The High Cost of Better Living Episode 8
Title: The High Cost of Better Living
Author: chemical_stripe
Pairing: Ray/ Mikey
Summary: Keep your eyes open. Listen closely. Your freedom will be where you least expect it.
POV: Third person, omniscient
Warnings:NC-17 sexual situations, violence,
Author's Note: My own take on the Killjoys Universe. Chapters will be posted as they are written.
Disclaimer: I do not own any member of My Chemical Romance and I am not affiliated with them. Names, places, and events from the Killjoys Universe are properties of My Chemical Romance.
Bounce. One. Catch.
Bounce. Two. Catch.
On three, Cherry missed. She wasn’t concentrating hard enough.
Playing jacks was a good way to strengthen the reflexes. That’s what Fun Ghoul said when he gave them to her. Practice. Practice. Practice. When she could pick up all ten without missing a beat, he would teach her to shoot.
Cherry could get up to eight. Usually. When she wasn’t distracted by her own angry thoughts. The sight of her silver jacks scattered out in front of her grew distorted. She threw her rubber ball hard against the wall, watched it bounce and roll down the tunnel. She wiped her eyes with her jacket sleeve.
It wasn’t fair. She should’ve been the one to go up, not Kobra. She was smaller and lighter on her feet. She could go places he couldn’t. She was less likely to be seen.
And she would’ve been able to spend more time with Ray.
Sure, he was kind of a chicken and he asked a lot of questions, but he was a nice man. He called Cherry sweetheart and he worried about her getting hurt. Not as if he didn’t trust her, but as if he cared about her different from the way Party and the others cared.
Party said there was a reason Cherry had to go get Ray.
It was her first real assignment above ground and she tried so hard and did so well. She studied the maps, memorized where to stand and when to move. She learned Ray’s name and read everything Kobra had dug up on him.
She looked at Ray’s picture and saw her nose, her mouth, her freckles in the same place and if his hair was a little longer…
Party could tell her the truth if he wanted to. He was the one who told her about her mom when she was old enough to ask. He never told her about her father and Cherry had always been glad. It kept the possibility open that he was still out there looking for her.
Maybe Party wanted Ray to tell her himself. Maybe Ray was waiting for the right time. He would be down here soon. They were leaving for The Zones together. Until the right time came along, Cherry figured she would have to wait.
But she waited so long already.
*
Grocery list received.
A twinkling star on the screen will blind the all seeing eye.
A snake will slither when the sun goes down.
Ray clicked the mouse on his computer and the message disappeared. Draw a star on the computer and they’ll turn off the cameras. Kobra will be waiting. Simple.
He ducked his head to hide a tiny smile. He was getting better at this. And he liked it.
It was only 12:30 in the afternoon. Ray would be taking his lunch break soon, but that was of little consolation when he knew he was going to be here at least another twelve hours. He couldn’t see his desk for all the paperwork piled on it.
12:30. Ray wondered what Kobra was up to, alone in his apartment. He didn’t seem comfortable there. He wouldn’t touch anything, or sit down, or even remove his jacket. He wouldn’t speak more than a sentence unless he was spoken to. Ray wondered if it was because he was told not to or if it was the unease of being stuck with someone he barely knew.
Maybe Kobra was finally getting some sleep now that Ray was gone. Maybe eaten something. He wasn’t interested in doing either the ten times Ray had offered. Though Ray noticed he’d stocked up on more Fizzy Buzz Cola sometime during the night.
Kobra was - weird. Then again, they all were. And if Ray were to be honest, that’s what he liked about them.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Toro.”
Ray sighed. He should’ve been surprised to see Jenny standing over him. She usually left him alone in the morning, aside from bringing him coffee he refused to touch. But he’d seen so much these past few days he didn’t have anymore surprise left in him.
Except… Jenny actually looked worse than she did yesterday and Ray wouldn’t have thought that was possible. Her skin was ashen. Her hair was dry and brittle. She wasn’t looking at him, just - staring, as if she were looking for something but couldn’t remember what.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Toro,” she said again. It lacked her typical false sweetness. She wasn’t trying to get a response from Ray. It was more like she didn’t realize she’d already said it.
And without knowing why he cared, Ray asked, “Jenny, are you okay?”
“Toro afternoon doctor good,” was all she before she walked away from him and into a wall. Twice.
Ray watched her go and thought of a few more questions he wanted answers to.
