Muke One-Shots

Promised

Michael felt sad, angry, confused, and hurt.

She had just called him and said she'd be there when he got there - he even gave her the time he'd land. He was right on time, so where the fuck was his mum?

She'd ditched him. Again.

A fourteen hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney - and she wasn't there.

Did she think that he wouldn't care?

Well, he did.

He cared a lot about his mum.

It's been so long since he'd seen her - a year and three months, actually.

And she wasn't there.

Luke noticed his bright green eyes turn to a dull, metallic, grey-green colour, and his shoulders sagged. Disappointment, sadness - he knew what Michael was thinking.

Liz, Joy, and Anne-Marie were all here - but not Karen. Nowhere to be seen. And it didn't help that he was an only child, too - no siblings to cheer him up, or fill him in on mum's life. He had the band, their parents and siblings, and the fans. Not much else.

"This is the fourth time she hasn't showed up, Luke. Four times." He said, his voice strained. Luke just sighed, knowing there wasn't anything he could do.

"You know what? I'm gonna call her and see why he fuck she isn't here," Michael decided. Ashton and Calum were finally noticing that Michael was near tears as he was taking out his phone and dialling a number. Liz, Anne, and Joy noticed once their sons dropped their bags and went over to Michael, too - they ignored the group of fans that were yelling at them, and just walked over to Michael.

"Hello?" Karen asked.

"Mum, what the fuck?" Michael said rather loudly, tears threatening to spill over.

"What? Don't use that language with me, Mich --"

"Why aren't you here? I just got off my flight, I told you when I'd land, and you're not here. For the fourth time in a fucking row." Michael said, trying to keep his head down and his voice quiet. It wasn't working all too well.

He waved the boys off, along with his favourite mums - but Luke stayed next to him, listening to the conversation.

"I - I'm sorry, Michael, I just... I don't kn --"

"You don't know? You don't know why you left your only child to come off of a plane, thinking -- no, expecting that his mum was going to be waiting for him, when she wasn't? You don't know why you haven't showed up the past four times this has happened, mum?"

Silence.

"I last saw you a year and three months ago. I was hoping that wouldn't continue for another year and a half, but I guess it will. I'm not coming home this year, mum. Have fun on your own." He painfully said, not wanting to say it, but needing to.

He kept his head down and tried to keep the crying to a minimum, but tears were still slipping out. He didn't take any pictures with fans, just kept his head down and pulled his hood up, trying his best to hide his sadness. But it didn't work - they all noticed as soon as he could be seen - tear stains on his cheeks, a pained expression - they were worried.

"Michael, what's wrong?"
"Don't cry, Michael, you're beautiful!"
"Michael, get a hug, right now! Hugs are the best medicine!"
"You'll be okay, Mikey! We love you! A lot!"

He smiled a bit at the last comment - the fans weren't fans, they were his family. Just like his band, unlike his mum. She may have his blood, but she isn't really his family.

The band is his family.

~

Luke and Michael were laughing at Calum, while Ashton was making food. Calum had tried to beat Luke's high score in a game, and miserably failed, when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Michael said. He walked to the front door of Liz's house, and opened it, only to have his smile replaced with a deep frown.

"Hi, Michael." Karen said. Michael kept a blank face, not wanting to show any emotion besides dislike.

"Look, I'm so --" Michael slammed the door in her face before she could utter another word and give a fake apology, stopping all laughter in the house.

He didn't say a word to the group of boys in the living room and went upstairs, finding comfort in Luke's room. He sat on the bed and pulled his knees to his chest, glaring at the wall, letting angry tears flow down his cheeks as he hears his mother's car drive away.

The door creaks open, but Michael doesn't tear his gaze from the wall. The bed dips down next to him, and yet, he still doesn't look away from the wall.

"Michael." Luke's voice rings throughout his ears. Michael gulps, still glaring at the wall.

Luke sighs and moves closer, pulling Michael into his chest.

That's when he breaks.

He curls into Luke, grabbing a fistful of his shirt, and crying silently, before quiet sobs wrack through him, muffled, strangled sounds escaping his lips. Luke didn't want Michael to feel like this - hell, he felt like pushing Karen into a wall right now for making her son feel this way, and strongly enough to have his happen.

He was so vulnerable - Michael doesn't cry. Michael toughs it out, bottles it up, and vents through music and Luke - this is new for Luke. Very new.

"She fucking promised." Michael whimpered, turning around so that Luke's arms were around his waist. He liked this position a lot better - he always had.

Luke just pulled Michael closer to him, hearing the door close. Liz must have closed it; Calum and Ashton still didn't know about their "secret" relationship. Only Liz and a handful of fans knew because they walked in on them either kissing or doing something couple-like - they all promised not to tell anyone until they were ready to, and they were so grateful for that.

Luke kissed his cheek, resting his head on Michael's shoulder, letting him talk it out. He went on and on, and Luke listened to every single word of it - how he wished his mum cared enough to show up and welcome him home, how he wished that he had a mum like Liz or Joy or Anne Marie, and even how he wished that he could understand why she didn't care.

When he finished, Luke turned him around and hugged him, knowing that his boyfriend was hurting, and wishing that he could help more than he already was.

Michael sniffled and cut the affectionate gesture short, pulling away.

"You'll always be here... right? Best friend or boyfriend - promise you'll never leave?" Michael whispered, taking Luke by surprise.

"I promise, Michael. I promise."

He'll never break it.