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Ian runs over to the abandoned buildings with the acceptance letters clutched firmly in his hands. He can’t wait to tell Mickey the amazing news. That they both will be going to the Academy of Superheroes. The premiere training camp for potential superheroes that want to join the The Society of Justice and become official card carrying heroes.
The Gallaghers have a complicated relationship with the academy. Frank was accepted and showed great promise with his power of persuasion, he can convince most people to do what he wants with just a simple suggestion. But Frank had other plans and thought aligning himself with the Villain League would be more profitable. That plan backfired as the villain Kaptain Khaos Kontrol used his mind control powers on Frank leaving him trapped inside his own head of confusing thoughts.
With Frank incapacitated and Monica abandoning the family, Fiona gave up her dreams of being a certified hero. She has the power of super speed and Ian believes that she is faster than Vamonos, the Mexican speedster who currently holds the world record. Fiona sacrificing her dreams to take care of her younger siblings still makes her a hero in Ian’s eyes.
Lip joined the academy last year but his powers of super intelligence quickly became a burden and he turned to alcohol to numb his thoughts. Ian was disappointed in his older brother for quickly giving up joining the SOJ. But the disappointment quickly turned into motivation and he applied to the academy. His power of invisibility may not seem like much but he’s starting to be able to transport a small distance and if his powers grow he could help a lot of civilians in dangerous situations.
Ian climbs up the steps knowing that Mickey is waiting for him at top. Ian finds Mickey firing his combustible energy balls at a pile of bricks.
“Mickey!” Ian abruptly gets Mickey's attention causing him to accidently aim one of his energy balls close to his head. “Jesus.”
“Your fault, don’t fucking sneak up on me,” Mickey points out. Mickey picks up his half full beer can and takes a seat against the wall as Ian joins him. “So what was so urgent that we had to meet up right away?”
Ian took the envelopes in his hands and tossed them onto Mickey’s lap.
“We got into the Academy of Superheroes,” Ian declares proudly.
“Damn, you were serious about that shit,” Mickey says, trying to hide the disappointment.
“Yeah, and we did it Mick,” Ian says. “We’re going to be heroes and leave this awful place.”
The southside was a place where no heroes lived. It’s the territory of Kaptain Khaos Kontrol, Mickey’s father.
“We?” Mickey says, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, the second envelope is your acceptance. I may have filled out an application for you too,” Ian grins
“Oh, cause Kap will fucking let one of his sons join the fucking boy scouts,” Mickey sneers.
“I don’t understand why you’re so scared of your dad,” Ian says. “We know his mind control doesn’t work on his blood relatives.”
“It doesn’t,” Mickey agrees.
“Then why do you act like you’re under his control?”
“They’re worse things than having him take over your mind,” Mickey says quietly.
“But you’ll be free,” Ian tries to take Mickey’s hand but he pulls away. “The Society of Justice will protect you, I’ll protect you.”
“I can’t be free like you Gallagher,” Mickey says.
“Just think about it,” Ian says and leans in to kiss Mickey. It’s a short and sweet kiss that makes both of them smile. “I’m getting on the bus in two days.”
“You fucking tease,” Mickey says, dispointed that the kiss didn’t turn to more like it normally does.
“There’ll be more if you come to the academy,” Ian winks as he heads back down the stairs.
Mickey leans his head against the wall and sighs. He knows there’s no stopping Ian Gallagher’s stubborn ass. But he can’t leave the southside, he’s not like Ian. He closes his eyes and lets his mind reach out till it finds a familiar mind. Mickey could only do this with one other person, his mom, and now he can communicate with his sister, no matter how far they are.
“Mickey?”
“Did Ian talk to you about this academy shit?”
“Yes and I think you should go.”
“What about you?”
“I can take care of myself Mickey.”
“I have to protect you.”
“Kap has tasked Lip with going to Detroit to help with the expansion of his territory.”
“So?”
“I’m gonna go with him.”
“I don’t want you getting involved in the family business.”
“Too late, I was born into it just like you. Besides, Lip and I aren’t really going to detroit. Lip is making fake identities for us and we’ll hop the border to Canada.”
“I don’t trust that booze guzzler to take care of you.”
“I can take care of myself Mick.”
“Yeah, I know,” Mickey pauses. It scares him to not be around Mandy but maybe this is for the best. The farther she’s away from Terry Milkovich the better. “You think I should go to the academy?”
“It was my idea,” Mandy says in his head.
