Taming of the Punk

"Do we have to go home Frank?"

Ryan asked tearily from Michael's lap.

"I wish we didn't, but we need to try and reason with mother."

"She will never listen to us Frank...you know what she is like when she sets her mind on something."

"Still we must try."

Frank turned to Gerard.

"I never answered your question."

Gerard looked at Frank with wide, hopeful eyes...he had his fingers crossed behind his back.

"Yes."

Gerard's jaw dropped, then he was picking Frank up, his hands on the smaller boy's waist and lifting him up, spinning around like a giddy child.

"YES!"

He shouted out in pure happiness.

Frank started to laugh.

"Gerard! Put me down!"

Laughing his loud, open laugh that only his brother ever got to hear usually, Gerard carefully set Frank back on his feet, his hands still holding his tiny waist. When he'd calmed himself to enough to speak, he smiled shakily down at Frank.

"I love you Frank...would you permit me a kiss before you go?"

"I would be remiss if you did not...but next time...don't ask."

Gerard felt like his heart could explode with happiness. He slowly lifted one hand from Frank's waist to softly cup his pink cheek.

"I love you so much Frank...I don't want to let you go."

He sobbed slightly, though his smile remained. Slowly he leaned in, his eyes closing as their lips met. Bitter-sweet tears slid down his face and he ignored them, too enraptured with the feeling of finally having Frank in his arms.

"You were right, they are perfect to each other."

Michael looked at Ryan.

"And you are perfect for me, my little butterfly."

Ryan giggled as he pressed his face into Michael's chest before looking up.

"As you are for me."

He smiled happily.

"Alright Ryan, we really do need to get going."

Frank reluctantly pulled out of Gerard's embrace.

"I will see you again, I promise."

"I'll count the minutes."

Gerard said softly, running his fingers through Frank's hair...he loved that he was able to do that now.

Frank leaned in for one more kiss and then was leading Ryan and he to the stables and their horse.

*

*

*

Gabriel heard them as they came out of the servant stairs. Of course Linda would not know since her bedroom was in the opposite wing. He heard the brothers exchanging good nights and then the door opened. Ryan had not seen him yet because he was in the shadows, but all in good time for his reveal. Perhaps Ryan would reveal something of himself first.

Ryan crossed to his salon and placed his shoes on the rack to the right of the door. He removed the black jacket that Frank had lent him...he would return it in the morning...then unbuttoned the back shirt and slipped it off, placing it on the stool for laundry. Next he undid his britches and pushed them down off of his hips, then down his long legs, finally stepping out of them, leaving him in just his white silk underwear.

Ryan looked for his nightshirt, but could not find it. Frowning slightly, he headed back into his bedroom, thinking that it had been left on his bed somehow...though that would mean that his room had not been cleaned today, and he was certain that his mother would never have stood for that.

Gabriel could easily see the pale skin come to light even in the dark as Ryan shed his garments one by one. He was now down to a state that probably only his brother had ever seen, His mouth watered at the thought that this was his now. Ryan’s pale beauty could out-match either of the Veil brothers and any of his conquests, perhaps though a slimmer version of Frank. He secretly wondered if they would taste the same. Seeing that Ryan was looking for the night shirt that he held, he decided to make his presence known now.

"Ahem, looking for this?"

Ryan spun on his toes, letting out a startled squeak as he tried in vain to cover himself with his hands. Eyes wide, he stared into the dark of the room...his eyes had adjusted somewhat now, and he could make out the figure sat in his chair in the corner.

"G-Gabriel?...what are you...how...how did you g-get in here?"

"I should be asking you the same. You were not at dinner tonight. It upset your mother very much."

Gabriel stood up and dropped the night shirt to the floor. He then moved to the doors of the room and closed and locked them.

"Where were you?"

Ryan quickly moved over to his nightshirt and picked it up, pulling it on hastily, ignoring the fact that it was back to front. He turned to face his intruder.

