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Before They Were Fabulous

Is it hard to stay clean?

Edward wasn’t certain he expected the exact response, but Mikey’s and Frankie’s eyes widened along with their mouths in astonishment as Gerard lunged forward, launching himself from his seat in a violent but scrappy form of attack on the security guard.

“Traitor!” He screamed as he tried to knock Edward to the floor. “Rebel scum! I should have known!”

Trained in martial arts, Edward found it easy to counter Gerard’s attack and swat him to the floor, turning to lean over him and hold him down, still thrashing his limbs and trying to get the upper hand with the tall, broad and strong security guard.

“I thought it was Petra, but it was you!” He spat venomously.

Still hovering near the table, Mikey stiffened, unsure what to do. Instinctively he wanted to protect his brother, but he was clearly not himself. Fighting Edward would probably only make things worse, but he felt so guilty allowing the older man to pin Gerard without trying to stop him. Almost as if reading his mind, Frankie placed a hand on Mikey’s arm and shook his head as the older boy looked at him. He knew in his heart that Edward was helping, that Gerard was acting strangely and violently due to the drug he was now certain he’d been given, but it didn’t make him feel any better.

Gerard’s eyes glazed for a moment before clearing and staring up bewildered and scared. His gaze flitting from Edward to Mikey and back.

“Wh-what’s going on?” He stammered.

Edward took a deep breath before sitting back on his heels. About to stand, Edward gasped again as Gerard lifted his leg and slammed his foot into his abdomen. Scrambling to stand, Gerard had miscalculated Edward’s recovery time; the man’s strength and stamina greater than he had imagined. Catching hold of Gerard’s ankle, he pulled the boy back to the floor before leaning closer to land a fist squarely on Gerard’s left jaw. Instantly, he sagged, eyes closed and his breathing suddenly calm. If he was faking that, Edward thought, it was a remarkably good job. Satisfied that Gerard was unconscious, Edward pushed himself to his feet, still breathing heavily, not with effort but with the sheer shock of what he had had to do. But it was nothing to what he still had to do.

Turning to face two very pale and scared boys, he inhaled deeply once more, letting it out slowly in a single continuous breath.

“Are you okay?” He asked after a short pause.

It was a generous question, sincerely meant. Yes, he knew that for what he’d just done Mikey had the power to have him at best sacked and at worst executed, but he could see the fear and concern in both boys’ eyes and was genuinely worried for their wellbeing.

At first, no one spoke or even moved until Mikey managed a short nod before letting out the breath he had been holding in a sudden gasp. Feeling suddenly lightheaded, Mikey flopped down onto the couch, still staring wide-eyed at Gerard, lying on the floor, the first bluish bloom of colour forming on his cheek. Frankie winced at the sight; he remembered the feeling of such painful bruising as if it were only the day before and his own memories flooded back. As Frankie silently took a seat next to Mikey, Edward spoke.

“I have to get him to a doctor.”

Mikey nodded, searching for his voice.

“I... I’ll call Dr Roby,” he finally managed.
“No,” Edward countered as Mikey began to rise from the couch. “If he stays here, he’ll only be given more. I know someone,” Edward added cryptically. “Someone who’ll look after him, get him off the drugs and make sure he’s okay.”
“Who?” Frankie asked, his brow creased, staring intently at Edward.
“It’s better you don’t know,” Edward replied as he bent to scoop Gerard into his arms.
“Wait!” Mikey cried with a hint of alarm. “I... I’m not sure about... I mean... where are you taking him?”
“Mikey, do you trust me?” Edward asked holding his gaze.
“I...” Mikey raised a hand to his mouth in uncertainty as he looked from Edward to Gerard to Frankie, then back to Edward. “I want to,” he admitted, “but how do I know who’s telling the truth?”

Edward pursed his lips; he understood the boy’s dilemma. Yes, he had come to the belief that Jakob was drugging his brother, but on whose orders? He was asking Mikey to choose between his guardian who had apparently looked after him for as long as he could remember and the security guard he had once trusted with his life. But time was pressing; Jakob would soon be back.

“Mikey, you know, if I wanted to take him for personal gain, I could have done it a thousand times already. I could do it now, realistically, you couldn’t stop me.”

Mikey’s eyes widened at the words, encouraging Edward to continue swiftly.

“But I’m not,” he said with conviction. “I’m taking him to someone who can help him. I’ll go now, I have a scheduled appointment, so it won’t look strange that I left. After I’ve gone wait ten minutes or until you see the elevator being used again, which will probably be Jakob coming back and call Korse. Tell him that Gerard got angry about something and ran out. Say you couldn’t stop him.”
“But he’ll want to look at the security cameras won’t he?” Mikey questioned.
“Probably not,” Edward shook his head. “Not if you tell him, he’ll believe you.”
“But he’ll want to see if he went anywhere else in the building. He won’t just assume he just left.”

Edward looked thoughtful and he found himself shrugging awkwardly, still holding Gerard in his arms.

“I’ll have to deal with that when the time comes.”
“Leave it with me,” Frankie piped up, having remained silent throughout the exchange.
“With you?” Mikey’s brow creased.

