Barbed Wire Love

The following number of days passed without much variation. Frank from then on deemed it safe to sleep in Gerard's bed, he woke up and sometimes got a cooked breakfast, ordered food for lunch and dinner and in between watched movies or read from Gerard's extensive comic book collection.

At one point Frank plucked up enough courage to lay his head on Gerard's lap while watching Ghost Busters. He knew it might've been a push too far, but Gerard didn't throw him off. Instead, he threaded his fingers through Frank's hair, a seemingly automatic response when Frank comes close to him.

It wasn't until the end titles that Gerard spoke.

"What changed?" "Hm?" Frank mumbled softly, who'd almost fallen asleep.

"You've been very relaxed around me recently. What changed?"

Frank sighed and rolled over to look up at Gerard. He knew that question would come up sooner or later, even he knew he wasn't being that convincing.

"I don't know, Gee. I... you treat me well. I have no reason not to trust you"

"You have every reason not to trust me baby" Gerard murmured.

"That's not true, I do trust you" Frank insisted quickly, cringing internally at how fake it sounded.

Gerard sighed, then eased Frank into a sitting position, pulling him easily onto his lap with his hands loosely enclosing his waist.

"I'm sure you get bored here" he mumbled, absent mindedly kissing along the underside of his jaw. "You've been here, what, nearly two weeks? You haven't been outside once, love"

Frank nodded quickly, a small pang of hope growing in his stomach. "True, I guess" he shrugged nonchalantly.

"I can take you out on a walk if you want"

"Like a dog?" Frank teased.

"Not quite. But I could always get you a leash if you'd really like"

Frank giggled and pecked his cheek, slipping his hand into Gerard's. "The walk sounds good. It'd be nice to get some fresh air"

*

Frank's expectations abruptly changed as he saw Gerard pocket a small hand gun just before leaving. What was that for? Was Gerard going to take him out into the forest and shoot him? Why now, what changed?

Gerard noticed him eyeing up the weapon. He paused, before simply stating; "Just a safety precaution Frankie"

"But... we're only going for a walk"

"I never leave the house without some form of security" he replied calmly, but with a definite final tone in this voice.

"Okay Gee" Frank nodded with an understanding smile, even though he was bricking it about the gun.

He wasn't going to try to make an escape today, he'd decided as they got ready. That'd be too obvious, and Gerard is probably half-expecting it, considering the gun he's bringing with him. He'll go out a few times first, get a feel for the outside and be able to plan his escape.

It truly was nice to be outside, though. The most fresh air Frank had had the past couple of weeks was when Gerard opened the door to go out.

Frank exited the large house first, perhaps a little quicker than he should have. Gerard's hand momentarily twitched towards his pocket, then retracted it once he realised Frank wasn't going anywhere.

The two men walked side by side down the driveway and out the tall gate, towards the concentrated region of trees.

Frank glanced sideways at Gerard, who was looking onward with a serious expression, his thumb resting in the loophole of his jeans. Frank took his hand, consciously aware to increase the distance between Gerard's hand and the gun.

"Thank you for letting me out" Frank said softly, careful not to break eye contact once Gerard looked down at him.

The corners of Gerard's mouth twitched. "You're welcome. I didn't realise you liked outside that much"

"I do, on the quiet. I love the rain" he admitted, looking up.

"Why?"

"...I don't know. The rain feels more fitting in a world like this. The sun- it's too bright, too happy. It's just unrealistic. The world is cruel, it's dark. I mean, the rain can be nice, but if you stay out in it too long you're gonna catch hypothermia"

He didn't realise both he and Gerard had stopped walking, Gerard staring at him with his brow furrowed. He slowly composed himself. "That's what you think of the world?"

Frank chuckled gravely. "I suppose" they continued walking "Do you disagree?"

"No, I suppose that's a pretty accurate comparison... sorry, I should have picked a rainy day then" he glanced upwards to the blue sky and white fluffy clouds.

"Oh, and the boys are coming around tonight"

"Oh. Okay" Frank nodded nervously. He'd never properly met Gerard's friends in person, but from what Gerard's said about them it hasn't been comforting.

"Yeah, they're bringing the girls with them, I think. They've been keeping a closer eye on everyone ever since what happened with Mikey's girl"

Frank shivered. Gerard had told him what had happened to Megan the other week, and still thinking about it makes him want to throw up the contents of his stomach.

"Cold?"

"I- no, no. I'm okay"

"C'mon up this way. There's always a spot in the sun" Gerard said, tugging Frank's hand.

Frank followed him upwards, his sneakers slipping a little on the dead leaves and mud. There was a small clearance at the top, where light shone through. They simultaneously sat down and curled their arms around their legs.

"I saw a deer over there once" Gerard said softly, pointing directly in front of them.

"Really?"

"Mhm. I had just enough time to get a picture on my phone, so I went back to the house and painted it. I thought most of the ones out here had been poached by hunters, you see, so I've never seen one before"

Gerard watched the area ahead of them happily, then looked over at Frank when he realised he hadn't replied. Frank was looking onward with a slightly baffled expression, yet amused all the same.

"What?"

"It's just, I didn't realise you were an artist too" Frank grinned.

"Criminals have to have hobbies too Frank" he grinned back, giving him a slight nudge.

"Can I see your work when we get back?"

"I don't see why not" he shrugged. "I sell most of them, but I keep the ones I like most. Have you warmed up yet?"

"Yeah. It is really nice up here"

"It's my go-to place from time to time" he nodded. "Especially when I was a boy"

"Wait, so you grow up here?"

Gerard frowned. "Long story. I'll tell you some other time. C'mon"

He stood up suddenly, holding a hand out for Frank and lifting him to his feet with surprising strength.

"The boys will be here soon, and I'm gonna have to tidy up the place" he added with a mock stern expression.

Frank gave a guilty giggle, recalling the mess of pizza boxes and drink cans lying around the house. "Sorry. I'll help"

"I should hope so. It's never this messy" he chuckled, giving Frank a quick kiss on the cheek and continuing down the rough forest path a few paces in front of him.

Frank followed him cautiously. Either he too was putting on a facade and didn't trust Frank at all, or Frank is finally starting to get to him. He truly hopes it's the latter.

Notes