all in favor | ian gallagher

MOMMY ISSUES [SEVEN]

Without a mother frequently in his life, Ian had to learn how to be his own shoulder to cry on. Sure, he could ask Fiona for emotional support if he needed it, but it didn't feel right. Fiona wasn't his mother.

Monica was. Or, she should've been.

When it came to being jealous, Ian was on the top of the list. He was mainly jealous of Petal. How she had a stable family, more than ten bucks, and was happy. Seemingly, she was.

Ian had a nightmare. About Mickey. It woke him from his sleep. In it, Mickey repeated those eight words:

"You're nothing but a warm mouth to me."

God, Ian could have a tantrum just thinking about him. Life felt humdrum without the boy. Nobody cheered him up anymore— not Mandy. Not Lip. Not even Petal.

He contemplated visiting Mickey at the local juvenile detention center while he was admitted, but chose against the idea.

-

"How long?" he asked his crush as he pressed the plastic corded phone to his ear.

Mickey's eyes glazed over the inmates around him. "I don't know. Supposed to be a year, right?"

Ian's palm became clammy the more he held onto the cellular device.

"Maybe only a couple months if I don't do anything stupid."

Curious, Ian asked, "Like what?"

The dark-haired boy who sat on the other side of the glass panel yelled, "Like stab that fat fucking Mick who keeps tryna steal my jello!"

He made sure the other man heard him. "Who, me?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck you!"

Fighting for his voice, Ian let his lips part to whisper, "I-I, I miss you" in a stammer.

"You say that again and I'll rip your tongue outta your head."

A ginger he'd grown smitten with just smiled and set his palm up to the glass.

"Take your hand off the glass."

"Oh."

-

Over at the Milkoviches, Mickey was cradling a pistol. He swung it back and forth within his grip, not bothering to check if any of his brothers were close. It was a low chance that he'd shoot them. His finger wasn't even on the trigger.

Mandy and Lip were being loud next door but he didn't care about that either. To be honest, he hadn't cared too much about anything after he got out of juvie.

As much as he hated himself for it, he missed Ian. He was basically all that he had left with the exception of his sister. But even she got caught up in life sometimes.

When he threatened to beat the hell out of Ian for supposedly 'hurting' Mandy, he was wistful to a dangerous point. A point of no return.

If things were different - handled carefully - Mickey would try to be there for Ian. Support him. Nourish him. Whatever came with being a loyal boyfriend.

Anything a part of the policy, he would accomplish. For Ian. And Ian only.

-

Trid,

I start this message with a huge thank you. Thanks for the shit you helped me with in primary and middle school. Both of us know that I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for your constant reassurance. The day before getting on my plane, I remember you asked me about Chicago. I told you I was looking forward to it, and how the weather wouldn't be too bad. You sent me a goodnight text every night until my father bought a new phone. I wish you had a way of finding the number, but I was afraid you would think I was a random creep so I never texted first. But I hope you receive this in the mail. Or else I'll be pretty sad. I will give you my best shot, every time. Write me back!