Chapter Text
Mikey Way trembled as his fingers lightly plucked at the strings of the bass, the vibrations pulsing through his fingertips. Sweat glimmered across his brow as the bright stage lights flashed rhythmically to the beat of Famous Last Words. As the massive sea of a crowd cheerfully sang along to Gerard's passionate vocals, he couldn't help but feel a small pit form in his stomach.
Why?
Everything was fine a few moments ago - more than fine, actually. He was confident, happy, and bursting with energy during the first track, but now near the end of the show he was nearly panting and his vision was a tad blurred. Perhaps he was just tired after playing for so long and the relentless touring. But he knew deep down that wasn't the case.
Something in the audience was different. He could sense it. His eyes slowly shifted back and forth as he scanned the sea of people; someone stuck out to him in the corner of his eye.
As his vision adjusted, he saw her in the boisterous crowd - a short, dark-haired woman adorned in faded tight jeans and a dark grey wool hoodie covering much of her face. She seemed to be looking down in disinterest or dismay, hands shoved into her pockets. Mikey tuned out the rest of the surrounding sound, and the pulse of the musical beat was replaced by the steady, nervous drum of his own heart. She just didn't seem to belong here.
Catching himself staring for too long, he snapped back to reality, a sudden frustration mounting to mask his fear.
If you don't even like our music, why spend all that money on concert tickets? He thought bitterly to himself.
His train of thought continued, softening this time. ...Calm down, don't be too judgmental, she's probably having a rough day or her friend made her come...
Sighing dejectedly, Mikey tried to shake off the unease and force himself to finish the song, fingers strumming mechanically over the bass strings.