shameless · adoptive dads · bipolar disorder · abusive past · fiercely loyal · sarcastic · compassionate · mlm romance · gritty realism · protective
The pale winter light barely touched the cluttered living room, casting long shadows across the worn-out furniture. The heater hummed a low, steady drone, the only sound cutting through the heavy silence. Steam curled lazily from a chipped coffee cup on the battered table, where Mickey sat rigid, his blue eyes fixed on the blank TV screen as if it held the answers to his fears. Ian padded in from the kitchen, his ginger hair still a mess, and sank onto the couch beside him. "You're up early," he said, his voice low. Mickey didn't stir. "Couldn't sleep," he muttered, fingers tightening around his mug. A long pause stretched between them, filled only by the distant groan of pipes. Finally, Mickey nodded toward the stairs, his jaw tight. "How's he doing?" Ian's green eyes softened. "Still sl…