Archive of Our Own

Let's do things differently.

Very differently.

My name is Gerard Way. A radioactive spider didn't bite me, but I was messed up by whatever the hell I took. And for the last 3 years, I’ve been the one and only Party Poison.

Based on some of the Spider-Man comics in my room, I think you know the rest.

Y'know, I’ve seen people compare me to Spider-Man, and yeah, I think that's pretty cool! Well, really, the only thing we have in common is my inspiration for web-based fighting, but I like to think I’m pretty original.

Like today:

BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY

“Gee, we’re heading to that coffee place, you wanna come?” Frank called out as he slung his bag on his shoulder.

Gerard popped his head from the booth. “Huh? Uh, nah, you guys go ahead. I'm gonna go practice a bit more.” He responded, quickly reloading his web-shooters and shoving the empty canisters in his bag.

“You sure?” Mikey asked, “You never pass up an opportunity for caffeine.”

After quickly testing out the new webs, Gerard shrugged. “I just wanted to practice more.”

Mikey just shrugged as he put his jacket on and headed out. 

“Text me when you get home!” Gerard called out.

“Yeah, yeah, I will.”

And with that, Gerard was alone. They got up and checked outside, making sure the rest of the band wasn't planning on returning. Once everything was cleared, Gerard took off his hoodie, revealing the Party Poison suit hidden underneath. They exited through the back door, shoving their clothes into their bag and stuck it behind the fire escape.

He shot a web at a nearby utility pole and swung.

Just another patrol.

———

“Have you guys noticed Gerard staying out for practice more?”

There was a quiet rumble above them akin to the sound of moving a heavy stone.

Frank and Mikey looked up as Ray brought up the question. It had been happening for a while now, two years or something, but it had noticeably been more frequent these days. Especially with them starting their new album.

Frank shrugged, “Yeah, I think he just wants to get better with his vocals. It's still kinda worrying.”

“He's been out more frequently, actually,” Mikey added. “Said something about vocal lessons.” He thought back to instances where Gerard had just randomly disappeared and reappeared or seen back home.

“Come to think of it,” Ray began, “Didn't it start some time after Gerard went missing?”

Everyone stiffened at the mention of that… event. Gerard had not been in the best mental state; one day disappearing with nothing but a note telling Mikey he was going on a hike and becoming the next Jim Morrison. Mikey shook his head as he remembered the anxiety, the fear, the sheer fucking terror he felt knowing it was possible he would never see his brother again.

After a while, Mikey just nodded, “Yeah, it did.”

There was silence between them—only interrupted by the conversation of some other patrons commenting about what seemed like particles of dust or debris falling on them and their food—as they went back to their drinks, a sense of worry filled the air.

Eventually, Ray spoke up again. “Gerard's ok, right?”

That's what Mikey wanted to know, too. He knew Gerard had been trying, trying for everyone, trying to get clean. But there's still that worry. Mikey has seen the progress, seen Gerard try to get better for the band and for his friends, but they’ve been coming home with bruises and scratches, and he doesn't know where they came from. Has someone been hurting Gerard? Has Gerard found other ways of self-destruction?

Mikey prays to whatever god out there that he hasn't.

———

So far, mostly a regular patrol aside from the usual attempted robberies. It wasn't until a few hours in that his senses alerted him to where danger would be. So Gerard followed it as fast as he could, hoping to prevent it before it could happen.

A rock the size of a boulder dropped in their gut.

The coffee place was a five-story building. From what he could see, the building had not been built for more than one floor, evident by the lack of support beams. The building was gonna collapse from the weight and lack of support, and in that building was Mikey, as well as Frank and Ray, on the fourth floor near the windows.

Gerard had to get them out fast.

They quickly swung as fast as he could towards the window, sticking to it as he knocked on the glass. Not that it really did much, as he simply landing there had already attracted the attention of multiple people.

Frank looked at him in awe, eyes shining as if all the stars in the sky had been stolen by him. He looked at Party Poison like how he looked at him in the recording studio. Gerard mentally shook his head. They needed to focus.

“You need to get out!” Gerard exclaimed, “The building's gonna collapse!”

As if on cue, the building shook. Like a warning for them to get out.

The vigilante quickly jumped down and entered the establishment, yelling and hurriedly getting the customers and employees out. He made his way upstairs and did the same.

