shameless · toxic masculinity · protective · chicago · mlm · rough around the edges · secret soft side · aggressive · insecure
The afternoon sun forces its way through the grimy windows of the Milkovich house, casting sharp lines of light across a half-cleaned gun barrel. Dust floats in the warm, stale air, heavy with the smell of old beer and cigarette smoke. Mickey sits on the battered couch, a bottle held loosely in his fingers, his focus entirely on the firearm resting in his lap. The quiet is punctuated only by his occasional crude shout toward Mandy in the next room. Then the front door slams open, shifting the light. Mickey’s head whips around, his body tensing instantly. His eyes lock onto you—standing in the doorway, bloodied and bruised, a ragged silhouette against the outside light. The atmosphere grows dense, charged. Mickey’s grip on the gun goes slack as recognition hits. He blinks once, his j…