Will always choose cats over humans.

Hey, so I guess it's time to give the "2" series it's own masterpost.

I'll be updating this as I go!

Temptation

There’s a redhead at the bar and Mickey can’t keep his eyes off him. He’s dancing, laughing, smiling.

Once he catches Mickey staring, he turns his body towards him and starts dancing, slowly, with intent. A show meant only for Mickey.

And fuck the temptation is too much.

Mickey grabs a couple of beers, and he walks over.

“Jesus, Red, you’re going to be the death of me” he says, as he hands him a beer.

The redhead smirks. “Maybe. But It’ll definitively be worth your while”.

Mickey gets closer and he whispers in his ear. “Mickey”.

“Ian”.  

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Perfect

“There’s no such thing as the perfect guy, Ian.”

Lip’s all but rolling his eyes at him. “You always get screwed over, man”.

Ian’s been hurt in the past, placing his trust in unworthy men.

But Ian’s not wrong about this guy.

“No, you don’t get it. We hung out all night, it felt good. Like he was made for me.”

“You fuck him?”

“No. Not yet anyways. Got his number”. And a kiss, but he doesn’t tell Lip.

“And his name?” Lip asks.

“Mickey”.  Ian responds in a dreamy, soft voice.

Lip smirks. “Oh, shit you got it bad”.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Jóga

It’s a relaxed coffee date. Just the two of them talking, sipping coffee, eating muffins.

But Ian feels like it’s everything. Emotional landscapes spreading in front of him which he has never seen or felt before. And it’s Mickey who is making it all happen.

Ian wants to know him, kiss him, fuck him. Forever. Ian thinks he’s found “the one” and he’ll be devastated if something ruins this. If he ruins this.

He pushes that thought away. He’s been stable for more than a year and he’s happy and Mickey’s here, with him. This moment is all that matters.

.-.-.-.-.-.-

Hope

Mickey’s never been one to hope. Call it self-preservation, he always assumes that shit will eventually fall apart.

But... Ian. Jesus.

He’s sitting there, talking about his life and his job and he has this silly little smile that lights up the room and Mickey can’t understand how he exists and seems interested in Mickey. Smitten, one could even say.

So, Mickey hopes. That this is not going to fall apart. That he gets to have this for as long as he’s alive. Because he’s only seen him twice, but he doesn’t know how he could go without him around.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Wherever I go

They’re leaving a restaurant, after a successful third date. It’s been going so well, it kinda scares Ian. It can’t be this easy, can it?

When the time comes to say goodnight, it’s like his whole body, heart and soul don’t want to let go. He wants to feel this for a little while longer.

“Can I walk you home?” He’s not angling for an invitation, even though he wants Mickey. There’ll be time for that, he hopes. But no, tonight is about romance.

Mickey nods, a shy smile on his lips. “Sure thing, Red”.

.-.-.-.-.-.-

Drive

Mickey’s driving and he has Mandy on speaker.

“Shit, Mickey. Seems like you got it bad.” He’s told her about Ian and his red hair and his puppy eyes and their make out session outside his apartment the other night.

That’s an understatement. Mickey’s gone on this guy.

“So, what’s the matter?” Mandy knows him well.

“What if…” he doesn’t have to say it. He’s always thought that love wasn’t in the cards for him. 

“Oh, Mick.” Mandy says softly. “The only way to find out is taking the chance. Is he worth it?”

“Yeah.” Mickey’s sure of it.

.-.-.-.-

Just say yes

Ian’s sitting across from Mickey in a park. Today it’s a fun, Sunday picnic date.

“This is all I want”, he thinks. It’s perfect. He’s perfect.

And yet… Ian is... Ian. The cracks in his soul are there and it won’t be long before he finds himself flailing, like a fish out of water.

Will Mickey reject him for it?

Mickey kisses him out of his reverie. “What’s wrong?”

Ian feels it in the kiss; Mickey won’t discard him. It’s so simple and he knows it.

“I have something to tell you”. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he begins.

.-.-.-.-.

Hairdresser

Ian’s hairdresser is mid-cut, hearing about how Ian told Mickey about his bipolar. He’d described it in broad strokes. The things he’s done when manic or thought about when depressed saved for another day. He tried to contain it.

“He said it was fine. Asked a couple of questions.” Ian says quietly.

“So why the long face, baby?”

Ian glances at his feet. “He’s been ‘busy’. Haven’t seen him since and he hasn’t answered a text since Monday”.

 “I’m fine” he announces, faking a smile while he looks back at her.

She merely nods.

I’m fine.

Someday it’ll be true.

.-.-.-.

Pumpkin Spice

“Let me explain.” Mickey’s standing at Ian’s door, with a pumpkin spice latte in his hand.

