Money For Ropes!

"I’ll just be a few minutes, you don’t need to come in."

In truth, Gerard didn’t want Frank to see how shitty his apartment was...he was ashamed of the rathole. Frank smiled warmly.

"You don’t need help carrying stuff?"

Gerard shook his head quickly.

"No thanks, I’ve not got that much. Just hang here and I’ll be back."

He headed as quickly up the steps as his ankle would let him, leaving Frank stood on the sidewalk next to his car. Frank chuckled, pulling gum from his pocket and sliding his shades onto his face as he looked up at the crumbling brickwork of the building...the sooner he got the boy out of there, the better.

Gerard hesitated before knocking on Mr. Crantz's door. He heard grumbled cursing and banging before the door was flung open.

"What do you want? You already paid y' rent!"

"Yessir, I know. I’m leaving. I’m moving out."

Mr. Crantz sneered.

"Good, about time. Go whore yourself somewhere else. Drop y' key in my mail box when you go."

Then he stepped back behind his door and slammed the door in Gerard’s face. Gerard stood stunned for a minute, his heart thudding in his ears...did pervy Crantz really just say that?!

After a minute, he shook himself and headed up to his shitty room...for the last time. Letting himself in, he shivered and quickly started gathering his few belongings, packing things away in his suitcase, an old backpack and a black garbage bag. He fetched the hidden money from beneath the lose floorboard and stuffed it into his jacket's inside pocket, then double checked that he had everything before leaving the dismal room, saying goodbye to the rats and cockroaches before shutting the door and heading back down the stairs. Mr. Crantz was stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting for him, Gerard stopped on the second to last step, hugging his bags to himself nervously.

"Did I...forget something?"

He asked in a small voice. Mr. Crantz stepped closer to the stairs, his eyes raking over the redhead's slight form. Gerard swallowed back a whimper.

"I been thinkin' boy..."

Crantz took another step closer.

"I been puttin' up with you for months now with nothin' to show for it. Why don’t you come into my apartment and show me what a good little whore you can be, huh?"

Gerard swallowed, shaking his head and wishing he’d asked Frank to come in with him after all.

"N-no I..."

"Aww come on now, why not put that dirty mouth of yours to good use."

Mr. Crantz reached out for Gerard’s arm, grabbing hold of him just above his wrist and pulling sharply. Gerard squealed as he lost his balance and fell forward off the steps and straight into his creepy landlord's waiting arms, dropping his bags to the floor as he tried to brace himself.

"No! Get off me!"

"Shut up..."

Crantz hissed as he started to drag Gerard toward his apartment as the boy struggled desperately against his iron grip.

"...or I’ll give y' somethin' to cry for."

Suddenly the front door opened and Frank’s voice thundered around the entrance hall.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?..."

He took three big steps across the space and grabbed Crantz by the front of his dirty shirt, slamming him back against the nearest wall. Crantz let go of Gerard’s wrist as the back of his head struck the crumbling plaster. Frank got right up in his face, trying not to breathe in his foul odour.

"Well?..."

He lowered his voice so he sounded dark and dangerous. Gerard watched with wide eyes from where he’d backed up against the furthest wall, holding his bruised wrist protectively to his chest. He’d though Frank attractive before, but this side of him was fucking sexy.

"What do you have to say for yourself?...what makes you think you have any right to lay hands on him?"

"He’s..."

Crantz stuttered out, looking more terrified than Gerard had ever seen anyone look in real life. Frank raised an eyebrow, urging the older man to continue.

"He’s a whore."

Gerard’s eyes widened dramatically as indignation took over from his fear.

"I am not!..."

He exclaimed forcefully, stepping away from the wall but still keeping his distance.

"I’m an artist!"

"Yeah..."

Crantz chuckled once.

"A porn artist, maybe."

Frank had had enough.

"Shut the fuck up pervert, or I’m calling the cops on your fat ass..."

He turned his head toward Gerard, the anger slipping from his face to be replaced instantly with a soft smile.

"Why don’t you grab your bags and I’ll meet you outside sugar, Ok?"

Gerard took a deep breath, then let it out and nodded.

"Ok..."

He gathered his bags and headed outside, but paused in the doorway to look back.

"You’re...you’re not going to hurt him...right?"

Frank gave Gerard a warm, reassuring smile and shook his head.

"Course not sweetheart, I’m just going to have a few words with him about how to treat his tenants, and about my friend Greg over at the Health Department who would be very interested by this place, I’m sure."

He winked at Gerard and the boy felt his insides flip. Gerard swallowed and smiled, then nodded and walked outside, letting the door close behind him.

"You..."

Frank looked back as Crantz choked out the words.

"You don’t really know someone in the H-Health Department...do you?"

Frank gave a toothy grin that would make a shark think twice about arguing with him.

"Actually, I do. But I’m going to give you a chance. You have two weeks to get this place cleaned up and all the apartments up to code, or I’m going to persuade little Gerard to report you for attempted sexual assault...and I’m pretty sure he won’t be the only one who comes forward to get you locked up...am I right?..."

Crantz swallowed nervously, looking down at the tattooed fingers still fisted in the front of his shirt. He nodded slightly, then slumped as Frank released his hold and brushed down the front of the stained shirt like it would do any good.

"Good..."

Frank grinned, stepping back.

"We have an agreement. I’ll be seeing you Mr. Crantz. Don’t forget...two weeks..."

He turned and left, stepping out into the late afternoon chill. Gerard was sat on the bottom step with his bags around him, he looked up as Frank exited the building and came down to his level.

"You Ok sweetheart?...ready to go?"

Gerard nodded, accepting Frank’s offered hand and standing up. Frank grabbed most of Gerard’s bags despite the redhead's objections, and soon they were back in the warmth of the car and headed back to Frank’s huge house.

They had been driving in an odd silence for about ten minutes when Gerard finally spoke up, his voice small and delicate in the quietly rumbling car.

"I’m not, you know."

Frank raised an eyebrow but kept his eyes on the road.

"Not what sugar?"

Gerard swallowed, staring down at his hands, fingers twisted together in his lap.

"I’m not what he said. I’m not a...a whore."

Frank looked over at him now, hearing the boy's voice crack slightly.

"I never thought you were darlin'."

He looked back at the road and silence fell again. They remained quiet for the rest of the short drive, then Frank helped Gerard inside with his bags and up to his room.

"Why don’t you get settled in and I’ll order that Chinese food, Ok?"

Gerard nodded and Frank smiled softly at him before turning away. Frank was just at the top of the stairs when Gerard spoke again.

"Frank?..."

Frank looked back, smiling and inclining his head, prompting the boy to continue. Gerard swallowed and walked over to him. He tiptoed and pressed a light kiss to Frank’s cheek before stepping back with a blush colouring his pale cheeks.

"Thank you for saving me again..."

He looked down at the ground.

"I’m glad you stopped him. I wouldn’t want my...my first time to be like that..."

Frank’s jaw dropped...surely not.

"Thanks Frankie."

Gerard turned and limped quickly into his room and closed the door leaving Frank stood speechless on the landing. Well, he certainly wasn’t expecting that.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how’s you?

Hope you’re still enjoying this.

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT and peace out babies!
<3