Archive of Our Own ^beta

It wasn’t that Mickey was still in the closest, he wasn’t. While it might have taken some time, he was now in a place in his life where he had fully accepted his sexuality. It’s just that he didn’t see the point of shouting it from the rooftops, of dressing up in rainbow coloured shit or painting glitter all over yourself or waving flags like a kid on St. Patrick’s  Day. The drunken assholes he had to deal with on that day were bad enough but today the streets were even louder and more colourful and unreasonably fucking happy.

Ok, so “gay” ironically used to mean happy or whatever the fuck but did people have to rub it in his face? Like he got it, you’re out and proud or whatever but maybe some people were more than content in remaining miserable loners who enjoyed random anonymous hook ups instead of lovey dovey public displays of affection.

Mickey worked in a goddamn “gay friendly” bar on the West Side for fucks sake. He was gay; he just wasn’t ever going to be caught dead prancing about on top of a moving float to Lady Gaga. He was most definitely not that gay and never would be. Deep down he knew he had residual internalised homophobia, hardly surprising, considering he was raised by a Nazi, gay bashing, woman-hating, piece of shit. So he didn’t feel too guilty about his negativity, it wasn’t exactly his fault that such unabashed displays caused him discomfort.

The bar was packed and he already had a thumping headache. The Tylenol he had swallowed earlier had barely taken the edge off. He was hot and sweaty and rushed off his feet, as he served order after order and dodged flirtation after flirtation. The attention should have been flattering and a confidence booster but Mickey just found it intrusive and annoying as fuck. He was there to do a job, not get ogled by every desperate twink or arrogant top in the city. That was the thing he found, that he got hit on by every type of dude going, probably because on the outside people assumed he was a top himself. Mickey was brash and abrupt, aggressive almost. He always said what he meant and didn’t give two fucks if he upset people. So he regularly had dudes trying to hook up, in the hopes that he would take them home and pound them senseless.

Of course they, unknowingly, were completely barking up the wrong tree. It was Mickey who wanted to take the pounding, for the most part at least. And occasionally he let the right guy do it, usually tall, cocky, well-built guys who looked like they were able to handle him. Because a submissive needy twink he most certainly was not, he was a power bottom all the way and wasn’t about to change anytime soon. The throbbing pain in his head was all the pounding he was going to be experiencing today, by the looks of it however.

“Taking my break,” he muttered grumpily, to his co-worker Rodger, who nodded in acknowledgement.

Mickey couldn’t light a smoke up quick enough, taking a long deep drag and closing his eyes as he willed his headache away. He stood a few steps away from the bar, knowing his boss hated the employees smoking out front. He believed it gave a “poor impression” but fuck that guy, the alley out back smelled like shit and Mickey just wasn’t in the mood for it, not today. He smirked and shook his head, as the drunken rainbow coloured crowd danced and sang and kissed. Sure, he could admit it, they looked like they were enjoying themselves so he couldn’t knock it and he wasn’t ignorant, he knew it was important, symbolic or whatever the fuck. Still, it just wasn’t his scene and never would be.

“Mommy, mommy”

A small sobbing voice caught his attention, just as he was stubbing out his smoke. A small red haired girl was glancing around anxiously, just a few feet away from him. Immediately he tensed up and was hoping a responsible adult was nearby but most revellers were too preoccupied and took no notice of her. He then realised he was one, an adult anyway, but Mickey hated kids, had no experience with them, least not in any responsible or “normal” way. The Milkovich clan did tend to multiply like rabbits but luckily for Mickey he had dodged that bullet.

“Fuck,” he mumbled as the girl grew more and more upset and frightened.

Her tear streaked freckled face was hidden now between her knees, where she had buried her head.

“Hey Kid, the fuck you crying for? You lost or something?”

He sighed and instantly scolded himself for his tone and harsh words, the poor kid was already scared and Mickey was coming across like an asshole or worse, a weirdo.

But the little girl’s head tilted up and she blinked away some fresh tears before she nodded.

