Sleep is for the weak and mentally sane.

I’ve been lying in this bed, staring at the cracked, moldy ceiling for God knows how long. Chills creep like tarantulas up and down my body, sending shivers down my spine and causing my appendages to twitch sporadically. I’m pretty sure Gerard is sick and tired of my incessant tossing and turning; and though he doesn’t say anything, I’m ninety percent sure it’s the reason he’s awake.

I wonder how Mikey’s doing; it just doesn’t feel right without him here. He’s always so carefree- his smile radiates our cell- even with our constant reminders that any and all contact with other people shall be with only a poker face. We’d been practicing a lot before he was forcefully taken from us- trying to make him laugh with both innocent and sexual jokes- if he failed then Gerard would smack him upside the head. Even though I was the only one to find it hilarious, it was a semi-successful method.

I feel horrible for Mikey. We humans as a species- we thrive off of communication. We are social creatures, living and feeding on communication with others. Whether we talk with our cell phones, chat with strangers online, watch TV, or talk to our parents- it’s the contact that keeps us mentally sane. I can’t imagine going through that now, never mind a sixteen-year old boy in the prime of his life. I’m terrified to see him come out the other side.

I think- I know Gerard’s been thinking about him too. Gerard went through that after the fight with Bob- he seemed okay, but maybe it was the drugs keeping him sane. Although, Gerard is socially detached to begin with. He’s hardly talked to me since Mikey was dragged away, all he’s done is sit on Mikey’s bunk with a book in his hand, or a sketchpad and just draw relentlessly- a ritual he was partaking in at this very moment.

I peered from my top bunk as Gerard nestled himself against the wall in his brothers bunk. The dim light of a tiny keychain flashlight buried itself between his lips, like one would a cigarette. It just barely illuminated the miniature sketchpad that settled itself perfectly in his lap. He twirled the dull pencil between his fingers like a baton, dropping it every so often on the rough springs of the mattress. I like to think that he’s some sort of great, undiscovered artist that I can one day tell the world “Yeah, I knew him.” Or “Yeah, I dated him.” as they marveled at his work- whether be in a museum or on the street.

“Fuck.” He muttered, taking the eraser and carefully editing out a piece of his work.

I’ve been staring at my gorgeous cellmate for the past hour now. My eyes were peeled into slits as to make sure he didn’t catch my gaze. He’d glance up occasionally, but he’s made no utterance or remark to indicate he knows I’m watching him.

“Son on a-“ Out of nowhere, a growl slipped out from between his lips and he chucked his pencil across the room in a rage. The tiny wooden stick was no match for the concrete, and I heard it snap under the pressure. I took this as my chance to start some sort of conversation.

“Can’t sleep?” I offered sarcastically, making eye contact with him.

He looked like a mess- his hair was all knotted and ragged, his hands twitching incessantly. He seemed too pissed to answer, so I tried again.

“What were you drawing?” I cocked my head to the side, speaking more gently in hopes he would do the same. He sighed and threw his head back gently against the wall with a thud. Any normal person would’ve muttered some sort of painful complaint- but then again, none of us are normal.

“That, my friend is none of your business.” He flipped the pages back to the front, and I caught a glimpse of a weird mask as the pages flipped shut. I watched as he stood up and slid the pad of paper under his pillow as he turned his attention back in my direction.

“I’m done anyways- it doesn’t matter. I can’t even hold the fucking pencil.” He clenched his fist as he forced the words out.

“You know, there’s a way to fix that.” He looked at me, his eyes filled with hard curiosity. I beckoned him closer and closer until he was at the edge of my bed. I leaned in close until his face was but a few inches away.

“It’s called sobriety.” I whispered into his ear, before pulling back quickly and giggling quietly.

“You think I haven’t tried?” He rolled his eyes and laughed, finally taking the light out from between his soft lips and flashing it in my face. I groaned and quickly rubbed my eyes as the tiny light grazed over my eyes, blinding me momentarily.

“Hey!- Fucking asshole.” I half muttered, half chuckled as I crushed the sight back into my eyes.

“Well, if you insist.” He winked in a seductively sarcastic manner and snickered as I covered my face again- this time trying to hide the soft red quickly overtaking my cheeks and face. I softly laughed with him.

He flashed the light a couple times over my face, finally settling on a small spot in the crook of my neck. I looked at him in confusion as he furled his eyebrows, taking a closer look.

“Hold on.” He ducked down, disappearing for a moment before reappearing with a small marker in his hand.

“You rubbed it off.” He said disapprovingly, his demeanor once again turning dark and unappealing. I swear you consider this guy bi-polar with all the mood swings he goes through.

“It’s called taking a shower. Maybe you’ve heard of it?” I rolled my eyes. His face didn’t change, a stone cold expression remaining on his pale skin.

“It comes off, you tell me immediately and I’ll replace it. That’s how it works. Got it?” He looked me dead in the eye as he spoke.

“Look, Mikey’s the one that wants me protected- I don’t have a problem fending for myself. I don’t need your stupid little symbols that -according to you- might get me hurt even worse. What the fuck does it even mean anyways?” I struggled to keep my voice lower than a whisper as to not wake up anybody else.

“This isn’t for Mikey- this is for me. Now stand up.” Excuse you?

“You don’t own me, Gerard.” I returned his challenging gaze, trying to gain some sort of upper hand in this perpetual argument.

“Yes, I do. The second that marker hit your neck you were mine. To be quite clear, you were mine the second you set foot into this cell two months ago. Now I can either drag your ass out of this bed and leave you bleeding on the concrete floor- or you can just listen to me for once in your life and stand up.” At this point, I couldn’t help but comply with his orders. This isn’t the first time he’s been like this, and quite frankly, it terrifies me when he does.

