(All the multiverses aren't dead and Tibby committed no-life after Mickey B left)

(Curse warning)

Mickey's P.O.V

Billy noticed I was feeling a bit down as we walked to school together. "Thinking about Tibby?" he asked.

I sighed, looking him in the eyes. "Tibby may have hated me, but... he deserved so much better than to be tortured in his final days. But also... I don't belong here, Billy. They hate me, all the Radar hates me. I killed their Billy, their Mickey. They like you, you did nothing wrong." I looked down at my twiddling thumbs. "But I ruined every chance I had at a new life because I was a bitch."

Billy squeezed my shoulder. "It's okay," he said. "I'm sure they'll come around."

"They won't. Things will never be the same. Maybe Tibby would even be here if Mickey B was."

"Look... Mickey, you aren't alone. I know they like me, and I love this universe a lot more than ours, but..." Billy shook his head. "I still always find myself thinking I don't belong here."

I smiled, even let out a small chuckle. "This place is still such a relief for me," I said. "Things turned to shit so quickly after you left. And here... the place isn't on fire! It's great!"

Billy laughed. "Let's just get through it together," he decided.

"Yeah. If the Radar hates me, then so be it. At lease I have you."

"I'd rather be with you to be honest. I actually know you."

Billy and I continued talking all the way to school.

I managed to avoid Em Pegg in the one class we had together in the morning. But while Billy and I jokingly insulted each other and happily chatted at lunch, Em Pegg sat on her own, staring at her food. Billy traced my gaze to the table she had to herself. "I feel bad," he frowned, looking back to me.

"I understand how she might feel. I was the freak of the school for more than four years. It's hard having no friends," I said. 

"Should we... go sit with her?"

"O-okay... um... yeah, let's go."

Em Pegg glared up at me as I stayed slightly behind Billy. "Mind if we sit here?" Billy smiled kindly.

"Sure, whatever," Em waved her hand. "Not like that bitch could make things worse for me anyway." 

I knew she was talking about me.

I silently sat down next to Billy. "So... um... what have you been up to?" Billy asked.

"Crying and failing classes. Mickey ruined everything."

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I shuffled slightly closer to Billy. If he noticed, he didn't react. "Have you been chatting to Laura and Mallory? How are they holding up?" he continued.

"You know, we would talk to you if you weren't with Mickey all the time."

"I... guess you won't talk to me then."

"I can go..." I mumbled.

"Yeah, why don't you just fuck off without a word?" Em Pegg spat.

"I would apologise, but after the several times I've tried, you've just taken pleasure in making me even more upset. So yeah, I'm going to leave. And I am sorry. I guess it's just a matter of figuring out how to convince you I am."

I stood and walked away.

Billy was right behind me. I crumbled down next to a tree in quiet tears; he sat right next to me. "What am I meant to do? I'm trying to b-block her out..." I whispered. "But I can't."

"Then maybe we... we should stop trying with her. Mickey, if Em's going to keep hurting you, then we just shouldn't bother. I need you. We need each other in this world. Don't fall down the same hole Tibby did," Billy said, giving me a small hug.

He was quite surprised when I hugged him back, choking out sobs. "You know... I always mocked Tibby for crushing on you," Billy chuckled. "I can see what he saw in you."

My face flushed. I looked up at him. His face had gone red. "Please stop," I pouted.

"Why?" Billy smirked.

"Just stop!"

Billy laughed. "Do you have a crush?"

"No! Way to jump to conclusions, Billy."

"Sure..."

"Billy!"

I realised after that interaction that... maybe I was crushing on Billy? I'd forgotten what it felt like to love someone, I'll be honest. After everything... it was hard not to feel numb. But I guess coming to Prime B really helped me actually feel emotions again. 

I had no-one to consult to about this. Unless... unless I managed to talk to Laura and Mallory? They never said they hated me, even they hadn't talked to me for a little bit... would it be worth talking to them?

After school, when Billy and I reluctantly went our seperate ways, I used my power to locate Laura. The guilt about hurting someone else in another universe wasn't really there anymore. But I found that Laura was staying with Mallory. I could talk with them both at once. Made my job easier.

