He's Not Dead He Only Looks That Way

Frank is the one to help Gerard to his feet, who manages to mumble a “thank you”.
“What happened?” Frank asks, helping Gerard to the bathroom. He sits Gerard up on the sink and places a hand beneath Gerard’s jaw, propping his head up for inspection. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Gerard insists, adding, “I just got kicked and kneed some.”
Frank pulls Gerard’s shirt off and examines some of the bruises forming around his ribs and stomach. “Gerard, these don’t look good.”“Hey, you should see the other guy,” Gerard jokes half-heartedly.
Frank clicks his tongue, his brows furrowed. “Who did this?”
“Remember Michelle?” Gerard responds.
“Um, kind of,” Frank answers honestly. “Why, what does she have to do with it?”
“Her boyfriend did this,” Gerard explains. “Because I slept with her at that party.”
Frank frowns and scoops Gerard up, putting him over his shoulder. Frank spanks his backside playfully, but Gerard only winces.
“What?”
“I’m sore there,” Gerard replies.
Frank raises an eyebrow, so Gerard quickly adds,
“They… um… they gave me a wedgie too, so…”
“Aw, did they rip your football ones?” Frank asks, rolling down the waistband of Gerard’s pants to see if his underwear is ruined or not.
“Don’t think so,” Gerard mutters, blushing. He pulls his pants up just as he’s being laid on Frank’s bed. Frank curls up next to him, turning on the TV.
Frank surfs through the channels, occasionally lingering on a program for a few moments before changing it again. Gerard gazes over at him, looks into his almost reflective hazel eyes. “Frank?”
“Mmm?” Frank replies, his eyes not leaving the TV screen.
“I really want to keep you safe, okay?” Gerard says.
The words are out of his mouth before his brain can even process them. He second guesses himself, wondering where on earth that statement came from.
Frank doesn’t question it, just replies, “Well, first you have to protect yourself.”
“Right,” Gerard mumbles.
“This can’t happen again, alright?” Frank tells. “I can’t risk you being hurt. I don’t know what’d I do. Please just be careful, okay? I’m… I’m not really sure how to help.”
“It’s okay,” Gerard assures. “I’ll do my best.”
“Are you okay, though?” Frank asks. “I mean, it’s been a while since someone’s beaten the snot out of me, but personally, it messed with me real bad.”
“I guess I’m fine,” Gerard decides. He continues, “I’m actually more worried about you, Frank. You were acting really weird.”
Frank fumbles with his phone, sliding it open and closed repeatedly. “Well I was just kind of anxious because, you know, my dad has been texting me like crazy, trying to get in contact with me.” He rolls his eyes slightly, proceeding, “He’s giving me the whole guilt trip.” Frank tosses his phone across the bed, sending it sailing onto a pillow. “Cry me a river.”
Gerard doesn’t really know what to say, so he silently wraps his arms around Frank in an attempt to comfort him. “Your dad’s an asshole.”
“I know,” Frank mumbles. He nuzzles into Gerard’s chest, letting out a sigh.
“Do you want a blow job?” Gerard asks.
Frank’s eyes widen, and he regretfully declines. “No; I’m not in the mood right now.”
Gerard pecks his boyfriend’s cheek, rubbing his shoulder. “Okay.”
Frank’s frown stays indelible on his face. “I hate a lot of the kids in my grade.”
“What makes you say that?” Gerard asks.
Frank buries his face into Gerard’s shoulder, murmuring, “Getting called a twink gets old really quickly.”
Gerard doesn’t want to hear about the severity of Frank’s bullying. He knows that it’s probably much worse than he’ll let on; he can only imagine what those kids are doing to him. He opts to change the subject, asking, “Do you think word got out about us dating?”
Frank shrugs. “Maybe. I dunno, honestly.”
“Should we tell people we’re dating?” Gerard questions. “I mean, we don’t have to worry about your dad anymore.”
Frank sighs, admitting, “I’m just worried how kids at our school will react. I don’t really feel like getting my ass kicked.”
“Me neither; I’ve had my fair share of it today,” Gerard agrees. “Should we at least tell Mikey?”
“Sure,” Frank decides. “Just don’t let him run around flapping his mouth.”
Gerard chuckles. “Yeah, no problem.” He pulls his phone from his pocket and fumbles with the touchpad. “Do you want me to text him or tell him in person?”
Frank shrugs, weighing his options. “I guess I can text him.” He brings out his own phone, sliding out the keyboard and chicken pecking ‘Hey, Mikes. I would tell you in person but I’m lazy. Gerard and I are dating. Please don’t tell anyone; you know how kids at our school are. P.S. Pete already knows.’
They sit there in silence, Frank anticipating Mikey’s response. Finally, his phone gives a hearty buzz. Frank checks his messages, a grin spreading slowly across his face.
‘Well I knew you were gay and figured Gerard was at least bi or some shit. Congrats.’
Frank shows the message to Gerard, who laughs aloud. “That damn kid.”
“So, we’re keeping this under wraps?” Frank questions. “Just to prevent ass kickings?”
Gerard nods, complying, “Yeah. I wish we didn’t have to, but it’s really our only option at this point.”
Frank nods, curling up even further into Gerard’s stomach. He lets out a sigh, admitting, “Most of the time, I wish I just liked girls.”
“Why?” Gerard asks. He strokes a hand absently up and down Frank’s thigh, occasionally bringing his thumb across the denim.
Frank buries his face into the front of Gerard’s shirt, groaning, “It’d just make things so much easier.”
“Maybe your life wasn’t meant to be easy,” Gerard responds. “Sometimes you have to go down in flames to rise up a phoenix.”
Frank considers this briefly, but pouts nonetheless.
“I know what’ll cheer you up,” Gerard declares. “We’re having a party this Friday. That’ll snap you right out of it.”
Frank doubts it, but he doesn’t want to bring Gerard down, so he just smiles and nods. Frank eventually falls asleep, his head in Gerard’s lap.

Notes