He took two steps back, allowing me room to try and slide off my bed. I hurriedly threw my legs over the side before I felt two hands wrap around my waist and gently set me down. He nodded in approval of my rushed decision. Butterflies fluttered my stomach as I realized how close we really were.

“What if I say no?”

“It’s either this or a hickey.” My breath hitched as the words rolled off his tongue confidently.

He uncapped the marker, replacing the ink much slower than he did the first time. He shakily marked my skin, tucking my hair behind my ear like he did before. I stretched my neck to the side, giving him more access to his new canvas. He let out a breath I wasn’t aware he was holding as he finished, popping the cap back on and appearing much less disheveled than before.

The second he finished I took a step back; too nervous to make eye contact with him. As I thought more and more about this new found truth, my brain had begun World War III with my heart.

This is a fucking terrible idea. Rub it off and don’t think twice.

This is all you’ve wanted since you first laid eyes on him- to be his.

“What, so I’m your Bitch now?” I struggled to speak, my feelings on the whole thing still misconstrued.

“In laments terms, yes. But you’re more of a partner in my eyes. At least, that’s what it says on your neck. It’s a much more simple symbol, especially with the whole… you know.” He chuckled, facing his hand palm-down in an undeniably unsuccessful attempt to hold it steady. "Anyways, its MY mark. So people know."

“What’s Mikey gonna think?” I scoffed at the thought of a confrontation with the sixteen year old. Hey, Mikey. Yeah, so in order to protect me, your older brother is going to tell everyone I’m his fuck toy. Sorry if we keep you up at night.

Maybe I should wrap up that conversation with giving him earplugs. I snickered at the thought.

“Look, Frankie. I-

“Oh, so we’re using nicknames now?”

“Just listen to me-

“So, do I call you ‘Babe’ or ‘Sir’?”

“Frank!” He exclaimed, trying to control his fluxuating temper “I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Not when there’s something I can do to prevent it.” He closed the space between us, cupping my face with his twitchy palm. Wait, so is this for protection or not? Didn’t you just say-God Damnit you’re so fucking confusing.

“You know, you didn’t have to trick me with that bullshit protection story. If you’d just told me you wanted my cock in the first place, I’d have been happy to oblige.” I smirked as I fished for a reaction out of him. Gerard’s jaw dropped as I finished- he was too shocked to be pissed. He pushed my face away, trying to stay serious while suppressing his own laughter.

“God Damnit, Frank.” He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Now, go to bed.”

“Well hold on now.” I thought Gerard hadn’t heard me until he froze beside his bed. He twisted around and flashed me a ‘What now?’ look that spoke on its own.

“Serious question time: Do you actually have feelings for me?” I watched his shoulders drop as he dismissed my question without a second thought.

“Good night, Frank.”

“No, answer my question. We flirt, we fuck around, you kissed me for crying out loud-“

“That was a dare, Frank.”

“You’re little angry rant thirty seconds ago wasn’t a dare.” I sassed. Whoa, that caught his attention.

His voice grew harder as he emphasized again- “Good night, Frank.”

“I’m not gonna stop until I get a straight answer from you- or, I guess not a straight one since we’re both guys-“

“Shut up, Frank.” There was a hidden warning buried in his words that I’d picked up on, but I didn’t care. You confuse the fuck out of me, Gerard Way; and I will get an answer from you.

“So what, I’m your closet bitch because you’re too afraid to come out and say you have feelings for a guy-“

I didn’t have time to react before his knuckles were wrapped tight around my throat, pinning me to the side of my bunk. My head pushed painfully against the metal; my eyes looked into his and all I could see was the angry dance of hazel flames. I choked on nothing, gasping hopelessly for air while his fingers grasped tighter and tighter.

“Allow me to reiterate. You will shut the fuck up, right now.” I nodded forcefully, desperate to re-inflate my lungs with life.

“You have two options. You can be smart and shut your mouth willingly, like a good little slut; or I can make you be quiet by ramming my dick down your throat. Choose wisely.”

I struggled hopelessly to remove his hands from my neck, but it seemed the harder I struggled- the tighter his grip got. No matter how much I coughed and sputtered, he wouldn’t release me.

Just as my legs got weak and I felt I was going to pass out from lack of oxygen, Gerard finally took pity on me and let me go. “That’s what I thought.” He spit out venomously as I gasped and wheezed violently, choking on myself as I tried to quietly control my breathing. He took a few steps back before turning back to his bunk. Using Mikey’s bunk as a stool, he hopped up onto his bunk and cushioned himself between the thin blanket and the spring mattress.

“Good night, Frank.”

“Good night, Gerard.” I whispered back, sighing loudly as I hopelessly stared at the ceiling again.

What have I gotten myself into?

Notes

This is the chapter I wanted to rewrite. I hate seeing Gerard as the bad guy, but... just... dfhutgvjrdtyuifghvhegrfud

And here's what's being written on their necks, for all you Curious George's out there.

Yup, its just the Party Poison logo. Oops. Well, without the circle.
So did you guys enjoy the hedgehog? I'll post more, better pictures of her in the next chapter because- *drum roll*
We have hit 100 subscribers!! *throws handful of confetti* Holy shit guys I never thought this story would get so popular, I love each and every one of you so much *kisses all of you* So I guess it's time for a little reward. I may or may not be attempting a little bit of smut in the next chapter... Stay tuned, my little killjoys (;

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Xoxo
-Hazel