Hesitantly, I knocked on the door. I waited anxiously for what felt like an eternity until the door opened. Mallory stood there, and he didn't look very happy to see me.

"Hey Mallory..." I greeted.

"Hi," he replied. "What do you want?"

"Support. It's a lot to ask, I know, but..."

"Hm..?"

"I-I... I know I was nothing but a bitch when I first came here. Ruining everything you all had with Mickey. And I'll keep saying it: I'm sorry. What I did is something I will never forget. Always regret. Every morning, I wake up, and I hate myself. I don't want to be here anymore. Just as much as you don't want me here. I get that. But... at the same time... I don't wanna hurt Billy by leaving."

Mallory noticed I was playing with my long sleeves. "What are you hiding under your sleeves?" he asked.

"Hiding?" I arched an eyebrow, getting nervous. My cuts...

"Come on, Mickey. I can tell there's something under there. Come in."

Laura sat on the couch with a bag of chips. "Hey Mickey," she greeted. "How are you?"

I smiled slightly. "I've... been better. But thanks for asking," I replied.

"Pull up your sleeves," Mallory said.

"What? No."

"Please?"

"Nope."

Mallory and Laura made eye contact, and Laura stood, gently grabbing my left arm but still having a strong grip. She pulled up my sleeve... to reveal many cuts and bruises.

"Shit dude. Why didn't you say something?" Mallory asked.

"You wouldn't have cared, so why bother?" I muttered in reply, tugging my arm away. A sharp pain shot up my arm, but I ignored it.

"Wouldn't have cared?" Mallory repeated. "Wouldn't have cared. I've done self-harm. I know why people do it and how it feels. Of course we'd care if you were hurting yourself!"

"But you've been ignoring my apologies. Ignoring me all together."

"And we were stupid," Laura sighed. "Look, Mickey. What happened... it really hurt us. You know that, we know that. And we were mad. But we weren't thinking about your side of things. It's obvious your head has been in a bad place for a while now. And... although what you did was really fucking wrong, no-one deserves to go through depression. You're still a kid who's been through some messed up stuff. Like the rest of the Radar. Don't think you're alone." Laura wrapped me in a tight hug. "Because you aren't."

"Thanks. Your words mean so much more than you know," I smiled.

"Okay, there's... something else..." I mumbled. 

"Feel free to sit down," Mallory said as he plonked down on the couch. "Talking is so much better."

"Okay...?" 

Laura and I both sat down. "Anyway, I feel bad for saying this. I know Mickey and Tibby had a thing, and... Billy apparently acted as if he was interested in Mallory, but... I think I'm crushing on Billy..?"

Laura and Mallory glanced at each other. "You feel bad... why?" Laura asked.

"Because Tibby and Mickey B were a whole thing, and... he didn't pass on too long ago... and I feel like it'll make Em hate me even more..."

"Don't worry about Em. We'll talk to her. But as for you and Billy... you're still technically a different person from Mickey B. Different ego. You feel different, think different, even though you're kinda the same person. And all the bullshit you went through, you were with Billy. It's understandable if you like him."

"And if it helps, I ship it," Mallory added.

Laura and I stared at him in confusion. "What? Two egos from another universe. Cool couple, right?"

"Wow okay," Laura said.

"Tell him, Mickey. He probably has feelings for you too."

"How do you know?" I asked.

"I dunno, I just have a hunch."

"Okay..."

So the next day, Billy and I meet once again to walk to school together. "I saw Mallory and Laura yesterday," I said.

"How'd that go?" Billy questioned.

"A lot... better than expected. And... they told me to confess my feelings to you."

"So you are crushing on me."

"Yes... I-I think. Look, I dunno, I just..."

"Mickey, it's fine, I love you too," Billy chuckled.

I blushed and crossed my arms. "God dammit I hate going this soft," I muttered.

Billy wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me in close. I was startled. "Billy! Consent!" I exclaimed.

