I know I said middle of the week but my feels are being compromised because of 3x11 so I cranked this out at warp speed! Next chapter will be this week still (expect a good treat with the next one!).

Thanks to all my new/old followers, I appreciate you all!

Disclaimer: All recognizable themes and characters belong to their rightful owners.

Drop a line, tell me what you think...

Here we go!

"The End Days"

Chapter Four: "The Other Side"

Ian knows there is "different" out there, but the "same" is just fine.

-;- -;-

Ian wonders if this is what depressed feels like. He feels like a machine walking around, programmed to do what he is supposed to but feeling nothing. Although, he thinks he should be recognized for a "bullshit award," he is able to interact with everyone at a normal capacity seamlessly. Lip and Mandy may have asked about his frequent, monosyllabic answers but nothing Ian couldn't shrug off.

It has been five days since he had that confrontation with Mickey on the roof. He can't stop thinking about what Mickey said to him, that he is protecting Ian from him. This makes Ian thoughtful and angry; who the hell did Mickey think he was telling him what he needed protection from? He understands why though, Terry would kill them both and wouldn't bat an eyelash.

He possibly has to marry that prostitute.

Ian still can't wrap his mind around what would make Mickey think he wasn't good enough to be with him. Sure, Mickey can be hot tempered, a little violent, but he is just a product of his household- and environment. Ian doesn't feel too special anyways, his family may be more loving but according to someone on the outside of the 'hood looking in, he and Mickey were just the same.

-;-

It's Saturday now and Ian finished his weekend homework early. He keeps himself busy by doing half of the week's laundry to help Fiona out. It isn't enough to keep his mind busy though, he knows it isn't healthy to have someone infect your thoughts as much as Mickey does his but now, he just couldn't bring himself to care.

Ian almost falls from his seat at the kitchen island when his phone buzzes, alerting him to a text message. He was almost confused when he saw who it was from.

Casper.

Hey, it's been a while since we hung out, want to come over? I can pick you up from your place. – C

Ian's lower belly warmed when he read the message, he remembers all too well what Casper meant by "hung out". There is also no damn way Casper is getting his home address. Ian taps the conversation box and types a quick message in reply:

Sure, but meet me at the Coffee Beanery.

-;-

Ian finishes a cigarette by the time Casper pulls up in front of the Coffee Beanery. Ian fast paces to the car and gets in before Casper had the chance to consider getting out of his side to greet him.

"Worried about me stalking you?" Casper says. The smirk playing on his lips shows he means that in good humor, Ian chuckles.

"Maybe, do you have your house to yourself today or something, I mean we could've just stayed at the coffee place," Ian asks, turning off the radio.

Casper shakes his head, "No, my mom is there but she doesn't care if I have people over, besides it's just you, not a fleet of hungry kids." They both laugh.

Ian doesn't know if he wants to hate how simple it is with Casper, this is their second time hanging out but he can feel the earlier "Mickey stress" fading away.

"So what is your plan when we get there?" Ian inquires, turning a little in his seat to look at Casper's side profile better. Ian guesses he's more than a little cute.

Casper hums, "Mmm, we'll see when we get there."

"There" is fucking enormous.

Casper pulls up a long driveway and parks in front of a dark bricked mansion with vines creeping up the sides, Ian looks at the shiny black Mercedes they stopped behind and tried not to drool, he assumes that belongs to Casper's mom. A housekeeper opens the door for them when they step out of the car.

"Hey, Manuela!" Casper bounds up the steps to the small Hispanic woman who is wearing a genuine smile.

"Yes, yes hola cariño." Manuela smiles wide when she sees Ian and opens the door wider to let the two in.

When Ian walks pasts Manuela he feels her eyes on him. She probably thinks he is Casper's boyfriend. He laughs internally at that thought.

Ian almost lost his shit when he saw the expanse of Casper's home; a crystal chandelier hangs from the tall ceiling and the floors are a smooth cherry wood with a grand staircase that starts on two sides, leading up to Casper's room most likely, since Casper threw him a look and started to climb them.

-;-

Casper's room is impressive. It looks like a master but by judging this house, it's probably a standard. His walls are off-white, furniture mahogany, and his California king size bed is dressed in a hunter green/ plaid theme.

"So…I'll admit I cleaned it this morning, hoping you would say 'yes' to come," Casper sheepishly said as he laid back on his bed, "Come here," he added.

Ian then realized he was standing in the doorway and walked in, closing the door behind him.

