My Sister Planned My Funeral.

“Yeah, that’s me..” he looks around in confusion, then glances at his phone, where he hadn’t had connection

“Holy- shit- Em- this isn’t a prank right? This better not be a prank-”

“It’s not a prank. I know you guys have been calling me Jace, but my dads named me Mikey.” He gets up and walks over.

“Hello little brother.” He smiles and Leo can feel nerves in his mind, but also a lot of warmth and wanting to connect.

Leo pauses, then looks to Em, then Lina “You’re my brother?”

He takes a breath, then slowly hugs Mikey tight. His wings wrapping around him. “Welcome home,” he whispers

He hugs Leo just as tight.

“Thank you.” He whispers back, kissing Leo on the forehead like his mother does.

He smiles, pressing close. Listening to the edges of his thoughts just to be sure, then hugging even tighter

Mikey’s mind is happy, and memories of the day shuffling around. Leo sees Em, and how much Mikey already cares about his sister, how precious the pebble Charlie gave him is and how he wants to spend time with Leo and Wyatt.

“I kept hoping you weren’t lost forever from us,” he mumbles. “When mom told me. I wanted you to magically come to us somehow even if you didn’t wanna be family just someone we knew..”

“I was looking for you. I didn’t know just how many people I’d find.” He chuckles.

“I’m glad I found you all.”

“You-you were?” Leo smiles. “And yeah… that’s not surprising”

“Been looking for Momma for a while.” Mikey smiles back.

“Did you wanna sit down and cuddle? And talk?” He offers

Leo nods shyly, looking to Em, her nod making him soften. “I-I’d like that..”

“Me too. It’s okay, ask me anything.” Mikey settles them on the couch, between Lina and Em.

“I-I don’t know what to ask, it… it doesn’t feel real,” Leo says softly, snuggling into Mikey’s side and letting Em hold him too

Mikey boops him on the nose with a soft chuckle.

“I promise, I’m real.” He takes the blanket and tucks it around them, the gesture reminding Leo of Lina.

Leo grins, smiling. “Well… I what’s your favorite food?”

“I like chicken enchiladas and Korean BBQ. I grew up in San Diego and my Appa was Korean.”

Leo grins. “Well should make that then… my boyfriend and I went to a Korean BBQ place for our anniversary… it was awesome”

“I’d like that. I can make Appa’s kimchi recipe….he’d like that, knowing I’m sharing it with my brother.”

Leo smiles a bit. “Would you teach me? I like cooking a lot”

“So do I.” Mikey smiles too, “I’d love to teach you.”

“Could I show you my turnover recipe? I’m proud of it”

“That sounds amazing.”

“Everyone here thinks it is”

Mikey reaches and gently strokes Leo’s hair.

“What else do you like?”

“Well…” He thinks for a bit. “Boys? But mostly my boyfriend… and making stuff. I’m really good with machines, and dad’s helping me fix up a car for when I get my license..”

“Yeah?” Mikey smiles, and Leo can see one of his bracelets is a Bi pride flag.

“Yeah! Uh, I have a boyfriend, his name is Alex and it’s really serious and stuff, been long enough we’re kind of silently agreed that it’s probably gonna be marriage in the end? But like ina. Chill way.. he and Em have helped me build my confidence a lot… he’s the one who started getting me this stuff when he found out I like it,” Leo babbles shyly, gesturing heading to his crop top and skinny jeans

“That’s good, he sounds amazing. And you sound happy with him.”

“I am. Em and I apparently have a similar type because we ended up with dangerous but soft for us partners who love to spoil us and love our flappy”

Mikey giggles at that, thinking of Jamie, but he doesn’t say anything yet.

“Appa would’ve loved you. He had a similar style, he would’ve dragged you out shopping and thrifting.”

Leo grins

“That would’ve been fun I think, I would’ve liked to do that… I don’t have a whole lot of friends”

“Neither do I.” Mikey muses

“I guess… spending over a year legally dead can do that?”

“That sounds like a story?” He tilts his head curiously.

“But I understand if you’re not ready to tell me.”

