The death of Frank Iero.

Gerard smiled as he got out of his car and walked up the sidewalk. Life was going good. Frank was doing well and was his best friend, and Gerard just finished getting settled into his own apartment, and not to mention his parents no longer thought he was a nut job ..or they just kept quiet about it. After Gerard had called them to meet Frank at the hospital and they actually did meet Frank and not an imaginary nothing and heard Frank reveal the truth -and more importantly heard him able to tell them exactly what they were doing when they were alone in Gerard’s bedroom the passed weeks- John and Debra were freaked out into believing in the crazy story enough to drop their quest in convincing Gerard that he needed to get help.

Gerard walked up the few steps onto the porch of the small one story light blue house and rang the doorbell as it had become part of his daily routine during the weekdays for the past few months. He’d go back to his apartment after his day at work, change out of his work clothes into a t-shirt and jeans, eat a quick dinner, and then head to this quaint little house. Frank lived here with his mother, and Gerard had readily accepted when Jennifer asked him if he would take up the job of watching over Frank when she left for her nightshift at the diner she co-owned. Frank didn’t exactly need twenty-four hour care, but always having someone around put Jennifer’s worry at ease, and Frank certainly never complained about getting to see Gerard practically everyday.

Frank wasn’t completely one hundred percent healthy yet. He had been kept in the hospital for a few weeks, and in the past months attended different sorts of therapy rehabilitation sessions to work on his speech and motor skills. With weakened muscles and years of being immobile, it was like he had to practically learn to walk all over again. Frank wanted to be better and worked hard and made tremendous strides, and Gerard made sure he was there whenever possible to encourage him. Frank still had a lot to do to build his strength back up and got exhausted very easily, but he was on his way to being well enough to really honest and truly get out there in the world and start living. It was going to be Gerard’s mission to help Frank anyway he could to experience everything he wanted.

“Oh, hey there, sweetie,” Jennifer smiled as she opened the door.

“Hey, Jen,” Gerard returned the smile.

Jennifer pulled Gerard into a half hug and leaned up on her tiptoes to give his cheek a little peck before ushering him inside. “We had a busy day today, tuckered Frankie out. He’s asleep in his room so the babysitting should be easy tonight,” she joked. Gerard chuckled. “I’m going to have to rush off I’m afraid. Amy’s hopeless without me there,” she rolled her eyes and pulled on her jacket hanging on a hook by the door. “Well, it’s Friday so I’ll be back at the later time like always. You go ahead and help yourself to anything if you get hungry, kay sweetie?”

“Sure thing. Thanks, Jen.” Another hug and a kiss planted on his cheek and then Jennifer was out the door. Gerard strolled further into the small home he’d happily grown familiar and comfortable in. He planned to just head into the homely living room to watch some television until Frank woke up, but Gerard couldn’t help veer off down the little hallway toward Frank’s bedroom. He’d just seen Frank yesterday of course, but Gerard missed him nonetheless and felt the need to check up on him.

Frank’s room was very small, and the things it was jammed packed with were somehow kept neat and tidy. His bed took up most of the space, and Frank was curled up in the center of it, hugging onto one of his many pillows with his dark blue blanket pulled up to his chest, half covering the red t-shirt he was wearing. Gerard quietly stepped into the room, his eyes landing on Frank with a smile. He walked up to the side of the bed, and ever so careful not to wake Frank up, Gerard gently brushed the few strands of hair away from Frank’s face. Frank had kept his hair long. He complained to Gerard about it at first. Saying how it was totally girl hair and as soon as he had the chance, he was getting it chopped off. But after Gerard had commented about liking the look on him, Frank seemed to change his mind and an offered haircut by his aunt was simply out of the question. Gerard leant down and kissed the top of Frank’s head softly before he straighten up to leave and let Frank rest, but a little sigh escaping Frank’s lips after the gesture made Gerard pause. Frank opened his eyes tiredly and smiled widely when he saw Gerard standing by his bed.

“Ah, I didn’t mean to wake you up,” Gerard apologized.

“It’s okay,” Frank rolled onto his back, yawning as he stretched his arms and legs out. “I don’t wanna be asleep while you’re here anyway.”

