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— music gently played in the background. mickey busied himself in his work, finishing up his end of the paperwork. one arm resting against the table he stood over, the other busy jotting down notes. tedious work; time that could be spent doing other things. with a gentle sigh he lifted his head up from the work, bringing the pen-wielding hand up to his face, mouth briefly resting against knuckle. his gaze lingered on the wall straight ahead absently. guess he did this to himself. lucerne was getting off easy; mick was always so quick to volunteer closing up the clinic. wonder why. eyes wandered slowly towards the side, turning his head slightly. his gaze settled on vernon, waiting for mick to get done. eventually their gazes met; green’s lips twitched into a soft smile. mick’s own followed suit. lowering his arm from his face, he turned and went back to work.
“there’s only a couple things left. then we can get out of here.” green hummed in acknowledgement. mick still found himself struggling to fight back the subtlest of smiles. it hadn’t been long since he realized his feelings for vernon green, however each day spent without green knowing felt like weeks. the other man’s obliviousness was so bad that it was almost laughable; it was endearing. each moment left mickey wondering if he was being too subtle; a man usually so up-front about his feelings now too afraid to breathe the words to life. he knew what he wanted and he would take it; why was this any different?
every other time in his previous relationship, he seemed to feel the same. once so sure about how to approach someone he liked, always feeling like he knew what to do, he soon became a changed man in this new world. the man with a plan changed into someone far more reluctant, someone who didn’t seem to be in any hurry. there was no need to rush things, he told himself. “why not wait?” he constantly asked. making a promise to himself and ellie that they’d have their happy ending eventually, even when he didn’t completely feel sold on the idea at times. perhaps all that time spent prolonging everything, from proposals to setting a wedding date, had been out of some form of self-loathing. unwilling to let himself indulge in something he didn’t think he deserved. believing it wasn’t right for a man as troubled as him to live a happy life.
he told himself love wasn’t for him. ever since he and ellie broke off their engagement, he felt determined that there would never be another chance at love. give up on relationships entirely; it was best not to get his hopes up. though the way looking at vernon could simply uplift a sour mood, the way his mind wandered towards him without even trying… it all felt so natural. and perhaps there was even a feeling of assurance, of feeling like maybe green’s mind wandered towards him at times, too. in passing glances, in realizing that vernon seemed to know far more about where they stood than mick gave him credit for, it gave him that subtle breath of hope. it slowly brought back to life that hopeless romantic mick once was.
and, for the first time since mick could ever remember, he found himself asking the question: why wait? why prevent himself from pursuing something that would make him happy?
he suddenly placed the pen down, straightening up with a quick exhale. “hey-” he turned to face green. the brief confidence he felt didn’t waver, though it felt like the weight of the situation truly dawned on him then. however, it didn’t make him feel nervous. it didn’t cause his hands to feel shaky and nervous; his heart raced, but not from anxiety. there was a certain excitement, a happiness that caused a once-cold heart to feel so welcome. he wished he could feel this way forever. eyes wandered green’s momentarily before he ended up asking what was so desperately on his mind.
“do you want to go out sometime?”
his gaze lingered on green’s. then, huffing a short breath, he lowered his gaze, almost in disbelief at what he was doing. god, what was he doing? it was only painfully obvious to him then how out of practice he was. it had been over a decade since his last first-date, asking someone to go out on a date. he wanted to feel almost embarrassed for himself; all he could feel was the gentle racing of his heart. he slowly brought his gaze back over towards vernon. the grin that appeared on green’s lips was almost contagious. “like a… date date?”
he stared just a few moments longer on that contagious grin, feeling his own lips pull into a rare, gentle smile. “yeah… like a date date.” he shifted slightly, waiting only a moment before stepping forward. stepping to stand in front of green, he rested his hands back on the table behind him, leaning back slightly. “tomorrow? i’ll plan everything.” his mind reeled with ideas, unable to stop thinking about all of the possibilities. he’d plan everything; all he wanted was to make green feel so happy.
“yeah!” vernon responded, nodding his head before he added, “that sounds great.” the pieces came together so easily. it all felt natural, nothing forced or rushed… green straightened in his seat and offered, “my place at six?”
if only the other man knew exactly how his answer made mickey feel. the swell of happiness, overcome with such fondness and endearment for the other man. not too long ago mick told himself he’d never feel this way again; how did he ever once feel okay about that? it felt so overwhelming, breathtaking, exciting, to finally feel so alive. his gaze lingered on vernon as he nodded, lowering his head after the action, trying to fight back a smile. “alright.” he brought his focus back towards green. “it’s a date- date.” if the noticeable pause didn’t give it away, the subtly-quirked brow surely did. evidently he wasn’t going to let “date date” go so easily. he didn’t plan on dropping it anytime soon, either. the subtle eye roll from green almost egged him on even more.
the medic took the moment in for as long as he could. he hated the inevitable, that every moment had to come to an end. he could’ve lived in it forever. turning his head, he wandered back over towards the paper, sliding it away. “let's go.”
mick couldn’t hide the smile that lingered on his lips the whole walk there; he couldn’t keep his eyes from glancing towards green as they made effortless conversation. mickey serge was one of the luckiest men on earth, and nothing could convince him otherwise.
