As it turned out Gerard had not one job, but two. Even then Frank was confused as to how he could pay his rent every month. Gerard said it didn’t matter since he was never going back after today.
Frank sighed and pushed himself off the counter of the local ReddiArts where Gerard previously worked. His manager was taking forever. He was pretty sure it shouldn’t take this long to prepare a check. Then again he wouldn’t know- Frank’s never had a job.
They had already been to Gerard’s first place of employment, a small music store that looked like it hadn’t had a customer since before Frank was born.
Gerard was pacing back and forth in front of the cash registers, obviously very anxious. Frank wanted to say something but kept his mouth shut if fear of saying something that might upset the murderer. Finally Gerard’s boss, a somewhat chunky women with long, very light brown hair, glasses, and a few tattoos that Frank could see on her upper arms, came out from the back, Gerard’s check in hand.
“Thanks Becky” Gerard said “No problem Gee” the manager answers, handing Gerard the check. They talked to each other for a few more minutes about who the fuck knows what, probably something art related, before Gerard decided it was time to leave.
The two got outside and Frank zipped up the jacket he was wearing to block some of the wind. It was fucking cold, even for late October in Jersey. The sky was nearly covered in dark clouds and it looked as if it might rain. Or at this temperature, snow.
Frank closed his hand around the passenger and looked out at the street. He could run, right now if he wanted to. Or go back into the ReddiArts store and tell that Becky chick- Frank snapped his focus back to the car as he heard the tapping on the window. Gerard was glaring at his through the window, his facial expression scaring Frank into pulling the door open and getting into the car as quickly as humanly possible.
“I swear to God-“ “I wasn’t going to” Frank quickly cut his kidnapper off, not wanting to be lectured by a man who seemed to have little to no morals when it came to human life. Okay, well he let Frank live but that’s beside the point. “You were thinking about it.” The teenager glared down at his lap and didn’t reply. Gerard sighed after a moment and started the car, pulling out of the parking lot. “We’re going to Wal-Mart” he mumbled. Frank grunted in response and longingly stared out the window.

