Chapter Text
Mickey felt what it was to sting somebody as he said "You heard him black boy, go find your cage.". But it's what he had to do, he rammed his hand down on the glass and didn't let Scott out. Didn't let him hurt anybody this time.
But now Mickey could tell, the glass wasn't going to hold Scott back anymore, and if there was someone stung, it would be him or Jez.
"I know what you are." Scott grabbed him by the neck and made him look into his eyes. "I've always known." Mickey felt his eyes watering but blinked it back as best he could.
"Now-" Scott paused. "I can make allowances, I can turn a blind eye." Mickey wasn't meeting his eyes anymore and stared into his brother's jacket as his eyes continued to blur. "Not with him." Scott said. "Not with that." Mickey dragged his eyes back to Scott's and pushed off of him. The glass was rattled, but not broken yet.
"No," He turned to limp towards Jez. "I'm sorry-" He whispered as he stumbled into his arms. "I'm so, so sorry Jez." For a second, his body relaxed as strong arms supported him.
"Put the knife down!" Somebody shouted and Mickey turned to be reminded that although he had done the right thing by lifting the glass, there was still the undeniable opportunity to get stung.
"Scott," He breathed out the name like a prayer. "You're going to have to go through me first."
"If that's what it takes."
For a moment, as Scott's eyes welled up as much as Mickey's were, there was hope. They were brothers.
"You're Mickey Ellison." Scott's voice broke as he pointed the knife at his brother. "Your father's son." He stepped closer. "Flesh, and blood." He sighed. Mickey took a ragged breath in tears catching on his voice.
"I'm nothing like you." His whole body quivered and Scott half-stepped back. Mickey turned to the man he loved and leaned up to kiss him, an apology long overdue.
"No!" Scott gasped and lurched forward. Mickey grabbed him by the shirt and wrestled with him to keep the knife away from his body. They'd wrestled when they were kids. But they weren't anymore and Mickey realized that when he was stung in the ribs. His grip on Scott loosened as the subsequent stings landed and peppered his abdomen. He wasn't a kid, but he did feel the tears slip more quickly, as he fell to the ground; nursing his swollen torso. Scott stumbled back, and Mickey vaguely heard female screaming and a few hard crashes as he stared at the ceiling.
He'd finally lifted the glass and been stung, but he passed out with the remarkable feeling that he'd done the right thing.