for a man whose nerves seemed to never fray, the hours leading up to the date felt almost like an eternity. he was almost embarrassed to admit the amount of time he spent looking at himself in the mirror, trying to determine if he was cleaned up too much, too little. arguably the most effort he took into his look than any other occasion. no matter how certain of himself he grew, the nerves still lingered. even tara’s soft words of encouragement couldn’t seem to help the pre-date jitters.
he found himself almost wanting to laugh at his own anxieties. it took him back to his college days all over again, the last time he had been on a first date. if only he were like how he was back then; confident, out there, unafraid to speak his mind, thriving in the socials that the city had to offer. though it seemed like green had never been bothered by mick’s reserved and quiet ways. if anything, it seemed more endearing to be more open with green than any other man he knew. it made those moments of happiness all the more memorable.
his heart raced away in his chest as he made it to green’s house, having set up their date location just before heading over. he paused at the front door, took the moment to collect himself. then, after a short breath, he reached up and knocked gently on the door. and no matter how much time he gave himself to collect his composure, it never would’ve been enough. the sight of green, cleaned up and handsome as ever, was enough to make him simply come undone. his lips twitched into a smile without even realizing.
“hey,” he greeted in a soft utter, finding himself feeling unusually flustered (when was the last time he ever felt this flustered?). “you look- great.” saying anything felt like the epitome of an understatement. there were no words. he felt speechless. the idea alone that this was actually happening seemed unreal; why green gave someone like him a chance, he wouldn’t know. however, he was so grateful that he did. he gestured outside, gently clearing his throat before asking, “are you ready to go?” and as they set off, whatever pre-date nerves he previously had seemed completely dissolved. comfortable in green’s presence.
eyes wandered around as they made their way to the hidden beach, unable to keep his gaze from occasionally wandering towards green. it wasn’t until they made it to the beach that he slowed to a stop, turning his gaze over towards the set-up. eyes lingered on the picnic, the blanket nearby for when it got later and chillier. going out on a fancy dinner for a first date always seemed overrated to the older man. however, the idea of a cozy picnic away from the district, set up on the hidden beach- that was a better idea. with the sun going down and the stars slowly starting to appear, he glanced briefly overhead before looking back towards green. “what do you think?”
// AAAAAAAA
❝ Do you want to go out sometime? ❞ The question had been a long time coming. A hope, a wish that Vernon had hoped to hear. Romance and Vernon Green had always been something which seemed to be mutually exclusive. Past romances were fleeting, barely reaching the six month mark before the flame was extinguished. Wrong timing. Difficult circumstances. The downfall of relations often seemed to end by mutual agreement (bar one instance). No explosive fights. No fire. No bang. Just a feeble withering away - maybe Green was bad at love.
How was he to know what love looked like? He’d spent the majority of his lifetime without the influence of romance and adoration, instead trapped within a world which isolated him. Fend for himself or else he would suffer. Where was the love? There was no way for him to know what felt normal or right. People didn’t have families on the streets. Children like him were orphaned with no guidance on what love and family looked like.
Perhaps that would forever be his downfall. In love, the stars may have aligned for Vernon Green many a time but he wouldn’t have known because nobody had ever been there to point the constellations out to him. He was always too busy at eye-level, watching and waiting for danger afoot, and wondering why he felt so alone.
Past romances never felt completely right. Of course, the women that he had attempted to romance in his life were all good friends of his now and something about that felt far more comfortable to him than romance had ever been. Things simply could not fall into place when it felt like it wasn’t completely perfect.
A lot could happen in six months, but never could Green have expected the iniquity of Mateo. All he wanted was a friend, all he needed was a friend, and yet all he found was death staring him in the face. It was manipulation, trauma, abuse, and God did that man break Green. Every fibre which had taken good care of his integrity had been torn apart at the seams. He was broken. Who could love a broken man?
But then, Green found love standing right in front of him. The entire time. Gratitude and respect was quick to morph into something so different. So intense. Vernon really liked Mick. A lot. After everything that Mickey had done for him, he realized that he liked the way he handled Green with care. A touch so soft and authentic - Green had only been touched by cruel hands for months at this point.
The way he broke down in front of Mick and Mick didn’t even flinch as he watched the charming and confident Vernon Green reduce to nothing more than the ashes of what he used to be. Sobs raw and ugly as he heaved sickening breaths through agonized tears. Instead, he embraced Green because he cared. He cared enough to do the unthinkable for Green.
Mick killed to save Vernon’s life.
And, whilst some would avoid contact after making a decision such as that, the two of them only grew stronger in each other’s company. Mickey helped build Green back up. He had saved his life in more than one way. He had Mick to thank for giving him a new lease of life; without his intervention, Green could have been dead by now.
Green knew that he was meant to save himself but, with Mick, it felt like he didn’t have to.
As each day passed, the two of them seemed to spend more and more time together. Conversations felt effortless. Even in the silence there was no place Green would rather be than by Mickey’s side. Eventually, it became clear that they’d established a routine with one another. Vernon enjoyed walking Mickey to work, and he enjoyed meeting up with him afterwards as well. Even in the mundane, like waiting around for Mickey to close up the clinic for the evening, Green loved every moment he could spend with Mick.
The rustling of papers, the soft music playing in the background, Greenie curiously stepping around the clinic and flicking through pages of dusty medical journals (he could barely read let alone try and understand the complexity of medical jargon. Mickey was basically the smartest person ever.) whilst he waited. It all seemed so simple and perfect.
