Gear has been acting far stranger than usual. Erratic behaviour was expected of him, anyone that shared the same roof over their head as him knew it by now. But whatever was going on with him this time seemed to snowball by each passing day. First he’d just drive off and disappear for hours, which wasn’t too unusual, but that paired with the now frequent crying, binge eating and tendency to lock himself away in his room started to grow suspicious. He seemed to be struggling deeply, but Brutus and Montague weren’t sure if or when they should intervene. There was a real chance it would just make him turn inwards even more.
Montague wondered if this was the right course of action as he sat on the top step of the staircase. His back was turned towards the door of the room he shared with Gear. He’d been listening to his muffled sniffling for the past few minutes now, growing increasingly uneasy. It must have been days since he’d last seen Midas outside, and weeks since they had a talk deeper than saying hello. Things have been sort of careful between them since the whole thing with Kado went down. Montague was terrified that Gear would hate him, even if he said that was not happening.
Kado had a particular way of getting into Montague’s head, whispering half truths to him and twisting reality around him, just for his own sick pleasure. And for what? To get the amulet Montague stole from him back? It was clear he could have taken it anytime he wanted, but he’d rather keep up their sick game of cat and mouse and break down Montague to his core before he’d actually go through with it. While he seemed to be gone for now thanks to Gear throwing himself at him like an idiot, the scars in Montage’s mind had a harder time healing than the ones on his body.
And right when things had started to quiet down and began to go back to semi-normal, Midas started to act off.
Montague’s growing unease and worry was eating him up inside. Something must have been terribly wrong, he’d been around Gear long enough to know when he was overreacting and letting himself go as a result. This, in turn, seemed awfully serious. It made it harder and harder for Montague to not let his growing feelings for the other cloud his judgment.
The glasses of wine in his system made Montague act before he could fully realise what he was doing, as he pushed his palm against the cold wall to help himself up. So he was doing it afterall..
He firmly knocked on the door, the sniffling on the other side coming to a swift stop right as he did so. After a few seconds of hesitation Gear called out to him, his voice hoarse and weak.
Montague stepped inside, half expecting the scenery that greeted him. Rolled up, soggy tissues and torn bandage wrappers littered the floor around the gold speckled futon Midas was huddled up on. He was holding onto the yellow cat pattern blanket he wrapped around his shoulders for dear life. The only truly surprising thing about this scene was the lack of liquor to be found.
Montague’s eyes finally travelled over to Gear, and by god, he looked fucking dreadful. His eyes were puffy and red from crying, with large, dark circles around them, mascara running, his hair uncurled and messy. The sleeves of his jacket were soaked with tears and probably also snot. He looked up at Montague briefly, something flashing in his eyes for a split second before it returned to a thousand yards stare again.
“What?” - gear asked cautiously, not exactly able to hide the state he was in. Montague took a deep, shaky breath before getting started.
“You’ve been.. acting off. What’s wrong?”
A sudden surge of panic was visible on Midas’s face before he turned in on himself, head facing his knees to hide his expression. King’s words rang hollow in his head. Maybe he didn’t have it in him afterall. Maybe he couldn’t open up to those he cared about the most.
“…It’s not your problem to deal with..” - he muttered after a short pause, the hesitation in his voice clear. Maybe if Montague pushed him just a bit more he would cave in. It’s not like he had any other choice.
“I want to help you.. We both do.. So please..” - montague half whispered, his usually cold and detached tone replaced by a far more sympathetic one. Gear noticed it, and after a long pause he sighed deeply. Here goes nothing.
Gear mumbled, voice so quiet barely any of it was audible. Montague took a step closer to hear him better, crouching down in front of the mess of a man he cared too much for.
“You’re what?” - he asked in a surprisingly sweet tone, something one would use to coax a child into confessing what trouble they had gotten into.
“I’m.. having.. a baby.” - Midas repeated again, almost hissing out the words, voice still barely above a whisper. Forcing the words out seemed to take every last bit of willpower he had. He clenched his fists as to not start tearing up and spilling gold everywhere.
Montague got up stepped back almost instinctively, his voice caught in his throat, hands trembling slightly. The shock and horror on his usually neutral face was so easy to read. It made Gear’s stomach turn.
“I don’t know.. i didn’t think i could anymore… I was so.. fucking stupid..”
A drawn out, oppressive silence fell over the room, right until Midas spoke up again. Tears welled up in his eyes as all those days of uncertainty and turmoil were finally able to leave his system. The rapidly flashing light inside of Montague’s medallion illuminated Midas’s face, reflecting the tears that began to fall from his eyes, making them resemble small diamonds.
“Thought getting rid of it would be easy but I.. i keep thinking that maybe-“
His voice cracked as he broke into a sob, the thick, warm tears streaming down his face even more now. His lips trembled slightly as he looked up at Montague in a weak attempt to find comfort in his eyes.
“-maybe if i tried- If i really tried I could.. give it a happy childhood and make it feel loved and I.. i don’t know what i want to do anymore..”
Just the thought of fucking up like his own parents made Gear want to throw up. He couldn’t possibly know if he could be any better.. But even then for some reason his mind kept drifting back to the slim chance that maybe this time it could be different. That King was right, that he could change for the better. That he could break the cycle.
Montague on the other hand was speechless, all of this information was too much and way too overwhelming. Just when he felt like he could have a chance to say how he truly felt for the longest time, Gear goes and gets himself pregnant from god knows what fling. Based on his track record it could truly be anyone. Montague felt sick, cold sweat running down his spine as his face grew more and more pale.
“Who was it?” - he asked without thinking, voice blank. The shock didn’t seem to be wearing off.
Montague raised an eyebrow, signaling that he’s unsure about who that is. He’d seen that girl maybe once or twice recently when she came to pick up Gear, but he didn’t assume they were anything serious.
“My ex.. were together when I still lived with my parents and she’s just.. the best person I know.” - gear mumbled, his voice getting a bit louder as he thought about her and everything they’ve been through together. - “She helped me to accept myself, got me into bikes and all. I owe her so much but it just didn’t work back then and-“
Montague cut him off. Gear’s face seemed to light up as he rambled on about her and the air around Montague grew still. He felt like he was suffocating.
This surely can’t be happening.
With what felt like his last breath he forced out a question.
“..and now you feel like you love her again..?”
Gear slowly shook his head.
“Don’t think I ever stopped loving her...”
The room fell dead silent.
