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Michael shot up, clutching his shirt tightly. Hot, fat tears ran down his face. Sobbing quietly, Michael tried to silence himself so he wouldn't wake Sam in the next room or his mother. He closed his eyes, trying to get the memories of his father out of his head.
"Not here... he's not here." He said shakily, it was no use going back to sleep, the dreams would just come back. Wiping the tears still running down his face Michael got out of bed, heading to the bathroom across the hall. He tripped over his own feet, holding himself up on the doorframe. He looked at himself in the mirror, feeling the bags under his eyes.
Just a stupid dream, don't be such a baby Michael.
Michael turned on the sink, splashing water into his eyes. He went downstairs to the kitchen, turning on the coffee machine. He didn't know what time it was, but it was still dark out. By now his coffee had finished brewing. Michael fumbled for a mug, pouring his coffee into the cup, yawning.
After the coffee was finished Michael put on socks. He didn't notice they were mismatched, grabbing his keys and going to his bike. Just a quick ride, maybe to the boardwalk and back.
He started his motorcycle, driving off. Michael had no real destination, he wanted to get his dad out of his head.
Michael ended up at the Coronado Ironworks, he didn't remember driving here. Turning off his bike, Michael stumbled through the entrance of the cave, tripping a few times before ending up in the main room. He sat on the couch, staring at nothing, David wasn't here. Neither were any of the guys. Not even Star.
Michael curled in on himself, still struggling to get his tears to go away, he knew if he cried now he wasn't going to stop. In the end he failed, tears ran down his cheeks, dripping onto his shirt. Michael shivered, he had forgotten to grab a jacket before leaving his house.
He sobbed into his hands, silently hoping no one would find him and wishing someone would at the same time. Michael didn't know how long he sat there, crying on the couch.
There was noise coming from the entrance to the ironworks. Michael's head shot up, he quickly wiped his face as the ruckus came closer.
He saw Paul and Marko before anyone else, they were fighting over something that happened earlier that day, or night. They took a look at Michael, sitting curled up on the corner of the couch, his arms wrapped around his knees.
"Hey Mikey." Marko said calmly. "We didn't know you were stopping by."
Michael sniffed. "S-sorry."
"Awh, don't be sorry Mikey." Paul said.
David and Star entered the room after them. Dwayne was somewhere else, Michael didn't know.
As soon as David noticed Paul and Marko's unusual quietness he raised an eyebrow, questioning. Then he saw Michael, sitting in a ball. His eyes narrowed. "Michael."
"...Yeah?" Michael's voice was quiet, he sounded congested.
"What happened." It wasn't a question.
"I'm fine." Michael gave him a tight smile, it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Not what I asked." David said, frustrated.
"Sorry." His eyes were wide, filled with tears. David took notice, immediately ushering the others out of the room, he sat next to Michael on the couch.
"What happened." He repeated, again not a question.
Michael waved his hand, sniffling. "Nothings wrong, I'm just overreacting."
"You and I both know that's not true. Michael, tell me. I'm not asking."
"I told you nothing is wrong! Just drop it!" Michael snapped, glaring at David.
"I'm trying to help you! Stop being so stubborn goddammit!" David stood up off the couch, throwing his hands up and wirling around to face Michael. "You're obviously not fine, so just tell me what's wrong!"
"I don't have to tell you anything."
"Well you came here, to my home, in the middle of the night crying! Sorry if I want to know why!"
"Just drop it David." Michael crossed his arms.
"No you always do this! You make us worry - make me worry, then refuse to say anything!" David ran his hand angrily through his hair.
"Well I didn't ask for you to care! Drop it."
"You don't get to decide what I can and cannot do, Michael. If you have a problem with that either talk to me, or anyone, or leave!" David stepped closer, putting a finger to Michael's chest. "And don't you dare boss me around."
"Don't touch me." Michael pushed him off, only making David more irritated.
"I'm trying to help you! God stop being so difficult! I don't get it Michael, you want help then you don't want help. You cry then you yell when I ask why. Make up your mind!" David pushed him back, Michael tripped, falling into the ground beside the couch. He looked up at David, who stared right back at him. And for a moment it wasn't David standing there, glaring at him, eyes glowing gold. It was his father, yelling that he couldn't do anything right, that he was a fuck up, a mistake.
"Why can't you just back off?" Michael tried to keep the tremor from his voice. He could feel the fear creeping up, the urge to cover his head from what was coming. David stepped closer, Michael's breathing quickened, he could feel the tears behind his eyes.
"Because I care! Why is it so hard to get that through your head?!"
Michael flinched slightly at his raised voice, David noticed. "Michael."
"No."
"Goddamit Michael! Just once listen instead of arguing with me!"
Michael shut his mouth, arms wrapping around himself. He's not him. He doesn't mean it. He doesn't. He doesn't-
He tried to control it, but the tears forced themselves out of his eyes. Michael muffled a sob, curling into a ball. "Sorry- 'm sorry."
"Hey, no it's okay Michael. I'm sorry."
Sorry? But- But I-
Michael cried harder, giving up on trying to prevent it.
"Shit. Shit, shit, shit, c'mere." David sat on the couch, opening up his arms to Michael. Michael looked at him, then his face, seeing the sincerity. His face crumpled and he got up, wrapping his limbs around David, sitting in his lap, burying his face into David's shoulder.
He laid his arms gently around Michael, rubbing circles on his back. "Hey... it's okay bright eyes, just let it out. I'm sorry for yelling at you, I promise."
Michael sobbed pitifully, he pushed his face deeper into David's shoulder, trying to get closer.
"Oh sweetheart."
"Sorry." Michael said between cries.
"No apologies, you did nothing wrong."
"But I-"
"No. I upset you, you didn't do anything wrong. I was frustrated because I didn't know how to help you. It's nothing against you sweetheart, I swear."
Michael stayed silent, cursing himself for being weak. What would his dad think...
That you can't handle a little yelling
That you're weak
A wimp
Pathetic
Loser
Fuck up. Waste of space.
A disappointment.
He pulled back from the comfort of David's hold, staring at him.
Green met blue, David looked back at him, tears still ran down Michael's cheeks. David cupped Michael's face in his hands, holding him gently. "Shh take a breath. You're working yourself up Michael." He took exaggerated breaths to help Michael calm down, the latter copying him until his breaths had relaxed.
"Do you want to talk about it?" David asked, pulling Michael closer, wrapping him in a blanket from the couch. "What's got you here in the middle of the night?"
Michael hesitated, he didn't want to get called weak because of a nightmare. David noticed his hesitance, shaking his head softly. "I won't make fun of you, okay? No one will."
There was a moment of silence, Michael looked away from David, embarrassed. David smiled slightly, he placed his finger under Michael's chin, turning his head back. "Do you just want to sit here, no talking?" Michael shrugged, wiping his face. "Use your words, love."
"Just- Hold me? Please?" Michael put his head back into David's shoulder.
David pulled him closer, wrapping the blanket tighter around Michael. He laid back on the couch, pulling Michael with him. Michael sighed, relaxing.
His eyes closed, drifting off soon after. David frowned, his thumb rubbed under Michael's eye, looking at the dark circles under them. "Sleep, bright eyes, you need it." Michael leaned into his hand, smiling in his sleep.
David brought Michael back home, sneaking in through the window. He laid Michael onto his bed, taking off his shoes and pulling the blanket over him. He bent down and placed a light kiss to Michael's forehead before disappearing into the night.