“Ok, so where was she last, any idea where she might be?”

The little girl remained silent and shook her head from side to side slowly.

“Shit, are you like a mute or something, one of those special kids?”

He scratched his head and felt completely out of his depth; still hoping someone else would come along and rescue him from this awkward situation.

The girl, who couldn’t be more than 5 or 6, cocked her head and finally opened her mouth, “Mommy calls me special all the time…what’s a mute?

Mickey felt his lips curl up at the sides, surprisingly. “Special huh, so special you got lost”

The girl frowned at him and looked annoyed now but he figured that was better than her looking scared. She wiped her nose and eyes on her sleeve. “Not my fault,” she shrugged, “too many people, I only stopped for a minute to look at a unicorn, then she was gone”.

Her chest started heaving again and Mickey started to panic, he couldn’t deal with crying and tears, especially when it was coming from little kids. “Ok, just chill, we’ll find her alright. What’s your name?”

She squinted at him, as if she was sizing him up, “Not supposed to tell strangers that”

He rubbed between his eyes and released another frustrated sigh, “I’m Mickey, there, not a stranger anymore”.

The little girl eyed him cautiously as she was clearly thinking it over, “I’m Franny, my mom’s name is Debbie, she’s a lesbian, she had me before she realised she liked girls”.

Mickey’s eyebrow quirked up and he smirked, “Shit kid, did your mom not tell you it’s dangerous to talk to strangers, you really shouldn’t be telling me your life story”.

She smiled and stood up now, as she stuck her hand out. “But we’re not strangers anymore, you just said so”

He eyed her hand and laughed as he shook it.

“Nice to meet you Mickey,” Franny released a cute and cheeky sort of little laugh, “Like the mouse…Mickey Mouse”

Mickey rolled his eyes which caused her to giggle again, “Ok, let’s try and find your mom, some of us have shit to do, like work”.

To his surprise and horror, Franny slipped her tiny hand into his as they turned towards the street and the mass of people. Mickey didn’t hold hands with anyone, ever, but it wasn’t like he could shake her loose. This shit was not helping his headache.

“So what does she look like, what was she wearing?”

“Hmmm she looks like me but her hair is darker and she’s bigger. She was wearing…,” Franny paused and hummed as she was thinking, “A black top with a rainbow heart on it, sort of like this”.

The little girl spun around proudly, showing off her rainbow coloured dress and black boots. She even had colourful sparkly hearts painted on her cheeks. And fine, she looked pretty damn cute.

“Great, so a lesbian wearing rainbow shit, in this crowd, won’t be too difficult”.

Franny took his hand again and he didn’t flinch as much now, accepting that it was an evil necessity and the sooner he got this show on the road the sooner he could get back to work. Remembering his co-worker, he shot off a text to Rodger briefly explaining the situation in as few words as possible. The guy replied with a wink and “Sure, hope he’s hot”. Frowning, he pocketed his phone, returning his attention to the task at hand.

“Here”

He spotted a sturdy looking wooden table nearby that was unoccupied and picked Franny up, who giggled as he placed her on top of it.

“You see her anywhere? Was it just you and your mom?”

Franny shook her head, her pale freckled face scrunched up in concentration, as she scanned the crowds until Mickey saw it change, breaking out into a wide grin.

“There, there he is”

Mickey climbed up next to her to follow her line of vision and to where she was pointing. The guy was the spitting image of her, perhaps her dad he thought, a little too glumly.

“Great, let’s go freckles”

Franny quirked her eyebrow at him, before taking his hand once again and flashing him another big bright smile. Mickey pulled her through the crowd, until he reached the other side.

“Think this belongs to you,” he muttered before the other man turned around.

“Franny, Jesus, we were looking everywhere, where were you?”

The tall red headed man picked Franny up in his arms and kissed her head tenderly. Mickey felt his face flush with warmth as he watched them, he could instantly tell they were incredibly close and that Franny was safe now.

