#02 ROSES

Ian told Mickey a few times that he didn’t need “any fucking roses”. There were a lot of things conventional relationships seemed to have that Ian didn’t – or never would – need. Maybe that was why he and Mickey worked. There were no airs and graces, no bullshit.

But coming home after a long night at work with a pounding headache, he found a small bunch of roses (that looked like they were stolen from someone’s garden) sitting in a ‘FUCK U’ mug full of water with a note that said, Say one word and I’ll fucking punch you – M x

• ian gallagher [ canon: shameless ] @ progress table

"Mental illness leaves a huge legacy, not just for the person suffering it but for those around them." - Lysette Anthony

CONTAINS VIOLENCE AND TRIGGERING CONTENT
As much as Ian wished he could have gotten a more honest job to earn a more honest and rewarding wage, all attempts at that had failed lately. His deeper desire to join the military had crashed and burned... pretty much literally. After that, he lost his self-respect and he couldn't deny that the job at the club paid well. It was money he needed to keep helping Fiona, especially after her employability had gone down the toilet with the jail time. Sometimes, there were just more important things that fucking self-respect. He was a Gallagher. Self-respect wasn't a language they spoke well.

( It was back to gold spandex shorts that left nothing to the imagination, lap dances, grinding against the desperate and dateless, often twice his age or more, drugs, and booze. Lots and lots of booze. Booze and expectations... )

• ian gallagher [ canon: shameless ]