Melodramatic Metathesiophobe

Almost

Mikey spent his time moping around, walking the halls. Ray felt terrible. He knew Mikey was restless, he knew how it felt— but they couldn't leave, he couldn't let Mikey go outside. There was too much risk. Mikey's urges and impulses had become nearly uncontrollable, hence why Ray stayed on the couch and Mikey walked, keeping his distance.
Ray didn't know whether it was because he didn't want to hurt Ray, or just because he was harboring resentment.
Neither were great.
Ray got up, rubbing his face, letting out a sigh as he looked at the clock. Two thirty in the morning. He walked over and scribbled out another day on his calendar, an event Mikey always watched, no matter where he was. Ray could feel eyes on him as he scrawled down the box, counting down that Mikey had but two weeks.
That was far too soon.
And yet, Mikey didn't have his tail.
Ray was confused by it— even Gerard got his sooner, and while yeah, Frank had warned him everyone's change was different, they were drawing awfully near for Mikey to still be so human..
He had the ears, he had his teeth—something Ray had found out unfortunately when he got too close on a bad day—and he had the nails, but.. no tail. Was there a species of wolf with no tail? Was Mikey just going to have a nub? What was it going to be? What color would his fur be? Ray had spent his time pondering and had come up with some pretty nice images.
He felt a tug on his sleeve and turned, meeting Mikey's tired, sad face.
"..how much longer?" Mikey's voice was small, as if caught in his throat.
"..not much... two weeks.." Ray turned, opening his arms a little and feeling Mikey slide into them, closing his eyes and holding Mikey's frail body. Mikey had bulked, surely, that was clear, but he was still awfully small as far as werewolves went. Even Frank was bulkier. Mikey was skin and bones.
"..two weeks..?" Mikey sniffled against Ray's chest, taking his time rubbing his cheek against it just as he had when his scent started to come in, "..that's not long... what's left..?"
"For me it was minor stuff, but.. you still don't have your tail..." Ray sighed, watching Mikey's face fall.
"..the... the bite worked, didn't it..? I.. we did it right, right...?" Mikey seemed tired, so Ray picked him up and carried him to the couch.
"Yeah, it must have— you've got fangs, Mikes, you wouldn't if it hadn't worked," he tried to joke and lighten things. Mikey just scoffed.
"..still.. why's it going so slow..? Shouldn't I be almost done by now..?"
"Well, you should," Ray stroked his hair, down to his cheek, feeling the slight stubble that wasn't there usually, "but.. I think it's just your genes, hon, you're a skinny guy.. it doesn't have a lot to work with.."
"Is there something we can do..?"
"..you really want this to work, huh?"
"Well.. yeah.. I want to be with you," Mikey got suddenly quiet, and Ray knew why.
"It's not that I don't want you with me," Ray said sternly, "Mikes. We've gone over this, okay..? You just need to keep eating.. we just have to keep you healthy, I don't want this to win you over.." he kissed Mikey's forehead, feeling Mikey soothe below him.
Mikey seemed to sag. He nodded a little, rubbing his stomach. "I feel hungry.."
"How long have you been hungry..?" Ray asked, "Mikes, you don't have to wait to eat, you eat as much as you need," he patted Mikey's back, feeling him sag a little more.
"..okay.." he stood, and Ray watched him pace barefoot to the kitchen. Mikey didn't seem to like to wear many clothes anymore. He walked around in tank tops and his boxers most of the time, owed to the fact that he was awfully hot most of the time. Whatever kind of wolf he was going to be, Ray was pretty sure he'd be a warm one.
He sighed softly, looking down at his lap. He felt sick, yeah, but.. there was some part of him that felt proud. Every time Mikey would rub his scent off on him, Ray would get a spark of happiness. Something inside him was ecstatic to have another wolf— a wolf to call his own, like a pack mate. Mikey's scent coated the house and Ray couldn't be happier. He felt sick that Mikey was hurt, but soon they'd be better, surely...