“I got lost but then Mickey found me”

The man eyed him suspiciously but nodded his thanks.

“He’s Mickey, like the mouse,” Franny added, causing Mickey to chuckle.

The strangers face softened now and he locked eyes with Mickey, “Doesn’t look much like a mouse”

“Well uh, I guess you’re all set, “ Mickey replied, feeling uncomfortable under the other man’s gaze, “Gotta head back to work, was nice meeting you Franny, try not to get lost again alright, a lot of weirdo’s out there”.

To his surprise (and the red headed mans too, judging by the expression on his face) Franny grabbed Mickey around the waist and hugged him tightly.

“Glad I met you Mickey Mouse, I mean you’re kind of a weirdo…but in a nice way”.

Mickey snorted out a laugh and shook his head, “Weirdo huh, think that makes two of us then kiddo”

The man was watching their interaction with intense curiosity and Mickey felt his cheeks blush again as he waved Franny off.

“Um thanks,” the other man offered before he turned away briefly, “Guess I better go call her mom, she’s down the street, probably losing her mind. I’m Ian by the way”.

“Nothing, not like I could ignore the kid,” he replied casually, as he took in the man’s name, liking how it sounded in is head.

He thumbed his bottom lip nervously and could have sworn he caught Ian staring.

“Yeah she’s pretty hard to ignore, takes after her mom, means she’s gonna be trouble when she’s older”.

For some unknown reason it felt like Ian was stalling and what was even more bewildering, was that Mickey was too. They were watching each other in silence before his ringing phone interrupted their moment. He noticed Rodgers name on the screen.

“Gotta get back to work”

“Oh right, forgot that people have to actually work today,” Ian offered with a short laugh, a sweet and pleasant sound, “Well thanks again Mick, glad she found you”

Mickey nodded and made his way back across the busy street, painfully aware that a pair of beautiful emerald green eyes followed his every step.

----

“Thank god it’s not as busy tonight,” Rodger remarked, as they restocked the bar in between orders.

Some people were still clearly on the pride buzz but Mickey figured most were sleeping off the previous day’s antics. The shift was passing in a much more relaxed and easy manner, plus his headache had finally lifted. In fact it had pretty much evaporated not long after he had met a certain red headed man named Ian. He was the thing invading his brain now, not waves off pain, but images of copper red hair and delicate freckles and mesmerising green eyes.

But Mickey knew it was a lost cause, not only was the guy a stranger but he was most likely a married straight guy with a cute kid called Franny. Just his luck of course, considering he never got hung up on a guy like this but for some reason Ian was already under his skin. He couldn’t get him out of his mind which was truly messing with him. He had no idea why, it was entirely unexpected and unsettling and confusing.

Mickey was nearing the end of his shift when he was momentarily rendered speechless.

“Hey Mick”

Ian approached the bar before taking a seat, a confident grin fixed on his face. “Oh it’s Ian, in case you forgot”.

Mickey smirked but also blushed as he realised he hadn’t spoken yet and most likely looked like a complete fool, as he got lost in Ian’s pretty face.

“I’m a weirdo, not an idiot”.

Ian smiled brightly at his reply and it caused a fluttering feeling in his stomach. “What can I get ya Red?”

He smiled even wider now and Mickey loved the idea that he was the cause, “Just a coke thanks”.

“You came to a bar to drink a coke,” he replied with a teasing laugh but poured it out anyway.

“Don’t really drink…but wanted to come say thank you again. Franny was lucky she met you and not some creep”

“What makes you think I ain’t a creep…could be a huge one”

They beamed back at each other until Mickey realised Rodger was watching them closely and he was forced to glance away.

“Nah, not that type of creep anyway. She couldn’t stop talking about you all the way home, drove us crazy”.

“Us, as in you and her mom”

His heart sank a little as Ian nodded while he took a sip of his drink.

“Yeah, Debbie, she had her young so we all helped raise Franny, why we’re so close”

“Raise her, what ya mean?”