“Short version… me and Em’s mom sucked. She found out I was gay after Em had gotten out, wayyyy after. She tried to kill us both because of the shame of it. I survived and hitchhiked from Boston to New York City”

Mikey’s heart clenches and he cuddles Leo tighter.

Leo cuddles in. “I was in active addiction. For years. Same as Emmy… she and I both have bad histories

Leo can feel the edges of Mikey’s mind, wanting to protect his new little brother, as Mikey starts stroking Leo’s hair.

“I relapsed a few months ago… it wasn’t good.” Leo cuddles in, the protectiveness making him cuddle even closer, humming in safety

“How are you feeling now sweetheart?” Mikey asks softly.

“Dad helped me through withdrawal… again… it wasn’t as bad as the final time before… or the sixteen times I tried to quit before that,” he shrugs a little. “Now I have a flask with soda in it. It helps”

“Good.” He rubs Leo’s back, in between his wings soothingly.

“He sounds like a good dad.”

He presses into it, cuddling close. “He is… but don’t tell the twins or Charlie… Novie and Wyatt don’t really know about the addiction. That is. They obviously know how great our dad is”

“My lips are sealed.” Mikey promises.

“The twins… they’re old enough that if they ask me questions I answer, but they don’t usually ask much”

“Wyatt talked about you.” Mikey hums.

Leo smiles. “Yeah? He did?”

“Mmm, he wants a ‘brothers movie night’, and he talked about your cooking.”

“We always do those… obviously you’re invited,” he smiles, happy that his little brother still actively plans those nights with DoorDash and movies in bed. “And it’s not that good… just something I can control yknow?”

“He thinks it is.” Mikey smiles.

Leo smiles back. “It’s just… I followed the model Em set. Just minus forced maturity and parentalization… basically being present and taking care of them and stuff… quality time… y’know? The reasons Em and I are so close”

He glances over at Em fondly. “Why she still had partial parental rights”

Mikey’s thoughts are filled with care for Em, and a silent promise he’ll make up for lost time being her big brother.

Leo smiles at that, cuddling in. “She’s gonna take forever to actually accept love you know, right? Especially cause she automatically is gonna try and mother-hen you”

“Won’t stop me trying.”

“Keep trying and it works. She’s like a stray cat”

He chuckles.

“So she’s fox, apparently I’m bunny, what are you?” He asks.

Leo smiles. “Mouse. I was really quiet when I came here. Like, flinched if someone walked, no eye contact, no speaking unless spoken to… I think that might be it? But I don’t know exactly

“I think it suits you.”

“Yeah?”

“Uh huh.”

“I see bunny with you. You remind me of one”

“Momma was onto something then.”

“She always seems to believe

“Yeah?” Mikey’s thoughts shift a little, missing that he grew up without his mother.

“Yeah… she doesn’t always know what to say and she admits that, but she tries… and I like that better. She remembers little stuff too”

Mikey nods, staying quiet.

“When I have nightmares… she and dad let me crawl into their bed like I’m a tiny child

Mikey’s thoughts are swirling and cloudy, like a storm about to begin.

“That’s good of them.”

“It is.. hey, are you okay? Your head is getting loud”

“I’m fine, keep talking.” He gives a weak smile, and starts trying to squash the bitter feelings bubbling up.

“No… c’mon… you can talk about it,” he murmurs

“It’s hard not to be jealous, and then I feel bad for being jealous in the first place…”

“I get that,” Leo admits quietly, leaning. “It’s okay to be jealous or even a little resentful… it’s natural”

Mikey cuddles in with a quiet hum.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

Mikey shakes his head and switches to signing.

‘It’s been a lot today. I just need some time to sort through it. But I like listening to you.’

Leo nods and smiles

“Well.. I’m looking into trade schools right now..”

He listens intently

“I’m kinda a student too at Xavier’s… it’s weird, Novie and Wy are accepted to ivy leagues and even though I’m so much older…. I’m barely getting a GEDl

‘But you’ve had hurdles they haven’t.’

Leo shrugs quietly. “It’s fine… everyone says I’m smart, that I shouldn’t have trouble cause of it. But it’s still hard”

Mikey cuddles him, his mind trying to wrap Leo in comfort.