It felt really good to like Mickey so much. For the first time in his life, whatever this feeling was felt so right.
When Mickey asked Green out on a date, Green was overjoyed. Perhaps the stupid grin on his face was a clear enough sign that it was the validation that he’d so desperately hoped to hear. Mickey liked him too, didn’t he? It felt amazing - God, Vernon felt so giddy as if this was young and innocent love - to finally know that what he felt had to have gone both ways. When Mickey explained his plans - he’d plan everything - Green wasn’t sure how he could possibly feel even more enamored by that man.
Mickey would be at his door any minute now. He sucked in a deep breath, heart slamming nervously against his chest. Once, the rushing heart would be out of fear. Today, it was out of eagerness. The flutter within at the excitement of getting to spend the evening with Mick. Like a date date. Dimples sunk in whilst he cracked a feverish closed-lip smile, looking at himself in a mirror. ❝ It totally looks like I tried too hard… Huh. ❞ He uttered softly, eyes shifting in the mirror to see where Midas lay at the end of the bed behind Vernon, looking over at him less-than-impressed.
Green huffed, pausing before looking back into the mirror. The five o'clock shadow was barely noticeable, short mousy hair styled back, and a soft colored short sleeved button down sat comfortably over a white vest. He blinked. Was he trying too hard? Would Mickey notice the way he smoothed his shirt and jeans out the best he could? The way cologne saturated his skin in all the right places? The way he made sure to place his watch on his left wrist, his cedar and tiger eye bead bracelet on the right because that looked like he’d made an effort, right?
Maybe Mickey liked to see somebody make an effort. After all, Vernon had done this for him. God, he liked Mickey so much. He craned his neck as he released a jittery sigh, eyes quickly darting to the side as he heard a knock at the door. This was it. He wandered over to the front door and-
❝ Hey. ❞
Not even the heavenly sunsets could match the beauty of that soft smile on Mick’s lips.
❝ Hi. ❞ Quickly - trying to look at least somewhat composed and casual - Vernon leaned his shoulder against the door frame, a smile sat comfortably on his lips as eager eyes darted across Mick’s features. ❝ You look- great. ❞ Mick noticed. Green huffed gently, lowering his eyes quickly as he shifted on his feet. Overstrung with excitement, he tipped his chin down, eyes finally shifting back up to Mick. ❝ Thanks. Surely not as great as you, though, like… wow- ❞ Wasn’t Vern lucky?
He stepped outside, clicking the door shut behind him before the two of them were on their way to whatever spot Mickey had planned for them. Within minutes of talking, Green had almost forgotten the former pre-date nerves, instead utterly besotted with the man beside him. Eyes would shift over to look at Mickey, only for Green to look away again with a smile unwavering from his face. They made their way down to the hidden beach a short way away from the District, the sun slow to set in the warm-hued horizon. And, that was when Green’s eyes fell on Mick’s idea of a first date.
This was...
❝ Wow. ❞ He huffed in awe, shaking his head slowly to himself before he neared Mick’s set-up. ❝ You really did all this for us? This is amazing. ❞ Green began to laugh, shifting his gaze over towards Mick with gratitude before sitting down on the beach. Mickey knew him too well. Everything about this was perfect. It wasn’t anything which made Green feel out of his comfort zone. It was a private beach at sunset. Food and blankets and amazing company. His face hurt from all the smiling. He added as an afterthought, ❝ You’re amazing. ❞ And perceptive. Green dug through the assortment of food and drink, picking up a half of a sandwich before sitting back, glancing up at the sky.
Barely there, in the sky, were constellations painted within the warm hues of dusk. ❝ You know... ❞ Green began, leaning his shoulder light against Mick’s as he glanced at him before nodding towards the sky. ❝ I know a thing or two about the stars. ❞ Not an awful lot, but he could point out a couple of constellations here and there. He could thank that elderly lady who ran that shawl market stand in the District. When Vernon first moved here, she told him everything that she knew. ❝ When it gets darker, I could tell you more. ❞ He was eager as he explained before turning his head to look at Mick. Quiet for a moment, he eventually huffed a short breath of laughter. ❝ Sorry. ❞ The apology for his eagerness seemed short lived, Green looking back up at the horizon with a smile before biting into his sandwich.
This couldn’t be more perfect.
[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family:verdana; font-size: 7px;"][spoiler=tags : updated 03/23] basics.
✫ vernon jeremiah green // only known as green or greenie
✫ he doesn't introduce himself as vernon
✫ male // he/him
✫ twenty four // ages real time // born twenty first april
✫ leader of northstar district
✫ stepped up as leader - twentieth april 2039
appearance.
✫ faceclaim - taron egerton
✫ voice claim - taron egerton
✫ family originally comes from llanfairpwllgwyngyll in wales
✫ has a mixed accent with a welsh and american twang
✫ 5'10ft // lean yet well-built from working out
✫ soft blue eyes and dirty blonde hair
✫ physical health - 80%
¬ current injuries: he's recovering from a series of unexplained injuries.
✫ mental health - 60%
¬ he's currently recovering after a long term traumatic incident where he was being abused.
personality.
