Part 14: Go Down Swinging

Iggy was awakened at four am by Terry shaking him. Iggy opened his eyes and recoiled at the sight of his massive father hovering over him. Terry stepped back to let Iggy sit up. Terry reeked of booze and cum. He was angry.

"Fucking Christ, Pops," Iggy said sleepily.

"Tell me it's a fucking lie," Terry said.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your cousin Lucas told your Uncle Ray that you were having lunch with a man at Patsy's Pies."

"It's not what you think. He's a new client. I'm going to be selling to him and some of his work friends. I just figured if I'm doing business with the guy I should at least get a free meal out of it. So I made him buy me lunch."

Terry let out a soft chuckle. He clapped Iggy on the back. The soft chuckled changed into a deep belly laugh. Terry accepted the answer easily. Iggy had practiced that lie until it natural on his tongue. He made Mickey and Ian both listen to it over and over until they were convinced.

Iggy didn't get back to sleep. He pulled out his phone and texted Austin. It was a compulsion. Most of the time he texted Austin without realizing he was doing it. That felt natural too. It wasn't enough.

He wanted to see him again. Iggy leaned up on his side and sent a message to Austin, who was sleeping judging by the fact that he never replied until Iggy woke up around 10 am. The first thing Iggy did was check his phone. Austin had replied with a selfie. He had severe bed head in the photo.

Would it be inappropriate if I sent him a pic of my dick? Iggy shook the thought out of his head. He combed his hair and snapped a picture of his own bed hair to send to Austin instead. Iggy couldn't get the blond waiter out of head, but he had reached a point where he wasn't sure he wanted to.

Mickey was eating pancakes in the kitchen when Iggy came in. Terry was on the couch asleep. Mandy was cooking. Iggy felt lightheaded as he reached for the syrup.

A pounding on the door brought everyone out of their post sleep haze. Mandy answered it. Lip Gallagher stomped into the kitchen without being invited in. He looked nervous.

"Is Ian here?" Lip asked.

"No," Mandy said.

"Is everything okay?" Iggy asked.

"He didn't come home last night."

"What the fuck do you mean he didn't come home?" Mickey asked.

"Yeah, after he left here he never came home."

"Fuck," Mickey said, "I knew I should have walked him."

"Calm down," Iggy told Mickey.

Iggy thought inexplicably about Austin as he chewed through a rather undercooked pancake. He immediately and almost without thinking about it, reached for his phone and began rapidly texting Austin about Ian.

Iggy: A long shot. Have you seen Ian?

Austin: Yeah, he's at my place.

Austin texted Iggy the address to his apartment. The group showed up in full force. Mickey lead the charge to get his boyfriend, Lip behind him, Iggy and Mandy in the back. Austin lived in a shoddy apartment on the southside. It was a beat up, rough place. Graffiti everywhere, broken windows, homeless people squatting in the empty apartments, sirens in the background, Iggy had not expected this for Austin at all.

He pictured him living on the north side in something much nicer. He relaxed knowing that he was from their neighborhood. Austin lived on the third floor. A woman was asleep on the ground outside the complex when they approached, and Iggy recognized her immediately. This is where he usually did his dealing and she was a long time client.

"I'm surprised Frank's not here," Lip commented.

"Where is Frank?" Mandy asked.

"I don't fucking know or care."

Iggy was impatient, more so than Mickey who seemed at home in the neighborhood. Iggy felt the metal of his gun against his backside. "Let's get your boyfriend," Iggy said pushing the buzzer for apartment 304 A.

"Hey," said a voice on the intercom and Iggy felt a twitch in him that he again ignored.

"It's Iggy and Mickey, we're here for Ian," Iggy said.

"Yeah, I'll buzz you in."

The door unlocked, Iggy felt his heart wedge itself into his throat when he stood in front of apartment 304 A. He was about to knock when he heard a dog barking. Iggy took a deep breath and knocked.

Austin wasn't wearing his glasses. He had his hair gelled up in a neat guaff, and he had on a plaid shirt and jeans. He was standing beside Biscuit. Ian Gallagher was sitting on the couch watching Storage Wars. He waved.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Iggy asked. Mickey knelt down to hug his boyfriend. But he didn't reprimand him or ask him what the hell he was thinking. It was just simply acceptance and happiness to be together.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we're leaving," said Mickey and Ian together.