"I was out with my brother...and I have no need to tell you how I got in here...it is my room, and you should not be in here."

"Now why would you go and do something like that Ryan, you looked lovely without it. Please take it off again."

Gabriel ignored what the boy said and started to move closer.

"No."

Ryan said nervously, backing up, arms wrapping around himself.

"No? No? You cannot say no to me anymore Ryan, you are mine now."

"I will never be yours, Gabriel...my heart belongs to another."

Gabriel chuckled darkly.

"It is not your heart I am after my dear."

Ryan swallowed, backing up another step.

"You cannot have any part of me...I belong to another."

Gabriel got a dark look over his eyes.

"So I see. You are just like your harlot brother than."

Gabriel grabbed Ryan pressing a hand over his mouth and his body into the bed with him atop. Ryan's eyes went wide with fright then clamped tight shut as he felt Gabriel's other hand on his skin.

"Did you give yourself to young Master Way as a desperate attempt to woo him? He is only interested in your body like I am. Didn't your brother tell you that?"

Gabriel used his free hand to toss the night shirt away and expose Ryan.

Ryan tried to struggle free, but Gabriel was so much stronger than him. Tears soaked his cheeks...he knew that Gabriel was lying about Michael; Michael loves him, and not just his body. Ryan held onto that knowledge, knowing that it was the only thing that could get him through this nightmare.

"No matter, you will be mine to do what I want with and you will never see the Way boy again...or your family...that is if you don't behave and obey me."

Gabriel leaned in attached his mouth to Ryan's exposed collarbone. He sucked on it hard and bit into it. Ryan screamed behind Gabriel's hand, though he knew that no one would hear him.

"Now one more thing to remind you that you belong to me."

Gabriel reached down and revealed Ryan's cock. He started to stroke it roughly. ‘Nononononononononono’ Ryan chanted in his head, his body betraying him at the other man's touch. It was painful and over quickly cause Ryan was young. Gabriel wiped the proof across the boy's face.

"I told your mother I will be here for lunch tomorrow. You will be here aswell."

Gabriel got up and fixed his suit. As he walked to the door He saw a glass ornament on the shelf. He picked it up.

"This is new. Where did it come from?"

Ryan was too distraught to answer, but his eyes widened in horror at seeing the delicate gift in this monster's hand.

"He bought didn’t he? A token of his love perhaps? Well now it can be a symbol."

Gabriel raised his arm and threw the object to the ground.

Frank jumped when he heard the crash. He sat up and listened, but heard nothing else. He was about to go back to sleep, but then he heard footsteps going past his door. It was too late for servants. His mother perhaps? Frank got up and putting on his dressing gown walked to his door. He opened it slowly and quietly and was shocked to see the back of a man. As his eyes adjusted he held in a gasp. It was Gabriel.

"Ryan."

Frank quickly closed his door as Gabriel started to turn. When he heard the footsteps continue, he opens the door again and quickly made his way to his brother’s room.

"Ry?"

No answer. Frank could hear something though. He took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Ry...oh Ry."

Ryan was on his knees. His night shirt ripped hanging off of him. He was cradling pieces of colored glass in his hands that were bleeding along with his knees. Ryan looked up with despair and pain clear in his big brown eyes. He was shaking from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, a tiny blue glass butterfly in his palm; the only surviving piece of the smashed ornament...the tip of its right wing was missing.

"He...he..."

Ryan broke down, his face crumpling as he let out a tortured cry.

“Ryan."

Frank scooped his baby brother up and carried him out of his room to his own. He had a feeling that his bed was not where Ryan wanted to be right now. He placed him on his own bed. Ryan held the butterfly like it was the only thing that was holding him together...he thought that maybe it was.

"Ryan, talk to me, what happened?"

Ryan pulled his knees into his chest, his wet eyes focused on the butterfly.

"He touched me..."

His voice came out quiet and strangely flat now that he wasn't sobbing like a child.