✫ fundamentally he has a good heart // humble
✫ very assertive // does what he can to benefit northstar
✫ has a good set of morals // cares for people unconditionally
✫ very relaxed and composed with self-assurance and confidence
✫ incredibly complacent and laid back unless he's fighting for his cause
✫ massive daredevil // is very into extreme sports
✫ fearless, stupidly so // doesn't mind risking his own life
✫ generally easy to get on with, it's difficult to dislike him
✫ doesn't think into the future // only thinks about the present
✫ dependable and very loyal to his friends
relationships.
✫ david green x cassandra griffiths // both are deceased
✫ only child // his biological father died before he was born
✫ green was orphaned when he was nine
✫ fostered by caroline and steve miles
✫ both his foster parents died when green was eleven
✫ his chihuahua and pug, midas and ginnie, are basically his children
✫ doesn't really label his sexuality // comfortable with who he is
✫ formerly dated fallon rude
✫ formerly dated paige montgomery
✫ formerly had a brief fling with winifred maddison
✫ has a daughter named felicity montgomery
interaction.
✫ storage // playlist // pinterest
✫ physically: medium // mentally: medium
✫ he has a bow and arrow, but tends to use it for recreation
✫ much prefers to run away // is exceptional at parkour
✫ very diplomatic and much prefers mediation rather than fighting
✫ dislikes confrontation yet will fight if need be // not a fan of close-ranged attacks
✫ foster parents taught him self-defense
✫ living on the streets turned him into a good fighter
[/spoiler]
[align=center] I'LL EAT UP ALL YOUR PAIN, TAKE IN ALL THE BLAME
[div style="width: 400px; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; font-size: 5pt; line-height: 1; letter-spacing: 4.2px; word-spacing: 1.9px; margin-bottom: 5px;"]BE THAT SOMEONE TO COMPLAIN TO — NOTES.
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— mick didn’t know the exact moment he began to have feelings for vernon. if he were to reflect on it, he couldn’t say there was one exact time where he began to have feelings for the other man. rather, it wasn’t that love at first sight sort of romance. it was the kind of feeling that came together piece by piece over time, only truly coming together for mick to see once all the pieces were fully together. quiet moments spent in green’s company; walking in on him singing loudly and unashamed; observing how he interacted with such genuine kindness to anyone, never making them feel like a stranger; seeing the way the corners of his eyes crinkled in the corners when he smiled wide enough… that was the man mickey was so helplessly enamored with.
all he hoped was that he didn’t mess this up.
from early on in his childhood, he had a good example of what love should look like. all the shared glances between his parents, the way they seemed to have known each other for years but still had a love that felt so new. surprise dates, always managing to sweep each other off their feet... with those two as his example, he grew up knowing that was exactly the kind of love he needed. deserved, even. it gave way for the hopeless romantic in him to blossom and grow, desperately wishing for the chance to have that selfless love.
though, when it came to pursuing romance in relationships, mick never could quite get it right. it seemed that whatever he did, he managed to get it wrong. the tears that welled in ellie’s eyes almost every other night because of him- that broke him. he wasn’t as good with love as he wished he was. in fact, it seemed that all he was good at was hurting those around him. he never meant to hurt anyone; it was probably best to give up on romance entirely, to save everyone else from the disaster that was mickey serge. and although it was his own decision, it absolutely broke him into pieces. almost in denial of the fact, he tried to pick different pieces up and place them into the broken puzzle, try and find out what he truly wanted.
and there was someone there that helped find bits and pieces of himself. a man that held unwavering, quiet confidence and stoic blue eyes. it was there that he thought he found himself, more than he ever gave the other man credit for. but it was simply bits and pieces - never quite the full picture. he desired so much more than chasing highs behind closed doors. although, the hopeless romantic that once bloomed seemed to be withered and dying. who could ever love somebody like mickey serge? he was terrified of entertaining the idea, for love was something he knew he didn’t deserve. something he felt he could only manage to get wrong.
none of that seemed to cross his mind whenever he looked into vern’s eyes. in those soft blue eyes there was no judgement, no hesitance to accept mick for the reserved and quiet man that he was. he gazed at him and sometimes it left mick feeling wanted - something he couldn’t remember feeling in such a long time. with all that they had been through, with all the ways mickey had gotten to see vernon strive and persevere-- how could someone not fall for vernon green? how could mick ever feel scared? all he could do was simply gaze at the man as he opened his door, and feel as if green was so much more than a man like mick ever deserved. yet if mick didn’t deserve him, he could at least always try and make green feel like the happiest man in the world. he’d do anything to see that big smile on his lips.
wow. he couldn’t help but huff a short breath of laughter at the man’s own compliment, shaking his head in silent disagreement. it felt so rare to get a compliment, let alone one that made mick feel so awe-struck. he probably could’ve argued more, told green that he was easily the most handsome man in the district, let alone between them two. instead he simply uttered a simple, “thank you.” hardly ever did he truly take a comment to heart, but with green looking at him like he was the only man that mattered… it was heartwarming. conversation felt effortless as they walked, mick’s hands in his pockets, shoulder occasionally brushing against vernon’s own.
once they reached the beach, eyes wandered over green’s features to gauge his reaction. perhaps it was one of the better things about their romance branching off from an already-strong friendship; mick had the opportunity to get to know much more about green before planning the date. and god, he hoped that green would like it. the awe and gratitude in the other man’s gaze was by far the greatest reward. “this is amazing.” his gaze softened at the man’s statement, following suit and sitting down next to him. “you’re amazing.” he turned his gaze away. he seemed almost sheepish at the other man’s amazement and kind words. unused to such overflowing kindness. he lowered his gaze, opting to grab a bottle of water, “you’re just saying that, now.” amusement and gratitude showed in generally stoic eyes as he glanced over towards green, quirking a brow as he raised the drink to his lips.
