Chapter Text
Mickey noticed the look Ian gets in his eyes sometimes when he’s thinking about something really big. Life altering even. He’s had two years of living with the guy to really make sure that that was what that look meant. And even though things were going really damn good for them over the past two years, Mickey couldn’t help but sometimes get anxious and a little bit antsy when he saw that look flicker in his boyfriend’s eyes. He’s sitting at his desk in the corner of the office of their new apartment laying down the final touches of a design he’d conjured up in his mind. He could hear the steady knock of Ian’s shaking leg against the table leg of the desk he was sitting at, across the room. Sharing an office space was something Mickey thought would be the absolute worst idea because how the fuck would any of them actually get work done.
But it turned out that with time, they became a little more disciplined, so when shit needed to get done they both sat their asses down in their chairs and got to work. Ian’s trying to draw up a training plan for the new recruitment of cadets he’d be overseeing that summer. Mickey let his eyes fall across the stack of wedding invitations he’s supposed to finish up for a couple on the Northside.
You should branch out and do other forms of art, Mick. I’ve seen what you can do. Ian had told him a year before. Followed by weeks of his boyfriend and best friend both pestering him to start looking into other art jobs besides tattoo design. Mickey, since then, had been flooded with a constant stream of jobs that ranged from wedding invitations to graduation certificates to web designing. Business was good but it was also a lot to juggle. Ian was always a big help though and would stay up late with Mickey to help in whatever way he could or massage his boyfriend’s shoulders when he knew he was cramping up. He made a mental note to guilt Ian into helping him package the invitations once he was finished addressing them in calligraphy.
The sudden cease of the constant knocking that had somehow become comforting was what ripped Mickey’s attention from the growing pile of work. He glanced over to where Ian had stuck his red pen between his lips and was noticeably gnawing on the cap. Ian’s red brows furrowed closely together as he got that look in his eyes. That look that set Mickey’s anxiety off and had him worrying if now was the final moment Ian had decided that coming back to Chicago was a mistake.
He sat and observed the other man for some time, trying to pick apart what could be running through the other man’s head. Ian suddenly sprung up from his chair and headed out of the room and into the living room. Mickey pulled his feet from under his desk and pushed himself up and then followed the busy footsteps of Ian.
By the time he got to the living room he saw Ian slip into his boots and shrug on his jacket. “Where are you going?” Mickey asked trying to keep his voice as steady and casual as possible.
Ian jumped at the sound of Mickey’s voice and then nervously looked away like he was avoiding Mickey’s eyes as he spoke. “I... uh…I forgot Jax wanted me to get some last minute things for the wedding.”
“Last minute things like what?” Mickey asked already able to tell Ian was lying.
“Uh…you know…flowers…” he said awkwardly before almost running out the door. Mickey shook his head and gripped onto the back of the couch to steady himself from over thinking this. Ian knew Jax and Mickey had gone to the florist the day before to finalise the order for Jax’s wedding. Ian wouldn’t be so dumb as to think Mickey would actually believe that lie right?
***
Ian banged against the black wooden door impatiently huffing air out from running over. “What the fuck?” groaned Jax as he yanked the door open wearing nothing but a pair of blue boxer briefs.
“You busy?” Ian asked, pushing pass the blonde and into the apartment.
“Well, seeing that it’s the night before my wedding…yeah, I’m busy.” Jax said. Ian turned on his heels giving him a once over, “How busy can you be in your underwear?”
“Babe! You coming back to bed?” shouted the familiar female voice from the bedroom area. Ian’s lips formed into an o as it dawned upon him just how busy Jax was.
“In a bit!” Jax yelled, “What’s up? Why are you all sweaty? You run over here?” Jax asked, grabbing a T-shirt from the back of the couch and pulling it on.
“Yeah, I ran. I need a favor,” Ian said, pacing the living room space.
Jax looked at Ian expectedly for him to continue until the redhead stopped in his place and jerked his head up, “I need you to give me a tattoo.”
“And this couldn’t wait?” Jax asked pulling on a pair of jeans he found on the floor behind the couch.
“Well, you’re getting married tomorrow and then you’re going on your honeymoon and I kinda want it done before then. Please, I promise it won’t take long it isn’t even that big.” Jax rolled his eyes before glaring at Ian for some time.
“Babe! I’ll be back in like two hours! I gotta do something,” Jax yelled in the direction of the bedroom.
“Okay! Should I put the whip cream back in the fridge? Or would it be better if it’s melting?” she answered seductively.
“Fridge!” Jax called embarrassed at the same time Fiona emerged from the bedroom with a beige sheet wrapped around her.
“Fuck! Ian! Shit,” she said covering her mouth though she was hysterically laughing.
