy endings, though. Because Mikey is sitting on the porch steps, leaning his shoulder against the railing. Gerard stares, mouth hanging open, at the familiar curves of shoulders and back.
"Mikey?"
Mikey turns on the step and smiles up at him. He doesn't have his glasses and his eyes gleam, dark beneath his bird's nest of bangs.
"Hey Gee."
Everything snaps into sharp, clear focus then and he's rushing out to the porch and pulling his brother into his arms.
"Mikey! I've been so worried, you fucker! We've all been worried and searching for you..."
"I'm sorry, Gee. I didn't mean to worry you. How long has it been?" His voice is calm.
"Four days, asshole."
"Huh."
Mikey's only wearing his blue t-shirt and Gerard frowns. He rubs his hands briskly down his brother's arms. "Jesus, Mikey You're freezing. Come on, you need to come..."
There's suddenly a hand covering Gerard's mouth. He blinks in surprise at his brother. Mikey's hand is cold and firm.
"No, Gee. I think it's best if I stay outside. Uninvited."
He watches Gerard steadily as he speaks. A shiver jitters its way up Gerard's spine as the words sink in. Mikey waits a beat longer, then moves his hand away.
"Really?" Gerard asks, he can't help glancing at Mikey's throat. He sees unbroken skin, but there's a dark stain on the collar of Mikey's shirt. He meets his brother's eyes again.
Mikey nodded, gaze never leaving his brother's face.
"Fuck."
"Yeah."
They sit side by side, and stare out at the street. In the distance, a dog barks.
"Well, you can't go around like that. It's cold out. You'll be noticed."
Gerard stands, and turns to go back into the house. "What clothes do you want... ?"
Mikey shrugged. "Something dark. Something that blends."
Gerard nodded. Mikey grabbed his wrist. His fingers are like iron bands encircling the bones.
"You want to get dressed too, Gee. And maybe leave Mom and Dad a note."
For a moment, Gerard can't think. He's lightheaded, dizzy with his brother's words. Mikey doesn't let go, just waits.
"Yeah. Yeah, okay."
Mikey smiles and lets him go.
Gerard goes inside to find the clothes he wants to die in.
~~~