perfection. he watched the other man stare up at the sky, his gaze lingering for only a moment longer before looking up at the dusk sky. simply perfection. he couldn’t remember the last time he felt so at ease, so happy. it was a new look on him that felt so good to wear. “you know,” green started, leaning gently against mick’s shoulder. “i know a thing or two about stars.” that was enough for mick to hum softly, looking back towards green before looking back up at the stars. “really?” he hummed in acknowledgement. and just as green began to eagerly talk about how he could point a few constellations out once it was darker, mick already knew it was something he must’ve been excited about. eyes met with green’s own soft blues, searching his eyes in that momentary quiet before green began to softly laugh. ”sorry.” his gaze lingered on green’s face as he stared up at the darkening sky.
how could anyone feel off-put by vernon’s excitement? it was admittedly cute. his gaze softened. “you should,” he encouraged, eyes lingering on the other man before looking away, opting to stare ahead at the ocean. “i’d like that.” with vernon’s eagerness for the topic, mick wouldn’t have been able to bring himself to say no. there was even a chance that vern’s excitement was admittedly contagious. mick was quiet for a moment, messing with the cap of his drink. content. “i think,” he started as an afterthought, leaning closer towards green’s side, shoulder-against-shoulder, “i could find the big dipper. might take the whole night though, so-” the big dipper was the only constellation he had ever heard of; he’d never even seen it before, himself. stargazing on this date date was an amazing idea; he was glad green thought of it.
it was hard to wipe the smile off of his face as the date went on. easy conversations or even peaceful quiet as they both ate some of the picnic food. he hadn’t even realized how quickly the dusk had faded into night until a gentle, cool breeze made him shudder briefly. eyes wandered towards a blanket, opting to pick one up for the both of them to share. he looked over towards green as he placed the blanket over his shoulders, lips twitching into a subtle smile before he looked away. “remember that cliff we went to? overlooking the forest?” he reminisced, huffing a short breath at the memory before subtly nodding to himself. “we should go there again, some day. do something like this.” an absent reminder of the memory, but also a silent desire of wanting to do so much more after this first date. he wished moments like this could never end.
without even thinking, his hand found green’s, gently placing his hand atop of his in the sand. his heart raced in his chest, lips so unused to smiling so much that it almost hurt to have his lips twitch into a soft smile. it felt easy to give vernon so much more than he’d ever even tried to give most others; it was unbelievable how v helped him find those better pieces of himself. he gazed at the other man before slowly turning his gaze away. his thumb gently brushed over the back of green’s hand. quiet for a moment. then- “alright, don’t tell me.” perceptive eyes searched the night sky, wetting his lip with his tongue as he concentrated. after silent deliberation, he raised his free hand and pointed towards the night sky. “how about- those stars there? that has to be the big dipper.” a ghost of a smile set on his features as his eyes wandered towards green for approval. not even close. at least it was a good opening for vernon to start his own talk about the constellations he knew.
he felt comfortable around vernon. usually a man so incredibly reserved, he felt more genuinely himself on the secluded beach with green beside him. all he could think as they sat together was that he was so enamored with the man sat next to him. just like that, vernon green had taken his heart- and mick wished it would never end.
❝ Why would I just say that now?! ❞ Green exclaimed, curious eyes watching Mickey before he began to snicker to himself. Slowly shaking his head, Vernon eventually looked away before bumping Mick’s shoulder gently with his own. Always so modest and down-to-earth, Mickey could never accept a compliment. It was never because he was desperately scavenging around for another ounce of validation, but because he never truly believed it. Green couldn’t claim to be a rocket scientist - hell, he could barely claim to be smart by any stretch of the imagination - but he did know how to look for the good in anybody. As his features sobered and muted eyes darted back over towards Mick, he wondered what all had happened in Mickey’s life for him to not believe the greatness in himself. Vern wanted to know every page in Mickey’s story. It sounded like a story that Vernon would really like.
The two men began to settle down on the beach for the evening, Green finding himself craving the warmth of Mick’s touch. Not because of any chill in the balmy breeze, not because Green had decided to go without wearing long-sleeves as usual, but because the closeness of Mick’s touch felt enthralling. It felt like for so long Green had hesitated. He wanted the closeness, craved that warmth, and yet Mickey had always felt a hair's breadth away from him. Tempting him. And yet, Green had hesitated. But now, he knew for sure that Mickey felt the same way. There felt a satisfying ease as Green slowly leaned closer, resting his shoulder gently against Mickey’s own. A touch so simple meant everything to Green.
The closeness. Vernon’s lips wanted to twitch into a comfortable smile, his chest fluttering with delight as he looked up at the sky. When he had been starved of tenderness for a long, really long time, something as simple as a gentle touch made him feel like an orphaned, homeless boy who’d finally found Home. As Green admitted his adoration for astronomy in the most humble of ways, Mick’s acknowledgement only ignited the passion within Green. ❝ Yeah! ❞ He pointed out quietly, squinting ever-so-slightly as his eyes worked hard to try to search the dim stars only just beginning to welcome themselves into the sky. Only then did he look back towards Mickey, the other man soon exchanging glances with Vernon before he was quick to apologize.