The corners of Edward’s mouth raised briefly; he knew of Frankie’s ability with computers and electronics - it had been part of his investigation into the boy’s background.

“I’ll sort it out,” he repeated. “I just need a laptop.”
“Do you need the access codes?” Edward asked.

Frankie turned what seemed like a pitying smile toward the security guard before it morphed into a smirk.

“What are you planning to do?” Edward raised an eyebrow at the amusement on the boy’s face.
“It’s better you don’t know,” he replied, using Edward’s phrase from earlier.

A light, almost unnoticeable laugh emerged from Edward’s lips at the exchange. Before he could say another word, Mikey spoke again.

“Go,” he urged. “Make him Gerard again.”
“I’ll bring him back safe and sound, Mikey, I promise,” he replied with surprising affection.
“I know,” Mikey nodded.

Somehow, he had made the decision about who to trust and the answer had surprised him in many ways.

*

Leech looked up as Flex entered the back room of the abandoned pawn broker’s store that the Rebel Stars had made home some months earlier. As he turned his head, he saw Flex exhaling deeply and pushing a hand through has sand and dirt coated hair.

“I hate the desert,” he grumbled. “Always did, always will.”

Leech looked on, concerned by Flex’s stance and expression. His shoulders were hunched forward and he flopped, almost aggressively into an old armchair, slapping his arms down on the battered old leather before another deep sigh escaped his lips. He appeared angry and restless at the same time. Leech didn’t know how he managed it exactly, but a combination of a furrowed brow and a complete inability to sit still conveyed the mixture of emotions perfectly.

“Out with it,” Leech insisted, staring expectantly at the physical therapist with raised eyebrows accentuating his already widened eyes.

Flex slowly turned his head toward the phlebotomist and tipped it slightly. If possible, now he had added confusion to the strange mix of emotions. The pair continued to stare at each other until finally Flex spoke.

“What?” He asked with a deep shrug.
“I’ll take it from that response that you know exactly what but you want me to drag it out of you regardless.”

Flex narrowed his eyes; the older man could be infuriating at times. It was as if he could see right through him. It was exactly the same with Dr Death Defying; whatever it was they both had, they seemed able to see directly into his mind and, if honest, it freaked him out. Waving dismissively, Flex tried to pretend that on this occasion, the older man was wrong.

Scratching his newly forming beard, for want of a razor, Leech sighed.

“Oh, right, you want me to guess, then?” he offered a chuckle, which only irritated Flex more.
“No,” he snapped in response. “I don’t.”
“Well, it’s a good job I don’t have to then, isn’t it?” Leech replied, almost sounding bored.
“Go on then, Mr Mind Reader,” Flex turned in the chair to face the other man square on. “Why don’t you tell me, then?”

Leech took a deep breath as he considered how frustrated the younger man both sounded and looked. Leaning forward and placing his lower arms on his knees, Leech offered his friend a sympathetic look.

“He still hasn’t spoken, has he?” The older man offered in a surprisingly gentle tone.

Flex, looked away and sighed deeply, He had grown fond of the young boy they had named Jet, particularly as he had worked so closely with him to rehabilitate his wrist. It had been a joy to hear the music Jet could play on the battered old guitar that he had found for him. Clearly skilled, it seemed effortless to him and as time had passed, he had grown ever more skilful with his intricate fretboard fingering. But ever since having to shoot and kill a draculoid, Jet had neither played his guitar, nor spoken a single word.

“No,” Flex looked down, all anger had drained instantly and he was left staring at the floor. “It doesn’t seem to matter what we do.”
“What about BabyDoc?” Leech offered. “He’s got some psychiatric training. Can’t he try?”
“He has,” Flex looked up once more. “Nothing’s reaching him.”
“He’ll come around,” Leech offered with unexpected confidence.
“How do you know that?” Flex sighed.
“I don’t,” Leech admitted. “But I believe it.”

Flex nodded. It was all they had; he had to hope that somehow Jet would find his voice again.

As the room fell silent once more, the youngest member of the team of medics, BabyDoc, entered, tugging at his shirt collar.

“It’s hot today,” he offered by way of explanation.

Leech and Flex exchanged glances and smiled. Leech shook his head as he rose to offer his seat before heading out to take his watch.

“One day, you’re going to say something else,” he laughed.
“It is hot!” The man objected.
“It’s always hot!” Leech countered. “Next you’ll be saying it’s cold at night!”
“Well, it is,” BabyDoc grumbled as he took his seat, glad that the interior, at least, was cooler.
“I’ll see you later,” Leech waved, still chuckling.

*

It was just less than two hours later that Leech spotted a black car approaching. Providing a silent signal for the occupants of the hideout, Leech took cover behind a battered old hoarding and readied himself for a firefight. Inside, his companions were also arming themselves and taking up positions.

Slowly, the car came to a stop outside the abandoned store. To the casual observer, it still appeared abandoned, with no indication that it was occupied by anyone. Leech peered through a gap in the hoarding to get a first glimpse of the driver. He appeared to be travelling alone, but as he stepped out of the car, Leech stood upright, surprised, even shocked by what he saw. Stepping from behind the hoarding, he called out.

“Mole?”