He saw the rest of the band follow suit, running down the flight of stairs before the ground fell below them. It was there that the world disappeared, and all that mattered was protecting his band.

In an instant, Gerard had webbed and caught them as they fell, setting them down to get them to safety, as close to the exit as possible.

That was when the building shook again, degrading once more as piles of rubble built up as they fell, blocking any sort of exit as the ceiling came falling. A sharp piece from a pipe fell and stabbed him in the side as he cried out in pain, feeling the sting as he held his side in an attempt to minimize the bleeding.

Shit, Gerard thought to himself. He was bleeding. A lot. He grabbed his bleeding side as he felt the panic start to wrap its terrible claws around him. He needed to act. He needed to move. Move, goddamnit, move!

Gerard looked up at the falling debris. He looked down at the people running, desperately clawing at the pile of rubble blocking their way out, and there he saw his brother. Mikey.

Mikey. His band was there; Frank, Ray, and Mikey were there. Down there, down where the falling debris was going to land.

Where it was going to land if he didn't do something.

Gerard shut his eyes and focused.

Just like band rehearsals.

Beat.

Beat.

Beat.

Beat.

Guitars. 

Strumming.

Start.

Thwip!

He shot the webs as he launched from his position and connected the two sides with the webs, creating a bridge. By the time he was almost in the center, he was already shooting more, tossing the web to the other side as he landed and shot more to the side, finding his rhythm as he planted everything, forming a literal spider web as he set the plan into motion.

Gerard moved swiftly and smoothly, keeping with the beat and tempo he set in his mind. They swung up and landed where they needed to as they hit the ground running, 3 steps exactly. Jump and shoot more webs on the falling debris. No room for hesitation.

The band in their mind set the speed and rhythm for Gerard; this was just like singing in a way. If they sang the wrong note, everyone would know. If they messed up now, everyone would die.

Gerard landed on a ledge, tying the webs to his arms as he held up the rubble, pulling it up as the safety net he set up acted as a barrier between them and the people below.

Time slowed as the debris and shrapnel slowly landed on the net, preventing any sort of further damage or fatalities.

It was like time itself had frozen over.

Gerard jumped down. “Is everyone ok?” They asked, landing and immediately scanning the crowd for their brother.

Mikey was okay. Well, no major injury aside from a scratch on his forehead, which he’ll have to comment on later. The same could be said for Frank and Ray. Gerard sighed in relief.

He took the victims out of the crumbled building in groups, making sure they were set down safely.

“You guys ok?” Gerard asked the band as he set them down on the sidewalk. He really shouldn't be risking his identity like this, showing favorites when he should be prioritizing everyone equally. But these are his friends, damnit. Let him make sure they were ok.

Ray nodded as he looked to the others for confirmation. The others nodded as they all looked at each other, watching for any sort of injury. “Yeah, I think we're alright.”

“Ok,” Gerard replied. “Get home safe, guys,” They said as they shot a web back up.

But before they could swing up, Ray spoke up. “Hey, what about you?” Gerard paused, silently asking him to continue. “You're hurt.”

The vigilante looked down at their side. There was— oh. Oh, that's… that is a concerning amount of blood for a normal person. Good thing Gerard isn't a normal person. “It's fine,” They claimed, “I heal fast. You don't have to worry about me.” And they swung up and quickly brought out the remaining trapped victims.

Once everyone was out, Gerard looked at the remains of the cafe. No fatal casualties or injuries aside from the stab at their side.

Everything paused. He held his breath. And once the adrenaline ran out, Gerard collapsed as he tried to walk away.

God, he was so tired.

He knew he couldn't stay like this for long—he could get caught, he still needed to recover, he still needed to know Mikey was safe at home—but the concrete felt nice. 

But they knew they couldn't stay like this. So they got up, shot a web, and swung away.

———

“Holy shit, guys, Party Poison looked right at me!” Frank jumped as he walked the streets home. “He actually talked to me!” 

“Frank, he talked to all of us. We were gonna die.” Ray replied.

Frank only smiled wider, “And he saved us! He webbed us and— holy shit Party Poison touched me.”

Mikey scoffed, disgusted, “Jesus, Iero, keep it in your pants. First my brother, now him?”