"You didn't have to; I like your room, though." Ian offered.

"Wait! Lock the door." Casper said, mouth slowly pulling into a smile. Ian raised a brow but twisted the lock on the doorknob. The sofa in Casper's room was too far a distance from his bed so Ian had no choice but to lie next to him.

Ian couldn't help the breathy moan that escaped him when he felt the softness of Casper's duvet.

His eyes were still closed but he heard Casper chuckle beside him. Ian felt the bed dip and he felt Casper's hand rub down his chest to his jeans, easily undoing his belt. Ian shot his eyes open and grabbed Casper's hand to stop him.

"Fuck, Casper you said your mom was here." Ian wheezed out.

"Yeah? The door is locked." Casper argued, propping himself on his heels.

Ian sat up against the headboard and rolled his eyes, "So? You're fucking loud."

Casper smiled, "She won't be able to hear us from where she is." Casper then took the opportunity to yank Ian's jeans down and grab his now swelling cock. Ian choked on a grunt and managed to swat Casper's hand away to get off the bed and stand.

"It still feels weird." Ian said, he knew he looked ridiculous saying that with a hard-on and his jeans and boxers pooled at his feet.

Casper only rolled his eyes and hopped up from his seated position and stood in front of Ian.

"Then don't think about it, just do it," Casper said this as he proceeded to take off his clothes piece by piece. Ian just stood there looking at his naked body, respecting how he is so brazen but annoyed at his pushiness.

Speaking of brazen, Casper then broke Ian's thought when he kissed him on the mouth, then his neck and walked over to the dresser and bent over it, looking back at a surprised Ian.

"Uhh…" Ian could only manage that.

Casper's eyes fell a little when he spoke, "Fuck me right here, c'mon…take me right here."

Ian's cock won whatever argument it was having with his brain and Ian hurriedly took his clothes off and stood behind Casper. Casper opened the drawer revealing a bottle of lube and a box of condoms. Ian prepped them both and wasted no more time and began to fuck Casper, harder than he was anticipating; the dresser knocked against the wall in a rhythmic thud. He knows this is him releasing tension from his dilemma with Mickey, but Casper clearly doesn't mind, judging from his uninhibited "oh's and ah's"

Casper came way before Ian and he finished him off with his mouth, swallowing all of Ian down.

Once Ian came down, the first thought that came to mind was whether Mickey could know what he was doing- as silly as that sounds.

-;-

Ian stayed with Casper for another hour before he went back home, insisting that he took the bus back. When he entered the kitchen he saw Lip head up the stairs with Mandy following, though, Mandy saw him come in and stopped at the second step for a beat, waiting for Lip to finish his ascent, and turned to walk in front of Ian.

"What did you do this time?" Mandy asked with one hand on her hip. Ian got nervous and diverted his eyes. What the hell could she be talking about? She couldn't know about Casper and him hanging out.

"Wh- what do you mean?" Ian stuttered.

Mandy clicked her tongue, "You and Mickey."

What?!

"What about Mick? What did he say?" Ian can feel the sweat coming out of him, what did they talk about?

"He didn't say anything really, he just told me he saw you get in a car in front of that coffee joint downtown when he was out there getting something for my cousin and wondered who it was. Who were you with? I just said it was your friend." Mandy explained.

Ian's heart felt like it imploded inside him. He hopes Mickey doesn't suspects anything; that could ruin Ian's already slim chances to get Mickey away from the Russian.

"That weed head I went with Lip to go sell a joint to." That is all Ian wants to say about him.

Mandy's eyebrows raises and she smiles, "So are you guys…?"

Ian needs to nip this, "No, no we just hang. What did Mickey say after you told him that?"

"Uh, nothing he just made this dumb face and went to his room. He been acting fucking weird, well more so, like I know he has shit going on with that hand-job slut or whatever but he was really not like himself a few days back. He actually asked about you then but I don't remember what he said." Mandy said looking down, arms crossed.

A few days back.

"Oh okay." Ian said, almost getting lost in thought.

"So you guys need to chill out whatever beef you guys have." Mandy said sternly before offering a smirk and heading up the stairs.

Ian catches himself, "Wait, Mandy! Where is he, usually?"

Mandy voices vibrated down the stairs, "Shit I don't know, wherever, you guys ask about each other too much, Jesus."

Ian just stood there looking up the stairs. He wants to go find Mickey right then but he decided against it.

He'll let Mickey come to him this time.

-;- -;-