He couldn’t help that he was brimming with avidity.
Mick was quiet for a moment before he began to encourage Green. ❝ You should. ❞ Oh, he didn’t have to suggest twice. Lips twitched upwards, Green humming a quiet chuckle to himself. And then, as they continued to chat between each other, gaze admiring the sunset and one another, this evening was only getting better and better. Honestly. The joy which Green felt was a feeling unlike anything he had felt in a long time. Perhaps it was the innate feeling of safety and security which came with Mick’s company, as well as the sheer joy of actually being on a date with him.
As night fell, the once balmy breeze felt somewhat less hospitable, hairs standing on end as Green’s skin shuddered gently. He was always too stubborn for his own good. But, before long, both him and Mickey found themselves sharing a blanket. Another reason for Green to shift a little closer to Mickey. This felt like a dream. Green would stir from a deep slumber, alone in his bed, before wishing he could fall back into that peaceful bliss of life with Mickey Serge.
But no. This was real. The distant cawing of seagulls, the scent of saline filling his nostrils, the feeling of sand against his skin… The feeling of warmth against his skin. Green’s heart leapt into his throat, chin tipping upwards ever-so-slightly as Vern gazed up at the now-dark sky. ❝ Yeah... We should. I really liked that cliff; it was gorgeous there, right? ❞ He spoke slower, trying his hardest to not smile like an idiot. Instead, he found comfort in the touch, his heart pounding against his chest with a nervous anticipation. He felt as giddy as a school boy - it was so stupid and, with a man like Mick, totally justifiable. After all, when Vern felt Mick’s hand gently placed on top of his own, this all felt so guileless.
Comforted by the feather-light sensation of Mick’s thumb against the back of his hand, Green flitted his eyes to look over towards Mick as he began to speak. Mickey observed the night sky, but Green couldn’t help but search his serene features, illuminated dimly by the moonlight. If Mickey only realized just how stunning he was. Eyes followed Mick’s finger as he pointed out the constellations. Green hummed quietly with acknowledgement, although what Mick had confirmed to be the Big Dipper was, in fact, not quite at all. ❝ Uhh- Good guess. ❞ Green replied before looking back to Mick, a brazen grin slowly riddling his features before, with his free hand, he pointed up towards the sky. ❝ Lets see... ❞ He scanned the stars observantly, pausing before his finger landed on a constellation.
❝ There. Big Dipper… I think? ❞ He tipped his head as he focused on the star alignment before nodding slowly, ❝ That’s the one. ❞ He was quiet for a moment before he shifted on his spot slightly. Very slightly closer to Mick. ❝ Did you know that… in some cultures, it symbolized a bear or something? Like… You see the - what’s it called when the rectangle is squashed? Whatever- that is the bear. ❞ As he continued to talk, he effortlessly began to twist his hand around, gentle fingertips gliding across the palm of Mick’s hand before he carefully interlaced their fingers. It felt like Mick’s hand was made to be held against Vern’s. Quickly, he cleared his throat before he continued to speak.
❝ As the seasons pass, then so does the story. Eventually, the bear is eaten and its skeleton remains in the winter. But then, when spring begins, nature is reborn when a new bear appears. ❞ He looked towards Mickey, eyes bright with sheer happiness as he gazed at his date. ❝ And then the cycle repeats itself, again and again. ❞ In that moment, everything felt so perfect between the both of them. As Green searched Mickey’s features, eyes very briefly darting down to look at his lips before returning to his eyes once more, Green knew that he wanted nothing more than for this euphoria to last forever. Vern could not help but smile - there were so many things that Green could say to Mick in that moment. Express how much he liked him, how he looked amazing that night, how everything felt as if it had fallen in its right place when Green was with him - but instead, he finally looked away, gently squeezing his hand.
❝ It sounds dumb but… I really like Orion’s belt. ❞ Well that was one way to charm his date, huh? ❝ Look- ❞ He pointed it out upon finding it, ❝ the three stars there… that’s the one. Isn’t it so cool how they line up so perfectly as if, if you drew a line through them, it would make a perfectly straight line? ❞ Green turned his head to look back towards Mick as his voice quietened towards the end of his sentence. Words lingered on his mind, but he wasn’t sure if he should tell Mick. Vern wasn’t like Mick, bold enough to make those daring moves in the name of love. Green was more the type to tiptoe around everything, but he wanted Mick to know just how much he liked him.
Were words even enough to tell him? Green was not too sure. Lips parted ever-so-slightly, soft eyes darted across Mick’s features fondly before lips curled into a small smile. A short huff passed this lips. No. No words would be enough, he contemplated to himself before his free hand slowly raised to lightly brush the pad of his thumb against Mickey’s cheek. No words could describe how Vernon felt. No words could tell Mick just how much Green owed the world to him because, if it weren’t for him, Green may have not been alive in this world today.
When Mick ran his hands over the broken edges of a man who was made of bones of glass, flesh tainted by trauma, a heart so dented and worn thin, never did Green think that he would embrace him rather than run away. Not only that but, with Mickey, Vernon knew that he’d never have to face another war alone. Mickey meant more to Vern that words could ever let him know. When he looked at his face with soft eyes, his heart wanted nothing more than to tell him how much Vernon adored him.
