The hallway was pitch-black and silent. I crept along it, slipping my bag over my shoulder as I did so. I wasn't letting Frank stop me this time. Stupid Frank and his stupid cuteness and his stupid kind heart and... ugh. I had to get away. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't convince him that I wasn't safe. For a smart guy, he had major difficulty getting that into his head. But goddammit, I was gonna miss him. No, can't think like that, not helping. How can I miss someone I met less than a week ago. He's practically a stranger. A sweet, nice, compassionate, caring, VERY hot stranger with hidden kissing talents... No, Gerard, stop it! I can't get attached, especially when he's already at risk. I fixed the image of her in my mind, her deadly red eyes filling my mind and pushing away any uncertainty. I had to go, I had to make sure those terrifying eyes were never set on my Frank. Wait... My Frank? Did I really just think that...? I shook my head, he wasn't mine and he never could be, so I should get rid of that fantasy right now. I slipped through his house, and into his kitchen, where I pulled a folded piece of paper from my pocket and read it over one last time. It was a short piece of music I'd written, with lyrics underneath. I sang them softly. "If I could be with you tonight, I would sing you to sleep, never let them take the light behind your eyes. I'll fail and lose this fight, never fade in the dark, just remember you will always burn as bright..." I hummed the song, Frank's song, and traced the notes with my fingers. I could imagine him playing this on his guitar, singing it in his own heavenly voice, so much better than I could. I sighed, drawing my singing to a close. I set the paper on the dining table, knowing he would find it. I- "That was beautiful," a soft voice said from the doorway, making me jump violently. The light flicked on, and I squinted at the sudden brightness. Frank stood, in a t-shirt and boxers, staring at me. "Gerard, what are you doing up? Are you-" his eyes fell on the big bag over my shoulder, and the hazels orbs widened. "Are you trying to leave again?" I hung my head. "You were supposed to be asleep, Frank, I... I'm sorry." I heard him sigh. "You woke me up," he said quietly. "I'm a real light sleeper. Gotta be when you live on your own, you know?" He laughed awkwardly, and I felt his hand on my shoulder. "Gerard, please don't go." I looked up, surprised at the vulnerable tone to his voice. His eyes were wide and earnest, and were those tears? "Stay," he whispered. "Please, Gerard, I... I need you to stay." I stared. He... he needed me? "Why?" I whispered. How could anyone possibly need me? He ran a hand though his hair. "Because... because everyone else I've ever cared about pissed off, too," he murmured in a soft, pitiful voice. The tears I'd seen rimming his eyes began to drip down his face, to my horror. I took his hand and sat down, pulling him into my lap, and wrapped my arms around his small, trembling frame, wiping away the tears as I did so. He pressed his face on my chest, and I stroked his hair. "M-my parents kicked me out like I was nothing," he whispered. "Because I'm gay, and they're strong Catholics. And... and my last boyfriend..." He cried harder at that word. "His name was Andrew. He and I were together for a pretty long time, we met in high school. And then, about a year ago... He dumped me. Told me he'd decided he was done with guys, and he'd been cheating with this girl... a girl who I'd been friends with my whole life. They both walked away from me, too." He pulled away from my chest and looked up into my eyes. "Everyone always walks away from me, Gee, a-and I... I want you to be different. Please, don't go, I need you here. Please?" He was begging, hands clutching my shirt and tear-filled eyes fixed on my face. I was speechless, and murderously angry. How could anyone treat him that way? His parents - I had nothing against religious people, but to disown their own son because he didn 't follow their beliefs was ridiculous. And this Andrew guy... How could anyone treat Frank that way? Why would anybody ever cheat on someone as caring and sweet and perfect as him? With his close friend, of all people.. But I was stuck. I wanted to stay, to look after this poor broken man and show him how amazing I thought he was, but... Could I place him under so much risk? What if she killed him? I couldn't bear to let that happen, either. But... What if I could balance it? What if I could stick around, but also make sure she didn't get him. Only problem being, I wasn't sure how to do that. Could I... Fight her? I'd never tried before. She'd always scared me too much... I'd never had the guts to try and go against the terror she held over my head. I looked down at the man in my lap. The beautiful man who made me feel like no one else ever had. For him, I could give it a shot. I leant down and brushed my lips over the top of his head, making him meet my eyes once again. I hugged him a little tighter and kissed him heavily on the lips. "Okay," I whispered. "I'll stick around." I smiled at him and he beamed back through his tears. I wiped them away, promising myself that I would hold the demons back for his sake.

Notes

If you read my other fic, you'll know I'm basically dying right now. So I've written this in bed :) sorry if theres any errors. Paranoia Violence out xø