By woolhat's traveling mood
"Don't stress Mike, I'm not asking you to go meet the president or nothing!" Micky smiled, struggling to get dressed.
"It's reckless, they'll never understand."
"Come on Mike, we've been serious for three months now, they have a right to know!"
Mike stopped and gave Micky a concerned look. Micky was tugging on his T-shirt and Mike watched the muscles of Micky's chest ripple gently. No, he had to concentrate.
"You hardly see them as it is, do you really think they want to know that suddenly, out of the blue, you're gay," Was Mike's argument,
"BI! Micky retorted, "You're not the last thing on Earth you know,"
Mike realized he was getting nowhere by arguing and decided to try a different approach. He sat down next to Micky on the bed and gave his best cute look, which wasn't very good at all, but it was worth a try. When that didn't work he leant forward and began to nibble at Micky's neck."If you think you're gonna get round me like that. Micky began, turning to look Mike in the eye, "you're dead right! He whispered, pulling Mike into a deep, passionate kiss.
In two seconds, both had forgotten what they had been arguing about and the kiss deepened. Micky lay on his back, and Mike rested his head on Micky's soft chest. Slowly he raised his eyes to the best smile in the world, nobody could remain angry when they were greeted with that smile. "If...If it's what you want," Mike began and was immediately silenced by an ecstatic kiss from his lover.
"They'll love you, I promise," Micky grinned, sitting up, and reaching for his jacket, "My parents are very understanding."
Mike was nervous. He was nervous telling the others, and now he had to tell Micky's parents that he was their only son's lover. He stood in front of the mirror in the bedroom he shared with Micky and looked at himself. Slowly he reached up and removed the green woolhat he was wearing.
"More sensible without," he murmured to himself. He gave himself another long stare and then replaced the hat back on his head, "More honest with," He concluded.
He was still doing the same continuous activity when Micky walked in. "Ready?" Micky called cheerily,
"As ready as I'll ever be. Mike mumbled, not turning round, "How do I look?"
Micky gave him an offhand glance, "Same as usual." he smiled,
"You're not meant to say that! Mike scowled, giving Micky a playful tickle to try and relieve his own nerves.
"You look fine. Micky laughed, wrapping his arms around Mike's neck and kissing him gently, "I'd tell you if you didn't!"
Mike sat perfectly still throughout the entire journey there. Deep inside his mind he was preparing a
speech, and several answers to the reactions he suspected.
Micky was humming happily to himself, enjoying the whole experience. It wasn't often he got to drive and now he was in charge and it was just him and Mike. He pulled up into the driveway and beamed at the old house where he had spent his entire childhood. His smile dropped when he looked across at Mike, who had an even more miserable face than usual. "What's up babe? He asked, leaning over and stroking Mike's face.
"Oh, nothing...just a bit worried that's all. Mike murmured, kissing Micky's hand.
"About what?"
"What if they don't like me? What if they forbid you to see me ever again?"
"Then I'll tell 'em to stuff it, you think I'm gonna let you go that easily?"
"Be serious Mick," Mike broke away, "Are you honestly telling me that you'll pick me over your parents?"
"Certainly, every time and never regret it. I love you Mike, and no-one, whoever they are, can change that. They shared a kiss, to seal this promise and then prepared to enter the house.
The house was larger than Mike expected and he stood in awe for a few moments before being dragged to the front door by Micky. A young woman opened the door, dressed from head to toe in bright colours. "Micky...! She beamed, hugging her brother.
"Hello girl, how are you? Micky beamed, edging inside the door.
"Busy! I have my exams, so I can't stay, I have to go to the library. She smiled, grabbing her bag.
"That's a shame," Micky mused, then realizing, grabbed her arm, "You haven't met Mike have you?"
She shook her head and shook Mike's hand. "Hello Mike," She laughed, before rushing out of the door. Mike smiled at the uncanny resemblance between her and Micky, the smile, the uncontrollable energy. Micky gave Mike a wink and moved towards the living room, hanging his coat on the stand as he went. Mike shuffled closely behind him, gazing at the walls that were covered with family photos, and portraits. This was a whole new feeling for Mike, who had grown up with just his mother and aunt, and he hardly saw her at that. Micky seemed to have hundreds of relatives and there seemed to be great family warmth that emanated from the house.
The living room was spacious, with a piano and a couple of violins lying around the floor. There were books everywhere, which were mostly theatrical, such as the complete works of Shakespeare. Sat in one large armchair, was Micky's father. He looked a stern man, nothing like Micky at all, with a thick moustache and a balding head. Mike gulped slightly. On the couch opposite was Micky's mother, who beamed from ear to ear at the sight of her son. She had the same eyes, same complexion, same smile, and even the same style hair as Micky. "Micky, my baby! She smiled, embracing him.
"Mom, please. Micky whispered embarrassed, and showed Mike a seat. "Mom, Dad...this is Mike. Micky introduced. Mike leant forward to shake Mr. Dolenz's hand but merely received a nod of acknowledgement.
He received the exact opposite from Mrs. Dolenz, who leapt up and gave Mike a hug. "Hello," She giggled.
Mike had never realized it before, but now it was evident, he was shy. Micky out shone him completely with his wisecracks and bubbly personality, whereas he himself was just silent, trying to hide his worried expression. A silence fell as Micky perched himself beside his mother. Mike tried to block out Mr. Dolenz, who he knew was constantly staring at him.
"So. Micky's dad broke the silence with a very deep voice, "Where are you from, Mike? California too?"
Mike looked at him and then realized that he hadn't spoken yet, so they heard his accent and that was not a sarcastic remark.
"Erm...Texas," He smiled slightly and then dropped it as he watched the elder man's reaction.