And so, eyelids fluttering shut - with a nervous hesitation - he leaned forward to press a tentative kiss against Mick’s lips. Uncertain, and yet it felt so right. This was right. With a heart thudding as rapidly as a red robin’s in flight, Green felt a jittery sensation in his chest as he then moved his lips softly against Mick’s, slowly growing more assured of himself as the seconds passed. Where fingers once lightly traced the skin across Mick's cheek, Vernon now gently rested his hand against Mick's jaw as everything fell into place.
And, in that moment, Vernon just knew that nothing felt more right than this moment.
[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family:verdana; font-size: 7px;"][spoiler=tags : updated 03/23] basics.
✫ vernon jeremiah green // only known as green or greenie
✫ he doesn't introduce himself as vernon
✫ male // he/him
✫ twenty four // ages real time // born twenty first april
✫ leader of northstar district
✫ stepped up as leader - twentieth april 2039
appearance.
✫ faceclaim - taron egerton
✫ voice claim - taron egerton
✫ family originally comes from llanfairpwllgwyngyll in wales
✫ has a mixed accent with a welsh and american twang
✫ 5'10ft // lean yet well-built from working out
✫ soft blue eyes and dirty blonde hair
✫ physical health - 80%
¬ current injuries: he's recovering from a series of unexplained injuries.
✫ mental health - 60%
¬ he's currently recovering after a long term traumatic incident where he was being abused.
personality.
✫ fundamentally he has a good heart // humble
✫ very assertive // does what he can to benefit northstar
✫ has a good set of morals // cares for people unconditionally
✫ very relaxed and composed with self-assurance and confidence
✫ incredibly complacent and laid back unless he's fighting for his cause
✫ massive daredevil // is very into extreme sports
✫ fearless, stupidly so // doesn't mind risking his own life
✫ generally easy to get on with, it's difficult to dislike him
✫ doesn't think into the future // only thinks about the present
✫ dependable and very loyal to his friends
relationships.
✫ david green x cassandra griffiths // both are deceased
✫ only child // his biological father died before he was born
✫ green was orphaned when he was nine
✫ fostered by caroline and steve miles
✫ both his foster parents died when green was eleven
✫ his chihuahua and pug, midas and ginnie, are basically his children
✫ doesn't really label his sexuality // comfortable with who he is
✫ formerly dated fallon rude
✫ formerly dated paige montgomery
✫ formerly had a brief fling with winifred maddison
✫ has a daughter named felicity montgomery
interaction.
✫ storage // playlist // pinterest
✫ physically: medium // mentally: medium
✫ he has a bow and arrow, but tends to use it for recreation
✫ much prefers to run away // is exceptional at parkour
✫ very diplomatic and much prefers mediation rather than fighting
✫ dislikes confrontation yet will fight if need be // not a fan of close-ranged attacks
✫ foster parents taught him self-defense
✫ living on the streets turned him into a good fighter
[/spoiler]
[align=center] I'LL EAT UP ALL YOUR PAIN, TAKE IN ALL THE BLAME
[div style="width: 400px; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; font-size: 5pt; line-height: 1; letter-spacing: 4.2px; word-spacing: 1.9px; margin-bottom: 5px;"]BE THAT SOMEONE TO COMPLAIN TO — NOTES.
[align=center][div style="background=transparent; borderwidth=0px; bordercolor=; width: 400px; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; color: black"]
— mick’s heart was more shattered than he ever let on, in ways even he couldn’t put to words. it wasn’t easy to love him. loving him wasn’t meant for the faint of heart. it took a certain kind of man to begin to see the chipped pieces of his heart, messily pieced back together, a sight not easy on the eyes - and still choose to pursue his heart, unflinching at all the broken pieces... and to hold those broken pieces enough to see that he could be so good to them. his heart wasn’t easy to love, but mick’s own love was so fierce and unwavering, used to conquering the harshest of storms - did that make those darker parts easier on the eyes? he hoped so, yet it didn’t stop the loneliness that plagued him. it once felt like nobody knew how to handle mickey serge; nobody wanted to. not until vernon came along.
how could vernon see anything in mick? his hands were scarred, death clinging to his skin like fine cologne. a ghost of himself, haunted by a past that he could never forget. a past that he could never forgive himself for. how could vernon look at him and see anything but a monster? the other man gazed at mick as if the darkness inside didn’t exist. he still looked at him as if he was the sun and not the dreary storms he believed himself to be. every time green looked at him in that way, it planted a seed - a seed of doubt that offered, perhaps, mick wasn’t giving himself the chance to forgive himself for his past actions. perhaps he deserved to look at himself most days and see what green could see. if only mickey knew the light in which vernon saw him; it would be enough for his lip to quiver, to feel suddenly faint and overwhelmed in the best sense of the word.
the other man hummed at mick’s idea of a constellation, seemingly unconvinced. “uhh- good guess.” he waited a moment before he turned his gaze towards green and that bold grin on his lips. was it obvious that mick had no idea what he was doing? it was hard to disguise his own lack of knowledge surrounding the stars. however, it was nice to see green talk about something so avidly. his gaze lingered on green while the man searched the stars. perfection. it was all he could think as he gazed at his date, all he could think to himself. god, how did he get so lucky?
