Mickey flipped through the magazine too quickly to be actually reading it, which caught Ian's attention as he stocked fruit. Linda had left to get her kids a while ago, Kash was probably on his ass somewhere in the back leaving Ian and Mickey to run the store. So far it was going smoothly, but Ian couldn't help but want to ask so many questions though he knew Mickey would snap if he said anything.
"You reading that or just ruining it?" He decided to say with a teasing smirk as he set the empty box down, taking his spot at the cash as a customer walked in. Mickey snorted and dropped the magazine lazily back on the rack.
"Nothing but photoshop and bullshit drama anyways," Mickey replied, picking up another. Ian caught a glimpse at the cover -Gun's Galore- before Mickey began flipping quickly through that as well.
"What's up?" Ian asked quietly, causing Mickey to raise his head and an eyebrow questionably. "I mean- you alright?"
"Fucking shining, thanks," Mickey said a little too sarcastically. Ian sighed and remembered back at the sight of Mandy and Iggy Milkovich entering his house, rough housing their way to the basement as Mickey kept his cold eyes down on the ground. He heard shouts from the basement, and it wasn't long after that Mickey came upstairs looking tired and worn out as fuck before tugging on Ian's arm mumbling about money as he dragged him to Kash 'n Grab.
Mickey moved out of the way as Ian scanned the customer's items, then watched coldly as the customer left. "Where the fuck is Kash 'n Grab, huh? Why we doing all the work while his ass jerks off in the back?"
"Whatever, who gives a shit," Ian said, secretly happy Kash wasn't around so he could talk to Mickey.
"Pussy," Mickey snapped towards no one in particular. He threw the magazine back on the rack. "Fuck."
"What happened?" Ian asked, leaning over the counter slightly to look down at Mickey's hand which he was hiding. Mickey was quiet though, and it was only then that Ian realized Mickey was staring out the store window, watching his eldest brother Jamie walk to the door quickly. The door opened as Jamie walked inside, a cigarette between his lips as he scratched his small beard and stared down Mickey. He didn't even acknowledge the fact that Ian was there as he stubbed his cigarette on the counter. "Ma's been worried."
"I fucking bet she is," Mickey snorted dryly, looking away from Jamie and back at another random magazine he plucked from the rack. Jamie stepped closer.
"Where's Iggy? Mandy?"
"I don't know," Mickey lied smoothly.
"Fuck this Mickey, I just got out of prison. You think I ain't surprised either?" Jamie said loudly, slamming a hand down on the magazine, stopping Mickey from continuing his useless flipping. Jamie's icy blue eyes met Ian's dangerously as he growled. "Fuck off. Need some brother time."
Ian nodded quickly and hopped off his stool, wandering towards the back. Mickey cleared his throat and ripped the magazine from under his big brother's hand, setting it back where it belonged. "I know you're gonna fucking stand with her, Jamie. And I ain't gonna be there for your ass when she decided to shoot up the town. Again."
"She said she's changed."
"People say a lot of fucking things," Mickey spat. "You know she'll do anything to get our asses in line before Terry gets out and beats her face in."
"Oh yeah, shit," Jamie sighed under his breath.
"You always had a weak spot for Ma," Mickey said to his brother as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look James, if your just gonna stand here and bitch about Ma quit wasting time and fuck off."
"Fucking hell Mickey, let's just sort this shit out now."
Ian peeked from the back where he hid his body slightly as he watched the scene unravel ahead of him. He watched as Mickey sighed dramatically but listened to whatever his brother was saying to him. Just as Jamie began to speak again, this time in a lower voice, Ian felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around quickly to see Kash smirking almost bashfully, his cheap flip phone in one hand as his other supported his body against the wall. Ian raised an eyebrow and moved away slightly.
"What's up?" Kash asked, in a horrible attempt of cockiness. "Trouble out front?"
Not like you could do anything about it. "Nope. Just getting more boxes."
"Really? That's all, huh?"
"Am I supposed to be doing something else?" Ian asked, crossing his arms. "That's what Linda told me to do, so."
"Yo, Gallagher!"
Ian almost laughed at the way Kash visibly stiffened at Mickey's voice and moved away from Ian, dipping out of the garage door and outside. Ian poked his head back out to see Mickey standing near the door, locking it. "Yeah?"
"Where's brown ass?" Mickey asked, giving one last look through the door before turning around.
"He just left, I think," Ian replied, confused as to what Mickey was doing. "Why'd you lock the door?"
"We gotta go run an errand," Mickey said quickly, swiping his thumb against his bottom lip nervously. He met Ian's eyes briefly before walking towards him. "You comin'?"
"If Linda comes back we're fucked," Ian said. Mickey stopped a meter from Ian and sighed as he rubbed the lines on his forehead stressfully.
"Man, fuck Linda. I need your help," Mickey replied almost desperately. "It's fucking Kash's store. He'll be fine without us for a god damn minute."
"Okay, fine," Ian gave in, not being able to help it. Mickey let out a relived breath and quickly grabbed his and Ian's jacket as they left through the back. Ian hurried along with Mickey, who was rummaging for a cigarette as they walked to wherever Mickey was taking them. "Mick. Mickey. Where are we going?"