"Texas eh? Well that's different." Mike could tell he was not impressed and this suspicion was confirmed when the man remarked, "Lotta thieves come from Texas don't they?"
Mike didn't know what to say and was thankfully aided by Mrs. Dolenz, who gave a scolding "Jonathon!"
The silence and tension returned and everyone looked to the floor simultaneously, trying to think of something to say. "So Micky," His mother began optimistically, "Where's this person you told me about over the phone, this mysterious love of your life, you never told me her name. When will she arrive?"
Mike looked up shocked and saw Micky's mischievous face. When she didn't receive an answer quick enough, she turned to Mike. "Do you know her Mike?" she asked innocently.
"Not your sister is it? Mr. Dolenz butted in.
"No sir," Mike murmured, wishing the ground would open up beneath him. Then he saw Micky get up, as if to make a speech and he cringed, the moment of truth.
"Mom, Dad...I've been in love with someone for the last three months. Well, longer than that, but I've only been with them for three months," Micky began, receiving nods from his parents, "And...I love them very much...they mean everything to me, and I wanna stay with them."
"Well? Who is it boy? Mr. Dolenz grew irritated. Micky gave his secret smile to Mike and then sat down next to his lover, taking his hand. His mother was the first to react, a slow reaction, which consisted of a small gasp and then trying to hide it. She was silent for a couple of moments to compose herself and then turned back to the couple.
"Well." she began, "It's not what I expected, but if it makes you happy."
Micky gave her a warm loving smile and a peck on the cheek. "Thanks Mom. He whispered. She smiled at Mike, easing his nerves slightly, but he was terrified to look in Mr. Dolenz's direction.
For a few moments there was silence. Micky looked at his dad expectantly and saw the older man's anger growing. Suddenly there was an almighty roar as Mr. Dolenz leapt up and grabbed his son by the arm, tugging him away from Mike. "After all I've done for you! He screamed, Micky flinched slightly, "I've raised you to be the best, the best of the best, and this is how you repay me?!"
Micky swallowed hard, trying to find words, but couldn't. "Who's gonna carry on our name now, eh? Who? You damn well can't, can you? The man continued yelling, "You're throwing your life away, you know what they call people like you?"
"Shut-up!"
Both Micky and his father looked, shocked, towards the angered cry and found Mike confronting them.
"What did you say? Mr. Dolenz near gasped,
"I..." Mike tried to fight his shyness, "I said, shut-up.Micky's done nothing wrong. If you wanna yell at someone, yell at me."
This just made the elder man even angrier and he now focused it all on Mike. "And this is what my son, my only son, has chosen as his partner? A Southern beanpole with a bigmouth?"
"Don't you understand? Mike cried, his anger growing to the same level of Mr. Dolenz's, "We're in love. Isn't that all that matters? There's so much hate going on, what's wrong with a bit of love for once? I love your son, I'd die for your son - doesn't that mean anything? Doesn't that mean anything at all to you? I may be ugly to you, I may be gay, but at least, under this disgruntled exterior. I have a
heart. Now ask yourself, do you? Do you really have any heart Mr. Dolenz? I'm not sure, not after the way you've just treated the most loving, kind, gentle person in the world. Surely only a person without love could possibly yell at an angel, because that's what your son is Mr. Dolenz, an angel!"
Micky gave a small smile, trying not to let his father see as Mike stopped to catch his breath.
Mr. Dolenz didn't know what to say. Another silence fell. They turned around and found that Micky's mother had left the room, too embarrassed by her husband's behavior. Mr. Dolenz hung his head slightly, and then put a protective hand on Micky's shoulder. He was a proud man and words didn't come easy, so he didn't try. He gave Micky's shoulder a squeeze and then left the room. Micky looked up at Mike slowly, and Mike saw the tears in his lover's eyes.
"Come here," He whispered, holding Micky close to his chest, "I'll look after you."
Micky tried to hold back the tears but they fell anyway. "I never knew he could be like that," He sobbed, "I thought he'd understand, I thought he was different."
From the doorway, Mr. Dolenz could see the scene before him. He could see the sadness he had caused and he felt an aching within. There was only one way he could clean up the mess he had made of the whole situation.
"Did you mean what you said? Micky asked into Mike's chest,
"Listen," Mike whispered, pressing Micky's head against his chest so he could hear his heart.
"Do you really need to ask that? The Texan smiled.Micky gave a little giggle and wiped his eyes on Mike's shirt.
Suddenly the atmosphere changed as Mr. Dolenz came back into the room. The couple separated and Mike watched the elder man with curiosity. His whole body language had changed, now he seemed as timid as a mouse and as innocently wise as a priest.
"Here. He placed an object in Micky's hand, "It was my mother's. She wanted me to give it to you when you found the girl you were going to marry. I know that's not going to happen, but the point is. I understand that I was a fool, this is the person you love, I can see it now."
And with that he left. Micky looked up at Mike with wide eyes and slowly opened his hand. Nestled in his palm was a gold ring.
The clock in the living room chimed midnight and Mike sighed slightly. He was still awake. Looking down he found Micky nestled to his chest, the moonlight deepening the colour of his curls and making his complexion so pale. He was beautiful. Mike lay back and stared at the ceiling. Doubts, worries and fantasies all ran through his head. Was he the right person for Micky? Micky deserved better, he was the nicest person in the world, what would he want with a drop out? These nagging thoughts plagued Mike's mind and he knew there was only one way to get rid of them. He opened his bedside drawer and pulled out a small box. He opened it carefully and smiled as he pulled out the ring.
'For Michael :' it read 'I'll never let you go - Micky xx'Mike smiled and sniffed slightly, before putting the box away and curling up alongside his lover to join him in sleep.
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