”there. big dipper… i think?” mickey turned his gaze up towards the stars, tilting his head a bit closer towards green to try and see from his point of view. it took a moment or two, though eventually he saw the constellation. his lips twitched gently at the realization, eventually confirming, “i see it now.” he noted to himself that this was the first time he had ever seen a constellation before. his gaze lingered on the stars only a moment longer before returning back towards green. while the man began to talk about the stars, mick still looked at him as if he was the only thing that mattered. eventually he tore his gaze away and looked up at the starry night sky. this would be a moment he wouldn’t forget.
he could listen to green talk for hours on end and still hang on to every last word. eyes searched the stars surrounding the big dipper. “how do you know so much about constellations?” he asked curiously. with a salty breeze flooding his senses and gently brushing through his hair, observing the stars surrounding the big dipper in an attempt to see this bear green talked about, he realized just how at-home he felt. all of it seemed so natural. new, but welcomed, as if all of the stars in his own life had aligned. gentle fingertips glided along his palm, fingers interlacing. he turned his head to gaze at green- watched him quickly clear his throat before continuing to speak. his lips twitched, gently squeezing his hand in soft acknowledgment. how naturally the pieces came together, how easy life felt when held vern’s hand. everything made sense.
eyes traced over vernon’s features as his date looked towards him. the stars were in his eyes, filled with the most beautiful constellations. he could get lost in that soft blue gaze. admire the tranquil breeze as it lightly tousled green’s hair. his gaze darted towards green’s lip to observe the easy smile on his lips. there was no other moment that had made mick feel so together, yet also like he was coming undone all at the same time. it was a peaceful unwinding, a gentleness that breathed warmth into his once-cold soul. mickey often found himself composed and quick to have something to say. still, he looked at green and he just felt speechless. whatever he felt for the man went far beyond words. vernon turned his gaze away and mick ended up following suit, his date gently squeezing his hand. the pad of his thumb gently brushed over the closest knuckle, a warmth stirring in his chest.
orion’s belt. he observed the three stars so perfectly aligned in the night sky as green pointed them out, subtle amazement in those blue eyes. green’s voice quietened, enough for mick to look back towards his date. unable to keep his eyes off of him. words sat on the tip of his tongue, tempted to break the peaceful quiet with soft utterances as gentle as the breeze. there was so much to tell green. so much he wanted to say. how being with him made it feel like his life was suddenly perfectly aligned like the stars; how he looked so beautiful in the moonlight, soft lips drawn into a heartwarming smile; how being with him felt like home. but also that he wasn’t so easy to love, hands unused to such gentle affections, uncertain and fumbling when it came to handing over his heart. there was so much to be said.
yet he felt like he had all the time in the world to say them. unwilling to pour all the emotions out in such a gentle moment, unable to breathe the words to life- only feeling lost in those bright eyes.
vernon lightly brushed the pad of his thumb against his cheek, eyes briefly fluttering shut, only fluttering back open to land on green again. the touch was so gentle. for a man full of heartache and war - from a man who had gone through unexplained bottles himself - the softest of touches could make such a war-torn tragedy of a man melt. he felt so adored, in a way that could calm the storm in his soul. mickey felt so at ease. adoration poured from him in places that had once gone dark and cold. he was falling, and he could never remember a time that falling felt so effortless. vernon completed him in ways he couldn’t explain. in ways that rendered the broken man speechless.
the other man had a war-torn heart as well, even when he hid it far better than he gave himself credit for. his past that he explained to mick before, full of tragedy and running, and running, and running… life on the streets, life without a constant blanket of support, trauma and abuse interwoven delicately under the surface. mick wanted so desperately to make up for all that trauma and tragedy. he desired to adore vernon green to the point that the open wounds of trauma were nothing but thin white scars brandishing triumph- to be the person vern could always run towards. hold those broken edges of glass in his arms, be the glue that helped keep him together. vernon green was broken, but such a beautiful masterpiece nonetheless. the adoration for him was endless.
his heart raced in his chest, eyes fluttering shut as green pressed his lips against mick’s. timid and uncertain. new. green swept him off of his feet; mick usually the one to make the first move in the name of love, almost caught off guard by green’s rush of confidence. heart thudding in his chest, he leaned into the kiss, uncertainty fading into a sense of familiarity with each passing second. and it was soft. so soft. his free hand moved to the side of green’s head, fingers settling in green’s dirty-blonde hair. painting the pictures that words simply couldn’t express. and it was then that all the pieces seemed to fall together.
everything just made sense when he was with green.
he felt almost reluctant as he pulled away, slow to part his lips from vernon’s own. his breath still hot on his lips, resting his forehead gently against the other man’s own. and, as he slowly exhaled a breath, he couldn’t help but huff a soft breath, almost out of disbelief. this felt almost too good to be true. fingers carefully carded through the hair at the back of vernon’s head, lips forming the softest of smiles. “you-” he said in a soft whisper under his breath, yet feeling rendered utterly speechless nonetheless. with a gentle huff, his thumb absently brushed over soft dirty-blonde. there was too much to be said in such a small window of opportunity - make me the happiest i’ve been in a long time, have no idea how long i’ve wanted to do that, make everything make sense, make me the luckiest man. have no idea what you’re getting yourself into - and such little time to say it all. it was all breathed out in the gentlest exhale, lip twitching to fight off a growing smile as he uttered softly, “just you.” there was all the time in the world for mick to spill his heart out to green. but in this gentle moment… he wanted to live in it for so much longer.
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