Title: Of Vampires And Rock Stars (Ch 11)
Author: seraph05
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Largely Fall Out Boy with My Chemical Romance and appearances from The Academy Is…’s William Beckett, Gym Class Heroes’ Travis and Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon & Ryan.
Warnings: Swearing, Violence, Suggestive behaviour
Pairing: Patrick/Pete, Brendon/Ryan
Disclaimer: *drags tied up boys into another room*…define own…
Summary: Pete was gob smacked and, Gerard observed, slightly frightened that his only method of control was about to walk out the door.

Chapter 1 – Just Another Night…
Chapter 2 – No Rest For The Broken The Beaten Or The Damned
Chapter 3 – Being A Living Sacrifice Is Better than Living a Lie
Chapter 4 – The Unraveling
Chapter 5 – The Ghost Of You Will Always Haunt Me
Chapter 6 - Anagnorisis
Chapter 7 – The Best Laid Plans…
Chapter 8 – The Ivory Tower
Chapter 9 – The Joker And The Thief In The Night
Chapter 10 – Home Is Where The Heart Is



Chapter 11 – Chaotic Souls And Dancing Stars

“So you probably noticed we’ve boarded up the outside with wood but behind that wood is a layer of cement to make it harder for the dandies to break through” Patrick explained as they walked into the gymnasium and stepped over Pete who was being held in a firm headlock by Andy “We found some blue prints for this place in the principals office a couple of weeks ago so we’ve been using them as plans”

Gerard sat down on one side of the kitchen table to study the plans that were sprawled out there as Patrick set about making them coffee. The plans of the school were covered in Patrick’s notes and idea’s for what to do on the night of the eclipse.

“We have left three points of vulnerability which are the Widows Walk, gymnasium and a class room on the second level that faces the front yard. We intend to board them up with only wood and reinforce the others. Right now the weak points are completely un-boarded and the protected ones are only boarded and cemented not reinforced” Patrick continued pouring the coffees “Milk, sugars?”

“Milk and 3 sugars please” Gerard said politely with a smile.

“Woah three? Ok” Patrick agreed turning back to the makeshift pantry that was once no doubt a housing space for ‘dodge em’ balls.

“How are we going to defend the weak points?” Gerard asked taking the coffee gratefully and sipping at it while Pete cried out in protest that he was getting none. Completely ignoring Pete Patrick answered Gerard.

“We will be split up into three teams. You, Joe and Matt will defend the Widows Walk. Travis, Andy and Disashi will defend the gymnasium and me, Pete and Eric will defend the classroom. Dirty will run between the three of us and bring us anything we need like medical supplies or water. Travis is thinking of knocking over a blood bank and bringing back some blood for you guys. Pete may be firmly against it but he also may have no choice even a massacred vampire, barely alive can come back from the brink as long as they have some blood to drink” Patrick said grimly “As you probably well know”

Gerard watched Patrick’s face before he took another sip of his coffee and couldn’t help but notice the tiredness in his eyes. It might have been a trick of the light but to Gerard Patrick suddenly looked very old. The lines under his eyes were more defined than before and there was a slightly darker hue to them than the rest of his face. The blush was gone from his cheeks and even his lips were a little pale.

“Patrick” Gerard said.

“Yeah?” Patrick asked looking up from the plans to meet Gerard’s gaze.

“Are you ok man?”

“Yeah I’m fine” Patrick replied dismissively.

“You know this is a great plan, you’ve thought of everything” Gerard tried to assure Patrick though Patrick seemed to miss the compliment.

“Let’s not forget Gerard, you’re the one that came up with it in the first place and it’s not quite finished yet we need to make a barricade or something in the gym and under the widows walk…there’s so much more to do, sharpen Andy’s swords, design and build more weapons” Patrick sighed rubbing his eyes under his glasses before muttering so quietly Gerard could only just hear it “What’s a week”

“Hey…I know there’s a few hours left before dawn but I think you should go to bed man, you look wasted” Gerard suggested “It’s only Saturday night we have plenty of time to set everything up”

“True…I actually want to go to bed but I’m waiting for something” Patrick said.
“What?” Gerard asked curiously.

There were two firm wraps on the gymnasium door and Patrick smiled, the relief in his eyes not escaping Gerard’s watchful gaze.