*
Better Living Medical Plaza housed a fully functional hospital on the ground floor. Since the economy in Battery City had taken a dive and the number of Undesirables had grown it was rarely in use for anything other than fertility treatments, physical enhancements, bio screens, and thought adjustments. And was never open at night. So few people could afford an emergency these days. Ray hesitated to even call it a hospital anymore.
Oddly enough, the Pharmaceutical ward was the most successful department.
Ray finished up the last of his paperwork at midnight on the dot. He drew a star on his computer before shutting it down. At 12:03 he was on the ground floor. The snake had slithered to meet him just in time, pulling Ray into a corner beside the main entrance to the hospital.
Ray simply couldn’t feel right about Kobra being here. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one. Kobra held himself more rigid. His jaw was tighter. Ray could make out a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
I’ll be damned, Ray thought. He’s nervous.
Kobra positioned himself directly in front of the hospital door, motioned Ray to stand next to him. “Once I open the door you’ll have ten minutes exactly. Stay close to the wall and move fast. Get what you need and get out. Understood?”
Ray took a deep breath. “Got it.”
Kobra aimed the device on his wrist at the control panel on the door. The red light on the panel went green. The door slid open. Kobra locked eyes with Ray.
“Go.”
*
Beneath the streets, another green light blinked on computerized map of Better Living Medical Plaza.
Hospital Main Entrance Open.
“All right Jet Star. It’s time to go shopping.“ Dr. Death Defying’s mustache twitched as he spoke to the man somewhere above him. He hit the timer next to his computer. 10:00, 9:59, 9:58...
His fingers danced across the keyboard. The rapid clicking they created was the only sound.
Camera BLIHW1 blocked.
The video monitor in the upper right hand corner went blank.
9:05, 9:04, 9:03...
Camera BLIHW2 blocked
BETTER LIVING INDUSTRIES INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEMS.
HOSPITAL SUPPLY MAINTENANCE.
Dr. Death typed in the list he’d memorized, then burned.
1 stethoscope
1 rubber tourniquet
1 vaccutaner
1 sphygmomanometer
1 thermometer
1 otoscope
53 serum separator tubes
53 EDTA tubes
53 alcohol swabs
45 22 gauge needles
8 25 gauge butterfly needles
Dr. Death sat back and cringed at the thought of some of this shit being used on him. He hadn’t let a doctor touch him since his diagnosis. He hadn't planned on ever letting one near him again.
He glanced at the timer beside him. 5:20, 5:19, 5:18...
“Move your ass, Jet Star.”
The clock kept ticking. Monitors went blank then resumed viewing one by one.
4:36, 4:35, 4:34...
*
At one minute thirty-five seconds, Kobra re-opened the main entrance. Ray came running through it out of breath and clutching a box to his chest. “How did I do?”
Kobra nodded his approval. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”
*
Ray was ready to drop when he and Kobra finally reached his apartment. It was his own fault really. He insisted on walking. Getting on the Better Rail with Kobra was too dangerous. His luck had been pushed far enough for one evening.
Ray placed the box on the floor, covered it with a blanket. It felt like the thing to do. “So, is somebody coming to get this stuff or -”
“You need to go to sleep,” Kobra interrupted him, resuming his place by the window.
Yes, Ray supposed he should but being told he had to was unnecessary. And fucking rude.
“Is that all you have to say to me?” Ray asked.
Kobra didn’t look at him. “What do you want me to say?”
Ray threw his hands up. “I have no fucking idea.” He walked around surveying the damage, or lack there of, in his apartment. Except for the empty Fizzy Buzz cans in his trash, there was no sign anyone but Ray was here. Nothing was missing from his fridge. Kobra’s strong body odor wasn’t lingering in the furniture. And Ray had been close enough to him to know he hadn’t showered. “I just thought it wouldn’t hurt you to talk to me a little more seeing as how you’re in my home. Oh, and we committed a felony together.”
“We’re going down below tomorrow,” Kobra said, still not looking at him. “That enough conversation for you?”
“I guess if those are all the syllables you’re capable of, then yeah, that’s enough,” Ray said and then, because his mother brainwashed him to always be a good host, “Good night.”
Ray skipped the shower. There would be time for one in the morning and if there wasn’t, he doubted Kobra would notice.
It escaped Ray’s own notice how tightly his sheets had been tucked in, that the covers had been smoothed out perfect, too perfect. As if someone were trying to hide their intrusion into his private space.
Every detail escaped Ray’s attention until he rolled on his side, pulled his sheets up around him…
And inhaled the scent of body odor and worn leather.