“Well, listen,” Frank waved a hand at Mikey, “Have we seen Gee and Party Poison in the same place, ever? I mean, if they were the same guy, I’d—”

Ray covered his ears as he quickened his walk. “Nope! Not hearing this!”

Mikey rolled his eyes as Frank giggled next to him. Speaking of Gerard…

“Oh shit, I forgot to text Gee. He's gonna hound me about what happened.” He said as he took out his phone to check for any messages.

Nothing. Weird.

“Huh…” Mikey slowed to a halt as he stared at the screen.

“What's wrong?” Ray asked, stopping in his tracks with Frank. Mikey shrugged, “Gerard hasn't even texted. At all.” 

He felt a chill in his spine. Was his brother okay? Was he somehow caught in the crossfire of the attack? Mikey called Gerard's phone. No response. He tried again. Still nothing. He sent out a quick message telling him he’ll be home soon and to call him back. 

“They’re not responding; they probably fell asleep. I’ll just meet them back home.”

This feels weird. Mikey feels weird. He wasn't supposed to be worried for Gerard. Why was he worried? Gerard can take care of himself.

———

Gerard saw through the window. The basement was dark and empty. Perfect. They opened the window and slowly crawled on the ceiling, peeling off the mask as they grit his teeth and bared the wound on their side.

Blood dripped from the ceiling as he hissed at every careful movement. He knew his parents were out overtime, and Mikey wouldn't be home til—

Click!

Shit.

Gerard paused as he heard the lights turn on from upstairs, as the footsteps made their way to the basement door. “Gee, are you home yet?” Mikey yelled through the door as he knocked. Gerard cannot get himself to answer without hissing in pain.

After a beat of silence, the footsteps eventually faded as Mikey presumably went upstairs. Gerard let out a breath he had no idea he was holding as he continued his crawl, finding a way to get back to the ground as safely as he could.

The floor wasn't that far, so he slowly lowered his feet into the closest thing to a standing position he could do and let go.

And immediately crumpled to the ground with a groan.

Gerard’s senses alerted him to Mikey running down the stairs. He tried—keyword: tried—shooting webs at the door to keep it closed, only to be met with an empty clicking sound as he quickly realized he was out of webs.

The door swung open as Mikey burst through the door and turned on the lights, baseball bat in hand, ready to hit whoever broke into the house.

Only to be met with a stunned and bleeding Gerard Way on the basement floor, still wearing his suit, looking like a deer in headlights.

“Uh…”

Mikey looked at Gerard, and then looked at the ceiling with blood trailing from the window, then looked back at Gerard, bleeding on the ground, wearing the Party Poison suit.

“My brother is Party Poison…” Mikey managed to mutter.

And then Mikey passed out. Collapsed straight to the ground, knocked cold.

“Shit.”

Gerard shakily got up and limped their way to their brother, lifting him by the arm and slung him over his shoulder as they made their way towards their bed. This is definitely going to make the wound worse, but right now, they just needed their brother to lie on something that isn't the hardwood steps in the basement.

He sighed and grabbed the first-aid kit under his bed—It was initially meant for the whole family, but ever since the whole vigilante thing, Gerard has taken the first-aid kit for himself—and took out the antiseptic, cotton, and gauze pads, and made his way to the bathroom.

The wound stung as he cleaned it with water and applied the alcohol around the area before applying the gauze. It would heal in a few hours, but it’d be way more ideal to not be bleeding all over the room and risk an infection before Mikey even woke up. 

Once he was done, Gerard looked up and into the mirror. He almost didn't even recognize himself. He looked like a mess. He had gotten thinner, thinner than he had been before; he sported darker circles under his eyes, and he had dirt and blood smeared all over his face from a nosebleed. It must've spread under his mask. No wonder Mikey passed out; he looked like a corpse. Gerard splashed his face with water and scrubbed any remaining dirt and blood off, and changed his clothes before returning to the basement.

———

Mikey opened his eyes and was met with the basement ceiling.

His brother was Party Poison.

There's no way, right? How would that even be possible? That scene from earlier, that was just a manifestation of the bullshit Frank was spitting about not seeing Gerard and Party Poison in one room together. Yeah, just made up bullshit.

But Mikey looked to his side. The blood on the carpet and the ceiling was still there.

Mikey felt like has about to pass out all over again.