Edward’s lips curled into a smile as he spotted his old army buddy, and walked briskly to meet him. Pulling him into a hug and clapping him on the back good-naturedly, Edward was glad to see him.

“Leech, you old bloodsucker!” He grinned. “How are you?”
“Oh, you know,” the older man grinned back. “Still alive.”
“Glad to hear it! And see it!” He nodded as he pulled back.
“What brings you out here?” Leech asked, before suddenly appearing suspicious. “And how did you know...?”

As he spoke, he glanced quickly further down the road, a nervous expression suddenly appearing on his weathered face.

“Come on, man, give me some credit!” Edward rolled his eyes. “I’m in security, there’s not much I can’t find out but I don’t have to share the information and I’m not leading dracs to your door.”
“Sorry man,” Leech appeared contrite. “Habit,” he added, shrugging his shoulders.
“Don’t worry, I get it. Look,” he began urgently. “I got to speak to the colonel.”
“Don’t use rank anymore, Mole, just code names.”
“I still need to speak to him, Leech,” Edward pressed.
“Okay,” he nodded. “Bring your car around to the back and I’ll take you in.”

Doctor Death Defying looked up as the door to his office opened and Leech entered, closely followed by Edward, who immediately struck a respectful pose, standing to attention before his former colonel.

“At ease,” Death nodded before indicating for him to approach. “Eddie, long time. What brings you out here?”
“I got a patient for you,” he replied cryptically.

Death Defying narrowed his eyes as he regarded the man who was his tactical advisor. He knew that Edward was now heading up his own security company in Battery City, but no more than that. As ever, information on the man was hard to come by. One thing he knew though was there were more than enough doctors and hospitals in Battery City. What was it about this one that he couldn’t take him to any one of them - even some of the seamier places would look the other way if required.

“Criminal?” He asked without judgement in his tone.
“Depends on your outlook,” he replied without giving anything away. I got him in the car. Can I bring him in?”
“What’s wrong with him?” Death asked with a suspicious edge to his tone.
“Addicted to Kanslokal,” Edward answered.
“I can’t do anything for you,” Death shook his head. “The whole of Bat City’s addicted. You gonna bring them all here?”
“This is a kid, he’s just thirteen,” Edward offered a little more information, continuing when he spotted the sudden lack of concern on the older man’s face. “It’s not his fault. His guardian’s been giving it to him without his knowledge.”

Death Defying’s eyes widened at the news. Who would do such a thing to a thirteen year old? Kanslokal was dangerous until at least most growth had already been completed. Growing suddenly suspicious again, Death frowned.

“How do you know?” He asked, wondering if perhaps, somehow he’d been fooled.
“I saw it,” he replied flatly.
“Sick!” Death growled in disgust. “Bring him in.”

As Edward went out to the car once more, Death prepared a gurney for the child, checking the strength of the restraints attached to it. He expected him to be unruly, even wild as he went into withdrawal from the drug. The best he could hope was that it would be a short and relatively painless ordeal - there was very little else he could do other than make him comfortable while the toxins were purged from his body. Looking up as Edward returned, he was hardly surprised to see the boy was bound, gagged and, although weak from being locked in the trunk of Edward’s car for such a long journey in the early heat, struggling furiously. There was, however, one aspect that did surprise him.

“Gerard Way?” Death stated with both shock and deep concern colouring his voice. “You’ve brought the face of BLI to a rebel camp? Are you fucking crazy?”


Notes

Hello lovely readers!

Unexpectedly, I knocked out another chapter. It was in my head and shouting to be written, so I had to do it. Now it’s out, I’m really hoping I can concentrate on uni work. So the next one might be a while.

I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading, as ever! And it’s lovely to receive your very kind comments, so thank you!

Sas xx

Comments

@Kobra Way
Hi! I will, I promise. The end of uni has been surprisingly crazy and when I haven’t been doing stuff to prepare for graduation, I’ve been asleep!! Making the most of having time to catch up on much needed sleep :D

I’m hoping to start tonight. I had a few lines of TBFD written but I’m having a bit of a block with that one so I’ll switch to this. This is the reason for having more than one on the go.

Anyhoo, I am soooo happy to be graduating. It’s been a long road and I’m ready to get back to working full time again.

Thanks for letting me know it’s you, glad you got back in, even if it’s on a new account.

Take care
Sas xx

SaskiaK SaskiaK
6/25/19

@SaskiaK
Hey it's Poison Way. I've had to change my account since I can't login with Tumblr anymore. Hope you'll update soon

Kobra Way Kobra Way
6/25/19

@SaskiaK
Hope you get a third distinction. Keep it up

Poison Way Poison Way
6/2/19

Damn Gerard, he’s got his wits turned on that’s for sure. Great chapter

cKayE cKayE
5/29/19

@Homosexual Yogurt
Yeah, Edward needs a medal for what he’s doing for them and now he’s even giving up everything! He really believes in Gerard (and we know he’s right to) but it’s still very brave of him!

Thank you for reading and commenting. I love to hear what people like, or even if they don’t like something. It’s as much for the readers as it is for me.

Sas xx

SaskiaK SaskiaK
5/29/19