Episode 9 - Someone To Be Kind To In Between The Dark And the Light
Author: chemical_stripe
Pairing: Ray/ Mikey
Summary: Keep your eyes open. Listen closely. Your freedom will be where you least expect it.
POV: Third person, omniscient
Warnings:NC-17 sexual situations, violence,
Author's Note: My own take on the Killjoys Universe. Chapters will be posted as they are written.
Disclaimer: I do not own any member of My Chemical Romance and I am not affiliated with them. Names, places, and events from the Killjoys Universe are properties of My Chemical Romance.
Bounce. One. Catch.
Bounce. Two. Catch.
On three, Cherry missed. She wasn’t concentrating hard enough.
Playing jacks was a good way to strengthen the reflexes. That’s what Fun Ghoul said when he gave them to her. Practice. Practice. Practice. When she could pick up all ten without missing a beat, he would teach her to shoot.
Cherry could get up to eight. Usually. When she wasn’t distracted by her own angry thoughts. The sight of her silver jacks scattered out in front of her grew distorted. She threw her rubber ball hard against the wall, watched it bounce and roll down the tunnel. She wiped her eyes with her jacket sleeve.
It wasn’t fair. She should’ve been the one to go up, not Kobra. She was smaller and lighter on her feet. She could go places he couldn’t. She was less likely to be seen.
And she would’ve been able to spend more time with Ray.
Sure, he was kind of a chicken and he asked a lot of questions, but he was a nice man. He called Cherry sweetheart and he worried about her getting hurt. Not as if he didn’t trust her, but as if he cared about her different from the way Party and the others cared.
Party said there was a reason Cherry had to go get Ray.
It was her first real assignment above ground and she tried so hard and did so well. She studied the maps, memorized where to stand and when to move. She learned Ray’s name and read everything Kobra had dug up on him.
She looked at Ray’s picture and saw her nose, her mouth, her freckles in the same place and if his hair was a little longer…
Party could tell her the truth if he wanted to. He was the one who told her about her mom when she was old enough to ask. He never told her about her father and Cherry had always been glad. It kept the possibility open that he was still out there looking for her.
Maybe Party wanted Ray to tell her himself. Maybe Ray was waiting for the right time. He would be down here soon. They were leaving for The Zones together. Until the right time came along, Cherry figured she would have to wait.
But she waited so long already.
*
Grocery list received.
A twinkling star on the screen will blind the all seeing eye.
A snake will slither when the sun goes down.
Ray clicked the mouse on his computer and the message disappeared. Draw a star on the computer and they’ll turn off the cameras. Kobra will be waiting. Simple.
He ducked his head to hide a tiny smile. He was getting better at this. And he liked it.
It was only 12:30 in the afternoon. Ray would be taking his lunch break soon, but that was of little consolation when he knew he was going to be here at least another twelve hours. He couldn’t see his desk for all the paperwork piled on it.
12:30. Ray wondered what Kobra was up to, alone in his apartment. He didn’t seem comfortable there. He wouldn’t touch anything, or sit down, or even remove his jacket. He wouldn’t speak more than a sentence unless he was spoken to. Ray wondered if it was because he was told not to or if it was the unease of being stuck with someone he barely knew.
Maybe Kobra was finally getting some sleep now that Ray was gone. Maybe eaten something. He wasn’t interested in doing either the ten times Ray had offered. Though Ray noticed he’d stocked up on more Fizzy Buzz Cola sometime during the night.
Kobra was - weird. Then again, they all were. And if Ray were to be honest, that’s what he liked about them.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Toro.”
Ray sighed. He should’ve been surprised to see Jenny standing over him. She usually left him alone in the morning, aside from bringing him coffee he refused to touch. But he’d seen so much these past few days he didn’t have anymore surprise left in him.
Except… Jenny actually looked worse than she did yesterday and Ray wouldn’t have thought that was possible. Her skin was ashen. Her hair was dry and brittle. She wasn’t looking at him, just - staring, as if she were looking for something but couldn’t remember what.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Toro,” she said again. It lacked her typical false sweetness. She wasn’t trying to get a response from Ray. It was more like she didn’t realize she’d already said it.
And without knowing why he cared, Ray asked, “Jenny, are you okay?”
“Toro afternoon doctor good,” was all she before she walked away from him and into a wall. Twice.
Ray watched her go and thought of a few more questions he wanted answers to.
