If You're Real

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I wake up to annoying bleeping sounds and an itchy hospital bed, my head feels cloudy and my eyes ache. It smells of old people and death and it's uncomfortable as fuck, There's a tube sticking out of my arm and my head feels so heavy. I look around and see more beds - Everyone's asleep.

Ray got me in hospital? Jesus Christ. I try and sit up but I find my right hand is bandaged up and the ends of my fingers stick out. Like fingerless gloves...but...obviously not as comfy. And my hand doesn't move at all.

I look down and see I am wearing a hospital gown, it is white with turquoise-blue dots on it, and it's ugly as fuck. Jesus, could they not give me something nicer to wear? I grimace and see there is a mirror lying on the table next to my bed, finally I can see what happened to my face. I pick up the scratched mirror and notice the corner is chipped off. When I see my face, I can't breathe. Oh my fuck. I have one black eye and bruises all around the eye, I have bright red patches all down my left cheek and my mouth and deep cuts down my cheek. My eye is blue with tinges of black.

My face looks pretty bad right now, it's probably going to leave a couple of scars. Then I realize something and I smile widely. Dr Iero is sitting on the chair across from me, he is asleep. His head is slack, fallen sideways on the chair and his beautiful face is innocent and dreaming. I have no idea why he is waiting here just for me. He must have been here for ages.

As I move to sit up in the bed, he stirs slowly and opens one eye, then the other. The protesting little groans he makes as he pulls himself up are adorable. I smile at him and reach out to touch him, my had lands on his shoulder and he flinches. His surprised eyes flick over to my hand which is resting on his broad shoulder. I blush bright red. He's real this time.
"Sorry," I say. "I was just checking if you were real."
Pause.
"I am real."
"I know."
"I know you know."
"\What?"
He bursts out laughing and I laugh too. Dr Iero's laugh is the cutest sound I've ever heard. His eyes light up, his nose wrinkles up and his tongue pokes out from his teeth.
Suddenly he takes my bandaged hand and covers it with both of his. His hands are warm and his touch makes my hands tingle.

Well. This is intimate. Real Frank does not usually touch me. Only hallucination Frank touches me. What is happening?

Frank begins stroking each of my fingertips with his thumb. He lifts each of my fingertips to his lips and kisses them, one by one, I feel his fingers ghosting across my hand.
This is real. This is not a hallucination.
"W-what are you doing, Dr Iero?" I ask him. I think he realizes what he is doingand he sighs, stroking my hands even more. "I...have something to tell you, Gerard. It is very important." I look at his eyes and my heart beats faster than before.

"Gerard..." he sounds pained.
"It's okay, Dr Ie- Frank. I trust you."
He smiles, wide-eyed.
"Gerard, I know that you have been experiencing hallucinations of me."
I stare at him in shock.
"I know that you are attracted to me."
I think my mouth is hanging down to the floor.
"And Gerard...I love you too."
I gasp.
"I am your hallucinations I can create them in your head. I was there when I kissed you in the shower, and I saw how you blushed when I saw you the next day. It took all of my energy not to just kiss you right there. I'm so sorry. When I realized I could do things to your head it made me fall in love with you. I love you, Gerard. I love you."

He leans forwards and presses his lips to my forehead. I breathe out shakily, I'm having trouble thinking straight.
"I love you too," I breathe out, my voice full of desire.
"You don't feel like I'm forcing you?" His voice is full of concern.
"No, Frankie. You are not forcing me, you are beautiful."

"I love you."

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Notes

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