Disenchanted (Frerard + Petekey)

Golden

Home was weird without Gerard.
Mikey thought home had been weird with Gerard, ever since he'd stopped smiling, started hiding in his room, years of weirdness at this point, but it was just empty without him.
Empty and sad.

He was more than glad to get back to school and see Pete.

His parents had insisted on having a 'movie night' with him when they returned without Gerard. Probably to try to get a read on Mikey, but it meant he hadn't been able to talk to Pete about it. His father hated cellphones and if he saw either of the boys on them it always started a fight.
Mikey didn't care to fight today.

His headphones blasting in his ears he'd stared at his ceiling all night. Just thinking.

He thought about Gerard, how things used to be. He tried to pinpoint in his mind when it was that things had changed, it happened so slowly and yet so fast. One summer they were best friends, joking, having water fights with the garden hose, going to movies and riding bikes.

He couldn't remember the last time Gerard had done something with him, besides exist in the same room while the tv blared.

Mikey was worried for his older brother, he'd never been so worried in his life. He could feel it eating a pit in his stomach.

He spotted Pete the second the dark-haired boy rounded the corner, he walked to school, and Mikey reckoned he could spot Pete from the moon given enough time.

He was a good foot shorter than Mikey, who had grown an alarming rate this past year, to the point he was now secretly wearing Gerard's clothes to school since his were too small and he didn't want to bother his parents.

Pete wore his dark hair swept across his face, Mikey had attempted the style but it didn't suit him. It suited Pete.

He tried to remain nonchalant as he walked up the sidewalk to meet his friend, but he was so worried and nervous. He needed to vent, to explain to Pete what was going on with Gerard and home.

His steps quickened until he was zooming along at the speed of his music.
Pete lifted his head.

He's always looking at his freaking shoes.

His hair was brushed the wrong way across his face. The wind gusted and his fringe attempted to flip itself over, giving Mikey a view of his whole face.

Pete had a huge purple-black bruise on the side of his face. It took up most of his cheekbone and eye socket, stretching back towards his ear. His eye was slightly swollen, and his lip was split.

He met Mikey's eye and beamed at him, wincing when the smile caused his split lip to twinge.

Mikey was frozen.
All thoughts of Gerard, worries of home had fallen out of his head the moment he laid eyes on his best friend.

Time itself seemed to slow as he stared at Pete, that big goofy grin plastered across his swollen face.

How...

But Mikey knew how, and he knew who, and as he felt time return to normal he curled his hands into fists at his side.

Not again. He can't do this. I'm gonna fucking kill him.

"I'm gonna fucking kill him." He spoke as Pete reached him.
Other students filed past as Pete anxiously fixed his hair in an attempt to hide his face.

"You can't Mikey. It's fine. I'm fine." Pete began enigmatically as Mikey shook with rage. "I did it though! I stood up to him just like I always wanted to! That's how this happened," he gestured at his bruises as though he was explaining he'd crashed his bike into a tree. "He didn't hurt mom."