"And he lied to me."

Frank didn't know what question to ask first. He wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.

"He said Michael's only after my body...he's not...he loves me. He said you are a harlot..."

Ryan moved empty eyes to meet Frank's.

"What did he mean?...why would he say that?"

Frank sighed.

"Let's get you cleaned up first and then I will tell you."

Ryan held out the tiny glass butterfly to show Frank.

"He broke it."

"I see. Here."

Frank went and got a cloth. He carefully took the butterfly and placed it on. He then went and got some water from the basin and cleaned the blood off Ryan's hands and knees. Not having proper bandages, he used cloth strips to bind the wounds. Once he was done, he placed the cloth with the butterfly back into Ryan's hands.

"Do you have any memory from when you were almost eight years of age?"

Ryan frowned minutely.

"I remember you were happy...then you weren't."

"It was...it was right before my debut. I was excited. I shared that excitement with my favorite older cousin."

Ryan's eyes widened.

"But you hate G-Gabriel."

He hated that his voice shook when he said the man's name.

"I didn't used to. Once upon a time Gabriel was practically my older brother. He was ten years my senior, just like I am yours. He understood how I felt having a younger brat under foot."

Frank smiled at Ryan affectionately.

"He was my best friend and my confidant, I told him everything. Everything."

"So what changed?"

"I heard stories about the monsters that some courtiers can be. I was afraid for the wedding night and the pain. Gabriel...offered to show me how to...avoid the pain."

Frank looked away ashamed. It was a pathetic ruse and he fell for it. He let Gabriel manipulate him into giving him his virginity. He then spread rumors that he was promiscuous. The other boys in society shunned him. His courtiers assumed he was a sure thing and stopped coming to him for marriage proposals and offered proposals of another kind. Frank was hurt and felt the pain of betrayal. He buried himself in books and refused to see suitors anymore.

"He...he took your..."

Ryan's mouth went dry.

"Why did you never tell me?...All this time you have hated him and you would never tell me why."

"I wanted to protect you. I thought I could if I made it impossible for suitors to even come to the house...I never thought that he..."

Ryan shook his head.

"This is not your fault Frank...please don't even think of blaming yourself."

"He didn't...did he?"

Ryan tilted his head, not understanding for a moment...his eyes widened when he realised what Frank meant.

"No! No no Frank, he didn't...he..."

He took a deep breath, looking down at the butterfly to give him strength.

"He m-made me or-orgasm."

He whispered, his cheeks flaring red.

"Was...was it your first?"

Ryan ducked his head lower, hiding his blush behind his hair.

"Yes."

He said in a tiny voice.

"That bastard! I'll kill him!"

Ryan sobbed, shaking his head emphatically.

"He's t-too strong...he'll hurt y-you."

"I don't care! He is not getting you too!"

"What do we do?...could we run away?...with Michael and Gerard?"

Ryan looked up hopefully.

"I need to talk to Gerard about it."

Frank saw Ryan yawn.

"Come, sleep in here with me. In the morning we will tell mother that we had gone for a ride to temper ourselves and fell. The bandages will help the story. Then you feign not feeling well and stay in bed. I will take care of the rest."

"Alright Frank...and Frank?"

Ryan said, stifling another yawn.

"Yeah Ry?"

Frank crawled into the bed next to him.

"Thank you."

Ryan's eyes fluttered closed and then he was asleep.

*

*

*

"I'm so sorry that Ryan is not feeling well this morning. He did look like he had a very rough night. The poor dear was delirious and crawled into the wrong bed even."

"What a shame. Well you will give him my regards of course."

"Of course."

Gabriel left the manor. He mounted his horse and looked up at where the brother's wing was. He saw Frank at the window. He scowled at him and Gabriel just smiled. He was fine with not being able to see Ryan this morning. He had another meeting and this one was going to get the older Iero out of his way once and for all.

"He's gone."

