Chapter Text
Their friendship started when Ian was five and Mickey was six; Mickey had walked five-year-old Mandy to the park and spotted a snot-nosed, blotchy-faced, redhead sitting alone in the sand box, looking down at his shoes. "Let's go play in the sand, Mikhailo!" Mickey rolled his eyes at his sister's use of his birth name, but said nothing. Mandy smiled a wide, bright smile he only saw when Terry was locked up, and he couldn't tell his baby sister "no" when she looked up at him with those icy blue eyes, her uneven pigtails, and that smile.
"Whatever." Mickey mumbled, fallowing Mandy as she ran to the sandbox, plopping herself down next to the redhead. "You okay?" He asked the boy as he sat down across from him.
"My mommy left us." The boy whispered, still looking at his shoes. Mandy was off in her own little world, building a sand castle as the two boys spoke. "She was really happy, and then she was... gone." Mickey didn't know what to say; his mom left, what could he say?
"Mama says a hug makes you less sad." Mandy chimed in, eyes still on her creation. The boy finally looked up, vibrant green eyes locked on to Mickey's bright blue ones, almost pleading with him. "Hug your friend, Mikhailo!" Mandy exclaimed, finally looking up at her brother.
"Mikhailo?" The boy asked, a hint of humor in his eyes now. "That's too big." He said, still staring at Mickey.
"Mickey." He amended, shifting uncomfortably under the other boy's intense gaze. "Mandy and Mama call me Mikhailo." He mumbled.
"I'm Ian." The redhead said, still silently begging for comfort from Mickey. "Now we're friends." He smiled softly, a hint of the earlier sadness lingering. Mickey was frozen; he never had friends. Other kids said he was too dirty and smelled funny so they never wanted to play with him. He stood up, not saying a word, before wrapping his small arms around the boy. That hug, that simple act of comfort, was the start of a new chapter in both of their lives.
Nine years later
Ian and Mickey had been inseparable since that day, and were easily the other's best friends. Now here they are, sitting on Mickey's bed, passing a joint between them. "Not a virgin, anymore." Ian announced as if he were simply spouting out the weather. Mickey turned to him, eyes wide, waiting for more information.
Mickey knew he was gay; he'd never said it out loud to anyone aside from his mother, but he wasn't necessarily hiding the fact. He had always assumed Ian was, too, but now he was preparing to have his heart smashed; if Ian wasn't gay, would he still be Mickey's friend when he found out?
"What's her name?" Mickey asked, trying to make this is normal as he could.
"Rodger Spikey." Ian laughed, either from the weed or the fact that Mickey had asked about a girl.
"You're gay?" Mickey asked, voice barely above a whisper. He knew now he wouldn't lose Ian as a friend over his own sexuality.
"Yep." Ian popped the 'p', passing the joint back to Mickey. "But.. Okay, promise not to tell anyone what I'm about to say?"
"Who the fuck would I tell? You? Ain't got no other friends, man." Mickey scoffed, taking a hit off the joint in his hand.
"My boss blew me." He mumbled, almost ashamed. Mickey hated that Ian had that fucking job; everytime he walked in the store the owner was staring at Ian like he owned his ass. He wanted to spend more time with Ian, like they used to, but the old fucking perv had Ian at the fucking store any chance he got.
"Anything else?" Mickey asked, avoiding Ian's eyes. They knew each other too well to lie, so he hid his jealousy by avoiding any and all eye contact.
"I fucked him; fucking begged me to, but it... I don't know man, it felt wrong." Ian admitted. Mickey was pissed, now; Ian was his first, dammit! He felt taken aback for a second, not knowing where that thought had come from, before turning to see Ian staring at him like he held all of the answers in the fucking universe.
"You were mine, first." Mickey whispered, eyes raking over the freckles littering Ian's face.
"What?" Ian asked, face softening as he stares more intently at Mickey, remembering Mandy saying a guy "got a look in his eyes" when he was into you. He needed to know; needed to know if Mickey felt the same way or his whole God damn world would fall apart.
"You were mine first, asshole!" Mickey yelled, shoving Ian away from him before stubbing the joint out; he needed to fucking clear his head.
"Then prove it." Ian challenged, moving closer to Mickey without thinking twice; this was his chance and like hell was he gonna miss it. "Prove I'm yours." He whispered, lips almost touching Mickey's fuller ones. "Because I wanna be yours, Mick."
That was all it took. Neither boy was certain who initiated the kiss; a mixture of pot and years of pent of feelings fueling the whole thing, but they knew it was the beginning of another new chapter for them. And they were ready to write that chapter together.