Kill This Venom From My Heart

The meeting stretches on and on and while I start out arguing by the time the meeting comes to a close I feel like I haven't said a word in hours, too pissed off and upset to continue fighting. The label informs us that we are still required to complete all the pre arranged shows and meet and greets we are booked in for for the tour that was meant to start in two weeks and once the six months of touring is completed we will no longer be affiliated with the label. We all sign a separation contract, the terms stating that once we complete our obligations to the label we will each receive a large payout for the breaking of the contract from the label, the payout being more than we were expecting. Once we leave the office Brian tells us that everything will be just fine and that we should go on the tour and have fun and by the time we come to the end he will have made arrangements for us. We all nod, having complete faith in him and as I make my way back to the car I see Gerard sitting on the edge of a nearby garden in the shade of a tree, his legs crossed in front of him as he hunches over his sketch book he brought with him. I smile as I walk towards him, taking a seat beside him and he stops drawing to look up at me. "Hey" he greets me and I continue to smile as I say "You're so beautiful, I know I tell you that all the time but you really look so fucking good when you draw or paint." Gerard giggles as his cheeks go slightly red and I stand back up, reaching my hand out to help Gerard up and once he's on his feet we walk hand in hand back to the car.

The whole ride home Gerard keeps shifting around in his seat, fidgeting and moving and I chuckle as I say "What's gotten into you?" "Nothing, just wanna get home" He offers back and I smile to myself as I pull onto our street. "Well it's a good thing we're here then" I tell him and once I've parked in the garage we get out and go inside. Half an hour after we get home Gerard is in the kitchen making us a late lunch while I lay on the couch watching tv when there is a knock at the front door. I drag myself up and answer it, seeing a man standing on the porch holding a small puppy and he says "I have a delivery for Frank Iero." "Uh that's me" I say, completely confused and the guy smiles before handing over the dog, it's tail wagging as I reach out and take it and once it's secured in my arms it squirms around and starts licking at my chin. I chuckle softly and the guy smiles and says "Have a good day." Once the guy is gone I close the door and make my way down the hall to the kitchen and as I step into the doorway I say "Uh babe I...." "Oh good she's here" Gerard says, the puppy looking in his direction and it squirms around so much I almost drop it and let's out a small yap so I put it down and it takes off across the kitchen to where Gerard has just knelt down, the puppy jumping up on him and wagging it's tail so fast it's whole body is shaking. "Hey cutie" Gerard greets the dog, letting out a small giggle as he picks it up and it immediately starts licking at his face. "You did this?" I ask, smiling at the sight of Gerard giggling as he tries to pull the puppy away from his face and he looks over at me and says "Yeah I know you've always wanted a dog but because of touring you couldn't really ever have one and well, now I'm here to take care of it while you're gone and I saw her earlier when I was walking around and I thought she might cheer you up a bit. Do you like her?" I stand there staring at them for a few long seconds before saying "Babe are you kidding? I love her. Thank you."

After lunch I sit on the floor and play with the dog for a while, Gerard laying on the couch nearby just watching and smiling and when she runs off to explore around the living room I turn and kneel in front of him. "I love you" I tell him and just as Gerard opens his mouth to reply I feel a sharp pain in my foot, a small squeal escaping my mouth and we both look down to see the puppy biting on my foot. Gerard lets out a giggle before saying "Nice squeal." "Hey her teeth are sharp" I protest as I shift around to pick the puppy up, her tail wagging as she looks back and forth between Gerard and I. "I'm sure they are baby" he says, giggling again and I shake my head as I sit the puppy on his chest, watching as she walks forward a few steps and starts licking and nosing at his face as he laughs and tries to gently push her away.

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