Frank turned to the bed where his brother was huddled under the covers. He looked every bit the child that he was.

"I'm scared Frank..."

Ryan said quietly.

"What happens when he comes back?"

"We will deal with it together, I promise."

Ryan smiled weakly.

"Come sit with me?...please?"

Frank smiled and moved to the head of the bed. He cradled Ryan in his arms gently.

"I...I can't marry him."

"I know. I'll do what I can to stop both our marriages and you know the Ways will help."

"Michael!..."

Ryan wailed, sitting up suddenly, face contorted with sorrow.

"What will he say when he knows what Gabriel d-did?"

"I will never tell him and neither will you."

"I w-won't?"

"Do you really want him to know?"

Ryan shook his head quickly.

"No but...but I don't want to lie to him...that is no way to start a life together...is it?"

Frank sighed.

"When you are ready, you can talk to him about it. Right now though, no more talk. Let us rest; we have the whole day free."

Ryan sagged against Frank's chest, his breath hitching.

"Alright..."

He yawned.

"A rest sounds good."

Frank snuggled down and yawned as well. The brothers clung to each other as they slept and both dreamed of a life with the Ways.

*

*

*

"What you say make much sense Master Saporta."

"Please Gabriel; we are going to be family soon."

"Yes well then please call me Maxwell."

The professor sat back and pondered what Gabriel proposed.

"I could put him with my sister and her husband. She is a right sensible girl and could fill his head with the proper’s of society that he will need to be on my arm."

"Of course."

"I will send a letter round and if all is settled, I will go and talk to Lady Iero first thing in the morning."

"I am glad that we see eye to eye Maxwell."

"Yes, I do too. Well I must get ready for my next meeting. Much to do before classes start again."

"Of course."

Gabriel rose and shook Maxwell's hand. As he made his way out he smiled.

"Oh Cousin Frank, you will not be able to talk yourself out of this one...and once you are gone...Ryan will be mine for good."

Michael paced back and forth. It had been less than 24 hours since he had seen Ryan, but he was worried for him. What if Frank could not keep his promise? What would happen then?"

"Michael, come sit down please. You are making me dizzy with your pacing."

Gerard said from his place on the love seat under the window as he sipped his cognac.

"This will all work out, you'll see."

"Is it strange that this was the scene from yesterday except that you are fully confident now that you have Frank."

"As should you be, now that you have Ryan."

"I don't trust Gabriel. He has some sort of...plan, I can feel it."

"God!..."

Gerard exclaimed loudly, hitting his fist against the back of the seat.

"That man makes my blood boil. He will not win Michael, I promise you that."

"I hope so Gee, for yours and their sake I do."

Gerard stood and walked to the window.

"You and Ryan are meant to be, no monster like Gabriel Saporta can change that."

Michael smiled.

"You really are amazing at times Gee."

Gerard laughed bitterly, turning back to his brother.

"I wish I believed that...but my past tells me otherwise..."

He smirked.

"I fear I am not the pure hearted man that Frank deserves...I worry that he will turn away when he knows how many men I have been with...but like you, I know I can't lie to him..."

He looked down at the floor.

"He will leave me, won't he?"

"Gerard, this is the most sincere I have ever seen you be pursuing someone. That counts for something."

"I love him...more than I ever thought I could love anyone."

"I believe you and that is why he will too."

Michael rested a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder and squeezed lightly. Gerard smiled softly.

"I hope so."

***Time Stamp: The Next Morning***

"I think it is a lovely idea. He really is too old to still be living at home and I am sure that he will benefit from it before your marriage."

"I was just unsure of the propriety of it Lady Iero."

"Nonsense Professor Hartwell. I will start preparations tonight and he will be ready to leave by the week's end."

"You are too kind to do this on such short notice."

"You leave everything to me. I am sure he will be delighted with the idea."

Lady Iero bid her oldest child's betrothed goodbye.