“That”

He stood and walked across the room grabbing a gun and aiming it at the door before shouting.

“Password!” Patrick called and from behind the door came Dirty’s uncouth loud reply.

“Knick knack!”

Patrick pressed the button for the roller doors to open and with a clunk they slid upwards revealing Dirty and a man dressed in black. At first Gerard didn’t recognize the man but as he drew closer it clicked. It was the preacher. He and Dirty were carrying a large barrel looking container that reminded Gerard of the water carriers that were accessible to players during games of miscellaneous sports he’d seen. The two of them set it down as Patrick walked slowly over to them.

“This is it?” Patrick asked the preacher.

“Yes, it’s as much as I could make. I hope it’s sufficient” the preacher replied standing up straight. Gerard thought momentarily that this preacher looked more like a wrestler than a holy man but Patrick spoke up recapturing Gerard’s attention. He was still smiling that odd smile.

“Looks to be” he said and then his tone changed, it was more authoritative than Gerard was used to and it caught Pete’s attention as well “I appreciate all you have done for us over this last year, providing us with a method to keep Pete’s vampire tendencies at bay and assisting us. Without you I’m sure we would have lost him within the first few weeks. So I want to thank you and let you know how much I am grateful you were around when we needed you. However I feel your assistance is somewhat…counter productive these days and is no longer required”

Pete was gob smacked and, Gerard observed, slightly frightened that his only method of control was about to walk out the door.

“I believe it has been highly productive!” the preacher seemed offended as he raised his voice.

“Well I don’t” Patrick shot back an indignant tone to his shocking words “You come here, acting all high and mighty like everything you say and think is truth and you can therefore pass judgment on others. Every week you leave Pete feeling miserable about being something he can’t change. He sits awake in his locker some days and hates himself for who he is because of you! You’ve been calling him a monster! Do you berate gay people for being gay too you fuck?”

Pete leapt up to stop him but Gerard stood in front of Patrick blocking Pete.

“Let him go Pete” Gerard warned him. By now Joe and Travis had entered the room and were all watching the argument as shocked as Pete was.

“Look at him!” The preacher exclaimed pointing at Pete “He has fangs, dead eyes with no spark or feeling and his skin is cold to the touch because he is the living dead! How is he not a monster? Without repenting every day, every time he thinks to hurt and kill another how can he possibly be thought of as a human with a soul? How will his soul ever be saved”

“Because I’ll save it, if it even needs to be saved at all” Patrick replied his voice heavy with conviction “You say he’s dead but his heart beats just like mine, just like all of us, just like yours. And he can smile and laugh and cry just like you. You say all vampire’s are monsters but it’s just not true. Travis there has put himself and his friends in mortal danger by betraying the leader of the dandies to bring us information vital to the future of New Chicago. Gerard has suffered huge personal losses but still can find it in his heart to help us and fight for us. Pete…Pete was turned without even a choice, is afraid to get too close to people but has decided to protect and save them even if they hate him. It’s not what’s on the outside that counts it’s what’s inside and to me Pete is a far better man than you. Maybe you’re even the monster. So thank you for the container of holy water and the help but get out and I never want to see your face again”

The preacher now flushing with anger turned and stormed out the roller door leaving them all in a stunned silence. Patrick turned to look at everyone but his eyelids fluttered and he staggered Gerard’s hand shooting out to steady him. Patrick’s legs were shaking.

“I’m ok” Patrick said softly to Gerard “I just…need to sleep”

“Thank you man” Travis said quietly to Patrick as he walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

“Yeah Patrick you really told him” Gerard said letting go of him once he was steady “Thank you for sticking up for us”

“No problem guys…he’s been pissing me off for way to long and there’s only so much you should put up with before you have to tell someone like him where to shove it”

Pete who had been standing behind Gerard walked forward and Patrick swayed again. Pete closed the gap between them putting his arm under Patrick’s and around his back supporting him. Patrick leaned heavily on him exhaustion obviously getting the better of him.

“Come on” Pete said leading him gently out of the room and towards his bedroom. They walked there in silence and Pete opened the door. Once he set Patrick down on the bed Pete asked him if he wanted a blanket though it seemed the second Patrick’s head hit the pillow he was asleep.

