Gerard closed the door behind him quietly, making his way up the stairs and to the bedroom, tugging on the handle to find it locked. He sighed, he was stuck out on the couch, he assumed. As he lay there under the thin blanket he couldn’t help but think of Frank. He was a cool kid, Gerard decided, a really cool kid.

---

Nothing changed, not really, Lyle had adopted an angry silence since the night Gerard had stormed off. The last time he'd spoken was the morning that he had questioned Gerard.

Where’d you go last night?

Just out for a drink.

Don’t do it again.

It frustrated Gerard to no end, all this fuss over the stupid water bill, which he had already gotten turned back on, for the record. Lyle was just being irrational, they weren’t broke, everyone had money issues.

On an annoyingly humid Friday, Gerard decided he didn’t have the patience to even deal with Lyle, so he made a little detour, pulling into the bar he’d visited last week. On his way to the entrance he rolled his eyes at the thought of how angry Lyle was going to be. Good, let him be mad.

He stayed in the bar all evening, spending nearly all of his paycheck. His head was swimming, vision blurred. He swayed slightly in the bar stool, the bartender watched him warily, waiting for him to fall or throw up or die or something.

Gerard just focused on the counter, forehead creasing as he tried to decide if he was well enough to drive. Either way, he’d have to, he wasn’t going to call a cab and just leave his car in the parking lot.

With that, he tried to stand, tripping over his own leg and collapsing onto the dirty concrete floor with a groan. From the floor he heard the dinging of a bell, signifying a customer.

Then, he heard the bartender call, “Hey Frankie, you know this dude.”

“Oh shit, what happened to him?” Old green and white adidas came into Gerard’s view from the floor.

“Drunk off his ass,” The bartender sounded annoyed, “Get him the hell outta my bar, will ya.”

The adidas came closer, until, finally, the person wearing them leant down to make eye contact. “Hey, buddy, get up I’m taking you home.”

“F-Frank?” Gerard rolled over, shielding his eyes, the once dim bar now seemed very, very bright.

“Yeah, now come on.” He walked around Gerard to hoist him up by his armpits, Gerard leant heavily on Frank as they made their way to the parking lot. “You get in another fight?” Frank asked, glancing up at him once they’d made it out to the parking lot.

“No-o,” Gerard squinted, “I jus’ didn’t wanna go home.” He slurred.

Frank nodded and grabbed Gerard to drag him over to his car, unlocking the door and pushing him down into the backseat before shutting the door and walking around to the front.

“You’re lucky that I think you’re funny, because otherwise I’d ditch your ass.” Frank remarked more to himself than to Gerard. “What’s your address?”

“No.” Gerard whined, “Don’t wanna go home.”

Frank sighed, shaking his head, he turned to look at Gerard, who was sprawled across the seats. “What the fuck do you want me to do, then?”

“I dunno.” Gerard shrugged, head lolling to the side, “Don’t make me go home.”

“Godammit,” Frank whispered. He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. “I’ll let you sleep on my couch, but you need to go home first thing tomorrow. Get your husband some flowers or some shit, I don’t know, just fix it, okay?”

Gerard groaned in response, “I think I’m gonna puke.”

This is going to be a long night, Frank thought.

Once Gerard was settled on the couch in Frank's shitty apartment, Frank stole Gerard's keys, took a cab back to the bar, and drove Gerard's car back to the apartment complex. Frank cursed himself for being so nice throughout the entire process.

---

Gerard woke up on a lumpy couch, way too lumpy to be his couch. His head pounded with a hangover. Drool was dried onto his face. Overall, he felt gross. He looked around the room he was in. A small TV was shoved onto an unsturdy table in front of the couch. Movie posters hung on the walls. An admirable collection of Dvds were piled up beside the television.

There was a loud beep from somewhere else in the house. Frank suddenly came tripping down the hallway, hair wet and shoe half on. He stomped his shoe the rest of the way on and slid into the kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee. The kitchen was clearly seen from the couch, so Gerard sat up and looked at him.

“Oh,” Frank looked down at his cup, “You want some?”

“Uh, sure.” Gerard stood up and walked to the kitchen, narrowly avoiding the lamp that was for some reason on the floor. He was hoping the he and Frank hadn’t done anything stupid the night prior, Gerard couldn’t remember anything, so it was plausible.

Once he and Frank had settled at the kitchen table with their coffee, he tilted his head and pushed his hair back, asking, “What exactly happened last night?”

“Oh,” Frank’s eyes widened, “Oh god no, nothing like that. You were too drunk to drive and you wouldn’t give me your adress so I just let you crash on the couch.”

Gerard groaned, “I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Don’t be, its cool.” Frank shrugged.

Gerard couldn’t help but eye the bookshelf that sat on the far side of the kitchen, It looked mostly made up of comics. Frank turned around to follow his gaze, before turning back and grinning.

“Jealous?”

“I mean,” Gerard sighed, “Yeah, I haven’t read a comic book in fucking forever.”

“Well, you can have one, I’ve read them all anyway.”

“No don’t worry about it.”

“I insist.” Frank smiled. “I have Doom Patrol.”

“Fuck, you drive a hard bargain.”

“Shut the fuck up and just take one.” Frank giggled, causing Gerard to laugh at how high pitched it was.

Gerard caved, taking a copy of Hellboy after much encouragement from Frank. After, they just sat and finished their coffee in comfortable silence.

“Well,” Gerard said, “Thanks for everything, you’re honestly one of the coolest people I’ve ever met.”

“I try.” Frank grinned.

Gerard stared at Frank for a moment, realizing Frank was somehow really fucking pretty even sitting there in sweatpants and a Thundercats shirt with a hole in it. He leant forward and Frank just watched as he inched closer, thinking maybe Gerard was just going to steal the rest of his coffee or something along those lines, but when Gerard didn't stop Franks eyes widened. He pressed his lips firmly to Frank's. Frank allowed it for a moment or two, enjoying the feeling, before gasping and jumping up from the table.

“Shit, you’re- you’re married and I can’t I mean, uh. I’m late for class.” He rattled backing away towards the front door. “Just, uh, let yourself out your car is in the lot. This was a bad decision, bye Gerard” The door slammed, leaving Gerard alone.

"Bye Frank." Gerard responded to an empty apartment.

Notes

I've had this typed up for a while, so sorry for not posting sooner...