“Debbie’s my sister, “Ian replied casually and Mickey instantly felt his heart soar again, “Fran’s my niece”.

“No shit,” he exhaled and Ian’s eyebrow quirked up in amusement.

“Oh, you thought she was mine”

Ian chuckled and sat back, “Nah, being gay sort of makes it difficult to have a kid, that and being an ex con”

“No shit”

Mickey wanted to slap himself for his stupid response but it just slipped out, that was the last thing he had expected Ian to say.

“Yeah long story, the shortened version is bipolar, no meds, messiah complex and arson. Surprised you didn’t recognise me, Gay Jesus”.

Ian waved his hands over his body for affect and Mickey vaguely remembered reading something about a gay kid from the South Side going postal and blowing up a van in the name of God or some shit. But Mickey was neck deep in his own problems back then (mainly trying to survive his homicidal father) to take any real notice.

“Wow, so you’re a real life celebrity huh,” he joked and Ian cocked his head at him.

“Not anymore, old news thankfully. Not that guy anymore”

Mickey nodded, understanding all too well about not wanting to be that guy anymore.

“Well in that case, the coke is on me hotshot”.

Ian flipped him off but smiled sweetly back at him and there was that fluttering sensation in his stomach again.

“So what time do you get off?”

The way Ian gazed at him, eyes flickering all over his face, there was no denying his undertone. Mickey felt himself audibly gulp at the prospect of what he might be (hopefully) suggesting.

“About an hour, why?”

“Figured I should thank you properly”

Ian smirked in the most delicious and confident way that Mickey lit up inside.

“You don’t need to Red, she’s a great little kid and I was just glad to help”.

“Oh,” Ian’s face dropped and he nodded, “I thought you were, you know….just assumed cos the bar and the parade…”

Ian downed his drink and made like he was about to leave, his cheeks flushing pink in embarrassment.

“What, a fag, “Mickey paused and Ian looked offended, his face all scrunched up, “I am, big one, just meant that you didn’t have to thank me anymore man. But if you want to like hang out or whatever, that’s cool”.

He smirked happily, as Ian’s face relaxed once more and he sat back down, “Knew I was right”.

Mickey chuckled and shook his head, “Why cos you’re such hot shit that the only reason I would reject you was if I was straight”

Ian looked supremely smug and cocky as all fuck, as his head nodded up and down, “Exactly, that or you need glasses Mick”

“Nothing wrong with my eyes asshole,” he teased and they laughed together with ease.

“Yeah I can see that, nothing wrong with them at all”.

Ian’s intense green eyes were locked on his blue ones. “Nothing wrong with the rest of you either”.

Mickey blushed and chose to focus on pulling a pint for another customer, instead of focussing on the sexy as hell red head sitting just inches away from him.

“So, what do you wanna do Red?” he asked stupidly, an hour later. They stood facing each other outside the bar, in almost the exact spot that he had found Franny the day before.

Ian reached over and swept back that stubborn stray lock of dark hair, the one that refused to stay put and always hung down Mickey’s forehead. He locked eyes with Mickey before leaning in, slowly and carefully, before touching his perfect lips against his in a chaste kiss.

“Anything you want Mick”

----

(1 year later)

“No, get the fuck away from me Ian, I mean it”.

Mickey warned his boyfriend before he was suddenly being chased around their apartment, “I fucking mean it, you got me to go but I draw the line at fucking face paint asshole”.

Ian tackled him to the couch, the big strong fucker, straddling him so that he couldn’t move.

“I mean it Ian, I will fucking murder you”

Ian chuckled darkly before attempting to pacify him with a deep and sensual kiss, “C’mon please Mick, it will look cute on you”

“Cute, the fuck do I want to look cute for”

“Well, I think you look cute everyday Mick but this will just be extra cute”.

Despite himself, he released a short resigned laugh. Ian gazing at him all heart eyed and adoringly was his kryptonite after all.

“Fucking fine but you owe me big time Ian, like forever”.