"Jail," Mickey replied bluntly, inhaling the nicotine deeply. Ian faltered in his step a little bit as he thought about who Mickey was going to see in prison. His brothers were both out, which only meant one thing. Terry. Ian shuddered as he jogged to Mickey's side again.
"You're gonna see Terry?"
Mickey grunted in reply. He stopped at the L, where he finally passed the cigarette to Ian. Ian smiled thankfully and inhaled deeply, breathing out through his nose. He turned to see Mickey looking extremely nervous, which was kind of fucking rare for a Milkovich. "You alright there, Mick?"
Mickey caught the smugness in Ian's voice and felt a smirk pull at his lip. "Fuck you, man. I'm not really fuckin' welcomed in prison."
"I wonder why," Ian replied sarcastically. He gave the cigarette back to Mickey as the train pulled up.
-
-
Mickey tentatively picked up the phone, so not used to being the one visiting instead the one wearing orange and looking into pity filled eyes. The only person who ever really visited him whenever he got thrown into juvie was Mandy, and occasionally Iggy updating him on stuff. Jamie didn't really have time for that shit, and Colin probably forgot any of his siblings even existed.
Until now.
Mickey watched as Colin sunk down on the chair with a bored expression, which completely changed when he saw his youngest brother. Mickey refrained from looking at Ian sitting behind him, who no doubt was probably pissing his pants at the sight of Colin Milkovich, the eldest Milkovich and maybe the most dangerous sibling. He got caught for attempted murder during a drug run, which got him fifteen years when he was twenty eight.
It's been eleven years.
Eleven years since Mickey last saw or even heard from Colin.
And now he was sitting in front of him with a jittery leg, and his stomach feeling like four tsunamis were washing over him. Colin slowly picked up the phone. His green eyes were as wide as saucers as he pressed the phone to his ear. "M-Mickey?"
Mickey closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath at the sound of his brother's voice, which had changed so fucking much in eleven years. He never needed Colin before, that's why he never visited, that's why he pretended not to give a fuck when his best friend and mentor was thrown behind bars for fifteen fucking years. Fifteen. "Colin."
"Jesus fuck, Mick?" Colin gasped with a airy smile. Mickey felt his self control breaking down when Colin's eyes teared up. "You- you're so grown up now, Micael."
"You too, man," Mickey replied, trying to keep his quivering voice still. Colin had obviously grown some wrinkles, he was fucking thirty nine now for gods sake, but his tattoos, the tall and strong body, it was all still there. Mickey looked back up at Colin and his pale face, watery green eyes and perfect fucking smile that Mickey always envied. Mickey felt a frown pull at his face as his chest felt like fireworks bursting when he saw tears slip down Colin's face. Colin had the phone pressed to his mouth, face turning red as he let out a short sob, staring at his baby brother.
Mickey felt himself choke up. He's never seen this. He's never seen his brother, any of his brothers cry since they hit puberty. The last time Mickey cried in front of someone was when he was five, while watching cops pull Colin away and shove him into a car like he was some fucking animal and not a human. Mickey cried and cried, and when Terry came home hearing the news that his eldest son got caught, no doubt he took it off on Mickey when he saw him crying. Mickey still had the fracture in his leg from the beating he got.
Colin just stared at Mickey and said nothing. It seemed that Colin couldn't care less that he was crying, and it made Mickey feel warm. Colin didn't care if someone saw him crying for his brother.
But it was something else for Mickey. He pressed the heel of his hand to his eyes and looked back up at his brother. Fucking Ian was behind him, he couldn't let him see Mickey crying. Colin was stuck in his own world, not giving a single fuck about everyone else around him as he just... admired Mickey with teary eyes. He always knew Mickey would come back to see him, he always knew. And now here he is.
"I- uh, I need your help," Mickey said, breaking the silence between them. Colin blinked and wiped his eyes with his tattooed hands.
"Anything, Mick," he replied quickly. Mickey felt his heart clench. Colin chuckled awkwardly. "Not a lot I can do in here, though. But I heard of some people-"
"How much longer, man?" Mickey couldn't help but ask, almost desperately. Colin stopped talking and stared at his brother. Mickey's leg began shaking as that disgusting feeling settled in his stomach again. "W-when the fuck are you coming home?"
"Soon, Mickey," Colin replied sternly, eyes boring into Mickey's with that soft yet menacing voice that caused so many problems for everyone. "Soon."
"Maria's back," Mickey blurted. Colin's eyes began to widen again. "That's why I'm here. I don't know what else to do. She's fucking back from the dead and ready to ruin our god damn lives. I got Mandy and Iggy staying at a friend's house, but Jamie's always been up Ma's ass and being a bitch. What the fuck do I do?"
Colin rubbed his eyes tiredly and sighed at every word Mickey said. "Fuck. Knew this was gonna happen."
"What? What was gonna happen?"
Colin looked Mickey in the eye, and that's when Mickey knew. He knew what Colin was going to say. The words were fucking tattooed on Colin for Christ's sake. He almost said it with Colin as his brother replied. "Bitches don't keep promises."