Leo smiles and leans in, allowing it

They stay like that for a while, until their mother says there’s food ready.

Leo stays close, smiling and leaning in quietly

Lina brings them bowls of soup and some bread.

Her smile is bright, taking in the sight of them.

“Ooo! Mama it looks so good!” He grins, taking his bowl with thanks

“Yeah, that’s me..” he looks around in confusion, then glances at his phone, where he hadn’t had connection

“Holy- shit- Em- this isn’t a prank right? This better not be a prank-”

“It’s not a prank. I know you guys have been calling me Jace, but my dads named me Mikey.” He gets up and walks over.

“Hello little brother.” He smiles and Leo can feel nerves in his mind, but also a lot of warmth and wanting to connect.

Leo pauses, then looks to Em, then Lina “You’re my brother?”

He takes a breath, then slowly hugs Mikey tight. His wings wrapping around him. “Welcome home,” he whispers

He hugs Leo just as tight.

“Thank you.” He whispers back, kissing Leo on the forehead like his mother does.

He smiles, pressing close. Listening to the edges of his thoughts just to be sure, then hugging even tighter

Mikey’s mind is happy, and memories of the day shuffling around. Leo sees Em, and how much Mikey already cares about his sister, how precious the pebble Charlie gave him is and how he wants to spend time with Leo and Wyatt.

“I kept hoping you weren’t lost forever from us,” he mumbles. “When mom told me. I wanted you to magically come to us somehow even if you didn’t wanna be family just someone we knew..”

“I was looking for you. I didn’t know just how many people I’d find.” He chuckles.

“I’m glad I found you all.”

“You-you were?” Leo smiles. “And yeah… that’s not surprising”

“Been looking for Momma for a while.” Mikey smiles back.

“Did you wanna sit down and cuddle? And talk?” He offers

Leo nods shyly, looking to Em, her nod making him soften. “I-I’d like that..”

“Me too. It’s okay, ask me anything.” Mikey settles them on the couch, between Lina and Em.

“I-I don’t know what to ask, it… it doesn’t feel real,” Leo says softly, snuggling into Mikey’s side and letting Em hold him too

Mikey boops him on the nose with a soft chuckle.

“I promise, I’m real.” He takes the blanket and tucks it around them, the gesture reminding Leo of Lina.

Leo grins, smiling. “Well… I what’s your favorite food?”

“I like chicken enchiladas and Korean BBQ. I grew up in San Diego and my Appa was Korean.”

Leo grins. “Well should make that then… my boyfriend and I went to a Korean BBQ place for our anniversary… it was awesome”

“I’d like that. I can make Appa’s kimchi recipe….he’d like that, knowing I’m sharing it with my brother.”

Leo smiles a bit. “Would you teach me? I like cooking a lot”

“So do I.” Mikey smiles too, “I’d love to teach you.”

“Could I show you my turnover recipe? I’m proud of it”

“That sounds amazing.”

“Everyone here thinks it is”

Mikey reaches and gently strokes Leo’s hair.

“What else do you like?”

“Well…” He thinks for a bit. “Boys? But mostly my boyfriend… and making stuff. I’m really good with machines, and dad’s helping me fix up a car for when I get my license..”

“Yeah?” Mikey smiles, and Leo can see one of his bracelets is a Bi pride flag.

“Yeah! Uh, I have a boyfriend, his name is Alex and it’s really serious and stuff, been long enough we’re kind of silently agreed that it’s probably gonna be marriage in the end? But like ina. Chill way.. he and Em have helped me build my confidence a lot… he’s the one who started getting me this stuff when he found out I like it,” Leo babbles shyly, gesturing heading to his crop top and skinny jeans

“That’s good, he sounds amazing. And you sound happy with him.”

“I am. Em and I apparently have a similar type because we ended up with dangerous but soft for us partners who love to spoil us and love our flappy”

Mikey giggles at that, thinking of Jamie, but he doesn’t say anything yet.

“Appa would’ve loved you. He had a similar style, he would’ve dragged you out shopping and thrifting.”

