Disclaimer: I own nothing, except perhaps a DVD or six...

What it Wants (Shameless US)

Ian knows that being gay, and all that that entails, is less than ideal for a guy like him. If sexuality had been a choice... Well, suffice to say he'd have been stupid to choose this.

The South Side has its good sides, yeah, but it's not exactly the most accepting neighborhood. He belongs here – but that doesn't change the fact that his sexuality would be cause enough for 90% of the residents to try and beat the shit – or the gay, as it were – out of him.

As for the army... Well. DADT repeal or not, the US military is still not the most accepting. Oh, Ian can enlist now, and not lie, but. There are going to be a lot of people who won't like serving with a gay man. There are a thousand accidents that can much too easily happen in an environment like that.

And then there's Mickey. Out of all the stupid things Ian could have done – and in the South Side, that's a lot, with anything that has him acting on his sexuality topping the list – fucking Mickey is pretty much the worst. The only thing more stupid than fucking Mickey? Falling in love with him.

But. The heart wants what the heart wants. And for Ian? He wants the South Side, because regardless of everything, it's home. He wants the military as well, which also feels like home, and has the added bonus of being a future. As for Mickey Milkovich... Yeah. Ian's heart wants him too, but the harsh reality is that right now Mickey is breaking said heart.

So. Ideal or not, Ian is gay. That's not going to change. But it doesn't have to be a bad thing. It doesn't have to stand in the way of what he wants. He can have his home. He can have a career in the military.

It seems he can't have Mickey though – because even though Mickey wants him too, it looks like he is never going to listen to his heart.

And so Ian needs to walk away, because sometimes the head needs to overrule the heart.

No matter how little it wants to.

~The End ~