Ian grabs the coffee, tries not to show how hurt he is. “You went home, googled about the bipolar and decided to ghost me. It’s happened before. You don’t owe me anything.” Ian starts walking away.

“Not what happened. C’mon, stop”. Mickey’s trailing behind him. “Let’s talk tonight, I’ll take you out, make it up to you”.

Ian hates this. “Not interested in just fucking, Mick”.

“Good. Me neither. Just say yes. I’ll explain everything”.

“Fine, whatever.”

Mickey better have a damn good explanation.

.-.-.-.-.--.-.---

Trick or treat

“One guy said he didn’t want to wake up to a constant game of fucked up trick or treat. Another one said that I was making it up. Should I go on?” Ian’s nursing a cup of coffee while they talk. “Whatever it is this time, I don’t want to hear it.”

Mickey tells him anyways. “I had to make sure that my father didn’t get parole. He… tried to kill me. He did some nasty shit to Mandy. I know I should have told you. I’m sorry”.

“Shit”. Ian’s face softens. “Are you ok?”

“Are we ok?”

Ian smiles. “Yeah.”

Endure 2

“Take your clothes off. Now”. Ian is in a bossy mood, already discarding his own shirt and pants.

“Whatcha gonna do if I don’t, Gallagher?” Mickey smirks as he toys with the hem of his shirt.

Ian huffs as he rolls his eyes. “I’ve endured three fucking weeks without you. Take. Them. Off.”

He crowds Mickey until he’s against the wall. “I’ve missed you. I thought…”, he shakes his head. “Please, Mick”, he adds quietly.

Mickey notices the shift, from bossy to pleading. “Hey, hey.” He grabs Ian’s jaw as he stares into his eyes. “You got me, ok?”

COMPETITION

“Ok. You’ve won. Don’t even know who you were competing against, but yeah. It’s over”. Mickey lays on the bed, trying to catch his breath. 

They’ve been together all weekend, making up for lost time. Ian’s done things to him he didn’t even know were possible. He’s moaned, whimpered and screamed so much, he’s surprised the neighbors haven’t complained. 

“Yeah?” Ian asks next to him. He looks just as blissed out as Mickey feels.

“Yeah. Now let’s go eat something before we pass out”. 

Ian eyes him playfully. “Ok, but then we’re coming back. There’s something I’ve been meaning to try…”

.-.-.

WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT

“You’d look good though. Up there on the stage.”

They’ve gone out dancing. Ian thought it would be fun. He didn’t know that the club he chose would have nearly naked dancers on platforms.

“Why would you say that?” Ian’s voice shaking, memories resurfacing from a time he’s worked hard to move past, his paranoia winning out. “Did you see me? Back then? Did I dance for you? Did we…?” 

He storms out, a concerned Mickey on his heels. 

Ian doesn’t stop; he starts running once he’s outside. 

It can’t be. He would remember Mickey.

 Mickey would have told him, right?

.-.--.-

CRAZY POSSESSIVE

Ian’s thinking how he’s going to explain his freak-out. 

The truth is, he wouldn’t remember Mickey. He remembers events.Some actions sometimes feel like they were burned into his skin. Faces and names escape him. 

But he’s pretty sure that Mickey wouldn’t have waited this long to tell him if they had met back then. 

He feels sick. Mickey’s sort of crazy possessive sometimes so he wonders how he will react to this. Knowing what Ian used to do. How it was exacerbated by the fact that he was unmedicated. 

But Ian owes him the truth.

 The rest is up to Mickey. 

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Grinch

He feels like the Grinch, dumping all of this on Mickey right before Christmas. 

Happy Holidays, Mickey! Your boyfriend was a coked up, manic whore for a bit there… 

There’s no way Mickey’s gonna be ok with this. No one ever is.

“I see”. Mickey’s looking straight at him, an unreadable expression on his face.

Ian’s face falls as he prepares to leave. 

“Where’ya going?” Mickey asks. 

Ian shrugs. 

“I’m sorry I said that. At the club. I didn’t know it would… trigger you or something.” He holds Ian’s hand. “Stay. This doesn’t change anything. I love you”. 

.-.-.-.-.-.

Gravity 

Ian looks at a sleeping Mickey next to him. 

The past few weeks have been good. They’ve been going out, sleeping at each others apartment almost every night, it’s domestic and tooth rottingly sweet, is what it is. 

And Ian just knows, like he did all those months ago when they met at that club, that this is it. 

That he’s supposed to gravitate around Mickey for the rest of his life. 

Mickey wakes up, groggy, eyes still half shut. 

“Whatcha staring at, Red?”

Ian doesn’t even hesitate. “Do you wanna move in with me, Mick?”

“Sure”. Mickey smiles as he stretches his limbs. 

It’s Ian’s turn to smile. 

