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“Hey Ian?”
“Ned?”
“Who the hell is that old dude?”
It was a regular day. Ian and Mickey were wandering the streets aimlessly, just because Ian said, “It’s good to get out,” and Mickey’s attitude was, “Could you be any more of a wuss?”
Ian didn’t expect to run into Ned here, especially with Mr. Impatient standing next to him. Even more surprising was that Ned would come over to greet him.
“Didn’t expect to see you here. Is this your boyfriend?” Ned grinned like a smug bastard.
Unsurprisingly, Mickey’s brows furrowed instantly. “Boyfriend? Do I look like I’m gay?! Old man, you’d better watch your mouth!”
“If you two idiots want to catch up in the middle of the street, be my guest. I’m getting something to eat,” Mickey waved them off and walked ahead.
Seeing Mickey leave, Ian didn’t want to waste more words and decided to end this encounter.
“I have to go. Nice seeing you,” hoping it would be the last time. Ian smiled politely, a smile Mickey always said was especially disgusting.
“Hey, no rush. Since you’re now… alone, in every sense, maybe you could contact me sometime?”
To be honest, Ned was just one of the dozens Ian had slept with. Ian couldn’t even remember his name at first. Ian had no idea why Ned was so “obsessed” with him, nor did he care.
Watching Mickey walk farther away, Ian nodded perfunctorily, his eyes still glued to Mickey. “Maybe. I really have to go now, sorry.”
“If you’re in such a hurry, take this and remember to contact me,” Ned took out a business card and slipped it into Ian’s pants pocket, not forgetting to grope Ian’s crotch.
“Fuck…” Ian wanted to punch him in the face, but seeing Mickey almost blend into the crowd, he couldn’t be bothered to teach this bastard a lesson and immediately ran after Mickey.
“Mickey!”
“How come I never noticed you walk so fast before?”
“Done catching up with that sissy?” Mickey didn’t even bother to glance at Ian, staring straight ahead.
“Just exchanged a couple of words, hardly catching up,” Ian defended himself, and it was true. Running into an ex on the street while with a current fling wasn’t pleasant, and the ex inviting him to reconnect was even less worth mentioning to Mickey. He had no doubt Mickey would turn around and break Ned’s neck if he knew.
“Then hurry the fuck up, I’m starving.”
They found a random restaurant on the street and had some Mexican food. Despite Mickey repeatedly saying, “How can this food taste like shit,” Ian thought it was pretty good and even grabbed a takeaway menu when they left, behind Mickey’s back.
Mickey called an Uber to take them back to the hotel. As soon as they entered the room, Mickey grabbed a beer from the mini-fridge. “Jesus Christ, I still have that damn corn chip taste in my mouth. It’s like fucking poison,” he said while stripping off his pants, protesting against the sweltering weather.
Ian found the remote in the mess on the sofa and set the air conditioning to Mickey’s preferred “almost freeze your dick off” temperature.
“I’m going to shower,” Ian quickly stripped and headed for the bathroom.
“Hey hey, slow down,” Mickey jumped in front of the bathroom door. “Aren’t we going to have sex tonight?”
“Uhh…” Ian hadn’t thought that far, just felt sweaty. “Isn’t it better to shower first then have sex?” Despite saying this, Ian still reached out to hug Mickey.
“Sex first, then shower,” Mickey bit Ian’s shoulder to show he didn’t care about sweat. “You clean freak.”
“You horny bastard,” Ian retorted.
They fell onto the bed, Ian instinctively kissing Mickey’s neck, his favorite spot. Burying his head there, his nose filled with Mickey’s scent, Ian lightly sucked and moved downward.
“If you leave a mark, you’re dead, got it?”
“Got it, you picky prick.”
Afterwards, Mickey lay on the bed, commanding Ian to light him a cigarette. Ian kicked him, “Go smoke on the sofa, don’t drop ash on the bed.”
Mickey didn’t even bother to get up, still lying there. “Seriously?”
“Try lifting me. I swear, Ian, your level of cleanliness needs medical attention.”
Ian didn’t want to argue whether it was cleanliness or Mickey living like a slob. He was about to go to the bathroom when he remembered he hadn’t taken his meds today and started looking for his pants.
“What are you looking for?”
“My pants, the meds are in them.”
Coincidentally, Mickey was using his pants as a pillow. When he noticed, he casually reached into the pocket.
Ian suddenly remembered the business card Ned had put in his pocket and quickly grabbed Mickey’s wrist. “Whoa whoa, easy, tiger. Want to go another round? I thought you were in a hurry to shower.”
“I’ll get it myself.”
“Suit yourself.” Mickey handed over the pants, watching Ian reach for the left pocket. “Meds are on the right. I already checked the left.”
The left pocket… where Ned put the card. Ian’s hand paused, looking up at Mickey’s smug face. Besides the cigarette, Mickey’s other hand held a white square card.
“So, let’s see what bullshit made you so nervous.”
“For god’s sake, you really took that damn takeaway card? What the hell do you Gallaghers grow up eating?”
Ian didn’t respond, knowing worse was to come.
