TW: Depression, suicide attempt-attempt, cognitive distortion (i.e. perceiving reality wrongly, in this case negatively), three way relationship hinted at

Slight Austin x Ritchie x Michael

Michael stood on the edge of the school roof, staring down at the ground. His hands clutched the railing as he contemplated his next move. A large part of him was screaming at him to just end it all. Put everything else behind him and fully let go. The screaming voice was telling him to give up and just jump, that Ritchie and Austin would be better off not having to deal with him, that maybe his dad wouldn't have lost his mind if he weren't around, and how his mothers life would be so much easier without him. He ignored the tears streaming down his face as he decided to listen to the voice. It was easier than making it stop after all.

He jumped over the railing and stood staring down, hands gripping the rail as he wondered what would come after he hit the ground. Would he die instantly? Would he lay there until he succumbed to his injuries? Would someone find him? If they did would they care?

The last thought caused him to laugh. Hysteria and terror slowly clawing it's way to the forefront of his mind as he imagined it. Himself jumping and hitting the ground, laying there bleeding and unable to move, then ignored by anyone who would walk by. No one cared after all so why would they stop? Unless it was to save face and make themselves look good. He let one hand slip into his pocket and pull his cell phone out. He opened it to the document he'd typed earlier in class. A note explaining his thoughts, his reasons, his actions, to anyone who cared to read it. He'd already removed his password so it was just as simple as setting it on the roof, for anyone to find.

He was seconds away from letting himself fall when he heard the door behind him open, two voices carried through it both cutting off suddenly. Until-

"Michael?" Ritchie asked sounding confused. "What are you doing up here?"

Michael grit his teeth as he continued to stare at the ground. It was only then that Austin noticed he was on the wrong side of the railing.

"Michael, why are you over there?" There something in his tone Michael couldn't place, a sort of nervousness that he didn't often associate with the tallest of them.

The voice in his mind corrected him, telling him he wasn't nervous. He was giddy and couldn't wait to watch him fall. He shook his head but the thoughts remained.

"Michael, come over here." Ritchie's voice had the same tone, just mixed with a more forcefulness. Michael again shook his head. "Michael. Please look at us."

Although everything in him was screaming at him to not he couldn't ignore what was to be the last request from his best friends, because despite them not thinking the same he thought of them as his best and only friends. So he turned quietly to face them. Ritchie looked panicked as Austin looked far more stone faced, eyes glancing around the roof as though searching for something, what Michael wasn't sure.

Ritchie forced a smile on his face a took a hesitant step forward, freezing as Michael's grip on the railing tightened. "Hey buddy, why don't you come over here?" His voice shook as he held a hand out towards Michael, as though he were a wounded animal. "You can come over here and, uh, we'll go to Starbucks."

"Yeah," Austin added stepping ever so slightly closer, "I'll even share my sundae with you. And you know I don't share my sundae's with just anyone."

Michael frowned at them. How awful was he? That he'd make those he thought as friends feel like they owed him something? That they had to keep treating him like he wasn't a burden. He glanced at the ground, wondering if it would be better for him to just jump now. That choice was stolen from him however as the moment he took his eyes off his friends they both lunged forward and in seconds he was dragged over the railing. He hit the round and let out a groan at the weight that held him still.

He looked up and saw Ritchie sitting next to him, hands still clutching his arm. That meant Austin was the one on his back. Ritchie was pale and his hands trembled, he could feel Austin doing the same.

"Why?" It took Michael a moment to realize he was the one who spoke. He tried to stop but the words came out unbidden. "Why did you stop me?"

"What do you mean?" Austin asked hesitantly moving off of the smaller male and helping him sit up, carefully keeping his hand on the others shoulder, ready to grab him at a moments notice. "Why wouldn't we?"

Michael barely noticed he himself was shaking. He felt as though he were trapped in a fog as he struggled to form an answer. Then it all spilled out. "Because I'm a burden, because I'm a mess. I just get in the way and I do nothing but cause problems, your lives would be easier, my mom's life would be easier, maybe my dad would still be normal if not for me! I've somehow managed trick you both into thinking I'm someone worth being around and now even after you realized the truth you feel obligated to stay and help me when letting me die would be easier and-!"

He was cut off by Ritchie lunging forward and wrapping his arms around Michael, sobbing into his shoulder. Austin was suddenly behind him managing to wrap his arms around both of them.

"That's not true!" Ritchie babbled into his shoulder. "Michael you're not  burden or a mess or an inconvenience or-or-!" Ritchie cut off again with a sob so Austin took over, his own voice thick with tears.

"You're not! You're our best friend and this wouldn't help anyone!" He managed to turn Michael so he was staring into his eyes. "You're mom would blame herself, so would Ritchie and me. Do you want us to suffer?" Michael numbly shook his head.

"What happened to your dad wasn't your fault!" Ritchie pulled back and turned Michael to face him. "And I'm telling you that no one would be happy!"

"B-but-"

"WE LOVE YOU YOU IDIOT!" Ritchie yelled tears still streaming down his face. "I don't even care if you don't feel the same but please, please don't do this!"

That was the last straw. Michael broke down fully, the numbness being broken by waves upon waves of sadness, anger, and confusion. Tears fell quickly and he sobbed letting his head fall on Ritchie's shoulder, muttering shaky apologies and begs for both help and forgiveness. 

Austin tightened his grip and gently leaned down to kiss the top of Michael's head, while whispering soft comforts and promises that they would both make sure that they would help him. They stayed there for a long while, letting Michael cry all whilst promising that they would never let him fall this far again.

A/N: Sad story! I was gonna end this sadder but I couldn't make myself do it. I don't like sad stories so it ended happier. It got kinda dark and vent-y so yikes. I really made poor Michael suffer in this one and I feel all the regrets (except not really) but I hope you all enjoyed at any rate. Peace!