“OK,” Mickey says. “You tell me if Canada doesn’t work out?”
“And you do the same,” Mandy instructs.
Mickey wonders what lies Ian wrote on the application to get him accepted. He’s sure he probably left out the fact that he’s the son of one of the most notorious villains in Chicago.
Ian didn’t bother following up with Mickey. He knew he would be right next to him on the bus heading to the Academy and sure enough he was proven correct.
They made it through orientation and got their mentor assignments. Each student was given a mentor, an actual member of the Society of Justice to help develop their skills. They aren’t the big names like Justice Woman or Badgerman, they tend to be the third string heroes that hardly ever get called upon unless there’s a major intergalactic fight and they need all hands on deck. “Those who don’t, teach.” Is what Lip told Ian about the mentors
Ian got paired up with Sweet N Sour, a superhero that can alter someone's taste buds. Not a very useful skill unless you want to make someone throw-up. Ian gets along with her, she’s kind and helps Ian with unique ways of using his powers and developing his skills.
“So a building is on fire and there’s a family trapped inside, how do you use your powers to get them out as safely as possible?” Sweet N Sour asks.
“I would teleport myself to where they are, have everyone hold hands so I can then teleport them out of the building,” Ian says proudly.
“You can barely teleport a couple feet, how are you going to get in a building?” Sweety, as she’s often called, points out.
“I’ve been improving,” Ian says, offended that his mentor would doubt his skills as a superhero. “”And I was able to teleport with the dummy without taking off a limb in the process.”
“That’s great Ian,” Sweety assures. “But I want you to consider the abilities that you have now, not the ones you may develop in the future. How would you even know what room they are trapped in to teleport to? You’re not only putting the civilians in danger but you’re putting your own life at risk too. I want you to imagine yourself in that situation, there’s a raging fire and a family is in danger, what are you going to do?”
“My invisibility also makes me invulnerable, I can walk into the fire and get to the family unharmed.”
“That’s some logical thinking,” Sweety praises, giving Ian a boost in confidence, but then her next comment brought Ian back down. “But how will you get the family out safely once you reach them?”
“I, uh, I don’t know what to say,” Ian says.
“You’re just a trainee,” Sweety tells him. “You need to listen to your leadership in these types of situations.”
“So it was a trick question?”
“No, I think it’s important for you to think through scenarios and assess your powers. You have a lot of drive Ian, but you have to be aware of what your place is.”
“I’m here to use my powers and you’re saying I have to listen to other people?”
“Your job right now is to learn and part of that learning is respecting that you are still a trainee and must listen to leadership.”
Mickey was paired up with Firehead. The name sounded cool but the reality of his powers were kind of lame. His head was on fire, he couldn't shoot fireballs or set anything on fire, he just had a head that was on fire. If water touched his head the fire would be extinguished and he would be put in a coma until his head was lit again.
“Have you thought about your super name?” Firehead asks as they make their way across the field towards the shooting range.
“Uh, Southside Kid,” Mickey awkwardly answers. He hates making small talk and Firehead is a master of it.
“Hmm, I’m not a fan of names with ‘kid’ or ‘boy’ or ‘girl’. What happens when you get to forty or sixty years old?”
“I probably only have a couple more years until someone kills me,” Mickey says.
“Did both your parents have powers or is it just your dad?”
Mickey’s not allowed to carry a water bottle around Firehead, which is a shame because the matchstick could use a good soak right about now.
“Just my dad,” Mickey says quietly as he rubs his nose with the back of his hand. “He liked hooking up with non-powered women, easier to control.”
“Your application said you also have some telepathy?”
Mandy had told Ian about how he can talk to her and how he used to do it with their mom. Mickey doesn’t like talking about it. He prefers it to be a secret.
“It’s not that great,” Mickey mumbles. “I can only talk to one person.”
“Who?”
“My sister.”
“That makes sense,” Firehead nods his flaming head in understanding. “With powers that make you vulnerable it is usually easier for your mind to trust someone you’re close with. Those mental powers can be some of the hardest to grow.”
“So I have to trust people if I want my telepathy power to get stronger?” Mickey asks. “My dad doesn’t trust anyone and he can control most people’s minds.”
“Starting with the people that you’re closest with will be the best way to grow your power. I know you’re close to the Gallagher kid, maybe start there and see what happens. With his consent of course.”
Mickey was just about to protest that idea. Ian and him are close but the idea to let him inside of his head was a new step he’s not sure he’s ready for.
