evie🩸

Mickey doesn't get sick, and even if he did, so what? He can handle himself, always has, right? Enter Ian Gallagher, the first person to ever actually care about what he needs and wants. The first person to ask, "You sure?"

A/N: Emetophobia warning. Set in S2, Mickey’s “You think we’re boyfriend and girlfriend here?” era. He’s security at the Kash 'n' Grab still despite that in this. Feverish Mickey says some things that get Ian's heart racing.

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Mickey's head throbs harshly as the morning light all but strobes through his window. Terry, ever the inconsiderate asshole, is downstairs yelling at his older brothers for some shit he honestly does not give a fuck about at this particular moment. Although, no one can really blame him when his vision blurs and his stomach twists with a hellish nausea that puts any hangover he's ever had to shame.

It's this nausea that brings him out of bed, rushing towards the bathroom beside his bedroom with an urgency one would associate more with a criminal running from the cops rather than a young guy who's just unwell.

After he ejects the contents of his stomach, he pushes through the vertigo and the fuzzy, heavy feeling that's settled into his body, and grabs his Kash 'n' Grab Security jacket, fortifying himself for what he knows is about to be a gruelling eight hours. His walk to work is a short one on an average day, but it takes him exponentially longer today, for obvious reasons.

"Mickey! You're late!" Comes Linda's voice from the loudspeaker, "You're lucky I don't write you up. Your PO would kick your ass."

Usually, he'd have some sort of comeback, but not today. He can't muster the energy to even comment on how little he gives a fuck about the job.

Ian, who's been stocking shelves, turns to the door when he hears Linda telling off Mickey. He notes the older guy's dishevelled appearance (well, more so than usual), the red flush he's sporting, and the glazed over look in his eye. They haven't exactly been on good terms since Frank found them out, but before he can stop himself, he asks a quiet question.

"You good, Mick?"

Note: I used to write a lot when I was a teenager, wanna get back into it, here's hoping I haven't lost it! Anyways, sneak peek below! full fic coming!

Mickey doesn't get sick. At least, that's what he says. Ian, however, can always see through him.

"Mick, you good?"

"Fuck off, Gallagher. I'm fine." The older man says, "Just drank too much last night or some shit, I dunno."

Ian moves to put a hand on Mickey's forehead, but hesitates, before deciding 'fuck it' and doing it anyway. Mickey all but leans into his touch, which worries Ian, as he was expecting some abrasive comment or a threat. He's warm, though, almost concerningly so.

ntm then bringing up mickey’s fear of being a father and turning out like his dad but COMPLETELY ignoring that mickey is already a dad to a kid born under extremely traumatic circumstances. yea I know it’s normal for shameless to just act like characters never existed after they leave but COME ONNNN

I do think there is something realistic in the fact that Ian struggles to understand Mickey’s very complicated feelings towards Terry. But they could have showed that without framing it like a joke. I read somewhere on here that Cameron said they filmed something that showed Ian being more caring (can’t remember exactly what he said) so it’s frustrating that in the final edit they didn’t choose that version.

I think it does make sense that Mickey would not talk about Yev but I really think Ian would bring him up. I know they both struggle to communicate with each other sometimes but I feel if Ian wanted to talk about kids, he would start with talking about Yev. E.g. asking if Mickey knows where Svetlana and Yev are. It feels like the writers were trying to hint at Yev without saying it - “neglected Milkovich baby crawling around” “we could steal one” (can’t remember the exact lines) but I don’t think that makes sense for Ian to talk like that. He would probably just come right out and ask Mickey about Yev.

Ian changed himself to fit into a mold of what he felt Caleb & Trevor wanted. He wanted to hide the ugly parts of his life from them. To Ian, these shiny new relationships that were separated from the South Side and his past, were a way to hide those ugly parts of his life from himself. He wanted to move on from his past and every thing that happened in seasons 4 and 5. And he also wanted a better life for himself than what he’d had, because Ian’s always been ambitious and always wanted a way out from where he was. To Ian, a relationship with a “normal” guy who didn’t grow up like him was a way to do that.

But because of this he was never his full true self around them. He was always just playing a part for them (and himself) and keeping the things he wanted hidden, hidden. Through that he was able to hide things from himself too.

But Mickey grew up with him. Mickey’s life was just as messy, if not more so, than Ian’s. He understands Ian better than anyone. He saw first hand all the messy parts of Ian and still loved him. Even with all his insecurities that stemmed from his diagnosis, Ian never felt like he had to hide himself or change himself around Mickey. He was always just himself.

Even though it’s Mickey who says “I don’t do normal, Gallagher,” the truth is - neither does Ian. A “normal” relationship never would’ve satisfied Ian long term.

Monica had every right to leave imo, Frank forced her to keep fiona and literally hand cuffed her to the bed to stop her from aborting Carl. If monica had left and never came back no one would hate her nearly as much ( u can imagine it as she stayed up till liams born or that she just stops coming back for liam my point it still the same.) It's because she comes back and messes things up again and again that adds salt to the wound. Every time she leaves again, it pushes the kids closer to Frank.