Me and My Shadow

“Okay,” Ray sighed as he stacked the empty pizza boxes. “This is a lot to get my head around.”
“A lot for you?” Gerard laughed, rolling his eyes. “I’ve been dealing with this for over two weeks!”
“And by ‘this’, he means me,” Frank shrugged his tiny shoulders, making air quotes with one hand whilst in the other he held a small chunk of oil laden sweet pepper. “This is really nice by the way. What is it?”
“It’s a vegetable,” Gerard replied with a frown.
“A vegetable? What sort?”
“A red one.”
“Nice,” Frank didn't feel the need to question him on it further, either that or he picked up on his disgruntled tone.
“Frankie,” Gerard continued as his fairy godfather took another bite of the deliciously sweet red vegetable. “What exactly are we going to do about this?”
“Oh, well,” he began as he licked some of the oil that had run down his fingers onto the side of his hand.
“Frankie!”
“Relax, Gerard!” Frank raised an eyebrow. “Fairies have to eat too and most of what you had in those boxes would have made me ill! Thank goodness for red vegetables!”
“Yes, yes, three cheers for sweet peppers!” Gerard replied in mild frustration. “After that, what are we going to do?”
“It’s really late, we should get some sleep,” Frank replied.
“Sleep!” Gerard cried. “My shadow’s out there, somewhere, probably causing chaos and who knows what and you want to sleep?”
“It's been a busy day,” Frank argued.
“It has,” Gerard snapped in return. “I’ve lost a job, been attacked twice… oh and, of course, you’ve set my shadow off on an egotistical rampage!”
“To be fair, Gee, I don’t think it was entirely my fault,” Frank pouted. “It was like it was ready for me.”

Gerard sighed heavily and he looked down, calming as he did.

“It was,” he nodded. “After it broke free, it… he…?”
“It,” Frank corrected.
“It told me that it’s been waiting and trying to get away for a long time.”

Ray opened another couple of bottles of soda and carefully poured out a small amount into the cap before handing it to Frank.

“Thanks,” Frank smiled at the bottle cap half-filled with Diet Coke and watched mesmerised as the bubbles danced and popped on the surface.
“Frankie?” Gerard began tiredly. “What do we do?”
“We can’t do anything until tomorrow,” he finally looked up, a guilty expression gracing his face.
“Why?” Ray asked, cutting in before Gerard had time to speak.

Ray wasn’t certain about what his reaction would be; his expression was entirely unreadable, but it could have have been anything from bursting into tears to screaming at the top of his lungs. Neither would be particularly helpful, but Ray was getting the distinct impression that Gerard was feeling particularly vulnerable right now and any reaction was likely to cause them all distress.

“It’s dark, Ray,” Frank explained. “It’s a shadow. It can hide from us easily, not so much in daylight. In fact, it has to show itself in daylight. We will find it,” he added hoping that his tone and demeanour sounded convincing.
“And then?”

Ray pressed, wanting to know the plan in its entirety. He knew that if there was a plan, both he and Gerard would feel much better. Frank nodded, understanding the need for detail.

“It’s quite a simple spell,” he explained. “It won’t take much time or effort, but it will be easier if I catch it by surprise…” he paused. “Like it did with me.”
“Makes sense,” Ray nodded. “I think you’re right though, a bit of sleep is a good idea. Sounds like we’ll have plenty to do tomorrow.”
“I should be able to track it,” Frank added. “I touched it, so…”
He was suddenly interrupted by a loud hammering sound on the front door, immediately followed by three, maybe four doorbell rings.
“Gerard!” A voice called angrily. “Open the door!”

Frank stared nervously up, he had already been attacked once tonight and he was reluctant to be attacked again. Whoever was at the door sounded furious and he knew that the nervous and tired condition he was in meant that Gerard would almost certainly forget to call on him for help. He couldn’t offer any more freebies. If he did, there would be severe consequences; too severe for him to even allow himself to think about them. He had already almost broken so many rules he was concerned about what Pete, his supervisor, would say. One of the many reasons he hadn’t returned with the news of Gerard's shadow’s escape was because of what Pete might say. Not just Pete though, the Governing Council of Fairy God-Mothers and Fathers would have plenty to say. At best, he would be in disgrace, would have to repeat the year and hope to still qualify. At worst, he shuddered at the thought, they would take his wings. The thought of it scared him - no, terrified him. Lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t even notice Ray place his soda down on the table, rise from his seat and head for the source of the angry noise. As he opened the door, he was met by an enraged scowl as Mikey pushed his way past.

