A Soul I Cannot Save...

"Gerard! Wake up." Frank said. Gerard looked up. He wasn't even asleep.

"What are you doing up?" Frank asked.

"Thinking. What are you doing up?"

"I took your brother out to dinner and there's something I want to do, someone I want to see. He could take me but he probably doesn't want to talk to me anymore." Frank finished. He needed to see Bert. He just needed to know where he should look. Jersey's swimming in those "glorified crack den" apartment buildings Mikey had mentioned.

"How the hell did you get him to go out with you? He won't even talk to me, or anyone for that matter." Gerard looked conflicted. He seemed excited that Mikey was hanging with someone other than those sketchy people that hung at the liquor store. He also seemed a bit jealous.
Mikey never even hesitated when speaking to Frank. He was open until a certain point. What the hell did Gerard mean?

"I just invited him, I guess. Anyway, need you." He said.

"Oh." Gerard replied. His face dropped. His brother hadn't spoken to him in months. Maybe it was just him, didn't Mikey trust him?

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Please help me." Frank pleaded. His curiously was easily his greatest weakness.

"I thought you were supposed to be helping me." He scoffed. He wanted to know when the hell he'd become the guardian angel.

"I am. I just need you to take me to Bert's house."

"No. Why? I don't want to go back there. Is there any way you could help me without making me go back there. No, I can't. And I don't want you going over there, anyway. It's dangerous." Gerard said. He had to take deep breaths. Bert didn't take kindly to unexpected visitors, or any visitors. To tell the truth, Gerard had no business being with someone like Bert. He wasn't loving, nurturing, or kind. But Gerard couldn't help himself. Bert could be as tempting as the devil himself.

"Why did you go near him, if he's so damn dangerous?" Frank asked.

"On one hand, he was exciting. He was a little older than me and sold drugs. It made me feel mature, I-I don't know. It wasn't something I should have been so proud of." He paused. Frank felt bad for asking. Gerard had his head down. Frank felt even worse when Gerard looked up at him with tears eyes.

"And, on the other hand, I felt really special, y'know? Like, I was the only person he really talked to. I was the one who knew all his secrets. I was the one he said he loved and it made me feel like I could change him. I felt like I could influence him to be a better person or-I don't really know how to say it..." He trailed off.

Frank wanted to hold him and tell him everything was alright. He just didn't want to accidentally burn him again.

"But I guess in the end, he was the one who changed me. I don't know if it's a good of bad change. I'm still figuring that part out" Gerard said.

Frank nodded. Gerard made his shitty ex seem like a person with problems. He didn't create the image of a heartless, other-worldly being like Mikey did. Frank felt a bit conflicted, now. He didn't know what to expect of this guy. He'd pray on it on his way there.

Notes

I'd say sorry for the wait, but I'm sure no one cares anyway.