A/N: Found most of this written (handwritten!) in a notebook when doing a sort out. Set during S21 era where Mickey is at NCS.
He'd never really liked the name Michael. Too formal. Too posh.
Like shoes that didn't quite fit.
The name pinched at his toes whenever he tried to wear it.
It wasn't what people expected to hear when he opened his mouth.
Didn't go with the council estate upbringing or the accent.
He came from a place when names got shortened, tagged, streamlined
Jezz, Gaza, Richie, Scotty, Tel.
And so he worked through a few over the years
Mike. Mick. Webbo.
Always returning to Mickey.
So, it stuck and it fit him and he liked it.
"Or should I call you Mickey?"
Until Delaney tainted it.
Bruised his skin, stripped him of his clothes, his strength, his pride.
Stole his name as well as his life.
So when he joined NCS and they introduced him as Michael, he didn't correct them.
Mickey Webb was pretty much dead anyway.
Why not give Michael a shot?