It's Not a Fashion Statement

franks pov
I recognize the tune that Gerard gently hums from the room opposite. I peer around the door and Gerard is in his boxers, his messy hair tucked behind his ears, biting on a pencil that he’s holding in his mouth. He measures a piece of fabric, wrapping it around the manikin and pinning it down, bopping his head to a beat he hums.

He stands back and views his work so far, tilting his head in different directions to get a better view. He scratches his chin and then jots something down on paper. As much as I want to just run up and hug him, I know he has work to do, so I resist the urge to interrupt. Just as I’m about to leave, Gerard turns around and notices me in the doorway.
“Hey baby, what are you up to?”
“I’ve just been watching TV, I’m so desperate to play guitar, but I can’t because of my stupid wrist. I came to see what you’re doing, as it’s like midnight and I’m really bored.”
“Glad you did baby,” he runs his hands over my shoulders, stepping forwards and sealing or bodies together.
“You look tired, we should go to bed and cuddle,” he whispers, nibbling on my ear and running his hands up and down my sides, tickling the skin.
“Are you sure? You can carry on with your work stuff if you want-“
“No, don’t be stupid, come on.”
He pulls me upstairs, leading me into the bedroom. He opens the door for me, allowing me to walk through first, flicking the light off and closing the door behind him.
I collapse into the bed, the soft covers engulfing me in comfort. I tuck myself under the silk duvet, resting my head into the feather pillow and exhaling a deep breath of air. The only thing missing from this bed now, is Gerard.
He climbs in, tucking himself under the covers and turning over to face me. We lock eye contact, running our hands over each other’s bodies. Gerard’s gentle touch travels up from the inside of my thigh all the way up to my chin, where he then moves his hand into my hair, stroking it out between his fingers. I love the feel of Gerard’s hands in my hair; it’s so relaxing and calming.
“You know, Frankie, you aren't just my model, my employee, you aren't just my boyfriend who i love with all my heart. You're my best fucking friend and I'm so glad you're in my life, because you make me so happy".
I feel tears well in my eyes, as Gerard continues to groom by hair between his fingers.
I hug myself into his chest and let the tears slowly pour out of my eyes. I can hear and feel his heart beating from inside his chest, I can feel his body heat radiating off him, and I can hear every breath he takes.
His hands slide around me, gripping me into his body as he places a kiss on my forehead.
“Get some sleep, beautiful.”
-
I wake up before Gerard, still tucked into his body. I look around the room for the clock, limiting my body movement so that I don’t disturb his sleeping.
8.56am.
We have work today, and I’m also getting my cast taken off, thank god. I don’t think I can bear another day with this annoying crap around my arm.
I let my head fall back into Gerard’s chest, the tension from my neck muscles relaxing.
“Mhm, mornin’ baby.” Gerard mumbles, his voice thick and raspy.
“Morning.”
We both lay in silence, wrapped in each other’s embrace, until the alarm beeps throughout the room. It’s very rare I wake up before the alarm, when I do it usually means I had a good night's sleep.
Gerard groans, smashing his hand onto the beeping clock and cursing.
He nudges me off his chest, sliding out of bed, stretching his arms out and sighing.
“c’mon Frankie. Let’s eat breakfast and get your god damn cast off.”
I reluctantly roll out of bed, groaning in frustration and burying my head into the pillow. Maybe I didn’t have such a good sleep last night.
Gerard throws some clothes onto my head, gently shaking me to get up and changed, because my appointment is in half an hour. Who the hell would want an appointment this early?
“It’s too fucking early, ughhhhh,”
“Get up you lazy ass. It’s not even early.”
I feel another item of clothing land on my body, though this time it’s thrown with a bit of force. I reach my hand behind me, feeling around for the item of clothing, grabbing it and throwing it back in the direction it came from.
I sit up and drag myself out of the bed, yawning and picking the clothes up from around the bed.
Gerard’s already left the room, and is probably downstairs making toast or something like that.

I pull on the back skinny jeans and button up the shirt neatly, unlike the other day. I roll the sleeves up and contemplate whether I should wear a tie today or not. I choose option b, because I can’t be bothered putting one on, and then if I were to wear a tie, I would also have to make the decision which tie to wear in particular. I hate picking clothes out, hence why Gerard does it for me every morning. I have barely any sense of color coordination, style… basically anything fashion related. I’ve always been so used to wearing black skinny jeans, black T-shirts and baggy hoodies with messy beat up converse every day of my life, that I’m pretty clueless when it comes to being presentable enough for my job. I know the basics of what looks good and what doesn’t. Say if I saw someone outside with spandex yellow leggings and a frilly net crop top, obviously I’d know it was an atrocious decision and clearly looks awful. Alike with the suits Gerard’s designed, they’re amazing; I know that they’re good, in fact, better than good, they’re gorgeous.

