Set a Match to it (gallavich)

5

"What the fuck could you possibly want?" Mickey demanded, immediately putting on a defensive front. Behind his act, Mickey was reminded of the last moment he and Ian had shared. Just looking at the kid brought back memories so vivid his dick twitched. 

"Mickey?" Ian asked in a shaky voice, his face looked exactly as it did when Mickey surprised him months ago. Disbelief, shock, relief, happiness, maybe? Fuck if Mickey knew. Although, he did know that if he had the skill he would be able to draw that face if he wanted to, straight from memory. But he didn't have the skill and he didn't want to. 

"Nah, it's Joey." From the sideline Mandy's head snapped towards him, disbelief and pity now etched on her face. Never in the past four months had Mickey told anyone to call him Joey.

"Wha- Joey?" Ian asked clearly confused. 

"Is there something you need, Gallagher? From Mandy, maybe? Get whatever it is and fucking scram." Mickey spat and turned around, stalking towards the kitchen and grabbing a beer, leaving Ian and his sister in the other room.

Mickey sat down, for the first time in forever actually happy that Ian didn't follow him. He heard low voices from the other room and Mickey felt a rush of emotion. His eyes started to tingle so Mickey dug the heels of his hand against them, trying to force back any tear that would even dare show itself. Mickey was no bitch, so he wasn't going to act like one. He let his guard down too many times for the fucker in the other room and allowed him self to get stomped on until he was someone he barely recognized. Not gonna happen again. Not anymore. 

The sound of someone knocking on the door echoed through the now silent apartment. Mickey cussed under is breath, he knew what that knock meant. Twenty seconds later, Mandy walked in balancing a box of pizza in her hands.

"Hey, Mickey, I have to go now. I'm really sorry but you know I have to. I can try and kick Ian out, but you and I both know that red head is not going anywhere." Her blonde hair was put up and she wore a tight black dress. She was going to work.

"I'll deal with it."

"Just don't trash my apartment, what ever you do." She said, picking up her keys. "And don't do anything stupid." Mickey watched her turn around and walk out, flinching at the sound of the door closing.

Mickey didn't move from his spot, draining the last of his beer. He wasn't sure if he expected Ian to walk in here or not, but neither of the two made the first move. Mandy's stupid "I'm rich" clock hung on the wall, ticking loudly mocking the time Ian and Mickey played chicken, waiting to see who would give in first. Mickey stared at the thing, watching the second's hand pass all the numbers four times. His mind focusing on the fact that Ian found him. Mickey wasn't actually hiding in the most difficult spot, but Mandy had specifically told him her and Ian didn't exactly talk anymore. She mentioned them having a get together about seven months ago, but she did't mention why. Just that he must've felt too embarrassed to reach out again. Why now though? 

Ian was standing in the kitchen doorway, watching Mickey stare at some fancy clock that hung on the wall. When Mickey caught him staring he flinched, lightly crushing the empty can held in his hand. He looked away quickly, playing with the newer scars on his hands. 

"The fuck are you staring at, Gallagher." Mickey spit with more venom than he intended to.

"Your'e blonde now?"

"What's it to you?" 

"Your'e back." Ian replied, saying it in a tone of true disbelief. 

"Does it fuckin' look like I'm back, Helen Keller? 

"You didn't tell me," Ian ignored the crack and played with the end of his scarf, trying to ignore the fact that Mickey refused to hold eye contact with him. 

"Didn't wanna intrude on your new life style, seeing how you said you have a new life n' all."

"Awh, Mick. Don't be this way." It took Mickey all his effort not to be this way, because he felt himself cracking just being in the dudes presence. 

"Will you at least fucking look at me? I spent all night looking for this place, hoping I had one clue where you fucking were. Because I miss you Mickey! Sue me if you fucking want. I know I don't exactly have the right, but I fucking miss you, okay? I hate myself for what I did, for what happened. I can't get you out of my head. I am so sorry, man. For everything. " Ian was out of breath after his short speech, and Mickey finally looked up.

"You're right, Gallagher. You don't have the right. You left me, remember? Right at the fucking border. You built my hopes real high, man. Then you threw me out, dropping my ass, again. I'm not like one of your new boyfriends. We were family. So fuck you, man. And get the fuck out of my apartment." Now that Mickey got this off of his chest, he felt exhausted. He finally got up to get another beer, and decided to go to his room now. "You can show yourself the way out."

He came to his room and shut the door. Ian came looking for him? That should be a first. Through his anger, Mickey was relishing the thought of that. Mickey was the one who always chased after Ian, especially in the later years of their fucked up relationship. 

He threw him self onto his bed, picking at his finger nails. He jumped again that night when Ian barged into his room. 

"You have to understand, Mickey. I had my shit together. I have a job that I can actually do. I'm a high school drop out nut case, Mick. Where else am I gonna find a career? I'm good at what I do. I feel like me again, my life was finally mine. And you came back, and that wasn't the case anymore."

"What the fuck are you getting at?" 

"When I'm with you, Mickey, I'm not me anymore. I'm.." Ian began to hesitate, "because when I'm with you, I'm yours. And no matter how much I wanted to go with you, I knew I couldn't throw my life away. I have a family, that I didn't even say bye too. I have a disease, one we are both familiar to, that if by some case we couldn't get our hands on some medication, everything would change and it would be just like before you left, and I couldn't let that happen again. And you were a runaway prisoner, Mick. Do you even get that? We would be hiding our whole lives, and I was just getting used to having one." Ian let go of his second speech, he had nothing left to say. 

Mickey got off his bed, he wanted Ian to go before things got too out of control. He wasn't looking for an intervention tonight.

"Doesn't matter anymore, c'mon Ian. Just leave." He put his hand on Ian's shoulder to guide him out.

"Bullshit." 

Mickey finally lost it, "Bullshit? You wanna know what's bullshit? This whole fucking thing, Ian. You always called the shots. Making me come out, leaving me." Mickey shoved Ian against the door, making it slam behind him as he raised his arm to Ian's throat to pin him back. "I loved you man!" He shouted in his face.

The two men were both out of breath, their chest rising in unison. Fires were lit in both eyes and that familiar flare of passion flashed between them. 

This was their weakness, this moment of closeness and fury, and they both knew it. Their lips met with such anger it shocked them both and their hands made their way their familiar favorite spots; each at the nape of their neck. Ian and Mickey backed onto the bed, holding each other close, making the mistake both of them promised themselves they wouldn't.