"Tilly, I need to start packing Frank's personal things. He will be moving locations by the week's end."

"May I ask where mum?"

"Cambridge."

"No. Nononono..."

Ryan chanted quietly to himself from just outside the door, hidden in the shadows of the hallway. This could not happen...he had to warn Frank. Turning away, he headed toward the stairs. Tilly heard the lithe footsteps hurrying. She knew it was young Master Iero. She needed to give them time. Ryan ran quietly up the stairs and to Frank's bedroom. He opened the door quickly without knocking and slipped inside before closing it with a soft click behind him.

"Frank..."

He cried, tears streaming down his cheeks as he threw himself into his brother's arms.

"They...they are..."

He shook his head.

"We can't let them."

Frank looked up from his book. It was one of the ones that Gerard purchased for him.

"What? Who? What are you talking about Ryan?"

Ryan sobbed, biting his lip to stop it shaking.

"Mother and Professor Hartwell...they are sending you t-to Cambridge...by the week's end."

"WHAT!?"

Frank fell off the lounge he was on. The duvet slipped over his head. Ryan nodded miserably as he sunk to his knees next to Frank.

"I overheard them talking...you are to be sent to live with the Professor's family until your wedding...what are we going to do?"

"We need to go see Gerard. We sneak out tonight."

*

*

*

"I think I will turn in early Gee."

"Alright Michael, I am going to read a while longer, I will see you in the morning."

Michael kissed his brother's head and went to leave the salon when the doors flew open.

"GERARD!"

"Frank?...what are you doing here?"

Gerard rushed over and pulled the clearly distressed man into his arms, holding him close as he saw Ryan crash into Michael's chest.

"What's happened?..."

He lifted Frank's face up so he could look into his eyes as he leaned in and kissed him softly for a moment before parting their lips to speak.

"Talk to me."

"My mother..."

Frank faded in Gerard's arms.

Gerard scooped Frank up and carried him to the love seat, then sat down with the smaller man in his lap.

"Frank?"

He looked over to where Ryan was shaking in Michael's arms before looking back at his Frank.

"What is going on?"

"M-mother is s-sending Frank away."

Ryan whimpered out.

"What do you mean away, like a monastery?"

"No. I overheard her t-talking with Professor Hartwell..."

Ryan swallowed as tears fell.

"Frank is being sent to Cambridge to stay with the P-Professor's family until the...the wedding."

"Like HELL he is!"

Gerard raged.

"They can't do this...they won't...I will not let this happen."

"What can you do Gee? We have no power. Both you and I are unwelcome on the Iero Estate."

Gerard bit on his lip, a frown creasing his forehead.

"I don't know, but we will think of something."

"Ryan, stay here tonight, please. We don't have to sleep together again...well we should not have in the first place, but..."

"Yes..."

Ryan interrupted with a smile, placing a finger over Michael's lips to hush him.

"Of course we will stay...it is getting too dark to travel back now anyway."

Michael smiled and then turned to his brother.

"Gee I..."

Michael could see that Gerard was lost in the boy in his own arms. He motioned for Ryan to follow him out and left them be closing the door behind them.

"Frank, I promise that I will protect you, no matter what the cost."

Gerard murmured as he brushed Frank's dark hair from his forehead, loving the feel and the contrast to his own pale skin. He leaned down and kissed Frank's forehead softly.

"Gee."

Frank's eyes fluttered open. He looked up and saw Gerard's face and smiled...then recoiled in horror.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to call you...I..."

Frank was trying to scramble out of the older man's arms.

Gerard held onto him a little tighter, but not so tight that he would feel trapped, just that he was wanted, and not rejected.

"It's alright Frank..."

He assured.

"I like it."

"No no no, it isn't right, your brother gets to call you that, not I."

Gerard chuckled a little.

"Frank we are going to be married. I see no reason why you should not call me that..."

He looked down, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

"Besides, I like it a lot better when you say it..."

He looked up, a little worried about Frank's reaction.