I think Gerard’s also realized I much prefer wearing skinny jeans instead of tight fitting pants that are meant to go with suits, he doesn’t even bother asking me anymore. I only really wear suit trousers when I’m wearing the fancy suits the Gerard makes; I don’t bother unless it’s an occasion of some sort.

I guess you can’t exactly tell the difference, unless you look really close. They just feel so much more comfortable, even though they’re a huge struggle to get off quickly in desperate situations, if you know what I mean.

I run a hand through my soft hair, tucking it behind my ear. I glance back at the clock and realize I’ve been 20 minutes just putting a shirt and some jeans on.

I hurry downstairs, taking a piece of buttered toast from the counter as I pass, whilst hopping around on one foot, trying to tie my shoelace.
“Frankie, we got to go, hurry up-“
Gerard shouts from outside, holding the car door open for me.
I jog over to the car, slide in and wait for Gerard to finish locking the house up and join me. Shit, we have ten minutes until my appointment. It wouldn’t be too bad, but, if you’re even a minute late then you’ll be rescheduled, and the hospital being extremely busy, the next available space will be in a week or something, and I honestly don’t want to wait that long.

We pull up outside the hospital and then Joe opens the doors for us.
“Looks like it’s gonna rain in a bit. Got an umbrella, Joe?” Gerard asks, pointing up at the grey clouds looming over us. I forgot to bring a jacket today, what a fucking idiot. It’s the end of November, the weather is horrid, and I didn’t even think to bring a jacket.

“I do, as always,”
Joe pulls out an umbrella from the boot of the car, passing it to Gerard. We rush into the hospital and check in at reception, praying we aren’t too late.
Just as my name is taken, a doctor calls out my name from behind me.
“Frank Iero, to room 7 on the left.”
Gerard pulls me into the left corridor, directing me to the seventh door.
“Good day, Mr. Iero, how are we?”
“I’m cool. Yeah. Just can’t wait to get this thing off. It’s like having a hand make of rocks, I can’t do shit.”
Good job my doctor is actually really nice, he’s really friendly and kind. I hate those doctors and nurses that are really rude and morbid, who just piss you off.
-
The appointment goes through smoothly, just X-rays and then a check on my stomach stitches. I only have a thin bandage on my wrist now, thank god. I move my wrist around in different directions, feeling free. I can’t wait until I can properly play guitar again, I guess I did do it a few times whilst my wrist was still confirmed as broken and healing, but I didn’t want to push it because I knew I’d just have to end up waiting even longer.
Gerard and I walk out of the hospital, hand in hand. As soon as I step foot outside, the cold winds hit me, causing me to wince. I really should’ve brought a jacket. Not to mention, it’s fucking pouring it down. Good job Gerard requested the umbrella off Joe.

“Oh baby, you are freezing, already. Here, take this-“
Gerard unbuttons his long, thick, big black coat, wrapping it around my shoulders. It reminds me of the time we went on our first sort-of-date, Gerard took me walking in the park, I had my first kiss, then we were walking back to his house, I was freezing and Gerard gave me his coat, this coat.
“No, it’s okay Gee, you need it more-“
He gives me the same look he gave me the first time, the one as if to say ‘if you dare, I will literally hold this coat to you and you will regret every decision you ever made’
I smile at the memories flooding back, a warm feeling in my heart.
“Thank you Gee.” I confirm, buttoning the coat, reminding myself of how much of a fight Gerard put up last time.
“No problem, nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
I tug the Gerard-scented coat around myself, the long thick fabric drowning me and making me feel so cozy and warm. I step out from under the umbrella, allowing Gerard to have the umbrella, at least.
“Don’t be stupid, Frankie. I know what you're doing. Get under here.”
“I’m alright. You’re using the umbrella.”
We glare at each other for a good few minutes in complete silence, until finally deciding to start moving.
We walk in quiet until Gerard starts to sing, his thick, powerful, tuneful voice echoing around as we walk through the busy New York streets.
“You have my heart
And we'll never be worlds apart
I may be in magazines
But you'll still be my star
Baby 'cause in the dark
You can't see shiny cars
And that's when you need me there
With you I'll always share
Because-“
I feel his arm hook around my waist and pull me into his embrace, under his goddamn umbrella.
“When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Know that I'd be here forever
Said I'll always be a friend
Took an oath I'ma stick it out 'til the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
Ella-ella-eh-eh-eh
Under my umbrella
Ella-ella-eh-eh-eh
Under my umbrella
Ella-ella-eh-eh-eh
Under my umbrella eh-eh eh.”
He ruffles my hair and kisses my forehead, holding me around the waist under his umbrella.
“Now stop being a stubborn bitch and stand under my fucking umbrella.”
I grin and try to hide my flustered face under my hair, stepping in and out of the rain.

Notes

gerards cover of umbrella is so beautiful i probably watch it 60 times a day or something
sorry for my lack of updates ik i sucK