Standing, Ray went to the kitchen. "I'm gonna go to sleep, kay Mikes?" He said, keeping his voice down, "I'll be in bed when you're ready, okay? No rush, take your time," and he watched Mikey come to him, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
"Okay," Mikey mumbled and gave a half smile, returning to his food. Ray went and sank into his sheets, closing his eyes with a sigh of relief. His head was running and yet he was exhausted. He just tried to get himself to sleep with the time he had.
...
It didn't last long.
He soon felt another tug on his shirt and rolled over in the sheets, blinking tiredly, watching the fuzzy outline of Mikey come into view. He instinctively moved, shuffling over with the thought that Mikey just wanted to slide in next to him, but he was wrong. Mikey was on the floor.
Ray sat up straight. "Mikey? What-"
He was cut off.
Mikey sobbed.
Ray got up instantly and slid to the floor next to him, taking his shaking hands and pulling him closer. "What's wrong?? What's happening??"
"I- ah- it- Ray—" he curled over, shoving his face into Ray's chest hard enough Ray thought it might bruise, "my back— it— I— back hurts—"
Ray understood. He swallowed thickly and pulled Mikey in, rubbing his shoulder, kissing his cheek, anything he hoped could help him feel better.
"That's your tail, honey," he whispered, stroking his fingers languidly though Mikey's hair, "stay calm, it's okay, it'll be over soon," he murmured, attempting to ignore the screams of pain Mikey gave. He remembered how it felt, though.. something was odd. Mikey's noises weren't what he'd been expecting exactly. They tapered off much too soon, much too quickly— ray tried to get a glimpse of why. He slid his fingers down and pressed at the swell near the base of Mikey's back, sliding his clothes up and away from it. The bony protrusion had grown to about the length of Ray's hand, which was normal, aside from the fact that it had now stopped. Was it just pausing? Was it done?? What kinds of wolves had such short tails??
"RAY-" Mikey's voice suddenly filled the room, something it never did— he was screaming, he yelled— "Ray HELP-" he frantically grasped at Ray's shirt as he curled forward. Ray now understood.
Unlike his own, Mikey's tail wasn't pausing— it didn't have short bouts between the growth, it just grew, and it took a toll on Mikey as his cheeks became red and his shoulders trembled so badly Ray had to practically hold him together. He bit his lips tightly together and held Mikey to his body in attempt to soothe him, nosing his neck softly and muttering encouragement while he sobbed.
Once the sounds finally quelled, Ray sat up a little, feeling Mikey collapse against his chest. He closed his eyes. "May I look..?" He asked, unsure if Mikey felt as insecure as he had. It took minutes, but there was a nod in response.
He peered over, eyes following the hunched curve of Mikey's spine to the base of it, centering on the newly formed mass of bone, muscle and fur. He had to blink.
The pattern wasn't one he'd seen— it was dark at the tip, a chocolaty color almost, something so deep it shone with the lights in the room. It flowed slowly to a gentle caramel like Mikey's own hair and trailed for a few inches up his back. It was rather pretty; soft and smooth, the fur not too long and not too short.
"It's real pretty, mikes," Ray murmured against his neck, feeling Mikey take a relieved breath, "looks like it fits you... but it's over now, okay..? All that's left to worry about is the full moon, and I'll be with you for that one.."
Mikey nodded vaguely. Ray tried again to start speaking but by then Mikey had dozed off, so Ray simply let out an exasperated breath, carrying him into bed and making sure to keep off the tender, newly formed flesh. His own tail wriggled with excitement— a new friend! A new wolf!! A new pack member!!!— but... Ray didn't share the excitement. The sounds of Mikey's screams lingered in the back of his head. That was just his tail.. what would happen on the moon..?
He forced himself to stop thinking, curling up with Mikey, intertwining their legs and resting Mikey's head on his chest, pulling the blankets up over them.
Soon, soon they'd be okay.
Or, Ray could hope.