He should be happy. He was a light sider, which meant an automatic position in the government and control over the grayscales and dark siders of the city. Still, somedays Ryan wished things could go back to normal. Whatever normal meant in the world he lived in.

“What? Oh, geez, kid.” Gerard laughs, and it’s not mean, but the kid half-flinches back, a repressed sort of reaction, mostly suppressed but still visible. Gerard notices for the first time the way the line of his hips is sharp enough to cut paper. “Ryan,” he says, meeting Gerard’s eyes again. “My name is Ryan.”

Ryan’s standing with Mikey in front of My Chem’s bus, and watching the way the smile pulls at Mikey’s lips when he sees Pete. The way Mikey waves back, long-fingered hand still pale this early in the summer. Ryan feels a pang he doesn’t want to identify. It’s just easier that way. This fic is the sequel to anything please (except for defeat).