“Alright, we’re here,” Firehead declares as they arrive at the shooting range. “Let’s see how far your energy balls can go.”
Mickey headed to the table in the cafeteria that Ian and him always sit at. His mentor, Firehead, had him running drills all morning. He had Mickey shooting his energy balls at targets at increasing distances. It drains Mickey to use his powers at such frequency, it takes a lot more to shoot an energy ball at a target seventy meters away than a stack of beer cans on the other side of the Milkovich living room.
Ian and Mickey have an unspoken agreement that whoever gets to the cafeteria first gets the lunches so Mickey was a bit taken aback when he got to their table and didn’t see any food trays.
“Are they serving those weird shity fish sticks again?” Mickey jokes as he sits down. Ian gives no response which worries Mickey, Ian is usually so eager to catch up from their time apart working with their mentors. “Yo Ian, you not feeling good?”
Mickey jabs his finger into Ian’s side causing him to jump in his seat.
“Hey,” Ian protests.
“You not hungry or something?” Mickey asks.
“I’m fine,” Ian grumbles.
“What happened?” Mickey says. He touches his shoulder but Ian slightly recoils. Mickey and Ian aren’t advertising their relationship but the longer they are here and outside of the southside more comfortable Mickey feels about naturally being himself.
Ian gives a heavy sigh and turns to Mickey.
“Sweet and Sour was being an ass today,” Ian finally shares.
“Bitch a bit more sour today,” Mickey tries to make Ian laugh but Ian’s composure remains unchanged.
“She lectured me on how I’m just a trainee and can’t make my own decisions,” Ian tells him.
“Yeah? That’s the whole fucking point of being at the academy.”
“Maybe I’m tired of being told what to do. I can do more, I know I can. There’s thousands of people out there that need help and I’m stuck in superhero preschool.”
“Cool it man, I thought you didn’t want to be like the rest of your dumb family,” Mickey reminds Ian.
“Don’t call my family dumb,” Ian yells, causing the whole cafeteria to look at them.
“And maybe they had a point. Maybe this place is just full of wannabe superheroes on a power trip.”
Mickey is stunned for a moment. He’s never seen Ian erupt with so much anger before.
“Hey, hey,” Mickey tries to diffuse the situation and get the other eyes off of them. “How about we take a walk?”
“I’m done with this fucking place,” Ian says and disappears in front of Mickey. Mickey tries to grab hold of the place where Ian was just sitting, knowing that when Ian turns invisible his matter is still solid and he can still be touched. Mickey can’t find him and knows he looks like an idiot waving his arms around. Did Ian just teleport? Where the fuck did he go?
Ian’s stunt in the cafeteria was the hot gossip around campus. The academy goes on lock down, it’s protocol when someone unexpectedly leaves. It’s to ensure that the Villain League hasn’t infiltrated and flipped the new heroes. New trainees that have been let down or disenchanted by the hero community while attending the academy can be prime targets for the league.
This scares Mickey, what if Terry could reach Ian with his mind control powers?
Mickey sits in the dorm with his head against the wall letting his mind reach out for a familiar presence.
“What Assface?”
“Have you heard of Ian?”
“No? What’s going on?” Mickey can feel the concern in his younger sister’s thoughts.
“He just fucking vanished yesterday and no one can find him,” Mickey tells her.
“Shit, wait Lip just walked in.” There’s a pause as Mandy talks to Lip. Mickey grows more scared. If Lip and Mandy don’t know where he is then maybe Terry did get to him.
“Lip says he hasn’t heard from him,” Mandy tells him. Shit. “He’s going to reach out to Fiona. Maybe he just went back home.”
“He’s been dreaming of the academy and becoming a hero,” Mickey says. “This isn’t like him.”
“You don’t think?” Mandy starts.
“I always think Terry is involved,” Mickey says. “I have to go. The academy director wants to interview me or interrogate me or some shit.”
“Keep checking in,” Mandy tells him before he cuts the link between them.
Ian feels trapped in his own mind. It’s like he’s screaming out but no one can hear him. He’s sitting at the Milkovich kitchen table as Kaptain Khaos Kontrol goes over the plan for ambushing the academy and getting Mickey back.
“Alright,” Terry announces. “We all good with the plan?”
No, Ian wants to shout. He’s not good with the plan, not good at all.
“Come on Little Orphan Annie,” Terry commands Ian. “You know what to do.”