This is their new beginning. 

.-.-.-.-.-

Embroidery

“What’s this thing you’re doing?” Ian eyes suspiciously at Fiona, who is fighting with a needle and some thread. 

“Embroidery. Got bored of knitting but I’m supposed to keep busy or something”. 

She’s visiting from Florida, it’s her first time in Ian and Mickey’s new apartment. It’s her first time meeting Mickey. 

“So when is this magnificent boy of yours coming home?” 

“In about an hour. Fi, you’re gonna love him, he’s… been really good for me.”

Fiona smiles softly. “This is the happiest I’ve seen you. That’s a damn good start.”

Ian runs a hand through his hair. He wants this to be perfect.

.-.-.-.-.

STICKER

There’s a stubborn sticker still stuck to the bottom of the mug Fiona’s drinking from. It’s just another thing she doesn’t like about what she’s seeing here. 

Ian’s boyfriend stormed through the door a few minutes ago, barely even acknowledged her and locked himself in the bedroom.

“I… Mickey’s not usually like this. Something must have happened. I’ll… let me check on him, ok?” Ian disappears into the room. 

She hears hushed voices arguing inside while she texts Lip. 

Fiona: “I thought you said this Mickey guy was fine?”

Lip: “Better than the others. Something happened?”

Fiona: “He clearly isn’t”.

DON'T

“Mickey…” Ian’s at a loss. Mickey knew Fiona was coming over and that it was important to Ian that they make a good impression. Ian tries to get closer. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t”. Mickey extends his arm, preventing Ian from getting any closer. “Terry got himself a new lawyer. He’s getting out.”

“What? No, there must be something we can do.” Ian can ask Lip if he knows a good lawyer, maybe they can stop this. It can’t happen. 

“There isn’t. It’s a done deal.” He grabs a bag, starts throwing Ian’s stuff inside. “You need to go. Now”. 

Ian freezes. “What?”

HUNT

HUNT

Fiona: Hey can you… come pick us up from Mickey’s? 

Lip: “Us”? What happened? 

Fiona: Not sure, I think they’re breaking up? 

Lip: What? Ian just moved into Mickey’s apartment two months ago. 

Fiona: Who’s Terry and why would he “hunt Mickey down”? 

Lip: Oh shit. Mickey’s dad is getting out? 

Fiona: Apparently?. 

Lip: Ah fuck. I’ll be there in 20. 

Fiona: Ian is putting up a fight and all, but I don’t think he’s going to win this one. Let me know when you get here.

Lip: Stop them if they actually try to kill each other.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

STEAL

“You can’t just leave me”. 

It’s Ian standing in the doorway with his shit all packed up, but Mickey is the one leaving Ian. 

“You don’t get it, Gallagher. It’s not my choice. Terry will find me and when he does, you can’t be here. It’s for your own good”.  Mickey walks into the bedroom, closes the door behind him. 

Ian feels Fiona tugging at his sleeve. “Lip’s downstairs. Come on.” 

He doesn’t move. 

“You can’t stay, Ian. Give him some time, try again tomorrow.”

Still, he takes out the keys Mickey gave him less than two months ago and he drops them on the floor. 

.-.-.-.--

RUINED

“So you panicked?” Mandy is sitting in Mickey’s apartment, which looks half empty again, because he kicked Ian out. 

“I didn’t panic. Terry can’t find him here.” Mickey grits his teeth. Why doesn’t anyone see it for what it is? Terry coming out means Mickey dies. He’s minimizing the damage, he’s keeping Ian safe. 

“We’re not safe, you’re right on that. But I think that Ian and all the others, his family, our friends… They make us stronger, not weaker.” Mandy lets it settle. They are not helpless teenagers anymore. 

“Fuck. Did I ruin it?” 

“Only he can answer that, Mick”.

.-.--.

REFLECTION

Ian stares at his reflection in the mirror. It’s been two days since Mickey kicked him out. He doesn’t look different, just a little tired. But he feels different. 

His phone vibrates in his pocket. It’s probably Mandy. Again. 

Ian hasn’t answered a single call from her. She’ll either try to explain what Mickey did, or she’ll call him an asshole and Ian doesn’t want to hear it. Not from her. 

He hears someone behind him. 

“Uhm. Mickey’s here to see you… should we… like… let him in?” Fiona says softly.

Ian holds onto the sink and he closes his eyes. 

“Ian?”

FLUTTER

Ian’s eyelashes flutter while he tries to get rid of the tears in his eyes. 

“Ian?” Fiona is still waiting for an answer. 

“Yeah. Just give me a sec”. Mickey’s too stubborn to leave without seeing him. But what is there to talk about? By kicking him out, Mickey effectively broke up with him. 

Ian goes down the stairs a couple of minutes later. Mickey’s standing in the kitchen. He looks nervous, fidgety. 

