Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"I love you."
Mickey didn't say anything as he looked up at Ian. The red head was standing there, dufflebag slung over his shoulder, with a sad look on his face. Mickey wasn't sure what to do. He didn't want to say goodbye like this. With Ian's family surrounding them, watching them. Waiting for something to happen because they all know about the couple. How couldn't they when the two were caught many a time in the Gallagher house.
Mickey knew that this was the last time he could say he loved Ian too before Ian went off for his first tour of duty. It was worse when Mickey knew there was a chance that Ian might not come home in one piece or alive. The thought killed something in him. Looking to make sure that it was just the Gallaghers watching he pulled Ian into a tight hug.
"I love you too," he whispered into his boyfriend's ear. "You better come back or I'll kill you myself."
"I don't doubt that you would try," Ian smirked.
The two pulled away and Ian turned to his family to give them his last goodbyes before getting on the bus. After the many hugs Ian threw his bag into the storage unit under the bus and walked up the stairs. He took a seat in the back and looked out at the people gathered to see him off. He was going to miss them all, but this was what he wanted. Only just a bit less than how much he wanted Mickey.
Ian pulled his gaze from the window as the bus started moving forward. He was going to do this for how ever long he was needed and then he was going to come home. He was going come back alive. He needed to, it wasn't an option to leave the people he loved behind.
He was going come back.