Chapter Text
Mickey isn’t quite sure when it starts but he knows that it’s definitely too late to deny its existence. Not that he doesn’t shove it under the rug and pretend he cannot see it wriggling about- just like the good ole’ times.
But it’s a stone-cold fact that he’s turning 33 next month and he cannot afford to pass off French fries as “greens” anymore.
And it’s also a stone-cold fact that he hangs around with Lip more than thrice a week.
More excruciatingly, he looks forward to it.
***
“So, I’ll be at Lip’s, ‘kay? Think you can drop by later? We can walk back home or…”
The bathroom door being pulled back abruptly almost made Mickey fall over. A soaking wet Ian brushed past him at the speed of lightning.
“Yes, sure, honey. Have fun.”
Mickey frowned. He was almost certain that Ian had not heard a single word of his. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be telling Mickey to “have fun” at Lip’s.
He watched Ian tornado-ing across their bedroom looking for clothes and discarding every single thing he was picking up a fraction of a second later.
“You aren’t late,” Mickey said pointedly, “You cannot be late for a beer with those EMT guys. It’s just a casual meet-up. Slow the fuck down.”
This wasn’t the… that. Mickey has lived with Ian long enough to know that. Plus, Ian hasn’t skipped any of his medications in a while. It wasn’t that old fear that was creeping back into Mickey. It was just a very jaded combination of annoyance and discomfort.
“Yeah, I just don’t want them to wait around for me, you know.”
Mickey rolled his eyes even though he knew Ian wouldn’t see it. Sure. A bunch of men would “wait around” for a co-worker to order their beers at a shitty pub.
He cleared his throat and asked again, “So… anyway, think you can stop by later?”
“Stop by where?”
“Lip’s.”
This finally made Ian halt his actions and look up.
“Why are you going to Lip’s again?”
“Wha- It’s Friday. Family night. Everyone’s coming over. Carl, Debbie, Liam… Sandy’s coming too apparently.”
Ian huffed out a laugh.
“Not sure how long Tami’s gonna put up with that. You would throw that lot out in a second before half of them turned up.”
Mickey’s eyes narrowed in confusion.
“I keep telling you to have them over. I don’t think Liam even knows where we live. You’re the one who’s always out. Also, Tami’s at her mum’s place. She left the kids with Lip. Thank the lord for small mercies, right? So, think you can stop by later?”
Mickey saw Ian’s eyes briefly pass over his reflection in the mirror. Ian had looked away before he would figure out what that look meant.
“Can’t,” he answered, without turning around. “Think I’ll be late.”
Mickey stared at Ian’s reflection for a few brief seconds before turning around.
He was already at the door when he heard Ian speak again.
“When will you be back?”
Mickey sighed.
“Lip suggested that we all stay over. He got some vintage B-grade horrors or some shit and he wants to test how Carl…”
The strange undertone in Ian’s voice startled him into halting midway. He turned around to see Ian’s eyes pinned on him from the other side of the room.
“Try to come back by 11, yeah? I’ll be back by then.”