* * *

“Why in god’s name was he so tired, what did you guys do?” Gerard exclaimed, “Did he do the cement work on his own?”

“No” Joe replied then looked over at Andy with an almost guilty expression.

“What?” Gerard asked sharply.

“He told us not to tell you two but he’s been awake for like two or three days. He had a bad sleep the day before yesterday. Then last night Pete went out and we only had a few hours before we had to get up to start work on the house. I don’t think he slept at all. I mean I slept badly knowing Pete was out for a day…” Andy explained.

“Yeah and I was worried when he didn’t return too” Joe agreed.

“But for some reason Patrick seemed even more worried” Andy continued “Then we worked all day fixing up the house and he was stressing out about all the things we had to do, working on the blue prints and he stayed awake even when night came because he was waiting for Pete to get back”

Now it was Gerard who felt a stab of guilt because Patrick had actually been waiting for the two of them not just Pete.

“He must’ve been waiting to relieve the preacher of his post as well” Travis said still impressed with Patrick’s speech.

“I guess so…” Gerard murmured thoughtfully before his eyes flicked back to the mysterious water container on the ground “Is that holy water then?”

“Yeah” Andy nodded “Patrick mentioned the fact that it was almost time to brew up another blend and then I got the idea what we should get more than usual and dip my swords into it. Then Joe said we should buy some water guns”

“I was only joking but Patrick thought it was a great idea so we asked the preacher to bring over heaps of water…though I suspect we’ll be using as little as possible now that the preacher is no longer working with us” Joe said solemnly.

“Had to be done” Travis said simply sitting down on the couch and picking out a magazine “He was bad for Pete, we’ll deal without him and if he gets out of control we’ll find another church and steal water from there”

“Absolutely” Gerard agreed.

* * *

Pete watched Patrick as his breathing slowed and evened out. Once he was sure Patrick was asleep he took off his hat, glasses and shoes putting them all beside his bed. He pulled Patrick’s doona up over him and adjusted the pillow so it was more comfortably set under his head. When Patrick looked as snug as he could get Pete walked over and jumped silently up onto the top of Patrick’s wardrobe and turned around to look at Patrick again.

“Patrick…” Pete whispered near speechless at Patrick’s actions and the motives behind them. Even though his best friend was fast asleep all he could say was “Thank you”

* * *

Gerard could hear a sound. It was like a beat or a rhythm softly drumming him into consciousness. He was getting used to sounds of people moving, living and laughing waking him up but he still slept on the upper floors of the school to avoid the sound level that was so much louder below. With a yawn Gerard turned over still not ready to greet the Sunday night and was content to let his senses grow sharper on their own. He thumbed the soft piece of material he was sleeping on and wondered how people could ever make such beautiful pieces of clothing like his jacket that hung on a hanger near by. He had chosen to sleep in the textiles room last night and had found the large fabric closet quite comfortable.

“Andy” Gerard grumbled as the beat continued to play and he finally sat up scratching his head. Ignoring the fact that his hair was all over the place and he was barely awake he shuffled out of the room and down the stairs a red piece of fuzzy material wrapped around him for heat. Gerard reached the ground floor and flinched as Eric ran past shouting out something about Pete’s base guitar. Once he was sure no more shouting people were going to come roaring past he moved on coming to Andy’s room.

“Hey what’s with the noise?” Gerard moaned leaning against the door but away from the sound as though it were a light glaring in his eyes.

“I’m in a good mood today so I thought I’d drum a bit. I think everyone’s in a good mood today actually. Pete woke us up babbling about a concert” Andy informed him cheerily while Gerard realized another advantage of never sleeping in the same place “and at first we were all pissed off with him but he seems to have some good ideas. We haven’t stopped working or anything and in fact Travis, Joe and Disashi are working on the barricade in the gym now and Dirty is sleeping because he was boarding up the week spots while we were asleep but I suppose Pete’s just got us in the mood. It’s a wonder Patrick isn’t floating around singing”

“Oh yeah where is he?” Gerard asked.

“Still sleeping” Andy replied with a grin.

“With all this noise?” Gerard asked managing not to sound incredulous.