Leo grins

“That would’ve been fun I think, I would’ve liked to do that… I don’t have a whole lot of friends”

“Neither do I.” Mikey muses

“I guess… spending over a year legally dead can do that?”

“That sounds like a story?” He tilts his head curiously.

“But I understand if you’re not ready to tell me.”

“Short version… me and Em’s mom sucked. She found out I was gay after Em had gotten out, wayyyy after. She tried to kill us both because of the shame of it. I survived and hitchhiked from Boston to New York City”

Mikey’s heart clenches and he cuddles Leo tighter.

Leo cuddles in. “I was in active addiction. For years. Same as Emmy… she and I both have bad histories

Leo can feel the edges of Mikey’s mind, wanting to protect his new little brother, as Mikey starts stroking Leo’s hair.

“I relapsed a few months ago… it wasn’t good.” Leo cuddles in, the protectiveness making him cuddle even closer, humming in safety

“How are you feeling now sweetheart?” Mikey asks softly.

“Dad helped me through withdrawal… again… it wasn’t as bad as the final time before… or the sixteen times I tried to quit before that,” he shrugs a little. “Now I have a flask with soda in it. It helps”

“Good.” He rubs Leo’s back, in between his wings soothingly.

“He sounds like a good dad.”

He presses into it, cuddling close. “He is… but don’t tell the twins or Charlie… Novie and Wyatt don’t really know about the addiction. That is. They obviously know how great our dad is”

“My lips are sealed.” Mikey promises.

“The twins… they’re old enough that if they ask me questions I answer, but they don’t usually ask much”

“Wyatt talked about you.” Mikey hums.

Leo smiles. “Yeah? He did?”

“Mmm, he wants a ‘brothers movie night’, and he talked about your cooking.”

“We always do those… obviously you’re invited,” he smiles, happy that his little brother still actively plans those nights with DoorDash and movies in bed. “And it’s not that good… just something I can control yknow?”

“He thinks it is.” Mikey smiles.

Leo smiles back. “It’s just… I followed the model Em set. Just minus forced maturity and parentalization… basically being present and taking care of them and stuff… quality time… y’know? The reasons Em and I are so close”

He glances over at Em fondly. “Why she still had partial parental rights”

Mikey’s thoughts are filled with care for Em, and a silent promise he’ll make up for lost time being her big brother.

Leo smiles at that, cuddling in. “She’s gonna take forever to actually accept love you know, right? Especially cause she automatically is gonna try and mother-hen you”

“Won’t stop me trying.”

“Keep trying and it works. She’s like a stray cat”

He chuckles.

“So she’s fox, apparently I’m bunny, what are you?” He asks.

Leo smiles. “Mouse. I was really quiet when I came here. Like, flinched if someone walked, no eye contact, no speaking unless spoken to… I think that might be it? But I don’t know exactly

“I think it suits you.”

“Yeah?”

“Uh huh.”

“I see bunny with you. You remind me of one”

“Momma was onto something then.”

“She always seems to believe

“Yeah?” Mikey’s thoughts shift a little, missing that he grew up without his mother.

“Yeah… she doesn’t always know what to say and she admits that, but she tries… and I like that better. She remembers little stuff too”

Mikey nods, staying quiet.

“When I have nightmares… she and dad let me crawl into their bed like I’m a tiny child

Mikey’s thoughts are swirling and cloudy, like a storm about to begin.

“That’s good of them.”

“It is.. hey, are you okay? Your head is getting loud”

“I’m fine, keep talking.” He gives a weak smile, and starts trying to squash the bitter feelings bubbling up.

“No… c’mon… you can talk about it,” he murmurs

“It’s hard not to be jealous, and then I feel bad for being jealous in the first place…”

“I get that,” Leo admits quietly, leaning. “It’s okay to be jealous or even a little resentful… it’s natural”

Mikey cuddles in with a quiet hum.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

Mikey shakes his head and switches to signing.

‘It’s been a lot today. I just need some time to sort through it. But I like listening to you.’

Leo nods and smiles

“Well.. I’m looking into trade schools right now..”

