Photograph That I Gave You

"We need to find Mikey,"
"OK, I'm sure he's fine," I reply stallingly. I know Gerard's always deeply cared about his brother but he's never been the overprotective type. In fact recently it's been mostly the younger Way holding that family together.
It's as if he can sense my confusion, "I'm just worried, I have a bad feeling."
"I'm sure nothings wrong, I mean the most dangerous person in th-" shit shit shit. I scramble for a positive way to complete that sentence but I'm blank.
"That's what I'm afraid of," he replies darkly.
"Holy shit Gee you didn't-"
"Of course I didn't! Jesus Frank!" but he turns his head away. "Yeah, of course you didn't, of course." We lapse into an uneasy silence. "Hey let's get dressed, do we have any relatively clean clothes left?"
"I don't think so. "
"So same as normal," I say grabbing someone's black jeans off the floor.
He finds some dark clothing of his own and goes to change in the bathroom.
"Where you going?"
He gives me an incredulous smirk, "Idon't make a very pretty sight Frank."
"I have two eyes that beg to differ."
He blushes in a flattered fashion but mutters "No."
"Come on," I give him a puppy dog face but he closes the door before he's hit by the full effect.
"Damn it," I get dressed as fast as can and tap on the door.
"One second," I push open the door anyway. He's facing away from me untangling a shirt. The creep up behind him and kiss the bare skin over his spine.
He shivers, "Frank,"
"I'm not even looking, my eyes are closed."
"Yeah right."
"Well they are now."
My lips climb up to his neck and he turns to embrace me properly. We take a few steps backwards because its too crowded in here. I've progressed to his delicious mouth. My eyes are open again and he knows but doesn't care anymore. Then as if he knows the exact wrong time to come back, Mikey walks in with Ray and Bob right behind him.
We split apart immediatly both still panting slightly, Gerard scrambles to put a shirt on.
They all just kinda watch us for a second then Bob elbows Ray lightly and says "Guess I owe you that 20." He laughs, "Told you so." Mikey just stands there with a small smirk shaking his head amusedly averting his gaze.
Gerard snaps out of it and runs over to his little brother and hugs him ribcrushingly tightly. "The fuck have you guys been?" It eats away at me seeing the rest of them looking so casual around us. They don't know what he did. No one does in fact. No one but me.
I notice a mildly satisfied expression on Mikey's face that suggests worrying Gerard was his plan all along. "Bunch of the bands got together to hang after the funeral. Thought we'd go be social for once."
"Damn, you ruined a perfectly good reputation," I make a stab at a joke.
"You should have told-" Gerard shuts his mouth suddenly realizing how ironic his words are. He frowns and hugs him again. I'm the only one close enough to hear him say, "It isn't worth it."
"So uh we were talking to the other people, while you two were here doing....?"Ray trails off with a questioning expression.
"Each other," Bob mutters.
Gerard shoves him but he just laughs.
"Oh my god, can we not talk about that please," whines Mikey not that I can blame him.
"Nothing happened!" I claim throwing up my hands in defense.
"That's surprising considering the things he would say about you when you two first met," snickers Ray.
Gerard gives him an outraged, mortified glare, "Another word Toro and I swear."
"Wait, were you guys out all night?" I ask slowly.
They all nod more or less. I roll my eyes, that must be why they're acting weirder than usual "C'mon Gee, let's let them crash." He takes my outstretched hand and we walk to the door."There's nothing to do here anyway."
"Except," I hear Bob mumble on our way out, "....each other." Gerard flips him off with a pleasantly acidic smile.
The sun is nearly at its zenith so it must be before noon and we're dressed to kill, or more accurate dressed to die, since we both look slightly zombie-ish. "So," I bump my hip against his in an attempt to be playful. "What do you have planned for me?"
He coughs "What?"
"Let's just go do something. Let's go somewhere, come one. " "What's the point?"
"Point is, it'll make me happy."
He groans and runs his hands into his eyes and through his ebony hair. He blinks vigorously and I notice a soft glimmer I forgot he used to have but it's like his thoughts are a million miles away. I hold onto his shoulders and look up at him "Hello angel." I murmur, "Tell me where are you?" He doesn't reply just stands there hands clasped tightly, despondent and gorgeous. I stand on my tip toes to reach his ear, "Tell me where we go from here."
"I have an idea," his response and even the sound of his adorable voice makes me giddy so I do a stupid little hop. We start walking into town.
If there's one thing that should help him its getting out, if he had the option he would be a total hermit. We both grew up in a very crime-ridden area of New Jersey so as kids we never really could just go out and play. Growing up in your head can have different outcomes, it appears.
We go by some people I vaguely recognize but not well enough to wave or anything. Besides I don't know if it would be a welcome gesture. Maybe it's me but everyone seems to be getting more paranoid. Being stuck in this piece of crap little town doesn't help the overall atmosphere either.
Once we're far enough away I ask the question on my mind, "You would really do anything for me wouldn't you?"