He didn't let girl. "Relax, it's a gesture that people do all the time. It's not that big of a deal."

I looked into his sparkling blue eyes before resting my head on his shoulder. "I didn't know you were capable of this much affection," Billy said.

"Shut up, you dork. It won't last long," I grumbled.

We arrived at school early, as usual. We kinda just sat and talked until we heard a small cry. I recognised that cry immediately. "Mickey..." Billy warned as I stood. "Don't get yourself hurt."

"I won't."

"I'm coming."

Em Pegg was pinned to a wall as two boys took in turns of punching her in the gut, in the face. A girl was talking shit about Em. She saw me and Billy. "Oh look! It's Coma Boy and the school freak. How's walking going, faker?" the girl spat.

"Fuck off, leave Em alone," I hissed.

"And what are you going to do? Your reputation already sucks. No doubt it could get worse."

"I don't give two shits about my reputation. All I care about is that Em is safe. Now leave, and we won't have any trouble."

The girl and I glared at each other until she burst out laughing. "Oh, that's funny! The girl with the drinking Dad thinks she can hurt me! Listen, Mikayla, I will do what it takes to force you into ending your fucking life. This shitty bitch-" she pointed at Em "-told me about how jerky you've been. I will use it against you. You don't belong here, you never will. And Coma Boy?" Her attention went to Billy. "Get some better friends. Maybe you'll actually lead a life worth living."

Without thinking, I jumped and grabbed the girl, throwing her to the ground. My foot stomped down on her stomach. She coughed. "Bitch!"

The two boys let go of Em Pegg, who fell into a weak huddle on the ground. I could see Billy contemplated on helping Em, or helping me fight off the two buff boys coming my way.

I went through some shit. That fact isn't new. But that had me learn a lot about self defence. And my own strength. The first boy managed to land a good punch on my eye, but I scratched him across the face and kicked him where the sun doesn't shine. He stumbled back and collapsed in pain. 

The second boy managed to grab me and pin me to the wall, slapping me across the face. I used all the strength I had to hurl myself off the wall and force him to the ground. It worked, but I also took a tumble. He scrambled up before me, and as I stood, he kicked me in the shins. It fucking hurt, but I had to finish this guy off. The burst of adrenaline had me dodging every punch he tried to throw at me. Finally, I managed to get a good hit in his gut and a hard bash on the top of his head, and he fell unconscious to the ground, his friends too weak to help him.

Billy helped carry Em Pegg to a tree in the yard. She looked at me. "I..." she whispered. "Mickey, your face... it's seriously fucked up."

"It's nothing I haven't dealt with before," I shrugged. "Bit of pain, you gotta move on."

"But... I treated you horribly without hearing your story, and you throw yourself into a two-on-one fight with kids on the football team?"

"Em, it's fine. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I... I think. Just a bit weak is all."

Billy and I sighed with relief. "Thank the lord for that. Seeing you get hurt isn't a sight any of us wanted to see," Billy smiled.

"Why are you being so nice? I've treated you like dirt. Yet you still try to treat me with kindness that I don't deserve."

"We've been through some shit. That fact isn't new. Which is why we have to stick together. Mickey and I saw way too much negativity in Prime A. We didn't want that to happen."

"None of this would've happened if I just gave up on Prime A," I frowned. "All it took was that pocket knife in my hand."

Billy immediately hugged me. "Billy!" I growled. "Consent!"

He didn't reply. Em smirked for a second before she went serious. "Mickey, no. We need you here. What you did wasn't right. And I miss Mickey B and Tibby so fucking much. But please, just don't think of yourself like that," she whimpered. "Don't put yourself through that much pain. You don't deserve it." She looked like she wanted to cry. "Don't leave now. I need someone like you in my life. I'm sorry! I'm sorry for being a bitch."

Billy let go as I moved forward to give Em a small hug. "I'm always here for you," I said.

"I'm always here for you too," Em smiled.

Billy exclaimed, "Group hug! Let's keep these positive vibes going!"

We all laughed. 

And for the first time in a long time...

I felt like happiness was achievable again.