Mickey woke up with a groan, and felt Ian's body beside him. Ian's face was still caked with dried blood and Mickey doubted he'd be able to open one of his eyes properly. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Mickey continued to stare at Ian. Ian hadn't stirred at all. Without thinking, Mickey lifted a hand, bringing it towards Ian's red hair. After a moment of hesitation, Mickey ran his fingers through Ian's hair, enjoying the feeling of the strands between his fingers, whilst also wanting to grab it and tug it. Although the blood on Ian's face told Mickey that Ian wasn't weak, which Mickey was proud of, it also bothered Mickey. It wasn't how he liked Gallagher to look. Pulling some shorts on, Mickey stumbled to the bathroom. After a piss, he found an ice-cream container under the sink and emptied the assortment of hairbrushes and other products he didn't know back in the cupboard. He filled up the bucket with water, and grabbed a flannel from the cupboard in the laundry. Realising it should be warm water, he went back the bathroom and refilled it.
"What are you doing?" Came a voice, Mickey turned around and it was Debby,
"None of your business Debby, go bake a cake or something, yeah?" Mickey replied, and hurried off back to Ian's room, putting a chair behind the door so they'd have some warning if one of the other Gallagher kids decided to walk in. 'There is no fucking privacy in this house' thought Mickey. They were lucky that Carl had fallen asleep on the couch last night, and Lip was at Karen's. Mickey wet the flannel in the ice-cream container of warm water and knelt on the mattress next to Ian's face.
When Mickey brought the flannel to Ian's face, Ian squirmed and tried to sit up before wincing and grabbing his side where his broken rib was clearly hurting him and lying back down.
"Calm the fuck down, Gallagher" Mickey said softly, grabbing his chin and moving Ian's head to face him.
"What are you doing, Mick?" he asked, his voice rough from sleep. Mickey grabbed a half empty bottle of beer sitting near the mattress and tipped some into his mouth.
"Shut up, and don't squirm".
"Wait up" Ian said, and eased himself up so he was leaning on the wall behind him, with his left hand on his sore rib, and his right resting on Mickey's thigh as Mickey knelt next to him. Mickey pretended not to notice that his leg was tingling where Ian touched, or the feeling in his abdomen that came with it. Mickey raise an eyebrow and gave him a look. Ian nodded and leant his head against the wall. When it hurt him, he would squeeze Mickey's thigh, but didn't say a word. With that feedback, Mickey was about to slow down or be more gentle when Ian needed it. Mickey spent a good 5 minutes cleaning up Ian's face before the water had turned red with blood and it wasn't cleaning him anymore. Mickey got up to go change the water and found himself locking eyes with Ian. Ian's big eyes stared at Mickey, and the intensity of the moment made him embarrassed and awkward.
"Shut up" Mickey mumbled and kissed the redhead on the forehead. Mickey finished cleaning Ian's face. Ian dried it with a tee-shirt from a drawer before putting it on. Ian took the bucket from Mickey and put it next to the bed before grabbing Mickey and flipping the two of them around, so Mickey now had his back to the wall, whist Ian straddled him. Ian grabbed Mickeys face, looked from one eye to the other, then kissed him. Before Mickey could say or do anything, Ian grabbed the ice-cream bucket and stepped out of the room. Mickey closed my eyes, and could faintly hear Ian talking to someone outside. Just then, Lip walks into the room.
"What are you doing with him, Mickey? Are you in? You can't just bring him home with his face all messed up and then hide out in my room all afternoon". 'The little shit' thought Mickey. He stood up and walked towards Lip, puffing out his chest and walking with more of a swagger than normal.
"What's it to you, huh?"
"Seriously Mickey? What's it to me? He's my fucking brother! You know what our family is, you mess with him and you mess with all of us. You think you can just mess him up and we'll let you?"
"Fuck you" Mickey spat, raising a fist. Ian came from nowhere and grabbed the fist, calming Mickey down.
"It's fine, Lip. It was his family. He told them he was gay, and well, this happened. Leave it, Mick. Sit down you idiot." Gallagher pushed Mickey onto the bed who maintained eye contact with Lip, still fuming. Lip didn't say anything but walked out the door, leaving it open. Mickey made to get up but Ian put a hand on his chest and pushed him back down.
"Stop, Mickey. Jesus". He got up and closed the door again, but didn't put the chair behind it. Mickey figured it didn't bother him anymore. 'How can he be so okay with his family knowing what went on in his relationships?' Mickey thought 'It was none of their business, and they should stay away'. Mickey felt himself calm down as Ian straddled him again, though. Mickey grabbed at his waist, but Ian just smiled and sat back on the brunet's stomach, grabbing the bucket of water. Mickey flinched as Ian began to clean his face in return.
