The Thing About Pain

Gerard and I were going home. As soon as our conversation with Ray was over, and we exchanged contact info, Gerard and I bolted out of the cafeteria and into our room to pack our shit up. I grabbed the suitcase from under my bed and slid it to the middle of the room. I nearly ripped open the drawers in excitement. It was finally sinking in that I was leaving this hell. I took my folded clothing and placed it gently in my suitcase, followed by ripping open the bathroom door, getting my toothbrush and toothpaste, and also strategically shoving it into a small pocket on the front of my suitcase. Gerard giggled as I did so. It must have been amusing to him to see me run around like a six year old and get the rest of my shit together. It's been four years of being stuck here. No kidding I want to get out.

"Little excited?" Gee asked.

"Yeah, who wouldn't be?" I answered, chuckling. I continued to pack my shit up, as Gerard did with his. He had significantly less clothing than I did though so he was done before I was.
I stood in the middle of the room, thinking back to whether or not I had forgotten anything. Clothing from dresser. Yes. Toiletries. Yes. The drawings Gerard gave me for my birthday. How could I fucking forget? I mentally slapped myself across the face. I'm losing my mind. It notices less things now. Maybe because my focus is on Gerard now, and he keeps the demons at bay. I smiled to myself at that thought, and gently peeled the drawings off the wall, and placed them in my suitcase. I stood back and admired my packing job, until I felt a pair of arms snake around my waist, and featherlike lips trail kisses up my neck, and to my jawline. I grinned to myself and turned around to face Gerard.

"You're beautiful, Frankie." He breathed.

"Well, you're really pretty yourself, enigma." I winked at him.

"Enigma?" Gerard tilted his head to the side and his voice was laced with confusion. He clearly didn't understand that he was mysterious to me, and all others.

"Oh uh..." I mumbled out. "I kind of, you're an enigma Gerard. I want to unravel the mystery that is Gerard Way. I want to know his secrets, and I would love to know all the small things about him. Perhaps his past. The history of his tainted lips will do as well. Because Gerard, I know that your chapped, and horror stained lips aren't stained in such painful colours because of the rape story you told me. It was something else." I explained to him.

"You're really something else." Gerard breathed out, his breath fanning my lips, as I smiled. With his choice of words, he leaned in and pressed and gentle kiss to my lips, and slowly I kissed him back. It wasn't a hungry kiss, it was loving and soft. I enjoyed it very much but sadly our moment was cut short.

"Ewwwww, guys stop with the love-fest." Mikey's voice echoed through the room. I pulled my face away from Gerard's and just laughed. Gerard and I just burst into laughter , and he slowly let go of me, but didn't leave my side. "What? What did I say?" Mikey asked innocently. His question made us laugh even more, and it seemed to be that we were choking on our own spit, or that we just looked like fucking seals.

"Love-fest little bro?" Gerard asked, causing Mikey to turn tomato red, actually it's more of a candy cane red. That's actually a really nice colour. It's not vibrant, and I suppose they'd name the paint colour blood red if it wasn't for the fact that it was too morbid, and a little disturbing to normal human beings.

"Yeah, now close up your bags and come with me, asshats, unless you wish to continue living in this antiseptic scented waste disposal. I don't mean the patients, just so you know." Mikey sassed, so naturally, we complied and headed out the door. Once we were exiting the mental health wing of the psychiatric ward, Ray ran up to us, panting and sputtering.

"G-guys.... H-h-hold on." He stopped in front of Mikey who blushed. So this is who Mikey liked? Hmm. "You need this. The nurse told me so..." Ray handed a bottle of pills to Gerard, and one to me.

"I'm not crazy..." I mumbled.

"Frank, they will leave you alone if you take them. If you don't they'll hurt you." Ray pointed out. I simply nodded. That's when he realised exactly who was taking us home. "Holy shit. You're that kid who's wicked good on bass." Mikey blushed a deeper crimson. "I'm Ray. Guitarist. Oh and one more thing, I know I shouldn't and all, but somebody told me that you need to seize any opportunity you can because if you don't you'll regret it," Confusion was sprawled over Mikey's face. "and I haven't know you long. Only one day and now, but dude, I need to do something." Everyone was puzzled up until the point where Ray grabbed Mikey's face and kissed him. I'm not sure if Mikey kissed back or not, as he did say he likes some girl, I didn't bother asking him if they're going out, or if they did, if they're together or not. I hoped, for Ray's sake, Mikey likes him. All I know is that Gerard and I gagged. After the kiss was over Ray sheepishly smiled and apologized.

"Hey, no hard feelings, man. " Mikey smiled. "I need to bring these two home, and I'll call the ward and we'll talk about this, 'kay?" Fro-man nodded excitedly, and ran off. "Jesus, that kid is something." Mikey laughed.

"Hurt him, and I hurt you." I mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear. We shared a laugh and got escorted out of the hospital.
Once we arrived at the Way household, Gerard worked on setting me up in his room, and Mikey talked to his mum, Donna, about my stay, whether it be permanent or not. When I met Donna, she was really sweet and kind. I never went over to Mikey's before I was admit so I wouldn't know her but now that I do, I presume, and judge that she is a very sweet woman, and she's really good about everything. She can be stern but mostly she wants her boys safe. When she learned that I was the Frank Iero that helped sort out Gerard's shit, she hugged me so tightly, that I must have lost blood flow to my lower body. I made my way upstairs and smiled at Mikey and his mum.

"Oh, Frank, I'm so sorry you had to stand four years in there." She sympathetically announced. "I'm truly honoured to have you helping Gee. He needs someone like you in his life." I smiled at her remark. The Way family will be the only people I talk to, minus Ray, and Alex.

"What? A schizo?" I asked confused, yet still slightly smiling, I mean, I am just repeating what people say I am.

"Oh goodness, Frank! No! A beautiful human being. A human being who wouldn't dare hurt Gerard on purpose." She explained to me. I nodded at her. "It's okay if you are Frank. Just let me know if you see someone, or something that shouldn't be there, I'll let you take your medication, and lie down then, alright?" I nodded and thanked her for being so loving towards me. It was surreal to me at how decent someone could be towards me. With that, she walked out of the room and onto the second floor.

"FRANK! WHAT MOVIE DO YOU WANT TO WATCH?!" Mikey screamed from the living room.

"Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, Frankenweenie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleepy Hollow, and anything Tim Burton." I laugh as I walk in.

"Marathon?" Mikey inquires.

"Marathon." I confirm. Just as I do, Gerard walked into the room and smiles at me.

"He chose Tim Burton movies didn't he?" A hint of amusement was laced into his tone of voice, and a smirk played on his lips so elegantly, the way a violinist plays his or her violin.

"Fuck yeah I did." I smile. Mikey lets us know he'll be in the kitchen making home popped popcorn. It's so much better than microwavable, and that leaves Gerard to pop in a Tim Burton movie, Sleepy Hollow, and me to look cute on the couch.

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