After two weeks of hanging out with Pete, Mikey has officially decided that Pete is cute. In a totally platonic way, of course. Or so he thinks.

Mikey stays in his room and texts Pete now; he and Gerard still don't talk. Gerard only talks to his mother and Lindsey, and attempts (but fails) to talk to Mikey. Mikey thinks about Pete constantly, but that's only because Pete is his only friend.

Mikey is happy. Very happy, in fact, until he realizes that there's a possibility that thinking about Pete isn't exactly a heterosexual thing to do.

And then he gets angry.

"What the fuck?" Mikey groans into his pillow, the foreign and newfound knowledge confusing him beyond the point of return.

"Mikes?" Calls a faint voice from behind the door.

"Go away."

"I'm sorry."

"Leave me alone."

"What's wrong?"

"Fuck it. The door's unlocked."

The door swings open and Gerard scrambles to Mikey's bed, a guilt-ridden expression on his face. "Mikey, what's wrong?"

"What does it feel like to like someone?"

"It's... kind of indescribable, to be honest. Your heart gets all heavy and your head gets dizzy when you think about them. You think about them constantly. You feel like you can't function without the thought of them."

"Can I have a hug?" Mikey asks suddenly. He knows for sure now. He's not imagining it.

"Yeah, sure." Gerard leans over and wraps his arms around his little brother, not daring to let go. 

Mikey lets out a shaky breath. "Gerard," he says quietly. "I think I'm gay, Gee."

Gerard says nothing and instead hugs Mikey even harder. "And Pete..." Mikey begins, but he can't even finish his sentence before it settles in. "Oh, God, I'm actually gay. And Pete is-"

"Hey," Gerard says in a soothing tone. "It's okay. You're gonna be okay."

Mikey stays silent, letting out the occasional ragged breath. "Can we watch Pulp Fiction?"

Gerard grins, "Thought you'd never ask."

Halfway through the movie, Gerard pauses it and looks at Mikey. "I'm sorry for everything."

"It's fine," Mikey dismisses him.

"I was tired and trying to entertain Lindsey for some stupid fucking reason. I wasn't thinking, and that's not a valid excuse, I know, but I'm so sorry, Mikes. I know I hurt you," Gerard says, and Mikey starts to tear up.

"It's okay."

"No, it's really not."

Mikey leans into Gerard's embrace. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too," Gerard says, unpausing the movie. 

Mikey falls asleep again, leaning on Gerard, and for the first time in a while, he feels at peace.