5sos One Shots

Michael BGM - Better Man

~A/N~ There are actual whole fanfics with this exact plot so it's pretty self-explanatory
Enjoy the chapter!
Leila xx

Michael (20):
Find me at quarter to three, cigarette in my hand
I'd be at every party, I'd never miss a chance
New friends again and again, gone when the morning comes
Demons I tried to defend, but I couldn't get enough

You first caught sight of the boy hunched over against the wall, smoke billowing out of his mouth and eyes redder than roses. Typical of a party like this, or at least you assumed so as you had never attended one before.

The bright lights, deafening music, grinding, drinking and drugs didn't appeal to you much, and after being dragged out of the comfort of your flat by your friends, you could confirm those feelings. Despite having endured it for over three hours, you were coming to your wit's end and decided to put your foot down - it was time to leave.

No one had said anything as you desperately shoved your way through the seething, gyrating mass of sweaty bodies, and with all your friends lost to the crowd you found your way out was pretty clear.

It was a chilly night, the cool breeze biting at your bare arms as you pulled down your dress self-consciously - it was a bit too short in your opinion although you had easily blended in inside.

But then you had caught sight of the blond boy leaning against the wall, now staring at you with an air of wonder, and the world seemed to spin slightly.

Come on, you chided yourself, don't be an idiot. Ok, he's hot but that doesn't mean you pass out just because he happens to be looking your way. Maybe he has dust in his eye.

"Hey," he said softly, dropping his cigarette and stamping on it. "I haven't seen you around before."

Your confusion momentarily distracted you from your hammering heart. "Are you familiar with everyone else?"

"Most people," he shrugged. "We're all in the same boat - broken, lonely, looking for some fun and a one night stand. Everyone ends up at the same parties around here, and I would've noticed a pretty girl like you."

You were glad the street lights were facing away from you, bathing the other side of the street in a warm orange glow while you were left in darkness that made your steadily rising blush invisible. But still, the boy seemed to notice your discomfort and smirked.

"I'm Michael."

"Y/N," you took the hand he offered you and your breathing hitched when he brought it to his lips instead of shaking it as you had expected. "And I'm not a one night stand."

"No," Michael chuckled, "I didn't think you were."

***
Fading away, fading away,
Wake up to someone with nothing to say
I'd never change, thought I'd never change
Then you come and change it all

The next Friday night, you were curious. This time, your friends hadn't even needed to try to convince you to attend the party with them - you wanted to see Michael again.

And you weren't disappointed.

"Did you get the one night stand, then?" you crept up on him in the kitchen, immediately recognising the messy blond hair and stubble.

"Too many," he sighed. "I think I'm digging deeper into this hole I'm trying to fill."

"What hole?" you knew it could be that you were pressing too far, but Michael seemed to have a lot of thoughts bottled up that he didn't mind spilling to you.

"I don't know how it got there, or when, but I guess it's a side effect of growing up too fast. All of us here, something happened to us - maybe a breakup, some life tragedy, maybe everything just happened too fast - and now we have voids inside us that we try to fill with alcohol and sex."

"Right..." you said slowly, not fully understanding. "Why don't you, I don't know, take a break? Step back and look at your life and find other things that make you happy?"

He looked sceptical. "I don't know how-"

"How about we start simple? I'll take you to my favourite place."

***
Thought I'd found the highest of highs,
Then you came and topped them all

"So, have a think," you chirped, "what makes you happy?"

Michael couldn't think at all. Not while the swings creaked beneath him and the grass was wet with dew on his ankles, and the darkening sky cast deathly shadows over the park, sending the normally bright colours into dull monochrome hues. An eerie silence draped itself over his shoulders, shrouding his heart in a muffling pall, and all he saw was the glitter in your eyes.

"Earth to Michael?" you giggled, and he jolted back to reality. "Don't worry. I get it too, it's really surreal here at night. That's why I love it so much."

He didn't understand the emotions you were sending bubbling through his veins, something he hadn't felt in a long time. Suddenly he was no longer empty, that void in his heart felt full for the first time in forever.

And he didn't want it to stop, so as your stare bored into his skull he decided to play your little game, try to find happiness. "The guitar. Playing onstage with my band."

You smiled. "You're in a band?"

He groaned inwardly. From the impression he got, you didn't get out much but his band wasn't exactly lowkey; what if your view changed?

"Yeah. Just me and my best friends, messing around."

You let your hair fall into your face and didn't press further, and Michael slipped further into the moment with you.

***
Darling, all of my wrongs they led me right to you
Wrapped in your arms I swear I'd die for your love
Your love, I'm a better, better man

"So how did you meet Y/N?" the interviewer asked, smiling at the boy so clearly in love. His bandmates tittered and nudged each other, but Michael was perfectly happy to answer the question.

"About three years ago, I was going through a very tough time - it wasn't pretty, but I wouldn't change anything because if I did, I wouldn't have met her. And she wouldn't have dragged me up from the ground and I wouldn't have fallen in love with her the second time we met. She's made me a better man, and the fans can say what they want but I'm a much better person than I ever would've been if she hadn't been there."

"So cute," Calum teased, but Michael didn't falter.

"It's true. I'm a better man."