Mikey's Hook Up

"OK GUYS, TEN MINUTES TILL OPENING...PLEASE BE READY..."

Mikey called out to all his staff.

"Oh, and Lucas?...if you swear at one more customer, you're out...got it?"

"Got it boss!"

Brendon was waiting in the kitchen as Ray finished making the rounds for his prepers.

"Gonna be a good night huh?"

"What, oh yeah, sure."

"What's up man, you seem out of it."

"I'm good. Okay, that's my cue, see you in a bit with some orders."

Brendon left the kitchen and headed to his first table.

"Hey there folks, my name is Brendon and welcome to Mikey's Hook Up. Can I start you with any appetisers or drinks?"

(time passes)

Patrick loved that he didn't have to stand in the long line to get into the bar. The bouncer just let him through knowing he was Mikey's...or rather Mikey was his, the poor boy just didn't know it yet. Patrick had been working out a smooth way to get the boy in the right position for him to assert his dominance. He chuckled at the double entendre of it, but it was true and once he had control of Mikey, he would have control of this place and then the cash would really start flowing. Patrick walked up to the bar and took the seat that was reserved for Mikey.

"Hey Frank, hit me with a cold one."

Patrick didn't care for the fancy fruity shit Frank made, he just liked a simple cold beer. No real man ever needed anything more. Frank nodded to Patrick as he grabbed him a bottle and glass. He didn't like Patrick, there was just something amiss that he couldn't put his finger on.

"Here. You had a good day?"

He may not like him, but no need to be rude.

"Well Mikey slept over so you tell me."

Patrick smirked. He didn't get as far as he wanted to with the younger man, but he licked his lips at the memory of the taste of the boy. Frank grimaced slightly but said nothing. Patrick made him uneasy, so maybe he'd speak to Gerard about him later. Another customer caught Frank's attention so he gave Patrick a quick nod, then stepped away to serve a man in the tightest black shorts Frank had ever seen (outside of a fetish club), and a cropped black shirt, laced up at the front...loosely. Frank figured it was a look, but not one he would go for. Each to their own though. He grinned at the guy.

"Hi, what can I get you?"

(time passes)

Ray was out back taking a much needed break. He was right, with the review being so positive the place was packed tonight. They all wanted to try the recipes that were mentioned in the paper so Ray was cooking up a storm as well as supervising. Several tables wanted him to come out so they could meet him personally. He did that as much as he could, he felt weirdly like a celebrity. Ray hardly saw Mikey the whole night, when he did see him though it was on the arm of that guy.

"Ugh, why did he have to be rich."

Ray tilted his head back and looked up at the night sky, he saw no stars of course, cause of the city lights and pollution. He missed the countryside from when he was in the military. He closed his eyes and took another drag.

"Hey...uh...Ray?"

Ray opened his eyes and saw Brendon in the doorway.

"Tell whoever that I'm on break."

"No man, uh no one wants you, I just..."

Ray brought his head down and ashed his cigarette.

"...can I talk to you?"

"Oh, uh sure, what's up?"

Ray pulled his pack out.

"Smoke?"

"Nah, I don't...well not cigarettes anyway."

"Good, nasty habit to start."

Ray dropped his cigarette and then lit another one. It was a habit.

"So..."

He pulled on the air through the tobacco and filter and took his first drag, closing the zippo.

"...what's up kid?"

"Uh...right...so...you...um..."

Ray studied the boy. He was nervous anyone could tell, but he was holding back. Ray had taken a few classes in interrogation when he was enlisted so he tried a few techniques.

"Hey, calm down, it's cool. Just relax and think it through. You know you want to ask me something, but it's making you nervous, I get that. I'm not gonna get mad at you I promise..."

Ray could see Brendon calming down a bit.

"That's it, deep breaths, in and out...now speak."

"Okay...so..."

Brendon took a deep breath in.

"YoulikeMikeyandIlikeMikeyandwebothhatePatrick."

"Whoa, slow down!..."

Brendon collapsed against the wall. He was shaking. Ray dropped his cigarette and walked over.

"Hey hey, breathe man..."

Brendon sounded labored and Ray rubbed his back.

"Easy, easy, there you go..."

Ray had understood what Brendon said, again because of his military training, but he needed Brendon to say it again to continue the conversation.

"Now slow down and try again."

Brendon gulped air and Ray thought he was going to do it again.

"We both like Mikey and we both don't like Patrick."

"Yes, that's true...wait, you like him too?"

