hc that mickey actually hates going to the dentist. i wouldn't say he is being a big baby about it, but.... (ian thinks so, anyway).
mickey has had a toothache for a couple of days now and he is acting like it's no big deal, but ian can see him flinch whenever he starts to chew anything. neither of them say it, yet - mickey tries to pretend nothing is wrong and ian tries to give mickey time to work through whatever tough guy act he has to work through (also, he has learned that pushing mickey to do things about his health doesn't actually work out).
it's not that mickey hates doctors. he just hates dentist (he told ian about a nasty experience when he was a kid and terry took him to one of terry's doctor friends (i imagine terry had lots of nasty people on his payroll and taking mickey to one of them was probably better than to hear the kid moan and groan another day)) and he thinks they are sadistic fucks.
ian tries to play it cool - as always. and pretends he doesn't see that his husband is in pain for 2 more days, but he hates it. he hates seeing mickey in pain. so he (subtly!!) pushes some pain meds in mickey's direction and he keeps googling dentists and reading tons of reviews (yes, he is a person who reads reviews about doctors now. it comes with living on the west side and making enough money to actually afford more health care).
mickey takes the meds without saying anything, glances towards ian whenever he takes an extra pill. his husband isn't subtle; they both aren't. mickey is in pain and doesn't say anything and ian knows and quietly tries to help.
the pain doesn't go away for another few days, so mickey eventually confesses his suffering. ian plays it totally cool (as always) and pretends he just found out about all of it. he totally tends to him even more now, though, instantly gets a cooling bag (they have those now?? what the hell, where are the times when they used frozen peas to numb the pain) to hold against his cheek.
an hour later, ian (while still playing it cool) pulls out a list of dentists. mickey just stares at him, then at the list (it has pros and cons and a rating based on niceness what the fuck is happening to mickey's life), then at ian again. he gets that warm feeling in his chest that he gets whenever ian does something that is so typically ian. that's his husband taking care of him. (while playing it cool, wbk)
so really mickey does the only thing he can do - he kisses his husband until they are both breathless and the pain gets worse and mickey picks ian's first choice - a very sweet older lady - and sits through the whole procedure with headphones on, pretending to be anywhere else while his husband is in the waiting room. ian smiles when mickey gets out of the torture room, instantly gets up and pulls him into a hug. for the first time in a week, mickey finally relaxes (painfree!!) as ian presses a kiss to the side of his head.
(i hate dentists, i hope you aren't in any pain!!)
mickey, buddy, you and me both! 🥺