"Well, you don't have to make me sound like such a whore." "Wouldn't you?"
"Oh my god, just so you know I have no idea what Ray was saying before about when w-"
"Wouldn't you?"
He meets my eyes, "Yes."
"Then smile."
He suprisedly obliges with a slight blush and I smirk at him, "Thanks."
He shrugs, "Not a big deal."
"Isn't it?" We've come back to main street which brings back unwanted memories of the previous night.
It's not really his fault, he can't help it he's insane, are the mantras of denial that I repeat. But as he glances at me through his hair with those stunning hazel eyes I don't believe myself. He looks fine. Well maybe not to the average American citizen but to me, he seems as balanced as always. Maybe he's always been pyschotic. I can't fucking accept that I wouldn't fall for a homicidal maniac, would I?
"Shut your eyes."
"Why?"
"Please." I obey, not sure where I am, must be close to one of the stores lining the road. I have a tendency to zone out when deep in thought. I feel a hand tentively take mine and intertwine my fingers assuredly as a sign of faith. I'm lead forward long not very long and I hear hinges creek and a bell ring. "Yeah, uhm you can look now, this is kinda stupid but I couldn't think of-"
"Puppies!" I cry in delight. He's taken me to a pet store. How fucking cute can it get? I see a genuine smile creep onto his lips and it makes me feel warm inside. The magnitude to which he cares about me is astounding. He's risked everything on it.
I don't know how he found this place.It's a small cozy shop, the back wall is covered in fish tanks and the faint screech of birds comes from the next room. Sunshine streems through well kept windows bathing the room in a warm light but we're the only customers here. I lean down and reach my tattooed fingers through the bars to pet the head of a tiny golden lab. "Wish we could take one home."
"Home?"
"Uhm I mean on tour,on-on the bus sorry that sounded stupid." I stand up and fix my bangs nervously.
"No, I like it. Home." He grips my jean clad hips and brings me forward and I attempt to kiss the entire interior of his mouth. We pause and I push all the hair away from his face. "Damn you pretty." I murmur, "You should cut off all this hair so everyone can see your pretty face."
He raises an eyebrow, "Your encouraging me to cut? Frankie I'm appalled."
"Oh shut up!" I shove him but he just uses my momentum to hold me close sending us both tumbling into a display case of hamster food.
"Shit!" I exclaim as the stacks of cans crash to the floor.
We both turn at a sound to see the old lady at the register which neither of us noticed before. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry miss," Gerard stammers turning bright red. I can feel colour flood to my cheeks as well. She just laughs amiably and soon enough we join her. "Here, we can clean it up."
"No no, don't worry about it, I never have anything to do around here anyway," she replies amusedly.
"Grandma? What's going on I heard a crash are you okay?" A little worried voice soon followed by a young kid comes from the back room.
"Oh I'm fine dear, it's these two boys who are causing trouble."
He's a cute kid, probably not much older than 10 with messy brown hair and an impressive amount of freckles. And a pirate hat. He folds his tanned arms. "What are you doing on the floor?"
"Uhm"
"Well we uh,"
"Its because, er-" We scramble for an explanation.
"They're young and in love," smiles the old woman wistfully. The kid just rolls his eyes, "That's like my big sister and her stupid boyfriend, they're always being gross and lovey dovey." He wrinkles his nose. I laugh and help Gerard to his feet. "Careful what you say James, that stupid boyfriend might just end up being your brother in law some day."
"Grandma she's only 23!"
"I was younger than her when I married your grandfather." "That's cuz you were born in prehistoric times or something." They carry on chatting like this while Gee and I carefully restack the cans. It's somewhat refreshing to see a normal family with a normal life. We're hallway done when a freckled face pops up in front of us. "Why are you wearing so much black?" Gerard looks flustered he's not very good with kids....or anybody. "Is it cuz you're ninjas?"
Gerard snorts out a laugh so cute I want to fuck him sideways right there.
"Actually yes, and our sensei sent us on a special mission." "Oh yeah?" He plays along.
"Yeah, I could tell you but you have to promise not to tell anyone."
He takes his hat off and places it against his heart, "Captains honour." "All right. Well the government has released secret robot spies in the disguise of animals. We have to find them before they collect any information about the pirate uprising. I'm guessing your a part of it?"
He puts his tri-hat back on, "Of course I am. And y'know there's a lizard in the back of the store that never blinks." "Very suspicious, we'll check into that right away."
The kid, James I guess, grins like crazy and responds. "I'll go search the store in the meantime."
I nod, "Good man." He dashes off excitedly. I notice Gerard's staring at me with a pensive smirk. "What?"
"Nothing." He sets the last tin up."I didn't know you were so good with kids." I shrug modestly, "I never really thought about it. Why, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." Is all he says.
I roll my eyes, "Come on let's get something to eat."

Notes

Thanks for sticking around. I've been setting up more plot in the meantime. Love you all so much!!