"Yeah. I...yeah."

"Okay..."

"So if we get rid of Patrick then we just have to compete with each other."

"I see...so you want me to help you get rid of Patrick so that we can fight for Mikey?"

"Um...yes?"

Ray looked at Brendon for a while and then started to laugh.

"Man, I haven't heard a plan that wacky since 90's sitcoms!"

Ray kept on laughing and Brendon looked confused.

"Soooo...."

"Oh right, yeah, I'll do it cause there is something about that guy that really bothers me."

"Okay cool."

"Ray, Brendon, we just got hit again!"

Brendon sighed. His feet were really starting to hurt now. He needed to get some insoles for his skates.

"Come on man, our public awaits."

Ray put an arm around Brendon and led him inside.

(time passes)

"So then I said to Brendon, I don't know how it got in there, it isn't even my flavour!"

Frank cracked up.

"Oh man Gabe, that's fucking hilarious dude. So what did he say?"

"He said you are a disgusting pig and I don't even want to know why you know that..."

Gabe turned and saw Brendon walk in with a guy with frizzy hair.

"Yup and I said snowballs baby."

Frank laughed, shaking his head.

"You're the worst. I think you and I are gonna be good friends...you're as mad as me. Oh...excuse me."

He chuckled, turning to serve three girls in day-glo tutus. Gabe smiled and downed his drink.

"Gabe are you drinking?"

"Nah, it's non alkie. I'm here to pick someone up, but I don't know which drunk it is yet."

"Subtle."

"Yup, that's me! Hey, you must be the other rival."

"Excuse me?"

Ray looked around.

"Yeah you, the one with the hair. You also like the boss man."

Brendon banged his head on the bar. This was not happening. Frank glanced over at the sound and raised an eyebrow before turning back to the somewhat tipsy girls.

"Does someone want to explain?"

"No no, you don't need to."

Brendon groaned. Mikey walked out of his office and over to the three men with a grin on his face.

"Hey Gabe, nice outfit..."

He chuckled slightly.

"You here to pick up Dixie?"

He asked, pointing to a thin blonde boy wearing a cowboy hat and boots...and a pair of ripped denim short shorts.

"Oh can I really?"

Gabe wiggled his eyebrows.

"Not unless you want Ryan to string you up by your balls again."

"Nah, I wasn't into that kink, but as a make shift cock ring it works wonders."

Brendon's head hit the bar again. Mikey giggled.

"I like you Gabe, but have you ever heard of the word overshare?"

"Sometimes you can't go wrong with it, especially if you have your own personal harem."

Gabe winked at Mikey and Brendon groaned. Mikey rolled his eyes and laughed.

"By the way Gabe, I was meaning to ask you something."

"Well I think we haven't known each other long enough, but the answer is yes...I'll marry you, but you have to understand that you would be second wife cause Ryan is my first."

"Ugh, Gabe just cut it out!"

Brendon was getting to the point where usually Ryan would intervene, but there was no Ryan here to save him from Gabe's mouth. Mikey chuckled.

"Gabe, you're cute and all but soooo not my type. No, I was going to ask...did you realise that your fly is undone?"

Gabe looked down.

"Um..."

Frank laughed from behind the bar.

"Mikey, dude!...I was hoping no one would tell him...it would've been funnier."

Mikey shrugged with a smirk. Brendon saw it before any of them did.

"Oh God, no Gabe no!"

It was too late though. What look like an baby elephant trunk popped out of Gabe's shorts. Mikey looked, then slammed a hand over his eyes and started screeching.

"OH GOD! MY EYES! MY EYES!...GET ME EYE WASH RIGHT NOW!"

Frank just started cracking up, practically bent in half with tears streaming down his face.

"I am going to kill you Gabe and then I am going to kill Ryan for giving you that Speedo for Christmas!"

"But then who would take the little cowboy home?"

Gabe pouted to Brendon.

"Just get him and get out of here."

Frank forced himself to stop laughing and stuffed his fist in his mouth to stop himself from bursting out again. Mikey too was trying not to giggle. Gabe saluted and went to pick up the blonde.

"I'm your ride baby cakes."

Mikey moved to Brendon's side, seeing how upset he looked by the whole ordeal. He slung his arm around the boy's shoulders.

"Hey, don't sweat it kid. I'm pretty sure most of the clientele don't give a shit, and some probably even got a cheap thrill out of it..."

He turned serious eyes to Gabe as he was about to walk passed with the blonde.