Ian tries to remain seated, he clutches the chair but feels it slip through his fingers as his body stands up. When Terry controls people's minds he can unlock the full ability of their powers. Ian has exactly what Kaptain Khaos Kontrol needs to infiltrate the Academy.
With Terry in control Ian teleports the Milkovich crew to the Academy, to Mickey.
Once there everyone spread out and start attacking. Colin turns the power off with his electricity powers, Iggy releases a flood of water forcing everyone to the center quad of the campus while other Milkoviches cause havoc all over. Ian stayed close to Terry, was forced to stay close to Terry.
Ian sees Mickey coming into the fight, his eyes filled with the same energy powers that emanate from his hands. Ian wants to scream out to him but nothing will come out.
Sirens blare out and send everyone to defend the Academy. Mickey comes running in with Firehead. He knows exactly who is behind this. Mickey sees Ian and his heart drops. He can see the same dead eyed look he's seen in others under Kaptain Khaos Kontrol’s control, the same blank look that his mom would wear.
Mickey could pull his mom out of his dad’s trance by going inside her mind and pushing him away. He remembers the conversation that he had with Firehead, how his powers can work on people that he’s close with. Ian is his everything, the reason why he is even at this institution, he’s the reason why there’s a small, tiny, but of him that actually thinks he has a chance at being a hero. All because Ian believes in him and Mickey believes in Ian too, believing that he can overcome the hold his father has on him.
Mickey is hit by his cousin Joey, his super strength knocking the wind out of him and falls to the ground. More people come into the quad as Iggy’s flood comes flowing around them. There’s a real risk that people will be trampled. Someone steps on Mickey’s hand crushing his bones. Mickey curses that this place is full of wannabe heroes and shithead with shitty powers. They need the actual Society of Justice to come rescue them and take out his dad.
As Mickey is wincing in pain on the ground from Joey’s blow he reaches out to Ian with his mind.It’s different than when he communicates with Mandy which comes so natural to him. He has to find Ian, move past all the static in his mind and attempt to make a connection. It feels like he’s traveling through a thick fog until he hits a wall. Terry. He’s put up a barrier in Ian’s mind and Mickey has to take it down.
“Mickey?” a faint voice comes through.
“Ian!” Mickey follows the voice. It sounds weak and far away.
Mickey can sense a crack in Terry’s wall. It’s hard to explain as he can’t visually see inside Ian’s mind, it’s all feeling. He goes to the crack and calls out to Ian again.
“Ian!” He feels a bit of the wall start to crumble down. It’s not a lot but noticeable.
“Mickey?” The voice is stronger, Mickey is getting close. He concentrates even more and can sense another presence.
“Get out of here you dumb faggot,” Mickey hears Kaptain Khaos Kontrol bellow in Ian’s mind.
Mickey can feel Ian’s mind shake in anger. Being inside of Ian is making him stronger. Ian is fighting back.
On the outside Mickey watches as Ian holds his hands to his head, clutching at his hair. Mickey is worried that Terry will turn him into Frank and he’ll be trapped inside his own mind.
Ian lets out a scream and Mickey watches Terry stumble backwards as he loses his control on Ian’s mind.
Ian runs over to Mickey and covers him with his body, he practically falls on top of him which probably didn’t look out of place in the chaos that surrounds them.
Mickey feels a tingle in his body and suddenly, quicker than a blink, they are on the hill outside of the Academy.
Ian gets off of Mickey and helps him sit up. They stare at each other in disbelief. They’re safe.
Mickey puts his good hand behind Ian’s head and pulls him down to a kiss. Ian quickly deepens it in a fiery passion. They have no time for words as the continue to kiss, Mickey’s lips going for Ian’s neck and Ian taking Mickey’s other hand in his, causing Mickey to yell in pain with the contact with his broken hand.
“Sorry,” Ian says quickly, he didn’t know it was broken.
Mickey sighs and puts his head on Ian’s shoulder as they watch the Society of Justice jet land at the Academy across from them.
“There goes your dream of being the first Gallagher to graduate from the Academy of Superheroes,” Mickey whispers.
“It’s fine,” Ian says, but Mickey knows he’s lying.
“Happy that you’re safe,” Mickey tells him.
“Yeah?” Ian asks. Mickey kisses him again in assurance.
“Of fucking course,” Mickey answers.
“I’m happy too,” Ian says softly as they continue to watch the fight from the hill. The fire that rages against the sky could almost be confused with a sunset and Ian can’t help but think of how romantic that is.