“He can sleep anywhere and through anything pretty much” Andy said tossing his sticks and catching them before heading straight back into the beat.

“Of course. Good” Gerard said rubbing his eyes remembering Patrick's shattered state the night before “Well keep at it, I’mna have some breakfast”

“You got it” Andy shouted fastening the beat as Gerard shuffled away. It wasn’t long before Gerard had reached the gymnasium and braced himself knowing there would be even more ruckus in there. He opened the door and walked inside. He was stunned when he walked in and found silence.

Pete was sitting cross-legged on the couch a glossy red and black base cradled in his lap and a sketchpad in his hands. He seemed completely oblivious to the world and was muttering things to himself and writing down phrases and words that rhymed as well as occasionally pulling at a string. Gerard recognized a creative streak when he saw one and knew to leave him well enough alone. Though he couldn’t help but notice scribbles of what looked like shirt designs and ideas on the corners of the white page. He was dying to ask Pete if he had a spare sketchpad but decided to wait till later. He looked over to the roller door or rather what was situated a few feet behind it.

Travis, Joe and Disashi were all standing staring at the roller door. Gerard walked over and stood next to them tilting his head to the side and then to the other side frowning. He studied the rib-like contours of the roller door carefully trying to decipher what was so fascinating about it. Travis cast a cursory glance over the room and then looked back as though the door might run away if he didn't keep a good eye on it. Joe sipped at his coffee. Gerard shrugged and walked over to the kitchen table. He poured himself a bowl of fruit loops then sat down across from one of the gym class heroes who was also eating breakfast. Gerard knew he had met this guy the night the gym heroes had come but couldn't remember his name.

"Hey" Gerard greeted him.

"Hey" he replied as he buttered his toast.

"Sorry man, but I don't remember your name" Gerard admitted holding out his hand getting his full attention.

"That's cool I don’t remember yours either. Matt McGinley" he laughed shaking Gerard’s hand "Drummer for Gym Class Heroes"

"Gerard Way" Gerard replied but was not quite sure how to tag himself so he looked over his shoulder instead asking "What are they doing?"

"Well you know how Patrick said there were three weak points that we left open?" Matt asked taking a bite out of his steaming toast.

"Yeah?" Gerard asked munching at his cereal.

"The Widow's Walk and the second floor class room were chosen because of where they are placed but the gymnasium was already a weak point because of the roller door. They are trying to decide how to defend it" Matt explained.

"Oh" Gerard said looking over his shoulder at the door again. After a few moments of silent contemplation he turned back to Matt.

"The only way they could defend it properly is to rip out the roller door and re-block it with cement but leave a small space to funnel the dandies through otherwise the opening is too big and with only three people defending it the dandies will surly breach Ivory Tower" Gerard suggested.

"Great plan but they already thought of that" Matt informed Gerard.

"Then…what's wrong with that plan?" Gerard asked perplexed.

"If we cement it up we won't be able to protect the Batskullmobile" Matt replied casually biting down on another piece of toast.

"…the Batskullmobile?" Gerard asked disbelievingly then his mind reeled back to the night he met the clandestine and the vehicle that had secured their safe escape. It was black, Gerard remembered, with a bat looking thing on the hood of the car "Oh the Batskullmobile"

"It'll be locked out" Matt explained.

"Where is it now?" Gerard asked noticing it wasn't parked next to the roller door like usual.

"It's outside, Travis and Eric and me are going to go get some blood from the good ol' Chicago blood bank" Matt beamed.

"Oh yeah Patrick told me about that…how can you be sure that there will be any blood left?" Gerard asked unconvinced. This city's inhabitants had long since given up the charity of donating blood as they generally didn’t appreciate the thought of it becoming a dinner for the living dead.

"Cause it's run by vampires now" Matt answered in a tone far less chipper. Gerard looked down into his cereal and felt himself tire again at the realization only just having truly woken up.

"They take people, they don't discriminate as long as the person is human, bleed them dry and sell the blood to vampires" Matt lay the truth out bare for Gerard to see. He flinched again trying not to imagine the children, the elderly, the sick, the women and men dragged off into the night, never seen or heard from again. However he saw their faces in his mind’s eye their bodies littering the streets uncountable in number. So many innocent people had disappeared over the years the news stations, radio or TV, didn't even bother broadcasting the victims names or features anymore. Gerard shook his head violently and pushed his bowl away no longer hungry.