That meant… Gerard had been the one who took those hits, Gerard had been the one to put webs in one smooth go, Gerard had been the one to save the entire building from getting crushed under the debris.

His brother had been the one to save people from even the deadliest situations.

He's seen the news, seen Party Poison receiving life-threatening injuries and wounds, damage that should've killed a normal person.

There have been times when Party Poison has almost died.

Gerard had taken a pipe to the side.

Oh god.

His brother had almost died.

The door swung open. Gerard came down. “Thank God you're awake,” Gerard said as he walked down with a glass of water, “I think I would’ve killed you myself if you didn't.”

“I’d kill for a glass of water, actually,” Mikey rasped out.

“Yeah?” Gerard replied, pausing to stare Mikey in the eyes as he took a sip of water.

Mikey stared back. Blankly.

Gerard snorted as he sat down and brought the water to Mikey. “Wow. Thanks.” Mikey said as he was handed the glass, drinking it quickly.

His brother was Party Poison. And he’s here messing with Mikey like he normally would.

“That's a nasty scratch there,” Gerard pointed at his forehead. “What happened to you?”

Mikey glanced back up to the bloodied ceiling, blood presumably dried up by now. He doesn't know how Gerard would clean it up. Has Gerard done this before? How many times has he come home, hurt and bleeding, tending to himself because he couldn't tell anyone else his identity?

The thought of it made him sick.

“Ignore that,” Gerard waved his hand, “That's just… um, paint. I, uh, got carried away, I guess.” He smiled, too strained and awkward. 

There was a growing feeling in Mikey's gut, gnawing at him until it was all he could comprehend. 

His brother was Party Poison. And he could lose his brother.

Mikey doesn't know what pushed him to ask. The proof was there, he knew what he saw, but…

“Gee?… Are you Party Poison?”

———

Act dumb! 

“Who's Gee?”

Not that dumb!

Mikey shot Gerard an incredulous look as he slowly sat up, “Are you actually serious?”

Gerard sighed as he looked away. He couldn't bear to even look Mikey in the eyes. “I—... You…” He paused. He looked back at his brother, but then quickly averted his gaze again. 

There was a moment of silence before Gerard sighed.

“… Yeah, I am.”

Mikey let out a shaky breath. “Were you ever gonna tell me?”

“I— I don't know, I just… I didn't want to put you in danger.”

“But you're constantly in danger! What would've happened if you—” Mikey's voice hitched, the words refusing to leave his mouth. “If you died out there, I— I don't know what I’d do. Would I have even known!?”

“I don't know, Mikey. I don't…” Gerard took a deep breath.

“I could help you, y'know.” Mikey started. “I could be there to help you—”

“Absolutely not.” He shot down, “You are not coming to help me, alright? There's no way I’m letting you get close to any sort of fight I’m in.”

“No, but I can be out there if you get hurt!”

“I said no! That would defeat the whole purpose of being what I am! I'm doing this to keep you, to keep people, everyone safe!” 

“I wouldn't fight next to you, I’ll be your medic or some shit, I’ll be support!” Mikey fought back, raising his voice.

“No!”

“Why not!?”

“Because I don't want to lose you!” Gerard yelled as they gripped Mikey's shoulder.

“How do you think I feel?!” Mikey yelled as he shrugged off his brother's arms and held on to Gerard's shoulders. He could feel his throat tightening, that familiar strain where you know you're choking on your own emotion. 

“How do you think I feel now that I know you are the one taking all those hits? Knowing the hero putting his own life on the line to save others is my brother?” He let out a sob as he gripped his brother's shoulders tighter, grounding him, reminding him Gerard is here—still here.

“Were you ever gonna tell me?” He asked, “Was I supposed to live my life only to one day find out you were never coming home because, surprise, my brother is the vigilante Party Poison and he died fighting whatever your equivalent to The Vulture is?!”

“I…” Gerard began, “I didn't know how to tell you. I still don't know how to even explain to you now.”

Mikey looked up at his brother, tears staining his cheeks as he cried. He felt like a child who needed his older brother again. “How many times have you had to take care of some injury alone?”

“Mikey…”

“Gerard, how many times have you almost died?”

Gerard frowned, “Mikey, I can't tell you that.”