"It wasn't on purpose and won't happen again...right?"

He asked with one eyebrow raised.

"Of course not, but it does turn the tables doesn't it."

Gabe winked and carried the client out of the place.

"You live with him?"

Ray looked at Brendon.

"Unfortunately. "

He shivered a bit. Mikey rubbed his shoulder lightly, looking at him with concern.

"Is he that...inappropriate at home?"

"I mean Gabe is Gabe, but he never does anything to make me feel uncomfortable he is just really...Gabe sometimes."

Frank chuckled.

"You can say that again."

Mikey rolled his eyes, but smiled and shook his head fondly...he really did like his staff...most of them.

"Like I said Brendon, don't sweat it...ok?"

Ray watched Mikey holding Brendon close and Brendon sinking into it. He realised that Mikey didn't even know what he did to the younger man.

"Well that was fun."

Brendon looked at Ray and blushed.

"I should get back to work."

Mikey gave him a quick squeeze then let him go.

"Yeah, we probably all should."

Frank nodded enthusiastically.

"Yep. Just one hour left and it's always the busiest...for me at least."

As if on cue, Patrick walked in the door.

"Hey there baby, looks like another successful night for us."

He pulled Mikey into his arms and kissed him.

"Shall we celebrate?"

Mikey giggled, playfully hitting Patrick's chest.

"Easy there Pat...I've still got an hour or so left before I can call it a night."

Frank automatically started pouring Patrick his usual...he considered spitting in it, but was pretty sure he'd get fired if he was caught.

"Oh I know Baby Cakes, I just want to make sure that we are still on...or that I am at least..."

Patrick wiggled his eyebrows and grabbed his drink.

"Thank's Frankie."

He led Mikey away from the group to their private table that had a reserved sign on it.

"It's not his place."

Brendon mumbled as he walked back to the break room to grab his skates again.

"Man, what a douche bag."

Ray leaned on the bar alternating his sight on Mikey and Patrick, and Brendon dragging his feet away. Frank frowned as he dried a glass.

"I don't normally hate people unless they're homophobic bigoted assholes...or Trump, but I'll make an exception for him."

"The kid really likes him too. You can see it when Mikey gives him affection."

Frank chuckled.

"Brendon's not the only one with a thing for the boss...right Ray?"

"Fuck off Iero."

Frank put his hands up in surrender.

"Hey, I'm not judging man...Mikey's cute and if I wasn't fruit loops for Gerard, I'd probably be right there with you both."

"Oh God no, I can't handle you as competition too!"

Ray slapped a hand over his mouth, internally cursing. He used to be better at avoiding interrogation. Frank chuckled.

"Nah, you're cool. Can I give you some advice though?"

"I guess."

Brendon skated by to a table. He was smiling and trying to be his usual funny self. Patrick was pressing into Mikey and whispering in his ear. Frank sighed, watching Brendon for a moment before turning back to Ray.

"Don't think of Brendon as competition. I think if you talk to him, you might find a way for you both to get what you want..."

He nodded to acknowledge a customer who was waving a twenty at him.

"Maybe you can all be happy."

He smiled at Ray then walked away to serve, leaving Ray to consider his words.

(Time passes)

Brendon was sitting counting his tips with Frank. They had both done very well. Brendon kept getting distracted by Patrick sitting with Mikey and now Gerard doing the books for the night. Brendon could see Gerard getting frustrated too. Frank looked up with a big grin on his face, but it slipped when he saw Brendon's sad expression.

"You ok dude?"

"Yeah sure, just...you know, stuff on my mind."

"Oh, you mean your not so subtle, huge as an elephant crush on the boss man?...yeah, I get it."

Brendon sighed.

"You can see it from Mars can't you?"

"Yeah, kinda."

"I am so fucked...or rather not."

Frank shook his head with a sigh.

"I never pictured myself as a love guru, but that seems to be my new job these days. Look, you want Mikey, then you gotta get that dick Patrick out of the way. I think you should try working with Ray, and maybe you can all be happy."

"Ryan said the same thing. I talked to Ray earlier on break, but I don't think he was on board."

"On board with what?"

Ray came out of the kitchen, his apron slung over his shoulder. Just then there was a commotion over at the table where Mikey, Gerard and Patrick were. It seemed that Gerard had enough of Patrick distracting Mikey.

Frank's eyes widened and he got up quickly, stuffing his tips into his pocket and heading over to try to defuse his irate boyfriend.

"Gee?...what's up babe...you OK?"

