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"Jeez Gerard, stop babysitting it and pass it over here." Ray giggled as Gerard choked, smoke spilling out of his mouth in spurts as he coughed. The stench of weed filled the basement as Gerard's face turned red and the bong was snatched from his hands. The messy basement bedroom had been the perfect spot for smoking, evident by the filled ashtrays and lingering smell from the last time they lit up a joint in Gerard's room. The only light illuminating the room was the paused video game on the small TV in the corner. All of the collectables and mess seemed much less in the dim lighting.
Mikey sat snuggled up in a fluffy batman blanket, his back against the bedframe as he watched Ray take a massive rip off of the bong. Mikey giggled as he watched Ray cough and sputter just as Gerard had, despite his previous confidence. Nervousness built in Mikey's stomach as it came time for him to take a rip. He was almost never allowed to smoke with his older brother, it seemed almost taboo even now as he sat on the cold floor with them. Ray had suggested the hangout after the formation of the band, and Gerard had almost immediately agreed to Mikey's surprise. It wasn't like he had never smoked weed, he'd been to many parties where he had taken a hit or two off of a join that was being passed around, but he hadn't ever sat in a circle and passed around a bong with the intention of getting completely stoned. Especially when smoking with someone like Ray, who was notorious for going through weed like it was nothing. Now that was something he'd never done.
"Mikey, are you gonna take a hit?" Ray asked, his giggles melting away to a bit of worry. Mikey seemed to be staring off, or maybe he was confused? Ray really couldn't tell.
"Oh, uh" Mikey paused, holding the lighter. He wasn't truly sure how to light it himself and pull out the plug, or any of the specifics as a matter of fact.
"It's ok Mikes, let me help." Ray scooted across the stained carpet, his taller figure almost towering over Mikey as he reached around for the lighter. "Ok, so your just gonna put your mouth here.." Ray gently helped Mikey take a rip, butterflies rippling through Mikey's stomach as Ray's big hands smoothed over his back to soothe his coughing.
"Oh my god, that was awful. Why do people prefer bongs over joints?" Mikey sputtered out, passing the glass bong to his brother. Ray chuckled and stayed where he was, just a tad bit too close, gently rubbing his back.
"Aww, baby Mikey can't handle his weed." Gerard teased, being met with swatting from his younger brother.
***
The bong was passed around their small circle for so long they lost track of time, the lack of windows in the basement not helping. They ended up putting everything away and splitting up. Gerard finally un-paused the videogame, playing while Ray watched from where Mikey was sitting earlier. Mikey laid on the bed, running his arms along the gross sheets and feeling himself melt into the fabric. Every time he passed by Ray's curls his fingers tingled, as if his built nervousness was manifesting in his extremities.
"Hey, ok, so," Ray started slowly, turning around at the same pace his brain seemed to be working. "Weird ask, but could you play with my hair? I feel like it would be really nice right now." He asked with a dopey smile on his face, internally cursing himself for sounding so stupid. But desire came over dignity as of right now, and Ray needed Mikey's fingers raking through his hair.
Mikey had completely stopped talking by this point, but nodded patted for ray to come up and join him on the bed. His fuzzy mind completely forgetting to move over and make room. This was no problem to Ray however, as he got up and completely flopped on top of Mikey, almost burying his head into his lean chest.
Ray felt so fuzzy around the edges, the pressure of him on top of Mikey feeling so incredibly warm he could feel it in his bones. Mikey wrapped his arms around Ray's toned back and began softly scratching his scalp. Ray melted into the touch, sighing in content and smiling dumbly to himself. They laid like that in the quiet for a while, the ambient noises of Gerard's videogame melting into the background.
"So, what do you think about Frank?" Mikey finally broke the calm silence, his voice hoarse from disuse. Ray had to think for a moment to remember his opinion on him.
"I like him, I guess. He's a little crazy though, and I don't think we need another guitarist right now." Ray's voice was muffled into Mikey's T-shirt. Mikey nodded, moving from scratching his scalp to separating sections of his hair and running his fingers through them. Trying his best to be gentle with Ray's fro.
"Why, what do you think about the band?" Ray asked, moving his head so he could look up at Mikey. From where he was Mikey looked completely blissed out, eyes low and barely a thought on his face. Even from a strange angle Ray found Mikey endearing.
"I think we're going to go places. Like, we're going to make it out of here. I just have a feeling." Mikey spoke barely above a whisper, trying to avoid Ray's bright eyes staring at him. The ceiling looked very interesting as of right now. His face must have been flushing because he could feel the heat rise in his cheeks, everything that was already warm was getting warmer.
"Yeah? What do you feel about this?" Ray asked with a shit-eating grin, already knowing he was pushing it as he saw Mikey's face turn tomato red.
"I think your nice, I mean- I think your nice." Mikey stuttered, stumbling over slow words. He just knew Ray was feeding off of his embarrassment. "Why, um, how do you feel about this."
"I like this a lot. I think we should do this a lot more." Ray sighed, nuzzling his face back into Mikey's T-shirt so he couldn't see how his proud grin had faded into a nervous and uncontrollable smile.
"Um, would you, you know, do this when you're sober?" The question had been gnawing at Mikey since he noticed Ray lovingly staring at him with glazed over eyes. He was known to be the king of intoxicated one-night stands; but one-night stands don't give you guitar lessons where they stand far too close for comfort, or constantly sit themselves next to you, or look for you every time they're in a group and find something funny, or any sort of tension like the tension that laid between them. Tensions wedged between where their rib cages met, and rising and falling lungs kissed when they took in deep, slow breaths.
"Only for you." Ray let the sentence slip, quiet and warm. It wasn't what he originally planned to say. He meant to quip back with something short and witty, nothing as vulnerable as what came out.
Mikey swallowed thickly and nodded, cotton mouth finally getting to him. He moved on hand out of Ray's hair and down his back, showing the same reassurance Ray had earlier when he struggled to breath after taking a hit. Mikey felt calloused fingers rub into his side, a small motion that meant the world to the both of them. Touch that was reciprocated, love from both sides. Their breathing fell into rhythm as they began to drift off, feeling floaty as the tension lifted off of them and weed induced sleep took over.