“You need your rest, though,” Gerard took a seat on the side of the bed.

“I get plenty of rest,” Frank propped himself up on his elbows. “Did my mom leave already?”

“Yeah.”

“She didn’t tell you, did she?” An excited look immediately washed away the sleepy expression on Frank’s face.

“She just told me you had a busy day that’s all, why?”

“Good.” Frank sat up and pushed the covers off himself, revealing that he had napped wearing his jeans. “I have to show you.” Frank quickly slid himself out of bed and grabbed around Gerard’s wrist to pull him off the bed and to the door.

“Take it easy,” Gerard warned, though he had to smile and chuckle a little at Frank’s eagerness. He let Frank pull him from the bedroom and guide him down the hallway. “What’s so exciting that it’s got you practically bouncing?”

“My birthday present from my mom. It got shipped here early, and she let me have it now. It’s in the basement.” Frank led Gerard to the basement door and quickly opened it. He flipped the light switch on the wall and carefully padded down the narrow wooden staircase in his bare feet.

Gerard followed him down into the unfinished cellar, the only part of the house he’d never been in. A concrete floor and concrete walls sufficiently filled with cobwebs in every corner. One area was just filled with stored away boxes, another with the clothes washing and drying machines, but Frank led him to the other side of the basement. The light neglected to illuminate that corner, but Frank soon pulled down on a hanging string, it turning on another light, and there it lit up what had to be Frank’s present clear as day. Set up on a small gray area rug was a new drum set, five different red drums and three cymbals all new and shining.

“You remember how my mom said my old one got thrashed? Well, she got me a new one. Isn’t it awesome?” Frank grinned. “Mama let me set it up today and said I can play as loud as I want down here.”

“It is awesome,” Gerard smiled widely, loving how Frank was so happy over the early birthday gift, how his eyes lit up. “You still gonna go after that dream of making music?”

“Hell yeah,” Frank smiled. “Wanna hear me play?”

“Of course. If you feel up to it.”

“Totally.. well, for a little bit.”

Gerard just sat cross-legged on the floor before the drum kit, watching Frank grab a couple drumsticks off the floor and take a seat on the throne. Frank gave the bass pedal a few tentative taps with is foot and hit his sticks over the snare and tom drums gently like he was testing out the drum set before he shot Gerard a big grin and immediately went into playing. Gerard didn’t know what song it was suppose to be from or if Frank had made this up when he was younger, but he liked it. The tempo was fast, the beat hard and loud, the deep sound of the drums and crashing cymbals filling the basement and Gerard’s ears. Gerard couldn’t keep his eyes off Frank. How Frank sat there, his eyes closed as he played, like the deafening rapid melody he was creating was flowing through him. His head bopped along to the beat, his long locks wisping around his face with the motion, and his arms frantically moving to keep the beat and then moving crazily as he burst into an improvised solo. It was very short lived, though, as Frank came to an abrupt stop and dropped his sticks back down to the floor.

“I think that’s it for today. I had physical therapy, and I played a lot earlier. My arms are worn out,” Frank stood and stretched his arms up over his head. “So.. what’d you think?”

“You’re amazing, that’s what I think,” Gerard said earnestly with a smile. “You have serious talent, Frank.”

“Thanks,” Frank grinned, almost shyly.

“If anyone can make it as a drummer in this world, it’s you.”

“I hope so,” Frank shut the light off and led the way back up the stairs and into the living room. “As soon as I’m a hundred percent I can get serious about it. Well, actually as soon as I don’t have so many therapy sessions mama wants to get me a tutor so I can get my diploma first.”

“I know that’s gonna put a pause on the dream even more and as much as I hate sounding like an actual grownup and a parent, it’s for the best,” Gerard said, taking a seat on the cranberry colored sofa and patting the cushion next to him for Frank to sit beside him.

“I know,” Frank nodded. “I wish I could have finished school like normal,” Frank looked off absently with a frown for a moment before he looked to Gerard with a soft smile. “But everything will work out okay now.”