He begrudgingly lay back as Ian painted a rainbow on one cheek and a heart on the other, to match his own.

“There, beautiful,” Ian offered before kissing him again, more heated this time, “Nuh-uh, don’t have time for that baby”.

“Fuck off with that shit, you know you only call me that when you want something Ian, one of these days it won’t work anymore…then what will you do”

He waggled his eyebrows playfully before Ian cupped his semi hard cock, “Got a few ideas…baby”.

“Well one of them better involve you fucking me later in your uniform tough guy”.

He smirked as Ian growled a little and kissed him again, “Anything you want baby”.

Mickey was already excited for later, nothing got him hotter than seeing Ian in his paramedic’s uniform, well apart from helping him get out of it of course.

They met up with Debbie and Franny a short time later to take in the parade and spend the day soaking up the atmosphere (Ian’s words, not his).

“Uncle Mickey,” the little red headed girl squealed as she jumped up into his arms, forcing him to pick her up.

“Hey strawberry shortcake, you look really pretty today”

“Do I still look bad ass though,” she asked with a slight frown on her face.

“Course ya do kiddo, always look badass, you’re a Gallagher remember”.

She nodded and kissed his cheek. He caught Ian smiling affectionately at them causing Mickey to blush faintly. Whatever, so what if he was a huge sappy fucker these days, he blamed the red heads.

He tickled Franny for a second, drawing the sweetest giggle out of her before he pulled her up onto his shoulders, so she had a better view.

“What?”

Ian shrugged as he beamed unashamedly at him, “Just you”

“Yeah yeah, look don’t go getting all mushy on me in public Red. I’m here but I aint gonna start wearing fucking dresses or dancing on top of floats like a dumbass alright”.

Ian cackled loudly before planting a loud wet kiss on his cheek, no doubt messing up the stupid rainbow that was there, “You nagged me for hours about that gay ass shit Ian and now you just ruined it”.

“Couldn’t help it baby, “Ian cooed before slipping his hand around his waist and kissing him on the lips now, “Just happy. You make me happy. Love you so much”.

Mickey’s cheeks burned brighter now but his inside burned more. “Yeah I know, love you too asshole”.

“Mickey,” Franny’s voice interrupted them, “If you and Ian get married will you still be my Uncle”

Mickey’s eyes caught Ian’s but there was no hesitation or doubt there, in fact the red head simply smiled back at him in a mischievous and knowing sort of way.

“Course I will kiddo, you’re stuck with me now”.

“Yayyyyy,” Franny was so happy and excited her little legs were swinging against his shoulders, “you can ask him now Uncle Ian, I give you my permission”.

Mickey stared at Ian who was the one blushing now and for once the red head looked flustered and anxious. It was when he patted his jacket pocket that it really sunk in and Mickey felt equally flustered and maybe a little sick too.

“Ian, what the actual fuck”

“Guess the cat is out of the bag, thanks for that Fran”

“You’re welcome Uncle Ian. When you get married can I be your flower girl?”

Ian sighed and rubbed in between his eyes and as terrified as Mickey felt in that moment, the fact that Ian looked so nervous and ruffled was strangely reassuring. Mickey let Franny down as Ian stood just inches apart from him.

“Wasn’t supposed to be like this Mick, had a whole thing planned for later at home, just us you know”

“Well that ship has clearly sailed Red, might as well show me”

He gestured to his pocket and Ian smiled before opening the box, to reveal a pair of simple black bands.

“So what do ya say Mick, I mean you’re stuck with Franny so what’s one more red head”

He snorted out a laugh and nodded, “You really are a poet Red”.

Ian cupped his face and kissed him, intermittently whispering “yeah” like it was a question, seeking reassurance, forcing Mickey to smile against his lips as he kissed him right back, even harder. Franny and Debbie cheered and clapped, before passers-by picked up on the situation and joined in. But Mickey didn’t even register the attention because all he could see was Ian. All he could see was them and their future together. And it was beautiful.