---

“You like Keeblers Cookies, right Frankie?” Frank groaned at the nickname. It was bad enough that Pete and Cortez still, still, called him that. Now Gerard was doing it too. Fan-fucking-tastic. “Can’t have milk” Frank replied. Gerard gasped in mock surprise. “How do you even live?” Frank rolled his eye and shrugged nonchalantly. He threw the bag of trail mix he was holding into the cart. The cart was already half full with various snacks and toiletries.
“How much money do we have to spend?” Frank asked eyeing a box of Wheat Thins trying to figure out if they were the vegan kind he liked. “With us, a little over a thousand, but I think this is enough to make it to Chicago” Frank threw the box into the basket smirking at the overly dramatic sigh Gerard let out. The older man had told Frank about some friends he had living in Chicago.
The two walked to check-out, Frank keeping his head down and the hood of his jacket up over his head. Gerard had insisted he kept the hood up so no one recognized him.
After paying for the items, the two left the local Wal-Mart, got into Gerard’s car and drove back to the small house. Before Frank was able to open the door, Gerard grabbed the sleeve of his jacket. “We really need to be out of here in like 20 minutes. It’s already 10:30” Frank nodded and the older man let go. Both of them got out of the car and speed walked to the front door. Upon opening the door, Gerard froze. Frank noticed that the television was on; he was pretty sure it was off when they left.
Suddenly Gerard was grabbing him, pulling Frank behind his back. “Oh Gee, you’re back” A voice in the room said. Frank tried to see who it was but Gerard kept pulling him back. The man was very visibly trembling. “Ray” he said “You’re back early” Frank heard someone shift on the couch, then footsteps on the hardwood floor. “Yeah” the other guy, who Frank assumed was Gerard’s roommate Ray, stated. “I, uh, heard about Mikey, and I thought you might need some support so they let me come back early” Was the news spreading that quickly? Could this man possibly know about Frank too?
Gerard was silent for the longest time. Like full minutes. Frank was just waiting for Ray to notice Frank standing behind Gerard’s back since he figured it was pretty damn obvious he was there. “You know about Mikes right?” Gerard nodded slowly. “You okay?” Gerard nodded again. “Y-yeah” he mumbled barely audible. “I’m fine”
The room falls silent again, the only sound coming from some game show on the television. It sounded like someone just won a million dollars. Finally someone spoke up and Frank was relieved because the tension was bothering him and if someone hadn’t broken the silence soon, Frank would have done it himself.
“Why were there cans nailed above your door?” Frank could see his kidnapper tense up even more. “You’ve been taking your meds since I left? Meds? Gerard took medication? For what? Frank was suddenly very interested. Gerard hesitated before nodding again. He hasn’t been taking his meds. “You know no one is coming to kill you. Whoever did that to your brother weren’t them” Gerard balled his fist. “I know” Gerard mumbled after a minute. Frank could tell his kidnapper was getting angry.
“Gee are you sure you’re okay? You seem off” Ray asked, his voice becoming slightly louder as he took a step toward Gerard. This caused Gerard to take sudden step away from his friend and right into Frank who was caught off guard and fell backwards with a loud oomph.
“Ah shit” Frank mumbled shaking off his hands and wrists. The teenager looked up to see the two adults staring at him. Gerard looked like he was about to strangle Frank and jump out the window at the same time. His roommate on the other hand (who Frank gaped right back at because he didn’t know guys with that body type could even have that high of a voice and he was also pretty sure his hair had to have a mind of its own or something because it was huge) looked shocked and confused.
“Is… is that that Frank kid?” he asked taking a small step forward to get a better look at the teenager. “The one that went missing from Newark yesterday?” Gerard didn’t answer and Ray took that as an answer, “Jesus Christ Gee, why would you-“
Frank could tell that the truth had hit the roommate that Ray had finally figured out what was going on. His chocolate brown eyes widened and he froze, letting out a small gasp. Then slowly he turned back towards Gerard and raised and arm, pointing a finger at the black haired man. “You killed Mikey” he stated “No I didn’t” Gerard argued back weakly. “Yes you did!” the other man insisted stepping closer to his roommate, getting up in Gerard’s face. “You killed him then he,” Ray pointed at Frank “found you before you could get away so you kidnapped him. Gerard you can’t… I’m calling the cops”
He turned around and grabbed a jacket that was draped over the back of the couch and stated searching through the pockets for his call phone. “Should we run?” The murderer looked down at Frank then back up at Ray’s turned back before reaching down and grabbing the teenager’s arm and hauling him to his feet. Gerard pulled Frank in front of him, a hand keeping a death grip around Frank’s upper arm. After a second something cold and hard pressed against Frank’s head. The teenager squirmed uncomfortably but Gerard held him there.
Ray turned around, phone held triumphantly in his hand until he saw the two and suddenly jumped away from them. “Jesus fuck Gerard why do-““Put. The phone. Down” Gerard ordered squeezing Frank’s arm tighter. “Gee-“Frank heard a loud click next to his head. Ray closed him mouth and the phone fell from his hand and landed on the floor. A gun. Gerard was holding a gun to Frank’s head. WhatthefuckWhatthefuckWhatthefuck! Where did he even get that?
“Please tell me that isn't loaded” Ray whispered. Ray’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. “Gerard you can’t do this, he’s just a kid” Frank was terrified, shaking under Gerard’s grip. He felt like he was about to cry and that was something Frank never did. Gerard might kill him, just like he did with his brother, and then what would happen to Ray? Would Gerard end his life too?
“Gerard” Frank whispered “You said you wouldn’t, you promised. Please!” The kidnapper loosened his grip but not enough for Frank to get away. The teenager was slightly relieved that the circulation in his arm was no longer being cut off but hello! There was still a loaded gun to his head. Not cool! Frank struggled trying to get away from Gerard and his firearm, but it was no use as the man was too strong for him.
“GERARD!” Everyone froze. Frank slowly looked up to see Ray glaring at them, well at Gerard. “Let. Him. Go.” Gerard released Frank and the teen immediately jumped away pressing his back against a wall in the front hallway to the side of the two men.
Frank watched as Ray let out a sigh of relief and Gerard looked glazed eyed at the weapon in his hand. As Gerard raised his arm and pointed the gun at his roommate. As Ray’s eyes widened and he stammered out protests and objections. As Gerard pulled the trigger and the gun went off.

Notes

DUN DUN DUN. So yeah this chapter featuring Ray Toro and Becky Cloonan :) ta da
Chapter title from How It's Going To Be- Gerard Way
Speaking of which did you guys know thay Hesitant Alien has a BONUS TRACK. It's called Television All The Time go youtube it
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Song Of The Moment- Slipping- DR. Horrible's Sing Along Blog