Chapter Text
Mickey’s been far more regressed this week than usual, and Ian knows exactly why.
It’s not exactly a holiday the two like marking on a calendar, given how shitty both their childhoods were, but it looms around the corner regardless: Father’s Day.
Before finding out about Mickey’s regression, Ian had sworn never to celebrate. But now…well, it might not be conventional, per say, but he is Mickey’s Daddy, so that has to count for something, doesn’t it?
He considers asking first, but Mickey always gets tense whenever anything relating to Terry is even mentioned. Besides, he wants to give his baby boy a pleasant surprise on the day, one that will hopefully be a start in undoing all the Father’s Day trauma. Hell, if Ian’s being honest, he needs this almost as much as Mickey does. Otherwise he’ll just be fucked up over Frank all day and that’s hardly productive.
So on the morning of, he wakes Mickey with soft kisses. “Hi sweet boy,” he purrs. “You gotta get up now, baby.”
“Mm mm!” Despite being small, Mickey’s grouchier than usual, burying his head moodily into his pillow. “Don’t wanna. Wanna stay here.”
Ian, having expected this, only grins knowingly in response. “Stay here? And miss out on pancakes?” He asks, celebrating this small victory as Mickey lifts his head off the pillow.
“Pancakes?” He asks curiously.
“Your favorite kind, sweetheart. The chocolate chip ones with banana slices on top.”
“Daddy I want those!” Mickey seems to forget what day it is for a moment, a beaming smile on his face as Ian plucks him off the bed and carries him, bridal style, all the way into the kitchen, before setting him down.
“You can have as many as you like this morning, okay? I also made bacon and some hash browns if you want those.”
Mickey, predictably of course, ignores all other foods in favor of the chocolate chip pancakes. Ian can’t help but chuckle as he watches Mickey make a mess of eating them.
“I think you have more on you than in you baby,” he laughs, kissing the top of Mickey’s head as the little gives him a soft pout.
“‘S not my fault Daddy makes good pancakes,” he replies with a small giggle.
“Daddy has more than pancakes planned for you today, sweet boy,” Ian replies, watching as Mickey’s eyes light up.
“Presents?” The little asks, a look of wonder on his face. But then he seems to think about it and the curious look is placed by a mildly suspicious one. “Why lots of presents, Daddy? ‘M not mad about it, but you only do that for birthdays and Christmas and Easter and sometimes Halloween.”
Ian chuckles softly, kissing Mickey’s forehead again. “That’s right baby. On very special days you get lots of presents and even more of Daddy’s love. Now, I know today hasn’t always been one of the nicer holidays for both of us, but, well, we’ve been working on giving you good memories for all the holidays, haven’t we?” When he gets a small nod from Mickey, he continues. “I wanted to make Father’s Day a bit happier too.”
Mickey’s looking up at him with such a grateful look, blinking back tears as he throws himself into Ian’s arms for a big hug. “Mm…Daddy you’re so good to me…but…why am I getting spoiled today? Shouldn’t I be giving Daddy presents?” He asks, still a bit uncertain, even as Ian hugs him back so tightly and lovingly.
“But you are my present, sweet boy,” Ian replies. “And since this day is all about doing what Daddy wants, what I want most is to take care of and spoil you. To give you presents and maybe take you out if you’d like. It’s the same thing I always want everyday for you, Mick, just to care for and love you always.”
Mickey really is crying now, half in and half out of Littlespace as he grips Ian so tight. “Daddy…Ian,” he breathes out, half laughing, half sobbing. “Fuck…you…you always go full out for shit like this, and I love you for it.”
“No cussing when you’re small,” Ian teases, laughing when Mickey fixes him with a loving glare through the happy tears.
“S-Shut up, Gallagher,” he stammers out with a watery smile. “Only half small, Daddy.”
“I think the zoo will change that,” Ian smirks, laughing as Mickey instantly drops straight back down, tears clearing up as his eyes widen.
“Zoo?!?” He explains, bouncing eagerly. “Daddy we gotta go right now!” He pleads, already starting to drag a laughing Ian towards the door.
“W-Wait, baby,” Ian chuckles out. “You’re not even dressed yet.”
Mickey pouts. “But zoo Daddy!”
Ian snorts as he picks Mickey up again. “Maybe I should’ve waited to let that slip til after you were dressed,” he replies, peppering Mickey’s face with kisses as he carries the giggling little back towards their room to get him suitably dressed for an outing like this.
Mickey squirms and bounces the entire time Ian’s dressing him, far too excited and wriggly to wait.
“Daddy zoo!” He whines out once he’s finally ready.
“Okay okay, mister impatient,” Ian snorts, kissing Mickey to show him he isn’t actually annoyed. He knows Mickey gets excited for new things. The redhead had, in fact, only recently discovered that Mickey had never been to a zoo in his life, which was what had prompted this little surprise in the first place. “Come on sweetheart. Hold Daddy’s hand and let’s go to the car.”
Mickey obeys at once, skipping out the front door and pulling Ian along with him.
The redhead doesn’t mind, of course. When it comes to spoiling Mickey, he’s never upset one bit about doing it.