"Mikey isn't taking our conversation seriously!"

"Calm down there Sparky, all these numbers are too much for his pretty little head. Look, you just make sure it all looks good on paper and my baby will make sure it all looks good to our adoring public."

Patrick ran a hand under Mikey's shirt, caressing his hip. Mikey raised an eyebrow and pointedly removed Patrick's hand.

"Patrick, I have a degree in business studies...I can understand perfectly well thank you very much."

"Oh I didn't mean it like that babe, I mean that after a hard day of dealing with people, you would just want to go home and rest. I know you are a smart cookie. I wouldn't give you the time of day if you weren't. I like people that are closer to my intellectual level."

"Fair enough, but this is my club, and I want to be on top of things. I can rest when everything is done...OK?"

"Sure babe, that's cool."

Patrick kissed his cheek and then pulled out his phone and started to play a game. Gerard sighed.

"Can we get back to this now without interruption?"

Mikey chuckled, nodding as he focused on the books laid all over the table. Frank kissed the side of Gerard's head then walked back to Brendon.

"Now see, that wouldn't have happened if that dick wasn't here."

He sat down and continued to count his tips. Brendon wished that he had done that. That he had jumped up and rescued Mikey...but did Mikey even need rescuing? What could Brendon have done anyway?

"Nothing, that's what."

Frank turned curious eyes toward the other boy.

"Huh?...what'd you say?"

"Forget it. Is Gabe here yet?"

Brendon gathered up the rest of his tips and pushed them in his apron. He went to the break room and grabbed his jacket and put his skates away. He had hoped to say bye to Mikey before he left, but the guy made it impossible to get any time alone with him when he was around. He felt Gerard's pain at the moment. Mikey glanced up as Brendon reappeared and waved.

"You off Bren?...you did great tonight by the way."

He grinned at the boy. Brendon couldn't help preening a bit at the praise.

"Thanks Boss, but I just try to keep the customers happy like always."

"Well that's good, and you keep me happy too...so thank you."

Mikey's said with a wink, ignoring the annoyed huff that came from Patrick on his left.

"Hey babe, you ready?"

Gabe walked in looking more conservative than earlier.

"Just about."

"Ah the service shows up on time shockingly."

Gabe turned to the voice that insulted him and saw the man that was the bane of his roommate's existence.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well just every time we call you, you take almost a half an hour to arrive for the client."

"That is cause I am in the middle of driving another client home."

"So if you are so bust perhaps we should get another escort service. One that is more reliable."

"Patrick..."

Mikey said patiently, but with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"There's a good reason why we use Gabe's cabs, and we are not changing services."

"I just wonder if you really looked around enough before you just settled or if..."

Patrick looked at Brendon.

"...it's just nepotism."

Brendon had enough now. He didn't care if this was his boss's boyfriend. He pushed tables out of the way and stalked up to them.

"Now listen here you piece of pretentious shit. First of all before I even got the job Rainbow Cab Service was already chosen cause both Gabe and Ryan created an amazing company that is safe for the LGBTQ community and they have been featured in several prominent magazines and articles. I am proud that my best friend does such a service for the city and they also prioritise the possible danger a client is in and lets other clients know this when they call so they understand if they are going to be late."

"Actually that is why I was late to pick up the cowboy earlier. Another client was roughed up and they took priority."

Brendon looked at Gabe and and let his anger drop a bit.

"Gabe, you don't have to ever explain yourself..."

He turned back to Patrick who clearly did not like to be talked down to like this.

"...especially to someone who doesn't know the meaning of the words 'giving without expecting back'."

Mikey stared at the boy with wide eyes, he didn't think Brendon had that in him.

"Uh...Brendon?"

"You insignificant urchin!"

Patrick stood up and slapped Brendon in the face. A collective gasp was heard in the room.

"I could buy and sell a hundred of you! You are nothing to me, you are nothing to the world and you will be nothing for the rest of your life!"

Brendon held his cheek and looked at Patrick's smirk, then he hauled off and punched him. Patrick went back into the seat and down, his hat falling off.

"I may be nothing, but I will never be anything like you!"

Brendon threw his apron at Patrick and then stormed out of the place. Gabe was yelling for him, but he didn't stop. He caught the first yellow cab he saw and was gone.

"Does that mean he quit?"

Gabe moved from the doorway to look at the Ways. Mikey stared at the doorway with his mouth open and eyes wide. What the fuck just happened?

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how's you?

So...that happened.

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT and peace out babies!
<3