The Hideout // Petekey AU

iv.

Mikey.

I finally reached my apartment, throwing my belongings down on the nearest piece of furniture I could find. I sighed feeling heavy, confused by my encounter with the strange boy named Pete. I was too tired to keep over thinking everything that perspired, and heaved myself onto the bed, allowing myself to drift off.

I woke up the next morning, feeling drained from my brain going into overdrive. I had a few classes today, that I for once dreaded. I usually loved my Music Production class, but everything with Pete was hanging over my head like a storm cloud that could only rain on me.

I decided against my usual morning coffee routine, because the air of The Hideout™ felt oddly tense. I opted for quickly chugging three energy drinks in an attempt to satiate my caffeine cravings.

I went through my day in a sluggish haze, my mind constantly reverting to the coffee eyed boy. My Music Production class was a blur, my mind was unable to focus on the lessons trying to teach me how to properly use the oscillator controls on a soundboard. The only thing I saw as I looked down at my hands on the digital simulation of the panel was Pete's warm toned hands on the steaming mugs as he always set them down in front of me.

Even if I didn't look up as the drink was given to me, I always noticed the action through my peripheral vision. These still images in my head gave me comfort, yet didn't help the uneasy feeling I had in my stomach all day.

I finally made it through my class, tired despite the energy drinks I forced down my throat. I was hungry, but didn't feel like stopping anywhere so I resigned myself to making over cooked ramen back at my apartment. I unlocked my door, turned on the lights and put my keys down on the small table by my door. As I set my belongings down I went to my room to change, opting for a cozy sweater instead of the Anthrax shirt I sported all day.

I heard a knock on my door, and shuffled over to open it. "Hey Mikey." I heard as I opened the door wider to let a choppy black haired figure into my house.

"Why are you at my house Gerard?" I sighed out rubbing my temples to dull the pounding in my head.

"What? I can't visit my younger brother? I wanted to see what you were up to," he paused as he took a seat on a barstool in my kitchen "I wanted to catch up and talk about a few things.." I noticed his voice trail off and knew immediately what he wanted to talk about. Bert. I watched him pull a cigarette out of a pack and swiftly push it between his lips; lighting it slowly.

"God Gerard, let me open a damn window if you're gonna smoke in here." I normally was very against someone smoking inside, especially in my own apartment, but I knew what kind of seriousness the coming conversation would hold and pushed my opinions to the side. I crossed the room and unlatched a small window, leaving the screen closed due to the forewarning clouds and grey tones to the outside world. "Does this happen to have anything to do with your douchey boyfriend?" I said while my back was still turned to him.

"He's not a bad person he just has issues he needs to deal with, and I'm helping him really, I think I'm getting somewhere finally."

"He doesn't have problems, he is the problem." I had gotten used to these conversations, having had them so often lately. "Gerard I'm only gonna say this once, but I need you to fucking listen: you do not deserve to be treated like this, dump his ass and have an actual life."

"I don't know Mikes, I know I should, but it's harder than you think, I don't have my own place to live and I need him." He sighed. "Look I'll talk to you tomorrow okay, and I promise I'll try and stand up for myself for once."

"Alright please be careful." I hugged him and closed the door, locking it behind him, I knew he wouldn't do anything, but not everyone can be saved. I had lost my appetite and decided to try and crawl into bed and shut out everything looming over me.

I sat under my covers trying to process the past few days until my headache returned. I got out of bed feeling my feet on the cold floors and took some painkillers. I laid down and finally felt sleep overtake me.

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A/N: I hope you liked this, I wanted to kind of develop some side character connections so the story isn't just pete and mikey even tho it is petekey, but it's kind of a refreshing addition to the plot I DUNNO. Anyways pls comment and vote and leave some feedback thx loves. -r