"It affected me."

"Affected you?"

Frank tilted his head slightly like a puppy that heard a strange noise. Gerard let his eyes flick down to his crotch, hoping that Frank may understand, and that he would not need to put it into words. Frank followed Gerard's gaze and gasped.

"Gerard! That's not right! I cannot believe you even..."

"I'm sorry!..."

Gerard said quickly, looking away and lifting Frank off of him and onto the seat next to him before standing up and turning around so Frank couldn't see the pain on his face.

"That was inappropriate of me..."

He hung his head.

"Please forgive me?"

Frank didn't know what to say. The last time someone spoke to him this candidly was...

"We are both men so we can talk like this."

"Yes, but my role is not the same as yours Gabe."

"I know, which makes it even more delicious. Now come here."

"I don't know Gabe."

"What is there to know, don't you trust me Frankie?"

"I...I do, I'm sorry."

"No no no, please God no."

Frank sunk to his knees wrapping his arms around himself trying to push the feeling of his hands off his body. He was never able to erase the dirt that was permanent to his skin no matter how much he scrubbed away at it. Gerard turned around quickly, hearing the distress in his beloved's voice.

"Frank?..."

He moved a step closer and went to his knees too, but daren't touch him.

"Frank please talk to me?...tell me what's wrong?"

"I can still feel his hands on me. I told him no, but he said he loved me, he said he would take care of me. He said if I gave myself to him..."

"Hey woah woah woah..."

Gerard rushed out, his eyes wide and panicked.

"Someone...who?"

His voice dropped low and dangerous.

"...a-a-and I did. I gave him all of me and when he was done..."

"Frank!"

Frank looked up, his eyes glazed over.

"Yes Gabe?"

Gerard fell backward, a strangled gasp escaping his lips.

"No..."

He shook his head, tears threatening to fall.

"I'll kill him."

He whispered through clenched teeth, his hands in fists at his sides.

Frank continued to tremble.

Gerard pulled himself together, now was not the time to fall apart; Frank needed him.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he moved slightly closer again.

"Frank, he's not here, I will never let him hurt you again...I promise you my love."

"I don’t deserve love. No one wants to love someone that was used and discarded."

"Frank please hear me?...I love you more than anything in this world and I would die to protect you...please never doubt that you deserve love...you are the only man I have ever or could ever love..."

Gerard tentatively reached for Frank's hand...he did not want to scare him more than he already had.

"You are my world."

"Gee?"

Frank looked up at Gerard.

Gerard smiled sadly through his tears.

"I am here my love...you are safe with me."

He hated that Gabriel had dared to touch this beautiful boy...had made him feel like he was worthless. He vowed to himself that Gabriel would pay.

"Take it away."

Gerard paused his hand, an inch from Frank's.

"Take what?"

He asked quietly.

"This feeling. This stain he left on my skin, on my soul."

Gerard felt pain in his chest.

"My love, I will do whatever you need me to do...just tell me what to do."

Frank lip trembled.

"I want you to...take me."

Gerard's eyes widened. Of course he wanted that too, he had thought of little else since he'd met the feisty boy...but now?...after what he had just learned?

"My love are you sure?"

He asked gently, finally taking Frank's small hand in his.

"Yes, I want to remember your hands on me, not his. Please, take it all away and make it new again."

Gerard smiled reassuringly.

"Of course my love...anything you want."

Frank reached a shaking hand out to touch Gerard's face. Gerard turned his face into Frank's hand and softly kissed his palm.

"Thank you."

Gerard looked back at Frank.

"For what?"

"This."

Gerard smiled, shaking his head a little.

"No...thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance, and thank you for trusting me with you, and your heart."

Frank moved a little closer.

"Take care of it please?"

"Always."

Gerard leaned in and gently pressed his lips to Frank's.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks...how's you?

Poor, poor Ryan...anyone else want to kick Gabriel in the balls right now?

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