Work Text:
Ray was sitting in the back of the tour bus, reading some guitar magazine he got at a gas station nearby. His legs were sitting on top of the back of the seats in front of him. The sun was almost fully down
Ray was about to flip the page when he heard the noise of someone trying to open the bus door. Ray silently groaned as he got up. He hoped it wasn’t a fan trying to get in, he already had to deal with that last week and he didn’t want to deal with it again.
Ray walked down the bus aisle to the front of the bus. He unlocked the bus door and opened it to see Mikey with tears in his eyes, a busted lip, and a bloody nose. As soon as the door opened, Mikey wrapped his arms around Ray, “Daddy!!” Mikey said through sobs, trying to get on the bus.
Ray quickly picked the little and shut the door. “Angel, what happened??” The worried caregiver asked as he locked the door with one hand. Mikey continued crying, loosely wrapping his arms around Ray’s neck. All that came out of Mikey’s mouth were sobs and mumbles.
“Sweetheart, use your words please. I need to know how you got hurt.” Ray said sternly as he set Mikey down on the first row of seats, the caregiver quickly looking through Mikey’s agere bag to find the little’s pacifier.
“D- D- Don’ wan’ tell..” Mikey whimpered as he covered his face with his hands, desperately trying to wipe the blood that was running from his nose.
“Good boys tell their daddy what happened, yeah? And i know you’re a good boy, Mikes. So can you tell me what happened, angel?” Ray said as cupped Mikey’s face in the palms of his hands, the curly haired caregiver pushing a tissue against Mikey’s nose to stop it from bleeding any longer.
“I- I- I was alking’ bac’ to da’ bus w- when these guys arted’ to c- corner me an’..” Mikey said before he started sobbing again, globs of tears rolled down his cheeks faster than ever. Ray rubbed Mikey’s back in a attempt to calm him down, smooth but slow circle motions.
A few minutes had gone by and Mikey had calmed down a bit, enough that he could speak. “T- They arted’ to corner me an’ den’ they arted’ to ay’ mean tings’ to me an’ then they tarted’ to push me an’ den-” Mikey started to sob again mid-way through his sentence, his back hitching up and down as each cry splurged out. Ray began to rub the little’s back again, hoping to calm him down quicker this time.
“A- After they arted’ to push me they punched me an’ i tried to fight ack’ but i not good at it..” Mikey murmured, his lip starting to swell up a bit. Ray caressed Mikey’s cheek with his thumb, trying to figure out the severity of the swelling.
Mikey began to wail again, his sobs being more loud than the past times. Ray gently rocked the little’s back in forth. He was worried Mikey would get sick if he kept on crying. His baby was already in enough distress, he didn’t want him to be in more. “It’s okay, angel.. Shhhhh…. It’s okay..” Ray whispered into the little’s ear, stroking Mikey’s hair with his fingers.
“Dada.. S’ hurts…” Mikey whined as he pointed to his lips. Mikey had just woken up from his short nap, it was only about 5 minutes long. Ray got out his own water bottle and poured the ice into a plastic sandwich bag. He zipped up the bag tightly, tipping the bag upside down to make sure it didn’t leak. He gently pressed it up to Mikey’s lips.
Mikey whined when the ice pack pressed against his lips, “Cold!!” Mikey whimpered, trying to push away the ice bag away from his face. Ray stayed firm and made sure Mikey couldn’t move the ice. “Shhhhh.. Baby, I know it’s cold but you don’t want your lips to hurt anymore, yeah? this is the only way they won’t hurt, angel.” Ray spoke gently but stern, holding the icepack onto the little’s face and stroking Mikey’s hair with the other.
Mikey’s eyelids got heavy as Ray rocked him back n forth in a steady rhythm, Ray’s calloused fingers running through Mikey’s hazel hair made him feel safe. “Dada.. m’ wan’ Sprinkles..” Mikey mumbled, slowly making grabby hands in the air. Ah yes, Mikey’s stuffed cat named Sprinkles, it was a white cat with colorful sprinkles all over it. It was Mikey’s favorite plush because Ray got it for him. Ray began to rummage through the little’s agere bag, the same bag he retrieved Mikey’s paci from earlier. Ray felt something soft with the tips of his fingers and grabbed it out the bag. To no surprise, it’s was Mikey’s plush kitty. Ray handed the hazel haired boy the plushie.
It had been about 30 minutes since Mikey fell asleep when the bus doors opened up. Gerard and Frank hopped in the tour bus, using the small metal railing that was next to the stairs. “Is he sleeping??” Frank whisper-yelled to Ray, trying to be as quiet as possible. Ray nodded as the two guys tip toed over.
“What the hell happened??” Gerard asked as he noticed Mikey’s injuries, pointing to his younger brother’s lips. “Well basically… Some dudes cornered him and fought him as he was walking back to the tour bus…” Ray explained, gently pushing a piece of hair away from Mikey’s face. The little’s grip tightened on his plushie as he slept.
“Really?? Im gonna find those guys and beat them into a pulp!” Frank said as he turned around to leave the tour bus, cracking his knuckles as he walked. Gerard began to try to pull Frank back, “No you’re not.” Gerard said as he tried to hold Frank back. Frank growled in protest, crossing his arms as he tried to free his friends grasp. “If you really want to do that, you can do that when im asleep. But while im awake, you’re not doing anything of that matter.” Gerard said sternly, turning Frank around to face the bunks. “I agree with Gee, we don’t need you getting arrested.” Ray said as he rocked Mikey back n forth steadily, Mikey sleeping quietly in his caregiver’s arms.
“Well, I think me and Frank are going to go to bed. See you two tomorrow.” Gerard said to Ray as he yawned. Mikey was still sound asleep, quietly snoring. Ray nodded, “Okay, see you guys tomorrow.”
the end