Developing Wings on the Way Down

It had been a week since the voice had last spoken to Frank. He was still fighting an inner debate as to weather the absence was a good thing or not. Ray had taken care of him every day that Gerard and Mikey were at work and school, continuing the ritual of guitar lessons, soaps, and cheese balls that he never tired of. By now, Frank was creating his own tunes on the guitar. He was bothered by his present urge to return to where he came from, but shook his head to the thought every time.
On this particular afternoon, the wind had kicked up as Gerard and Mikey rushed around the house, helping their parents pack for a long anticipated anniversary vacation. Frank was perched on his stool in front of Gerard's TV which was displaying Lakeside Dreams, Frank's new favorite soap, which Gerard had rented from the local Blockbuster. Occasionally, Frank would perk his ears up and listen to the sounds of scuffling feet and voices, wondering what the two parents looked like and not quite understanding why he was not allowed to meet them.
Upstairs, the last few bags were being rolled out the door and loaded into the taxi.
"The credit card is on top of the refrigerator, use only for food and emergencies. I do NOT want to come home to a messy house so clean up after yourselves, all right?" their mother confirmed, looking from each of the two boys intensely. They both nodded. Her look softened and she pulled them both into a hug. "I love you two. Have some fun. Not too much." she smiled warmly and climbed into the taxi. The car almost pulled away before she stuck her head out the window, calling "Don't forget to visit Mrs. Iero! She gets lonely!".

Mrs. Iero was the family's neighbor. Her son and husband had died somehow a while back, leaving her in their big house alone. Mrs. Way often visited with her for hours, keeping her company and helping around the house. She wasn't too old, but had arthritis problems. Gerard nodded in response as the two boys waved. Just as they pulled away, Mrs. Way decided to pin the face she noticed peeking out of Gerard's basement window as her imagination, nothing more.

Gerard and Mikey turned back to the house and stepped inside, intentionally stomping the floorboards, a sign to Frank that he was free to come upstairs, which he did. He came bounding around the corner and sat on the remaining kitchen stool.
"I have a question." he began, looking at the floor and picking at his nails.
"What would that be?" Mikey asked, sitting on the high counter beside him.
"The people that just left-"
"Our parents?" Gerard asked, flopping down next to Mikey.
"Yea. Them." Frank continued "Why can't I meet them? Am I that bad? I promise I wont hurt them..." he whispered the last part, he really was not sure he wanted them to hear it, but ever since the incident with Bob, a little nagging feeling told him that the two boys were avoiding letting him go anywhere because he was dangerous. Frank didn't want to be dangerous. He wanted to be a friend. The brothers exchanged a concerned look before Gerard spoke up.
"No Frank.. It's not that. They just wouldn't understand. They would be scared."
"Because I'm dangerous?" Frank asked, tears welling in his eyes as he looked up at the other two.
"No. They just-"
"Nevermind" Frank interrupted Mikey, staring at the tiled kitchen floor as he stood to retreat to Gerard's room. "I want to be alone a while."

When his footsteps were diminished to the bottom of the stairs, Gerard stood up.
"No. Leave him alone if that's what he wants." Mikey said, placing a palm on his brother's shoulder. "Let's go visit Mrs. Iero. We owe it to her anyway.. We haven't talked to her in the longest time."

Downstairs, Frank grated his nails painfully along the cement wall, trying to get rid of anything that he could hurt people with. He wasn't going to be a danger anymore.