Grand Naivety, Broken

Weeks later, as the nights grew longer and colder, and the sky became copper-colored, Frank found himself on a boat with his sire off the shore of Grundartangi, pressed against the eldest’s chest as the cool sea air blew passed them, ruffling Frank’s over-long hair and covering Gerard’s eyes almost completely. They stood in silence, leaching off of each other’s body heat and enjoying the other’s quiet presence.

Frank liked their silent moments, when sire and child alike seemed to hold the same place in the universe, seemed to just meld into one entity, rather than two creatures surviving in a dog-eat-dog world. Gerard’s superior years meant nothing in this time, nor did Frank’s modern, humanoid knowledge. This was the time where they were merely Gerard and Frank, standing on a boat, watching the sun burn out in the sky together.

“That red is really nice,” Frank whispered, almost afraid to break the precedented silence.

“‘Red skies at night, sailor’s delight’,” replied Gerard in the same hushed tone. He tightened his arms around Frank’s waist, where he had an affectionate grip. Frank often found it odd how his Master preferred to have a hand on him at all times, as if Frank were going to leave if he didn’t.

Smiling, Frank tipped his head back on Gerard’s shoulder. “So,” he murmured, “what exactly are we doing in the Faroe Islands?”

Gerard leaned his head on Frank’s and gave a weary grin. He hadn’t been sleeping well as of late, Frank had noticed. “We’re heading over to Kalsoy to retrieve a Selkie male who has just escaped the hold of an Englishman who was visiting for the closing whaling season. Afterwards, we need to snag a Banshee from Scotland.”

Frank shuddered violently and clutched at Gerard’s hands. “I don’t understand how people can hurt harmless whales like that, with no remorse. Damn, someone call PETA,” he grumbled.

“Don’t forget, Frank, that those pilot whales are food to them,” defended Gerard gently.

“I was a vegetarian,” huffed Frank.

The elder laughed lightly and pushed away from the wall, pulling Frank with him. He opened a door and led the younger down. “We don’t have sufficient coats for the night time right now,” he explained, walking down a small hallway and opening a door, revealing a room the size of a standard walk-in closet, with an equally small bed. “Sorry you don’t get your own room, but we’re not the only ones on this boat.”

Frank shrugged. He really didn’t care if he shared with Gerard; his instincts still screamed to be closer to their Master, so to save himself any emotional damage, he stuck the Gerard’s side as much as he could. He said around a yawn, “That’s okay, Master. I don’t mind.”

The two quickly stripped down to the barest necessities and climbed onto the thin mattress, their sides pressing together pleasantly. The cabin was cold (with the temperature still dropping) and Gerard’s thinly-clothed skin was warm, simple as that. He was glad that the cold, corpse-like skin of the legendary vampires was a myth. Gerard had explained quite explicitly that a vampire’s body was still living (otherwise it would decay horribly), therefore all body functions were still in the works. Frank would often listen to his Master’s heartbeat during a peaceful silence, just to enjoy the steady thrum of blood pulsing through his veins.

The aforementioned steady thrum was slowly lulling Frank to sleep, Gerard’s warm arm across his stomach sending him farther into the realm of Dream.

…

The first thing that Frank noticed as the pair stepped onto the pier was the overwhelming scent of fish attacking his senses. His eyes watered and his nose scrunched up, the smell leaving a bad taste in his mouth. Gerard’s reaction was much more tame, although he seemed to be having similar thoughts.

Gerard -- ever the gentleman -- held Frank’s hand in the crook of his elbow, shielding him from sneering sailors eying the small man with distaste and most likely cursing rapidly in some language Frank couldn’t understand, although Gerard seemed quite competent in it, if his annoyed frown was anything to go by. He tugged Frank away from the pier and onto the beach, Frank shivering as the evening wind sailed passed. White sand shifted under their light footsteps, Gerard hardly leaving footprints despite his larger size. Frank tried to mimic his tread, but failed in doing so when he only left deeper yet imprints.

The couple walked for about an hour along the beach, although the sun had set thirty minutes earlier and the air temperature had dropped drastically. White puffs of air gathered in front of them as they walked, before Gerard stopped abruptly. Frank looked forward and noticed a small figure sitting on the sand, staring out at the sea with a certain longing.

Gerard smiled. “Hello, Ryan,” he greeted with that reserved casualness that Frank had linked to communicating with those who were not him.

The man -- taller than Gerard with floppy brown hair and a childish face -- looked up from the shoreline, wide eyes landing on the pair. “Are you Gerard Way?” he asked slowly in a soft voice. Gerard smirked and nodded. “I thought you’d be nine feet tall,” he admitted.

The eldest chuckled lightly and said, “Delusions of grandeur, I can assure you.”

“Oh,” Ryan breathed, standing and gazing at Gerard in slight awe. “I just-- I never thought I’d ever actually meet you; you were just a bedtime story, an amazing tale to ease children to sleep at night, but now, you’re here, in front of me, shorter than me. It’s unbelievable. You’re unbelievable.”

Gerard actually laughed. “Flattery is nothing but words, Ryan. Now come, we have places to go and Banshees to obtain.” He let Frank’s hand slip from his grip, nudging him towards Ryan with a look of reassurance.

Frank slipped back with Ryan, talking in hushed tones in the quiet night, not to hide their words from his Master, but to refrain from disrupting the calm that had settled over the Kalsoy shoreline. The Selkie towered over Frank by five inches, Gerard by two. He was lanky and slender, much like Mikey, and seemed like a quiet man. He asked questions about Gerard, which Frank answered to the best of his ability, but opted to keep certain things privy. He liked being the only living being to know so much about Gerard.

…

The two men laid in bed quietly, Frank wrapped in Gerard’s minimally-concealed arms with a content smile on his face. He watching Gerard’s resting face intently, scouring his smooth cheeks and small nose. Gerard’s eyes opened slowly, revealing tired hazel orbs. Frank didn’t bother hiding the fact that he was staring; Gerard only ever smiled and ran a hand through Frank’s hair affectionately. True to his nature, Gerard did just that.

“Today was easy,” Frank whispered, his breathe ghosting over Gerard’s face.

The eldest smiled grimly. “But tomorrow will not be.” He sighed softly and tightened his arms. “Get some rest, fagur; tomorrow will be hectic.” Frank nodded and closed his eyes, curling into the warmth of his Master, listening to his heart beat and the dull thrum of blood rushing through his veins as it once again lulled him to sleep.

Notes

Selkie -- a seal-like creature told to be off the shores of Kalsoy, the lowest Faroe Island. When in human form, male Selkies are said to be extremely attractive and seduce women who are unhappy with their lives AKA wives waiting for their fishermen husbands to come home.
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-Stitches