“Ian…”

Ian says nothing. 

“I’m sorry.” Mickey says, walking over to Ian, who takes two steps back. 

“Apology accepted. Now get the fuck out of my house”. He walks up the stairs again. 

.-.---.

FERAL

Fiona is looking at him, she watched the whole thing play out. 

“I don’t know you” she states, “And I don’t particularly like you right now, but… Lip said you made Ian happy. Is that right?”

Mickey nods, “When I’m not royally fucking it up, yeah.”

“So you got two or maybe even three choices. You leave, you go feral or… you can go talk to him”. 

“He doesn’t want to talk to me”. 

Ian all but stormed upstairs, barely even looked at Mickey. 

“He’s stubborn and you hurt him. But I know him. Give it another try”. 

She’s right. He walks up the stairs. 

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

COMING HOME

Mickey walks in, sits by the door. 

And he tells Ian everything. About a lifetime of abuse and violence. About one event which ended up with Terry locked up. 

He tells him that falling in love with ian was unexpected, scary and dangerous. And how Terry is being released and he just knows that his first stop is going to be a gun shop and then he’s not going to stop until he finds Mickey. 

It's live!

Snippet under the cut.

Cutting it close you guys. Another sweet one.

-.-.-.

GYM

Ian plays with the business card in his hands while he sits with a cup of coffee at the Gallagher kitchen table. “Mickey Milkovich, Smart Fit Gym”, the guy’s number is on the front.

Ian had been walking through the mall with Fiona, getting some stuff for Liam, when they’d been approached by the hottest guy Ian had ever laid eyes upon. Brunette, blue eyes, built, but not too much. An ass that wouldn’t fucking quit at the end of some pretty powerful thighs.

It took him a couple of minutes to get his brain back online. By the time he did, the guy was trying to talk Fiona into getting a gym membership at their new South Side location.

“Oh, I’m not a gym person. Maybe try this guy?” She had laughed as she had pointed to Ian, “He used to wake up so early to run and then there was this whole routine of endless push-ups and pull-ups and who even knows what else”.

And yeah. Ian used to be that guy. When he was in school, and doing hardcore ROTC and still an individual in full control of his own mind and body. He no longer has control of either one of those.

His disease had hit him hard, he’d done some stupid shit. Dropped out of high-school, joined his mom for a while there, running around some big and small cities doing drugs and just… yeah. He’d barely made it back alive, a few months ago. Fiona had taken him back in, no questions asked, and with her support (and the love of his family), he’d gotten diagnosed, started treatment, everything. They’d had their disagreements, of course, and she’d been overbearing at some points, making Ian feel like he was suffocating, but at this point in time? Well. They are in a good spot. Ian had managed to get level and stay like that for a while, only dipping slightly a couple of months ago. That last event had been the catalyst for finally finding a med combo that worked for Ian. The only problem? Weight gain. For someone who had always been skinny and then fit, well… It wasn’t ideal. So he’d been struggling with it, hating that the disease had taken that from him.

“What do you say?” Let me show you what we can offer you”. The guy–who had introduced himself as Mickey– had told him about the different plans and price points. In theory Ian could afford it. He had landed a good job as a receptionist in an office. His salary wasn’t much, but he had savings now. Soon he would be able to move out if he wanted (and if Fiona let him, but that was a discussion for another day).

Ian had taken the brochure and the card and said he’d think about it. The guy had given him a warm smile and told him that they could also figure out a way to get some personal training time if Ian wanted. He’d gone home wondering if the guy had been trying to pick him up or if he was actually offering some PT.

“It’s just a gym membership, sweetface.”

He hears Fiona as she enters the kitchen.

“You’ve been meaning to get back into training and running, right?”

Ian nods. “Yeah.”

She grabs her own cup of coffee. “And you’re doing well at that office place. You can afford it.”

He nods again.

“So why the hesitation?”

It just feels so big. “I dunno, I guess… A year ago I was homeless, bar hopping with Monica and doing shit I can’t even remember. I barely made it out. It’s taken so long to fucking get shit right. The meds, the adjustments… I… don’t want to…”

“You’re afraid it’s not going to last?” She asks softly.

“Yeah. I'm not Monica. I’m going to do the work. But I can’t guarantee shit, can I? No more than she did. I’ll still have episodes, I’ll still…” He feels like everything is so goddamn fragile and he needs to protect it somehow. He can’t rock the boat. Another thing to add to his perfectly manicured routine could be the one thing that makes it all fall to the ground, even if it is something good, like working out.

“It’s just a gym membership. Give the guy a call. He seemed nice, you can probably tell him about it. I’m sure they accommodate their service to fit all sorts of needs, including mental health issues. Go on. Give it a try”.