"We're going to steal all we can and bring it back for the battle" Matt said but noticed Gerard wasn't in the talking mood anymore. Matt sighed and stood up walking over towards Travis but as he passed Gerard he paused.

"Try to think of it this way; if we drink their blood their deaths will not be pointless. We will only drink it if we have to and if we do - it will be to kill the dandies. Most of the vampires in this city were made from Beckett's clan. When he dies they'll die too probably even those that run the blood bank" Matt offered Gerard the small consolation hopefully before he walked on “I thank whatever twisted god runs this show every day that Travis wasn’t turned by Beckett”

"Travis!" Matt shouted waking Travis up from his thoughts as he walked towards the door "Come on let's go, we can't stand around here all night the blood bank is waiting"

"Oh yeah right" Travis said then absentmindedly muttered "The Batskullmobile may just have to deal outside"

"Don't say that man!" Pete shouted suddenly making everyone in the room jump "we'll find a way to make it work!"

"Yeah, yeah ok we'll see you later!" Travis and Matt waved as they left the room ignoring Pete’s disapproving groan. With Travis's exit Joe and Disashi also gave up. Disashi decided to go have a shower and Joe pointed him in the right direction.

"I guess there's just nothing we can do about it right now" Joe sighed plonking down into one of the arm chairs. Gerard got up from the kitchen table and sat down beside Pete on the couch.

"Pete…Andy told me you got a good idea for a show?" Gerard asked trying to get both their minds off their grievances.

"Yeah dude I had this awesome dream about our first show back as Fall Out Boy. I chose the play list so the songs kind of told a story and we would all wear like animal suits or costumes or something and have a cool ass set. With fake trees on the stage and a backdrop sky that changed colour and it would all be set in your awesome theatre. And there were songs we hadn't played before that I’m writing down so I don't forget them. And I was thinking why don't we do a really cool show for our first show back but not just have us play - have the gym class heroes mix in their sound and definitely some of your songs if you'll let us, it'll be the greatest, longest most rocking concert ever" Pete spoke at a thousand miles an hour though Gerard managed to nearly catch it all. He was in awed by the idea, it sounded amazing and ideas for the sets and costumes were already coming thick and fast.

"Pete do you have a spare sketchpad?" Gerard asked hungrily.

"Yeah sure…you draw?" Pete asked standing up and walking over to the weapons shelf where his sketch pads lay.

“Actually I was going to be a cartoonist before I decided music was more important" Gerard answered holding out his hands expectantly. Pete dropped the sketch pad into them along with a pencil and an eraser with an impressed

"Sweet"

Joe watched as the two of them sat drawing like madmen and chattering excitably to each other, inspecting each other’s work and offering suggestions. By the end of the hour the conversation had managed to swing back towards music and Gerard was listening to some Fall Out Boy songs. He had said it would be fine to listen to one of their CD’s but Pete and Joe insisted on performing instead.

"Feeling borrowed, Always Blue! Someone Old, No-One New! Always borrowed! ALWAYS YOU!!!!!" Pete roared as he and Joe mashed at their guitars some more "The rest we kind of need Patrick for I mean I can sing it but Patrick makes it and Andy brings the beat on which is also missing right now"

"That was awesome anyway!" Gerard shouted clapping "Fantastic! That has to be part of the concert! What did you say the name of it was?"

"What concert?"

Gerard, Pete and Joe turned to face the door to see where Patrick stood smiling groggily.

"Wow that'll be nearly…" Joe said looking at his watch "15 hours of sleep man well done"

"Yeah well I needed it…I need more of it actually" Patrick mumbled rubbing his eyes. Gerard tried to pick out what seemed so different about Patrick when it hit him like a ton of bricks. He wasn't wearing glasses or a hat. His near-strawberry blond hair sat scruffily over his forehead and in his unframed eyes.

“Good to see your natural hair color’s nearly back” Gerard said cheerily.

“Mmm” Patrick nodded indifferently slumping onto one of the kitchen table seats and pouring himself some cereal.