He listens intently

“I’m kinda a student too at Xavier’s… it’s weird, Novie and Wy are accepted to ivy leagues and even though I’m so much older…. I’m barely getting a GEDl

‘But you’ve had hurdles they haven’t.’

Leo shrugs quietly. “It’s fine… everyone says I’m smart, that I shouldn’t have trouble cause of it. But it’s still hard”

Mikey cuddles him, his mind trying to wrap Leo in comfort.

Leo smiles and leans in, allowing it

They stay like that for a while, until their mother says there’s food ready.

Leo stays close, smiling and leaning in quietly

“Yeah, that’s me..” he looks around in confusion, then glances at his phone, where he hadn’t had connection

“Holy- shit- Em- this isn’t a prank right? This better not be a prank-”

“It’s not a prank. I know you guys have been calling me Jace, but my dads named me Mikey.” He gets up and walks over.

“Hello little brother.” He smiles and Leo can feel nerves in his mind, but also a lot of warmth and wanting to connect.

Leo pauses, then looks to Em, then Lina “You’re my brother?”

He takes a breath, then slowly hugs Mikey tight. His wings wrapping around him. “Welcome home,” he whispers

He hugs Leo just as tight.

“Thank you.” He whispers back, kissing Leo on the forehead like his mother does.

He smiles, pressing close. Listening to the edges of his thoughts just to be sure, then hugging even tighter

Mikey’s mind is happy, and memories of the day shuffling around. Leo sees Em, and how much Mikey already cares about his sister, how precious the pebble Charlie gave him is and how he wants to spend time with Leo and Wyatt.

“I kept hoping you weren’t lost forever from us,” he mumbles. “When mom told me. I wanted you to magically come to us somehow even if you didn’t wanna be family just someone we knew..”

“I was looking for you. I didn’t know just how many people I’d find.” He chuckles.

“I’m glad I found you all.”

“You-you were?” Leo smiles. “And yeah… that’s not surprising”

“Been looking for Momma for a while.” Mikey smiles back.

“Did you wanna sit down and cuddle? And talk?” He offers

Leo nods shyly, looking to Em, her nod making him soften. “I-I’d like that..”

“Me too. It’s okay, ask me anything.” Mikey settles them on the couch, between Lina and Em.

“I-I don’t know what to ask, it… it doesn’t feel real,” Leo says softly, snuggling into Mikey’s side and letting Em hold him too

Mikey boops him on the nose with a soft chuckle.

“I promise, I’m real.” He takes the blanket and tucks it around them, the gesture reminding Leo of Lina.

Leo grins, smiling. “Well… I what’s your favorite food?”

“I like chicken enchiladas and Korean BBQ. I grew up in San Diego and my Appa was Korean.”

Leo grins. “Well should make that then… my boyfriend and I went to a Korean BBQ place for our anniversary… it was awesome”

“I’d like that. I can make Appa’s kimchi recipe….he’d like that, knowing I’m sharing it with my brother.”

Leo smiles a bit. “Would you teach me? I like cooking a lot”

“So do I.” Mikey smiles too, “I’d love to teach you.”

“Could I show you my turnover recipe? I’m proud of it”

“That sounds amazing.”

“Everyone here thinks it is”

Mikey reaches and gently strokes Leo’s hair.

“What else do you like?”

“Well…” He thinks for a bit. “Boys? But mostly my boyfriend… and making stuff. I’m really good with machines, and dad’s helping me fix up a car for when I get my license..”

“Yeah?” Mikey smiles, and Leo can see one of his bracelets is a Bi pride flag.

“Yeah! Uh, I have a boyfriend, his name is Alex and it’s really serious and stuff, been long enough we’re kind of silently agreed that it’s probably gonna be marriage in the end? But like ina. Chill way.. he and Em have helped me build my confidence a lot… he’s the one who started getting me this stuff when he found out I like it,” Leo babbles shyly, gesturing heading to his crop top and skinny jeans

“That’s good, he sounds amazing. And you sound happy with him.”

“I am. Em and I apparently have a similar type because we ended up with dangerous but soft for us partners who love to spoil us and love our flappy”