“Where is he?” Mikey growled. “Still out? Still groping women?”
“Don’t forget you can ask me to protect you, Gee,” Frank cut in quickly, only to be ignored.
Getting to his feet, Gerard frowned at his brother as he stormed into the living room.
“What’s up, Mikes?”

Crossing the floor in mere seconds, Mikey didn’t wait to explain but instead threw a right hook that connected sharply with Gerard's left jaw. His head jarred sharply to the right, causing a sideways whiplash effect and knocking him back into the couch on which he had been sitting. Lying sprawled on the couch, Gerard gathered his wits, placing a tentative hand on his already swelling jaw. But before he even had a moment to take stock, Mikey had pulled him backwards until he was almost kneeling on the couch but largely upright. A second blow sent him reeling back down and before he could repeat the process, Ray had seized his Mikey's arms and was doing his best to hold him, which was proving to be no easy task.

“What the fuck, Mikey!” Gerard spluttered, in a somewhat muffled voice.
“Oh, fuck off, Gee! Don’t even try to pretend you don’t know what I'm talking about!”
“I really don’t,” Gerard replied, still confused. “Did I forget to meet you somewhere?”
“The club?” Mikey waved his arms out to the side, frustrated and angry by what he saw as his brother refusing to accept that his behaviour had been appalling to say the least.
“I… I don’t…” he stammered in reply. “I was supposed to…”
“You’re unbelievable!” Mikey raged. “Where did you take all those women? Are they here?”
“Gee?” Ray began. “Could it be your shadow?”
“And, I swear, Gee, if you suggest I'm gay one more time, I'm going to…”
“Woah, woah, woah!” Gerard waved his hands in front of him as suddenly what Ray was suggesting seemed the only possible solution. “It wasn't me!”

Mikey looked down, shaking his head, his anger still building. Ray stared, concerned by the flexing and extending of his fingers into and out of ever tightening fists. Frank, still perched on the arm of the sofa, finished the last of his capful of soda and placing it carefully and silently down, unfolded his wings and flew to sit on Ray’s shoulder.

“Why won’t Gee ask me to help him?” Frank asked watching what appeared to be a tense standoff between a perplexed Gerard and a livid Mikey, wound tighter than a coiled spring.
“Are you suggesting that I don’t know my own brother?” Mikey asked, quietly, sharply; fighting to contain his fury.
“Well, I'm not sure I know my own!” Gerard replied, encouraging a shake of Ray’s head. “You’re accusing me of lying to you!”

Mikey launched himself forward again. Straddling his brother on the couch and raising his arm to strike him again, he was momentarily baffled when his arm refused to swing back down and only moments later he was being dragged backwards away from the couch.

“Get off me, Ray!” Mikey screamed. “You weren’t there, you don’t know what he did!”
“Whatever you're talking about, neither was he!” Ray yelled in reply, struggling to contain the furious man. “He’s been here all night!”

Reaching out with his long legs, Mikey tried to kick Gerard as he still lay on the couch, half hidden under two cushions that had now fallen across him. Dragging him back further, Ray turned to the now hovering fairy.

“Can’t you do something?” He pleaded. “I’m not going to be able to hold him for long!”
“You too!” Mikey yelled, almost screeched. “You’re holding me so he can hit me? Is he that much of a coward?” He protested.
“Gee has to ask me,” Frank shrugged.
“Gee!” Ray insisted. “Get Frankie to do something!”
“Get off me!” Mikey yelled as he twisted and writhed in Ray’s grip.
“Like what?” Gerard asked, pushing the cushions back out of the way.

Mikey finally wrenched free and raced forward, dragging Gerard from the couch.

“Like stop him doing that!” Ray countered, moving forward to try to pull Mikey back again.
“Frankie!” Gerard yelped as he landed heavily on his knees. “Help!”
“On it!”

Frank cracked his knuckles almost silently and set to work. As he had done in the park, he grew in size until his head brushed the ceiling, his eyes blazed, his wings crackling with fire.
“Mikey!” His voice boomed, but receiving only a terrified stare from Ray.