A light bulb came on over Iggy's head. They fucking planned it. Before Iggy could protest the others were gone. It occurred to Iggy that Lip and Mandy had been on it too. Iggy tried to leave, but they had barred the door.

"I fucking knew it."

"What's going on here?" Austin asked, confused.

"They planned all of this to get me over here."

Austin was quiet for a second. He heard a gunshot outside and didn't flinch, which Iggy found impressive. "Sorry, it's the only neighborhood I could afford."

"It's pretty homey actually," Iggy admitted, he was trying not stare at Austin, despite the fact that it's the first time he had seen him without glasses.

"You live in a neighborhood like this?" Austin asked.

"Yep. But don't worry; I am part of the bad people in my neighborhood."

Austin went to the fridge. "Beer?"

"Definitely," said Iggy kneeling to pet Biscuit who had not stopped sniffing him since he walked in. She seemed to like him. She gave him a lick and then went to sit on her spot on the couch. Austin's apartment was clean, but not obsessively so. Iggy sat down on the sofa, which was obviously not bought knew.

"Think they're still out there?" Austin asked.

"Most definitely," Iggy said.

Austin sat down on the couch beside Iggy. There was no discomfort between them. Austin was easy, and Iggy felt himself loosening up. He spilled his guts on his life and his job as a drug/illegal gun dealer, and the thug life, and everything. Austin never judged.

"We're pretty different," Austin said.

Iggy frowned. A panic began to run through him. He hoped Austin didn't mean it like it was a bad thing. Austin kissed Iggy on the cheek and nuzzled his nose in his neck. When he pulled away Iggy noticed just how long Austin's eyes lashes were.

"I should probably go," Iggy said.

"You don't have to," said Austin standing up and putting his hands on Iggy's hips. Iggy leaned in to the touch. His body automatically leaned into Austin. The smell coming off him caused a certain muscle in his body to react and this time Iggy didn't fight it.

"We could get pizza tomorrow and a movie," Iggy said, it was difficult to breathe standing so close to someone so endearing. Iggy looked at the faint freckles dusting Austin's nose and he held his breath.

"I work tomorrow," said Austin slowly. His thumbs were hooked in Iggy's belt loops. Iggy tingled all over when Austin rubbed his nose against his cheek and planted two small kisses there. When Austin let go Iggy's knees gave out.

Fuck.

"I want to see you," Iggy blurted out.

"Yeah?" Austin asked with an eye brow raised.

"Yeah. I want to fucking see you."

"I'm off today. Let's hang out," Austin said.

"Right now?" Iggy asked.

"Why not?"

"Because my asshole brother and Ian are outside waiting on us," Iggy said.

"Tell them to fuck off. We'll get pizza and do a movie tonight," Austin said, releasing Iggy's belt loops. Iggy nearly collapsed. He gripped the back of the couch for support. Mother of God. I can't feel my fucking legs.

Austin went to order the pizza as Iggy regained the use of his legs. He opened the door to see Mickey and Ian were in fact listening to everything that was said. Lip and Mandy looked bored.

"I have two gay brothers. Won't dad be proud?"

"I'm not gay. Nothing is going to happen," Iggy said, though he wasn't 100% convinced.

"We're crashing the party," Ian said, pushing past Iggy and coming into Austin's apartment.

"No you're fucking not," Iggy stated.

"Come on, Iggy, we have to make sure you don't fuck this up," Mickey said.

"You two coming?" Iggy asked Lip and Mandy. They shook their heads.

"Nah, I don't really fucking care. Ian asked me to do this for him and now he owes me fifty bucks because I wouldn't for a second have pictured you falling for a guy."

"Fuck off, Lip," Iggy said slamming the door in his face.

"Apparently, they're staying too," Austin whispered to Iggy.

"Sorry," Iggy said.

"No I ordered two pizzas anyway. I was going to give the other to Biscuit, but I guess they can have it."

"You feed Biscuit pizza?" Iggy asked.

"Yeah, she loves pizza. So I rented Pacific Rim becauseI fucking love robots and Charlie Hunnam is hot as hell."

I have no idea who Charlie Hunnam is, but I want to kick his fucking ass. Iggy allowed Austin to kiss him on the cheek again and felt his heart dip when Austin was anywhere but at his side. I'm fucked.