“I did not need to know that,” Ian said tilting his head, “I’m just borrowing him.”
***
Mickey sat at home worried. He tried his best not to, but he couldn’t help it. The past two years had been good for him and Ian. They communicated well and that was something he appreciated most about their relationship. They talked about almost everything. But he couldn’t get the distant look Ian had before he stormed out their door out of his head, or the way he stammered over his words when Ian was thinking up a lie. This wasn’t them and he was terrified of what it could mean.
Mickey knows he couldn’t hold Ian accountable for their break up two years ago. He knows that he’s the one who called the relationship off because he was too scared to try anything resembling a long distance relationship. He told Ian to follow his dreams and he shouldn’t blame Ian for the year they spent apart, and he doesn't. He just constantly lives with the fear that Ian would one day find another dream he wants to follow that would require him to leave. It all boils down to the cold hard truth, Mickey is scared he’ll lose Ian. he’s scared he isn’t enough. Because he’s never been. Not when he was growing up in his father’s house. Ian’s the only person who’s ever made him feel like he was worth something and he was scared to lose that.. After about two hours sitting on the couch and worrying his bottom lip his phone vibrated with two text messages.
Ian: almost done. Be home soon.
Jax: sorry to keep your boy from you. Last minute shit Fi wanted.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he read both messages because he was being paranoid. If Ian was lying he wouldn’t take the time to text him and Jax wouldn’t lie for Ian. He leaned back into the couch and waited for Ian, and fell asleep without knowing it.
The next thing Mickey felt was warm breath fanning against the side of his neck while familiar arms wrapped around him and a weight slowly laid on him. His eyes fluttered open to find Ian hovering over him with a gentle look in his eyes.
“Hey,” Ian whispered.
“Hey. You get through with everything?”
Ian nodded dipping his head into the crook of Mickey’s neck and inhaled his scent deeply, “Missed you,” he barely whispered.
Mickey chuckled lowly as he carded tattooed fingers through red hair, “You were gone for like three hours.”
“Yeah and that’s a long time,” Ian said, “come on let’s go to bed, got an early morning.”
“What time do we have to be at the church?”
“Fi said no later than eight. She doesn’t wanna risk us not getting there on time for me to walk her down the aisle.” Mickey stood up after Ian and wrapped his arms around the redhead’s waist, pulling him closer.
“Are you okay?” Mickey asked.
“Better than okay. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know…I figured you having to give her away would be a reminder that Lip isn’t around or Frank,” Mickey said shrugging.
“As sad as it is, I’ve gotten too used to it. Let’s go to bed,” Ian said, dragging Mickey toward the bedroom.
Ian shut the door behind him and then started shrugging off his clothes while Mickey cleared the laundry off the bed. By the time Mickey had finished and taken his sweatpants off he turned to find Ian in nothing but his boxers and his left shoulder wrapped. “Ian?” he asked at the same time Ian began removing the wrap.
Mickey stood frozen as Ian dropped the band aid to the dresser top and turned fully for him to see his own name in delicate cursive writing surrounded by an array of wild followers. “Ian…what did you do?” he whispered.
“So, I didn’t go to help Fi. I went with Jax to get this done. I, uh… I know I seem flakey at times and I know you’re scared I’ll leave. I see it in your eyes even if you don’t say it. I’m not gonna, Mick. There aren’t any dreams I need to chase anymore. You’re my dream. This is to tell you that. I love you so much and I can’t wait to spend the rest of forever with you.”
“Are you…proposing?” Mickey asked as Ian came close enough to wrap his freckled arms around Mickey’s waist.
“I don’t know…do you want that? Well, I guess if not then I’m just promising that our ‘maybe someday’ lasts for…maybe forever…so, yeah - I guess I kind of am.”
Mickey surged up and pressed his own lips to Ian’s as his fingers traced the sore pattern inked just under Ian’s collarbone. Mikhailo . “I love you too, Ian. And yeah... maybe someday we can get married or something…as long as I have you…I’m good for life.”
Ian kissed the brunette again as he slotted their bodies close together, “I can’t believe you got my fucking name tattooed,” Mickey chuckled.
“You like it? Jax designed it.”
“Fuck yeah. I think I like it more than I imagined I could.”
Ian got cocky then raised his eyebrow teasingly, “Yeah, that turn you on? Seeing your name on my chest?” he asked as he pushed Mickey closer to the bed until they both collapsed onto the mattress.
“What if I say yeah?”
Ian kissed the brunette earnestly before he cupped the side of his face gently looking into bright blue eyes, “I’m so fucking happy I came back.”
“Me too,” Mickey said, chasing Ian’s lips. “Me fucking too.”