“He’s washed it like six times between when you left and when you came back” Joe laughed setting down his guitar.

“Patrick! Dude I got the greatest idea for a concert!” Pete shouted jumping over the couch after he had put his base next to Joe’s guitar.

There was a time when he could have cared less for his numerous bat skull basses, when they were sent to him time and time again after he had smashed his previous one against some part of the stage in an over-zealous act. Now he was gentle with them again. His love for his base guitar had returned. Pete pulled the chair across from Patrick out and sat down.

“I had a dream” Pete began as Patrick watched him hazily from across the table.

“Here we go” Patrick groaned waiting for Pete’s hair brained scheme but was smiling all the same.

“It was our first show back as Fall Out Boy…well it will be our first show back but anyway” Pete continued explaining his idea in its entirety waiting eagerly to discuss the many plans that were milling around in the creative atmosphere.

* * *

Brendon and Ryan sat on the roof of the Dandy Mansion watching the bats in the night sky. Dawn was not far off and they had retreated to the roof with their dinner: four possums and six rats a token of Williams lasting scorn.

“Do you think there was ever a vampire that could turn into a bat like in all the vampire movies?” Ryan asked selecting his first rat.

“I don’t know I’ve never heard of one that could really do it. Then again most movies were wrong about vampires anyway…” Brendon replied watching the flittering shapes in the sky and listened to the strange noises they emitted “Sometimes I think they do sound like voices though”

Ryan looked over at Brendon as he bit down on the small creature in his hands.

“The sonar…it doesn’t sound like sonar to me…it sounds pretty” Brendon whispered smiling at them.

“Me too” Ryan agreed “It’s almost a shame human’s miss out on the way they truly sound. I mean bats are such ugly animals the only lovely thing about them is their voices…and maybe the way they fly”

“Yeah” Brendon said with a nod. Ryan grabbed his second rat surprised Brendon hadn’t started eating yet since it had taken them all night to catch the meal.

“Pete’s such a lucky little fuck” Brendon spat suddenly startling Ryan “He can glide” Ryan laughed handing him a possum, which Brendon took hungrily.

“Power envy?” Ryan sniggered still while Brendon fed.

“No. Controlling human’s minds is a far more useful skill than gliding and being able to jump high,” Brendon snapped though the jealousy still flared in the back of his throat.

Ryan looked over towards the clandestine’s base. He hadn’t done any spying around that area in such a long time but he was curious as to what the dandy’s adversaries were up to. He focused his gaze zooming closer, his field of vision becoming larger he was rushing past trees, over the cliff leading down from the dandy mansion, the clandestine’s base growing in size and detail every second.

“Hmmm” Ryan hummed thoughtfully.

“What?” Brendon asked tossing the drained possum off the roof.

“Ivory…Tower. The clandestine have named the school Ivory Tower” Ryan replied leaning forward unaffected by the four-story drop off the edge of the house.

“How do you know?” Brendon asked squinting at the base in the distance.

“They have a sign” Ryan laughed “They made a sign and there’s something else… Non illegitimis carborundum…”

“Whatever” Brendon said bored.

“Uh…they seemed to have cleaned up a bit…” Ryan mentioned when he felt Brendon’s fingers curl around his own. Ryan grinned and was about to drop focus when he noticed something.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Ryan said jumping to his feet breaking his contact with Brendon.

“What?” Brendon asked anxiously sitting up straight.

“They’ve…” Ryan said taking another moment his brown irises and wide black pupils flicking back and forth so subtly only Brendon could tell they were moving “They’ve boarded up the school”

“What?!” Brendon asked infuriated “Those sneaky two bit-”

“There’s something else” Ryan added.

“What is it!?” Brendon demanded getting impatient “You know I can’t see as far as you!”

When Ryan spoke again his voice was just a whisper on the wind.

“They’ve only boarded up certain area’s of the school…they’re leaving weak points…the want us to attack them it’s…it’s a trap”

A/N: The title comes from this quote - "You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star" I thought it was rather beautiful and appropriate for this chapter because of the creative atmosphere that has inevitably sprung up amongst these broken artistic geniuses of men. I think there is a little chaos in every artists soul and therefore I think we all give birth to stars no matter how small or large our stars, our creations, are beautiful.