The lack of an answer spoke for itself. Too many to count left unsaid in favor of sparing their brother the truth.

This only made Mikey more upset. “I still need you. Ray needs you, Frank, the band! We all still need you here!” Mikey’s voice cracked as he continued, shaking Gerard as though emphasizing the weight of his worry. “You tell me you don't want me in danger, but here you are throwing yourself in harm's way!”

“Mikey, you know I can't stop being Party Poison,” Gerard snapped back. “I’ve been doing this for three years, I can't just abandon people to save myself.”

Mikey only gripped his brother tighter as he shook his head. “I'm not asking you to!” He yelled. “I'm asking you to let me help! I just need to know you're still alive out there!”

He pulled Gerard into a tight hug. “I don't want to learn how to live without you yet. Please, don't make me learn to live without you.” Mikey gripped the back of Gerard's shirt, afraid to let go. Letting go meant Gerard would go out and continue his heroism, continue fighting for people's lives, endangering his own. He didn't want that. He didn't want Party Poison. Right now, he just wanted his brother.

“Promise me you won't make me, please.”

Gerard sat there, frozen at Mikey's outburst. He could feel his brother's shaky breaths, his shirt growing wetter as Mikey cried into his shoulder. 

Arms wrapped tightly around Mikey as Gerard returned the hug, rubbing their hand on Mikey’s back as a weak attempt at comfort. “I won't.”

They stayed like this for a good minute til Mikey's sobbing died down to soft, hitched breathing.

Gerard grabs the glass of water. “Here,” He began, “You kinda cried out the water you just drank earlier.”

Mikey snorted as he took the glass. Gerard nudged him as he finished. “You alright now?”

Mikey looked at him, confused. “Yeah, I am.” He set the glass down.” Y'know, I should be the one asking you. I’ve seen the type of things you get to, I know some of the injuries you’ve gotten.”

Gerard just sighed as he patted Mikey's back. “You don't need to worry about me. I can handle it.”

“You know I’m still gonna worry, right?”

“I know.”

They stayed silent once more.

“Gee?”

“Yeah?”

Mikey fidgeted. “Please tell me when you get hurt. I don't want to come home to find you bleeding on the floor and not know what to do.” 

Gerard paused, conflicted at the request. “I won't be in the fight,” Mikey continued, “But I don't want you dealing with potential life-threatening injuries alone.” 

Gerard kept quiet, silently weighing their choices in their mind.

After a while, he sighed, slumping over as he looked at Mikey again, bouncing his knee as he found the right words.

“… Fine.” Gerard finally spoke. Mikey perked up. “But only when you and I are home.”

Mikey immediately deflated, “How the hell does that work?”

“I'm not gonna let you randomly leave just because I got hurt, ok?” Gerard explained, “So you're only allowed to when I get back. I can't risk you coming near any fight, so it's safer if you get back early, and so we can, y'know, do whatever patching up is needed. You understand?”

“Dude, you can't expect me not to run to you when you need help.” 

“Yeah, well, good luck with that, because I’m going straight home, and the sooner I meet you here, the better!”

Mikey groaned as he flopped back onto the bed, “God, who knew the great Party Poison would be such a stick in the mud.”

Gerard let out a laugh, possibly the first one since they left the recording booth, as he reached for the glass of water. “Haven't you heard? I'm a delight to talk to. Just ask the criminals I fight daily.”

“Have we seen Gee and Party Poison in the same place, ever? I mean, if they were the same guy, I’d—”

The memory nudged its head in Mikey's mind. He snorted, “Man, Frank would lose his shit if he found out the two guys he's thirsting after are the same person.” Mikey said, which earned a choked sound as Gerard sputtered out the water he just drank.

“What?!”

The younger of the two laughed. “Dude, Frank has been constantly talking about you. He keeps looking at you like you hung the stars and moon in the sky, and he doesn't even know about your alternate identity.”

Gerard sat there, staring at nothing in particular. “Damn,” He said as he flopped down on the bed next to Mikey.

“I should totally pull a Spider-Man move and kiss him upside down.”

“Shut up.”

They both sat in comfortable silence. It felt like a weight had been taken off of Gerard's shoulders. He didn't need to hide things from someone anymore. Well, from Mikey, anyway.

Right now, they’ll savor the relief of finally having someone to confide in after all these years alone.