Golden Days

“I’m going to kill him” Gerard suddenly, breaking the deafening silence that was enveloping the two shivering brothers. Mikey lifted his head up, tearing his eyes from their fixed position on the side walk. His eyes were rimmed with red and faint tracks of salty tear tracks glistened in the dimming dusk. Gerard’s gut wrenched in empathy for his little brother, he swallowed the growing lump in his throat with great difficulty.

“What? Gee, you… we can’t, he’s never threatened us publicly or did anything to us that would warrant it” Michael voiced, running his hand through his now messy hair. This was a conversation the brothers had had before, each of Mikey’s responses seemed well rehearsed until the emotion of the night kicked in “There wasn’t enough at the time… we didn’t have enough to pin-“ his voice cracked for a brief second and Gerard was afraid his usually stone cold brother was going to cry “Pin… pin Pete on him”

“Mikey Way, don’t talk like that. He as good as admitted it there” Gerard tried his hardest to ignore his brother’s pained voice filled with acute emotions he hardly expressed anymore. It no longer was just the fact Bob had Frank in a vice like grip, it was the fact he had messed with his little brother “I swear to you now Mikey, he’ll pay for what he did to our Petey… your Petey”

Inside his head, Mikey could still see the scene. Blood… Pete sprawled barely breathing then not breathing, Mikey screaming, Gerard trying to stop him screaming and Brendon scrabbling for help. It had been the worst night of his entire life. It was the moment he no longer trusted anyone but his brother, and even then he was closed off. He had fallen in love with Pete barely 5 months before and then he was gone.

Gerard was aware of his little brother’s ragged breathing and quickly grabbed his hand, squeezing it and drawing him back to earth “Cigarette?” asked Gerard, trying his best to keep Mikey with him, in some shape or form. Michael shook his head and straightened up, pulling his hand away from his brothers. He was okay… they were both okay, that’s all that mattered now, to both of them.

Gerard wrapped an arm around his younger sibling’s shoulders, directing him towards the party despite the fact Bob Bryar was inside. Both Gerard and Mikey knew that they would have to show at the party. Gladly, Mikey allowed himself to be directed towards the doors.

“Names” Asked the squat door keeper, frowning down at the list he held in his hand. Gerard dropped his arm off of Mikey’s shoulders and stepped forward with a ready smile.

“Michael James and Gerard Arthur Way” Gerard enunciated carefully, Mikey following in his brother’s steps, his tall skinny frame towering over the small door man who looked up. The door man nodded and checked their names off the list. He pushed the door open for the brothers who both stepped inside quickly. Mikey brushed off his jacket as he moved after his brother as he set off at a quick pace towards a gaggle of people holding glasses of wine. Gerard’s eyes had scanned the room the second the two had stepped in and his eyes had connected with the small frame of Frank who was surrounded by a group of taller older men, including Bob himself.

“Mr Bryar, a moment of your time if you please, you psychotic son of a bitch” Gerard called, and the room went silent. Everyone there was well aware of the Way brothers and also well aware of Bob Bryar and they knew the party was about to turn “I’ll give you a thousand dollars for the kid”

Even to Mikey this seemed extreme, human trafficking was not Gerard’s style, Bob was also drunk meaning no matter what the deal to him would be null and void. However, Gerard was only thinking of the boy, Frank.The terrified hazel eyes stared up at the brothers, the sharp nails of Bob Bryar digging into his shoulders drawing blood even through the suit he was wearing. Frank stifled a whimper by biting into his lip.

“Thousan’?” His words were slurred as he looked down at Frank, smirking “I want at least two thousan’, your brother’s dead boyfriend would be worth more than a thousan’” The tension in the room was tangible as Mikey stepped forward, his face stony and expressionless.

“Okay Bob, you got your two thousand” Mikey’s hand flew to his pocket, pulling a wad of notes out. Bob raised his eyebrows as Mikey passed the roll of notes over to Gerard, who passed them to Bob as though he had some sort of disease. Frank whelped as he was shoved roughly towards the elder Way brother who caught him and steadied him on his feet “Oh and Bob, I’d keep that handy, you never know when you have to disappear” Mikey added coldly, folding his arms.

The buzz of the part had died the moment that Gerard had called out and now it was reviving as people turned away citing the unspoken law of the New York party scene ‘it’s none of our business’ and turning away. Gerard gently touched Frank’s shoulder and turned away from Bob Bryar and his hell.

Mikey tore his eyes away from the man who had most likely murdered his boyfriend, battling hard to keep his features under control. The two brothers weren’t welcome at this party anymore and by association Frank wasn’t welcome. Gerard strolled away quickly, trailing Frank behind him and Mikey followed without a word. He fought his emotions back and out of his mind, pushing open the door as he dispelled the thoughts of pure grief spilling from the darkest corners of his mind.

In front of Mikey, Frank was jumping in terror at every sound as Gerard led him around the back of the large building. As the man led him down the alley way, he was scared he was going to get beat up… or worse… for the second time that day. His fingernails dug into the soft palms of his hands, drawing small half-moons of blood out on his hands. However, his fears were alleviated when Gerard fell into step beside him, resting a hand softly on his shoulder as he directed him around the back of the building. Mikey caught up with Gerard and slipped his hand into Gerard’s pocket and withdrew a carton of cigarettes.

“Want one?” Offered Mikey, holding out the carton to Gerard, who accepted and then to Frank who nodded. Gerard fumbled for a lighter In his pocket before withdrawing a simple silver flick lighter monogrammed with the initials G.W. and on the reverse M.W. He lit his own before offering to light Frank who accepted, nodding viciously. Mikey had his already lit and between his lips as he took a long drag before breathing out.

“How old are you anyway Frank?” Asked Gerard gazing down at the boy with tousled brown hair

“19” Mumbled Frank as he exhaled smoke. Gerard nodded for a second before muttering something in Michael’s ear he didn’t quite catch. Mikey however did hear, and trotted ahead of the pair “Where are we going?” Asked Frank softly as he pulled his suit jacket over his hands.

Gerard grinned and moved faster, and Frank had no choice but to follow. He didn’t like the fact he was being sold and traded, but any alternative to Mr Bryar was a good one. Soon the alley opened back into a car park where a boy, maybe just a little older than Frank was leaning against a car next to Mikey who looked deep in thought “Your ride Cinderella” laughed Gerard as the boy that wasn’t Michael pulled open the door to the back seat.

Yeah, any alternative to Mr Bryar was a good one.

Notes

Whoops Pete's dead. I'm an awful person.
(ILoveMikeyWayThoughSoHeNeedsAHappyEndingOmg)