*
Better Living Medical Plaza housed a fully functional hospital on the ground floor. Since the economy in Battery City had taken a dive and the number of Undesirables had grown it was rarely in use for anything other than fertility treatments, physical enhancements, bio screens, and thought adjustments. And was never open at night. So few people could afford an emergency these days. Ray hesitated to even call it a hospital anymore.
Oddly enough, the Pharmaceutical ward was the most successful department.
Ray finished up the last of his paperwork at midnight on the dot. He drew a star on his computer before shutting it down. At 12:03 he was on the ground floor. The snake had slithered to meet him just in time, pulling Ray into a corner beside the main entrance to the hospital.
Ray simply couldn’t feel right about Kobra being here. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one. Kobra held himself more rigid. His jaw was tighter. Ray could make out a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
I’ll be damned, Ray thought. He’s nervous.
Kobra positioned himself directly in front of the hospital door, motioned Ray to stand next to him. “Once I open the door you’ll have ten minutes exactly. Stay close to the wall and move fast. Get what you need and get out. Understood?”
Ray took a deep breath. “Got it.”
Kobra aimed the device on his wrist at the control panel on the door. The red light on the panel went green. The door slid open. Kobra locked eyes with Ray.
“Go.”
*
Beneath the streets, another green light blinked on computerized map of Better Living Medical Plaza.
Hospital Main Entrance Open.
“All right Jet Star. It’s time to go shopping.“ Dr. Death Defying’s mustache twitched as he spoke to the man somewhere above him. He hit the timer next to his computer. 10:00, 9:59, 9:58...
His fingers danced across the keyboard. The rapid clicking they created was the only sound.
Camera BLIHW1 blocked.
The video monitor in the upper right hand corner went blank.
9:05, 9:04, 9:03...
Camera BLIHW2 blocked
BETTER LIVING INDUSTRIES INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEMS.
HOSPITAL SUPPLY MAINTENANCE.
Dr. Death typed in the list he’d memorized, then burned.
1 stethoscope
1 rubber tourniquet
1 vaccutaner
1 sphygmomanometer
1 thermometer
1 otoscope
53 serum separator tubes
53 EDTA tubes
53 alcohol swabs
45 22 gauge needles
8 25 gauge butterfly needles
Dr. Death sat back and cringed at the thought of some of this shit being used on him. He hadn’t let a doctor touch him since his diagnosis. He hadn't planned on ever letting one near him again.
He glanced at the timer beside him. 5:20, 5:19, 5:18...
“Move your ass, Jet Star.”
The clock kept ticking. Monitors went blank then resumed viewing one by one.
4:36, 4:35, 4:34...
*
At one minute thirty-five seconds, Kobra re-opened the main entrance. Ray came running through it out of breath and clutching a box to his chest. “How did I do?”
Kobra nodded his approval. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”
*
Ray was ready to drop when he and Kobra finally reached his apartment. It was his own fault really. He insisted on walking. Getting on the Better Rail with Kobra was too dangerous. His luck had been pushed far enough for one evening.
Ray placed the box on the floor, covered it with a blanket. It felt like the thing to do. “So, is somebody coming to get this stuff or -”
“You need to go to sleep,” Kobra interrupted him, resuming his place by the window.
Yes, Ray supposed he should but being told he had to was unnecessary. And fucking rude.
“Is that all you have to say to me?” Ray asked.
Kobra didn’t look at him. “What do you want me to say?”
Ray threw his hands up. “I have no fucking idea.” He walked around surveying the damage, or lack there of, in his apartment. Except for the empty Fizzy Buzz cans in his trash, there was no sign anyone but Ray was here. Nothing was missing from his fridge. Kobra’s strong body odor wasn’t lingering in the furniture. And Ray had been close enough to him to know he hadn’t showered. “I just thought it wouldn’t hurt you to talk to me a little more seeing as how you’re in my home. Oh, and we committed a felony together.”
“We’re going down below tomorrow,” Kobra said, still not looking at him. “That enough conversation for you?”
“I guess if those are all the syllables you’re capable of, then yeah, that’s enough,” Ray said and then, because his mother brainwashed him to always be a good host, “Good night.”
Ray skipped the shower. There would be time for one in the morning and if there wasn’t, he doubted Kobra would notice.
It escaped Ray’s own notice how tightly his sheets had been tucked in, that the covers had been smoothed out perfect, too perfect. As if someone were trying to hide their intrusion into his private space.
Every detail escaped Ray’s attention until he rolled on his side, pulled his sheets up around him…
And inhaled the scent of body odor and worn leather.
Episode 9 - Someone To Be Kind To In Between The Dark And the Light