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Their first meeting was far from a fairy tale.
Frank: teenage-skinny bordering on underfed with a head full of unwashed dreadlocks and a lip ring.
Mikey: knobby knees, skinny hips, sharp elbows, and shoulder-length hair tied into a messy ponytail. Anthrax t-shirt.
“Sup, dude,” Frank said with an upward jerk of his chin. He held out a fist.
Mikey’s mouth went dry, but Gerard, ever the savior, stepped in. “This is my little sister,” he said, wrapping an arm around Mikey’s shoulders.
“Oh.” Ducking his head, Frank gave them a bashful smile. “Should I, like, kiss your hand, or something?”
Mikey raised and dropped one shoulder. Held out her hand. “If you want.”
Bending at the waist, dreadlocks flopping, Frank took Mikey’s hand by the fingertips and brushed a soft kiss against her skin.
She was smitten.
*
Frank was straight.
That would be fine, except for Mikey’s distinct lack of... she knew how to do her makeup, okay? And sometimes she curled her hair. It was just a lot of work, and sometimes it was easier to just throw it into a ponytail. But then she thought about that scene from Not Another Teen Movie where they highlight Janey’s inability to become prom queen because of her glasses and ponytail, and Mikey just wanted to throw herself off 99 Hudson Street.
When Gerard asked Frank to join the band, Mikey nearly peed her pants. It was bad enough she had to play in front of him, but now she had to play with him.
And he was so nice. Always offering to carry her guitar (which Mikey could manage just fine, thanks, but it was nice that he offered) and opening doors for her. But it only made Mikey more aware of what she couldn't offer Frank. Before getting on stage, she'd pull on two pairs of tights beneath her skirt. Anything to disguise the shame between her legs.
With her first big-girl paycheck, she bought herself boobs.
Her first words as she resurfaced from the anesthesia were, "How do my boobs look?"
Gerard's nervous laugh came from her left. "Not really a question for your brother, but they're there."
Mikey lifted her hands--they felt so heavy--and laid them gingerly over her chest. "I have boobs," she sighed, and a small smile curled her lips.
"Yes, you do." Gerard placed a warm hand on Mikey's shoulder as she dozed again.
Returning home was hard, but Mikey didn't care. She would have taken ten times the soreness and pain and restrictions. Can't lift her arms? Cut them off, I have boobs!
Frank wanted to come see her, but Mikey made him wait until she could wear a normal bra beneath her t-shirt. She knew he'd be curious to see how her new boobs looked, and Mikey was excited to show him. She just hoped he saw her as a real girl.
Mikey resisted the urge to answer the door wearing a robe or something. She’d opted for a modest 34B cup. It fit her body, and it would also allow her to shop at Victoria’s Secret for all the sexy lace bras she coveted.
“Hi,” she said, both sounding and feeling breathless.
“Hey,” said Frank. Two high spots of color appeared on his cheeks, and Mikey could tell he was trying not to glance down.
“You can look. That’s what I bought them for,” Mikey said with a laugh, and it drained some of the tension between them.
Frank’s gaze moved deliberately over Mikey’s new breasts. “They look great.”
Mikey glowed.
*
But as time went on, her new boobs didn’t seem to be having the effect on Frank that Mikey was hoping. Oh, sure, he still offered to carry her guitar, and Mikey was sure he snuck a peek at her chest once in a while, but nothing changed. He wasn’t falling over himself to ask her out, and she could think of only one reason why.
She hated looking at the ugly fucking thing. Hated touching it. She especially hated when thoughts of Frank would make it hard. Why couldn’t she just get wet like other girls?
So when they struck pay dirt with The Black Parade, Mikey committed to finishing her transition.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Gerard asked over the rim of his coffee cup. They were sitting on the back patio of the house he’d just bought in LA.
“Gee,” Mikey said slowly like her brother was a small child. “This is the only thing I want to do.” They’d been thick as thieves their entire lives. Mikey couldn’t imagine life without her brother. But as difficult as it was for him to imagine this, she needed it like she needed air.
“I’m just worried about something going wrong.” He made a squeamish face and glanced downward.
“Dr. Renji is one of the best in the business. I’ve seen binders full of his work. It’s going to be fine.”
Like with her top surgery, Gerard was the one who took Mikey to the hospital. She did not, however, ask how she looked after this surgery, but she could feel the difference, even if there wasn’t really anything to feel. She just felt lighter and more feminine.
Post-op this time was much harder than top surgery, but Mikey wanted to cry tears of happiness when she saw her new body naked for the first time. Just like she should had been all along, even despite the catheter she had to wear for a week.
And when Frank still didn’t ask her out, Mikey confronted him.
“What’s your deal?”
Frank raised an eyebrow. “Come again?”
Mikey propped her hands on her hips. “You talk to me like you like me. You treat me like you like me. You check out my chest and don’t say you don’t because you do it more when I’m not wearing a bra. Is it my brother? Or are you actually transphobic?”
Frank looked gobsmacked. “I...” He opened and closed his mouth several times. “I didn’t think you were into me!”
Mikey’s eyes bugged out of her head. “What!”
“I thought I made it clear I was into you when we first met.” Stepping forward, Frank took Mikey’s hands in his. “You always seemed so aloof when I was around, but I have had such a big crush on you. It had nothing to do with you being trans, but since I’ve known you, you’ve just gotten more beautiful.”
Mikey’s eyes filled with tears. “Goddamnit, Frank, just kiss me already.”
And he did.