Nicky Milkovich
"You mean to tell me, that not only do you have a brother named Mikey Milkovich... but you have a brother named Nicky Milkovich." Lip asked Mandy.
Mandy nodded, her face serious. "Yeah, Nicky's... different. He's been through a lot. But he's smart, and he can do things, real things, that'll make your head spin."
Lip scoffed, half-expecting Mandy to burst out laughing, but she didn't. She was dead serious. He couldn't tell if she was messing with him or if she genuinely believed this. "Alright, Mandy, but magic? Real magic? You mean like pulling rabbits out of hats, card tricks?"
"No, Lip," Mandy said with a small smile. "This is the kind of magic that's... well, more than tricks. Trust me, it's worth seeing for yourself. Nicky's not the type to do what you'd expect. He's a lot more... intense."
Lip felt a strange mix of curiosity and skepticism. He wasn't exactly thrilled about attending some random magic show, but he cared about Mandy and wanted to support her. Plus, he figured if it turned out to be a joke, he'd be out of there in ten minutes. "Fine," he grumbled. "But you owe me. You're the one dragging me into this weird family thing."
Later that night, the two arrived at a small, dimly lit theater in a run-down part of town. Mandy led the way, confidently walking through the heavy wooden doors, the faint scent of stale popcorn hanging in the air. Lip followed, looking around with suspicion as they made their way to their seats.
The theater was modest—nothing fancy, just rows of old chairs arranged in front of a stage draped in dark velvet curtains. The audience was sparse, but there were a few people milling about, talking excitedly. Nicky's show wasn't exactly the talk of the town, but Mandy seemed to know something Lip didn't.
The lights dimmed, and the murmurs in the crowd quieted as the curtains parted. A single spotlight hit the stage, revealing a tall, thin figure in a sharp red suit—a man with pale skin, black hair, and a fedora perched on his head. Lip's jaw nearly dropped. There was no way. This was Nicky Milkovich?
He looked... different. Inhuman, even. As if the man on stage was something from another world. Arms too long, eyes too dark, skin like that of a corpse.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Nicky's voice rang out, calm and commanding. "Welcome. You're about to witness something that defies all logic... something beyond your wildest imaginations."
Lip exchanged a glance with Mandy, his skepticism starting to slip away. Nicky's presence was undeniable. Whatever this was, it was about to get interesting.
Nicky stood tall in the spotlight, his eyes sweeping over the crowd with an almost predatory calm. The kind of confidence that made Lip uncomfortable in a way he couldn't explain. There was something about him that felt... off, but not in a bad way—more like an energy that crackled just beneath the surface, waiting to burst out.
"Tonight," Nicky continued, his voice smooth but tinged with an edge, "we're going to push the boundaries of what you believe is possible. Are you ready?"
Mandy leaned over to Lip and whispered, "Told you."
Lip nodded, still unsure, but now undeniably intrigued. He could see the glint in Nicky's eyes, something almost feral and ancient. It wasn't like any magician he'd seen before, and certainly not someone who'd just pull rabbits out of hats. Lip had a gut feeling this wasn't going to be your average magic show.
Nicky raised one arm dramatically, and the crowd fell silent. Then, with a snap of his fingers, the air around him shimmered. Lip blinked, almost not believing his eyes—was it heat? Or something more? The light bent in odd ways around Nicky, and before Lip could even process what was happening, the man was standing at the edge of the stage. It was as though he'd moved without actually moving, as if he'd blinked and the world had shifted.
A gasp came from the crowd, and Lip's heart rate spiked.
"You see," Nicky said, stepping forward slowly, "magic isn't just tricks. It's power. Control over the very fabric of existence." He extended his hand toward the audience, his fingers twitching slightly. "Like this."
Without warning, the lights in the theater flickered, and suddenly, a massive swirl of fire ignited in Nicky's palm. The flames twisted and coiled like living creatures, dancing in impossible patterns. Lip could feel the heat radiating from the stage, even though the fire didn't seem to be coming from any recognizable source. His eyes widened.
"This is real," Nicky said, as if reading Lip's mind. "It always has been."
The crowd watched in rapt attention as Nicky manipulated the fire, shaping it into geometric patterns, swirling it around his body before sending it skyward, where it vanished without a trace. The theater was dead quiet, the only sound the lingering crackle of the flame fading into the air.
For a moment, Lip couldn't speak. He turned to Mandy, his disbelief written all over his face.
"I told you," she murmured, her smile small but proud.
But Nicky wasn't finished. He snapped his fingers again, and the air grew still. A dark shape seemed to form behind him, an eerie shadow that stretched and warped. For a split second, Lip thought he saw a figure—something tall, skeletal, and fiery—but it was gone before he could confirm it. Nicky stood there, calm and collected, his eyes glinting as if he knew exactly what the audience was thinking.
"That's only the beginning," Nicky said, his tone almost amused. "The truth is, there's no limit to what you can do when you realize what's really possible. The question is, are you ready to accept it?"
Lip could barely process the words. This wasn't just a magic trick. Nicky wasn't some street magician with sleight of hand. This was... something else entirely.
The crowd applauded, but Lip stayed frozen, his mind racing. He had to admit, this was beyond anything he'd ever imagined. Mandy's brother, the one she'd mentioned in passing, was someone... different. He was living proof of whatever kind of power was at play here.
Nicky raised his hand, signaling the crowd to quiet down. "But let me leave you with one final thought. We all make choices. And sometimes, those choices lead us to paths we never expected." His voice grew colder, more serious. "But remember—there's always a price."
The temperature in the room dropped, and for a moment, the air seemed thick with tension. Lip felt his skin prickle, a cold chill running down his spine.
With another snap of his fingers, Nicky bowed, and the flames around him vanished in an instant, leaving only the faintest trace of smoke.
The crowd erupted into applause, but Lip couldn't move. He didn't know what he'd just witnessed, but he knew one thing for sure: it wasn't some elaborate trick.
As the lights came back on and the audience began to filter out, Lip turned to Mandy. "What the hell was that?"
Mandy shrugged, looking over at her brother with a fond, knowing smile. "That's Nicky. He's... not like anyone else you'll meet."
Lip's mind was spinning, but one thing was crystal clear: this night had just cracked open a door to something he'd never even imagined. And he wasn't sure whether he was ready to walk through it.
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DGW: Hello everyone, thank you for reading, this story was brought to you by Brittle Bones Nicky from Rare Americans, I hope you all enjoyed. If you have any complaints feel free to tell me as I have not finished Shameless
Word Count: 1294