“It’s not working,” Ray shouted in disbelief as Mikey continued to ignore the now fearsome fairy.

Moving in once more to pull Mikey from on top of Gerard, now trying desperately to cover his face to prevent his brother raining blows down on him, Ray found himself unexpected pushed back by Frank, who was astonished to be ignored. Frank dragged Mikey from on top of Gerard easily and deposited him on the floor. Mikey turned, his eyes widening as he noticed Ray was some five feet away.

“H-how did you do that?” He stammered as Gerard scrambled off the couch and out of reach.
“He didn't, I did!” Frank’s voice boomed again.
“Well?” Mikey repeated, still looking at Ray, but calming in his confusion.
“I didn’t, Frankie did,” Ray replied. “Can’t you see him?”
“See who?”

Frank, still filling half the room, shrugged and raised his palms upwards in a gesture of confusion.

“I don't know why he can’t see me,” he said. “This is the first time this has happened.”
“Frankie,” Ray replied. “He pulled you back. He’s a…” Ray’s voice tapered off.
“He’s a what?” Mikey asked, pushing himself to his feet and offering Gerard a brief glare.
“He’s a fairy,” Ray almost mumbled.
“Right,” Mikey threw his hands up in disbelief. “That’s it! I don’t know what you guys are trying to pull, or what you’ve been taking, but when you come down and you’re ready to apologise, I'll be at home.”
“No!” Gerard cried. “Don’t go, Mikes, he’s telling the truth. I don't know why you can't see him but he’s real. You felt him, if nothing else.”
“Oh, right,” Mikey replied scornfully. “So this guy’s a fairy then, is he? Well, what’s he doing here?”
“He’s looking after me,” Gerard replied, only now realising that the explanation wouldn’t help. “He’s my fairy godfather.”

Mikey looked between the two of them, angry, frustrated and now deeply disappointed in both of them.

“I’m outta here. You’re both on something!”
“No!” Gerard replied. “Frankie, stop him.”

Mikey headed for the door, only to feel some invisible force wrapping around him preventing him from moving any further. No matter how he pulled or twisted, he could not break free of whatever was holding him.

“Why can’t he see you?” Gerard asked, puzzled.
“I don’t know,” Frank admitted. “Maybe I should try another shape?”

Pausing for a moment to think about what to do, Frank decided that perhaps the frightening, almost demonic, image needed a full reversal. A magical, sparkling, delightful one was needed perhaps? Releasing Mikey from his grip, Frank morphed into another magical being in the hope that Mikey would see him this time. He didn’t even need to ask as a sudden shriek of fright emerged from the younger Way brother’s lips.

“You can see him now?” Ray asked.
“You’ve got a fucking unicorn in your living room!” He gasped.
“Well, now he’s a unicorn, yes,” Gerard smiled. “Usually he’s a fairy.”

Mikey fell back down onto the arm of the couch, his eyes glazed.

“Well, that explains everything, doesn’t it,” he replied. It would have sounded sarcastic but for the sheer disbelief in his voice.
“No,” Gerard chuckled. “Look, get comfy. I’ll make some coffee and we’ll explain everything.”
“Good luck explaining why I'm staring at a fucking unicorn, Gee! If the explanation isn’t that there’s something in the air in here, then I’m going mad!”
“No, neither. Frankie, if you change back, will he still see you?” Gerard asked.
“Let’s try,” Frank replied with a smile as he returned to his usual tiny Self with sparkling pink wings.
“Can you see him?” Gerard asked.
“Pink fairy?”
“Yeah!”
“Great! I’m mad!” Mikey replied almost despondently, raising an eyebrow as Gerard chuckled again.

Despite Mikey now being able to see Frank, it took the better part of an hour for Gerard and Frank to explain everything to him and to convince him that it had not been Gerard with him at the club but his shadow. By the end of the tale Mikey held a vacant expression on his face that seemed to be somewhere between disbelief and assumed madness, but given he had the evidence of his own eyes, he did his best to process the information.

“So,” Mikey began. “You know that moment when you think you're going out with your brother but it turns out to be his psychotic shadow instead with wild ideas and even wilder behaviour? No? Just me then?”

Notes

Hi lovely readers, I hope you're still enjoying this. I do really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment and just want to say thanks again!

Sas xx

Going to see Frank tomorrow!!!!! :D :D :D