"Don't squirm you loser" Ian joked. Cheeky bitch. After a few minutes Ian was done, and he grabbed Mickey's hand to pull him downstairs.
"Can't we just stay here, Gallagher?"
"No. And it's not Gallagher, it's Ian." Mickey looked him over, before nodding and looking around for a shirt and some cigarettes. Mickey mentally prepared himself to deal with the Gallagher family and thought he was ready. But when he saw them all gathered around the table, weaving in and out of each other, it made him too uncomfortable.
"Later Gallaghers" Mickey mock-saluted and headed out the door. It was a few minutes before Ian followed, running to catch up. Ian handed Mickey a piece of dry toast, and nibbled on his own as they walked.
"What, didn't even put some jelly on this?" Mickey joked, and Ian gave Mickey a shove. Mickey shoved him back before remembering his ribs when Ian yelped.
"Fuck, sorry Gallagher. Ian." Mickey corrected myself. When they were under the L Mickey lifted Ian's shirt to take a look. His whole left side was one big ugly bruise.
"Let's get some cold beer to hold on that for you, huh?" Mickey turned toward a corner deli, but Ian grabbed his hand and stopped him.
"I've got a better idea". Mickey shook off his hand, looking around, but followed him. Once they were out of the neighbourhood Mickey took Ian's freckled hand in his own again.
Ian led Mickey to some nearby woods that had a small lake tucked away in the middle. As soon as the water was in sight, he started stripping off his clothes and shoes, leaving them where they dropped as he ran straight in, completely naked, giving yells as the cold water splashed on his body.
"Not happening, Gallagher. Come out before some water animal eats your dick off"
"Water-animal huh? Come on you chicken, get your fucking clothes off and get in here."
"Fuck you I'm not chicken. Jesus!" but Mickey hesitated and slowly walked towards the water. Surely that wasn't safe? Should've just taken a bloody shower or gone down to the lido. Ian continued to yell at Mickey from the water, so he took his shoes and shirt off and inched closer. Mickey stood with his feet in the water, which was fucking cold enough. Mickey was happy enough to watch Ian's naked body twist around as he played in the water like he was a little kid and it was Christmas. When Mickey turned around to see if anyone could hear Ian's mad screams, he felt Ian grab his torso and throw him into the water. Mickey panicked, and flailed his arms around trying to keep his head above water.
"Woah, Mick, chill, you can stand here." With Ian's hands supported him, Mickey realised he was right and felt his face flush pink with embarrassment.
"You can't swim huh?" Ian asked gently, one hand still snaked around the shorter boy's waist.
"Fuck you I can swim" Mickey shot back, pissed. When Ian said nothing Mickey sighed. "Fine I can't swim. Who the fuck was going to teach me? Terry? Nah. No need to swim, as long as I can manage the fucking bath, there's no need". Ian let out a laugh. 'He is fucking laughing at me, the prick?' thought Mickey, defensively
"I don't think you ever bathed when I first met you, Mickey! Must have learned to swim a little since then!" Ian stood back and splashed Mickey with water. Mickey wiped the dirty water off his face and splashed Ian back, making sure his feet were firmly planted. After a while, Mickey waded back to the shallow bank and sat on the sand that was peppered with sticks and soggy leaves. Mickey sat back, watching Ian swim to the middle of the lake and back in, laughing and enjoying himself. As Ian waded back in, Mickey called out to him
"Walk slower, boy. Ian laughed.
"You like what you see?" Ian asked, but did slow down, and exaggerated his walk.
"Damn right I do" Mickey replied. Mickey could stare at Ian's toned body all day, but his eyes tracked to the scars and wounds on his body. Ian's ribs on his left were clearly swollen underneath the bruising, and although his face looked better than it did this morning because of the cold water, it was not the pretty, unbroken white face that Mickey loved. Loved. Mickey thought, 'Shit. I do love him.'
As Ian stood before Mickey, his already tall frame towering above Mickey as he sat on the shore, Mickey met Ian's green eyes.
"I love you, Ian Gallagher". After a surprised look, and a moment's hesitation, Ian bent his beautiful body down to kiss Mickey, and whispered onto his lips.
"I love you more, Mickey Milcovich.". After they'd had sex and cleaned each other up in the cold water, they dressed and made their way home. Although Mickey could feel himself flinch with every look that they got from strangers and neighbours, Mickey forced himself to hold his boy's hand the whole way to Fiona's.