“It will.” Gerard smiled back. He had to admire Frank, how he was so positive and up beat considering what had been done to him. Frank could be complaining about the years he missed out on, could be full of resentment toward his former stepfather. And while Frank admittedly said he hated the bastard and hoped he rotted away in his jail cell, Frank didn’t dwell on him or the abuse he received. There was no point in drowning himself in a horrible past and feeling sorry for himself. No, enough time had already been wasted. Frank focused on the now and the future, and Gerard loved that about him. “So, what did you want to do today? Finish our Lord of the Rings marathon?”

“Um.. how about you start teaching me to drive..?” Frank grinned sweetly.

Gerard laughed. “Fat chance, kiddo. You already said you’re worn out. Plus, and more importantly, you don’t have your learner’s permit yet.”

“So,” Frank shrugged. “You can just take me to some empty parking lot to practice. It’s all good.”

“Nope.”

Frank sighed ever so overdramatically, complete with the back of his hand held against his forehead in his mock anguish as he shifted and let his upper body collapse across Gerard’s lap. Gerard struggled not to laugh and struggled even harder to keep himself from reaching out and touching the soft skin of Frank’s torso, a small bit exposed from his t-shirt hitching up a little. Gerard’s fingers twitched, and he gave in. He wouldn’t get away with a gentle caress without it becoming awkward, but tickling would work. Gerard grinned at his idea. He had quickly learned that Frank had to be one of the most ticklish people on the face of the earth. The very instant Gerard brought his wiggling fingers down to the exposed belly, Frank burst out into laughter. It was loud and practically infectious as Gerard had to snicker, watching Frank flail and curl up in his vain attempts to escape his tickling fingers. Frank squirmed, swatted at Gerard’s hands, and tried to tickle back, but Gerard was joyfully relentless, his hands swiftly tickling over Frank’s body where ever his hands could reach. Gerard was more than amused watching Frank flop and spasm like a crackling lunatic over his lap, seeing his face steadily become a deep pink shade from the exertion, and seeing Frank’s nose scrunch up cutely in the way it did every time he laughed.

“Nooooo!” Frank yelled out when Gerard managed to tickle at Frank’s knees. They were oddly the most ticklish spot on his body. “STOP... CAN’T... BREATHE…” Frank kicked and thrashed more violently, and in doing so did manage to get away in the form of tumbling off of Gerard’s lap on to the floor. He landed with a loud painful sounding thud, but breathy laughter still fell from Frank’s lips even as he took the bump.

“You okay?” Gerard asked, leaning forward and peering down at Frank with an innocent smile.

“Ass... hole..” Frank stuck his tongue out at him where he just lay sprawled out on the carpeted floor, catching his breath. He was smiling though as he looked up at Gerard and then reached his arm out for Gerard to help him up to his feet.

Gripping Frank’s hand, Gerard pulled him back up to sit beside him once again and gave Frank a goofy apologetic smile. “Sorry..?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Frank made a face.

“I think you socked me in jaw with your elbow when you were flailing around like a little spaz if that makes you feel better.”

“It does,” Frank grinned wide and happily.

Gerard chuckled, poking Frank gently on the nose. “Dork.”

Another tickle battle later -which Frank instigated to try to exact some revenge on Gerard, but only ended up on the floor a giggling mess again- and it was settled that they would just continue with their Lord of the Rings marathon. The final movie of the trilogy had been set up in the DVD player, and the two had been watching in silence, save for the munching of the popcorn they shared from a large bowl Gerard had set on his lap. Frank sat close to him like he always did, his head occasionally drifting down to rest on Gerard’s shoulder for a few moments at a time. It was all normal, and Gerard didn’t think anything of it until Frank slipped an arm loosely around his chest, and it felt like Frank was nuzzling against him, breathing in deeply like he was breathing in his scent and then sighing contently. It was nice to have Frank so close, but Gerard furrowed his brows in confusion. Frank would get cuddly sometimes, but not this cuddly. Gerard didn’t bothering asking what was up and just dismissed it as Frank being exhausted and getting comfortable. Gerard continued to watch the movie, quickly becoming engrossed in the battle sequence that was now playing, but what Frank suddenly asked out of the blue made Gerard choke on the popcorn in his mouth.

“Gerard.. do you like me as more than a friend?”

Notes