“WTF? What the hell is this? ‘Ned Johnson’? Are you fucking kidding me?! Ian Gallagher?!” Ian sighed inwardly. Being called by his full name meant big trouble.
“Did that old guy you were catching up with give you this?” Mickey was fully upright now, predictably dropping ash all over the bed. Ian stepped back. He couldn’t guarantee Mickey wouldn’t use the cigarette on him.
“It happened like this. I was rushing to find you…” Ian’s words were cut off.
“So it’s my fault now? Is that what you’re saying?”
Ian quickly shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. Just stating the facts. He handed it to me… then I forgot. It’s that simple.”
“‘Stating the facts’? God, are you sure you want to talk like that? How does the South Side produce someone like you?”
“Whatever, fuck whoever you want. It’s not my business. But if you give me some disease, you’re dead,” Mickey threw the card at Ian and walked away.
“If you want, you can go find him now. Move, I need to take that damn shower,” Ian didn’t know how to react. He regretted not throwing the card away sooner, and his stomach clenched at Mickey’s words, “fuck whoever you want.”
Ian heard himself say, “Fine,” followed by the bathroom door slamming shut.
Looks like they wouldn’t sleep together tonight. As for tomorrow, who knows.
Ian dressed, found his meds, and reached for the beer Mickey left by the bed, planning to take the pills before leaving.
Standing by the bathroom door, listening to the water, Ian thought it best to leave without a word. Just as he was about to go, the door opened, the gust from it almost palpable.
“Fine? That’s your answer? Fucking Ian, you’re a bastard.”
“What should I have said?” Ian raised his voice, confused by Mickey’s outburst.
“Fuck… you should have said, ‘Okay, Mickey, I won’t give you a disease because I’m not going to fuck around!’”
Ian had no response. He also thought Mickey’s reply was better, his tone softening. “I know I didn’t answer well at first . If I say it the way you want , will you be satisfied?” Ian gently held Mickey’s hand.
“You wish!” Mickey coldly pushed Ian’s hand away.
“Mickey, listen, he was just a client ……during that time. I didn’t even remember his name.”
“I don’t care about him. The card was an accident.”
“I won’t fuck anyone else,” Ian saw Mickey didn’t react, took it as a sign he was listening, and kissed behind Mickey’s ear, whispering, “Besides, you’re the best I’ve ever fucked. I don’t have the energy to fuck others.”
Ian even didn’t need to look to know Mickey rolled his eyes. “Fuck you…..”
“Where’s my phone?” Mickey used his arm to create distance between them. Ian was puzzled by the sudden question.
“Maybe by the sofa. Why?”
“Piss off, none of your business.” Ian pursed his lips. He knew Mickey wouldn’t let this go easily, watching as Mickey searched for his phone, hoping it would end here.
But of course, it didn’t.
“Who are you calling?” Ian felt uneasy seeing Mickey put the phone to his ear and tried to grab it.
“What? Wasn't your fucking purpose for keeping his business card to contact him? right? In that case, why don't you let me help you here?” Mickey dodged Ian, waiting for the call to connect.
“Fuck… I told you, I didn’t plan to contact him.” Ian and Mickey circled the sofa, then the call connected.
“Hey, Ned? It’s Ian’s friend. We’re at the hotel. He’s very, very drunk. If you don’t mind, how about a threesome? Really? We’ll wait here then.”
Ian was stunned. He never expected Mickey to invite Ned over. He had no idea what Mickey was planning, but it couldn’t be an actual threesome. Mickey had expressed his dislike for group sex many times. Ian’s thoughts wandered to how he would help Mickey dispose of the body if Mickey killed Ned.
“Oops, forgot to give him the address. Need to text him.” Ian was tired of circling the sofa, so he jumped over and pinned Mickey.
“This is the second time you jump on me today, neither for sex. I have to tell you I don’t enjoy this,” Mickey provocatively looked at Ian.
“I know you don’t like threesomes, so why did you invite him?” Ian resisted the urge to kiss Mickey, waiting patiently for his answer.
“None of your damn business.”
“As someone who took on most of the ‘work’ in this threesome, I’d say it is my fucking business.”
“……To prove what you just said,” Mickey squirmed uncomfortably, turning his head to avoid Ian’s gaze.
“Which part?” Ian kind knows what Mickey meant but he wants to hear Mickey say it himself.
“Fuck you… to prove whether I really am the best you’ve ever FUCKED.” Mickey rolled his eyes.
Ian almost got hard hearing that. He couldn’t help but smile, one of those smiles Mickey said “Not bad.”
“No need to call him over. I can prove it to you right now.” As he spoke, Ian pressed closer to Mickey, grinding against him to prove his words.
“Fuck…” Mickey instinctively wrapped his arms around Ian’s neck, pulling them closer.
“Sofa or bed, pick one.” It wasn’t that Ian wants to be picky, but the floor was really hard on his knees, and he figured Mickey wouldn’t be comfortable lying on it either.
“Fuck me here, you pussy.” Mickey growled in Ian’s ear, pushing him with his knee.
“As you wish.”