A Red-Haired Heaven

(A week later.)

My birthday was coming in one week. When someone tells you the years start to pass by quicker from the moment you turn eighteen, believe them. Because now I was about to turn twenty-three, and it seemed like it was only yesterday I was leaving the house where I lived with my parents and was moving to my own average apartment.
I was doing the laundry. Gerard had gone to get some things he said he was lacking of. ''Brushes and some paint'', were his words regarding to what he said he needed. Mikey was also gone to physiotherapy - I had left him at the hospital thirty minutes before, which meant he would only call me to pick him up forty-five minutes from that moment on. He was walking just fine now, but he still had a few more sessions to go. I went to his bedroom to check if he had any clothes that needed washing; I took them with me. I did the same with my clothes and Gee's. Sometimes, the few people I know ask why do we live all three together. I just answer that me and Gerard are looking for a place but we didn't see anything of our liking yet, but the truth is that I think we both truly enjoy living with Mikey. I don't know why, exactly. As for me, I just like knowing he's around. Besides Gerard, he's my best friend. Plus, I didn't even bring up the subject to him, but I made a mental note to do so. Lately, the thought of having him as my husband wasn't taking up too much space on my mind and I was happy about it, actually. I mean, It's kinda early to think about it, too. We didn't even make it to a one-year anniversary, yet. God, thinking like that makes it sound like we weren't going to make it to a year. The universe can be quite the bitch sometimes, but I suppose this wasn't going to be the case. Both me and Gerard deserved to be happy, I knew that.

Well, shit. I totally forgot we had to buy detergent. I could call Gerard but I figured it would do well if I got out of the house. The weather was turning colder as the days passed by, but if I took a jacket it would be nice and the supermarket was near. Why not? Oh, right, and I also forgot that I had my jacket inside the washing machine. I just took one of Gee's hoodies. They always looked huge on me but I didn't mind. His scent was on them and I just felt so comfortable. (Says the guy who has his balls squeezed on black ripped skinny jeans. Ha.)
I was walking down the aisle looking for the detergent. I was used to bring home the ''Lavander Breeze'' one, but I found one called ''Pumpkin Spice Burst'' and all my thoughts were gone. I know I sound crazy talking about detergent aromas, but it's a thing I've done since I was little and went to the supermarket with my grandmother. I used to take the caps off and smell them. Then I would had them to her and make her guess which smell was it. She always had them right. I saw myself smiling at the thought. I missed her so much...
After taking the chance to grab some more coffee and other things for home, I payed for it and got out of the supermarket. Walking down the street, I passed by the entrance to an alley, and saw two guys. One of them was being pulled up against the wall by the other man, about the same height as him, with flaming red hair.

I was certain I was delusional.
I wanted to be delusional.

My mind was playing tricks on me and I saw Gerard on that man. Why the fuck would I think of such a thing if I know Gerard? Why would my mind project that beautiful man on someone I never saw before? And above all, why was I projecting Gerard onto a man who was trying to rob another person? I was never scared of him before, and I knew he wasn't the type of person to do such a thing. My boyfriend is made of butter and sprinkles.
I counted precisely five steps until their gaze met mine. At a certain point, the only thing I was able to do was to remain static. The bag I was holding merely dropped on the floor as a lifeless body. I was feeling lifeless. I felt my vision blurry as gravity failed to keep my body straight and fell on the floor, just like that bag.

''Keep running, Frank! Come on, we're almost there!''
''I can't move! Wait for me!''
''You're too slow! Hurry up!''
''Where did all this fog come from? Gerard, wait for me!''
''Fra-''

There were five people. All dressed in greenish-blue, with caps and white masks. They had white rubber gloves. There was blood in their gloves. That was my blood. I was covered in blood. I felt pressure being applied to my chest, There was so much blood, oh God. I wasn't gonna make it. What the hell happened? Why was I covered in blood? Gerard? Gerard, where are you?

Gerard!

I drifted onto sleep once more, but this time I had no dreams. Neither good or bad.
After that, the only memory I have is of being released from my sleep by Gerard's lips being pressed against my forehead.

''Please, wake up F-Frankie, please... I can't live without you, p-please, don't leave me...''

I slowly opened my eyes, trying to adjust myself to the luminosity of the hospital room. Outside it was already getting dark. Gerard was sobbing quietly, sitting right next to my bed, begging me to wake up. His eyes were bloodshot-red and swollen, so I figured he had been crying for a while now. His hand was holding mine as if it was made of porcelain, like if he let it go I would break into a million pieces.
I felt my hands. I felt my legs. I felt my arms.
It was when I tried to stand up that I felt it. That sharp sting all over my chest. I layed my eyes on my chest and saw bandages covering it carefully. There was a patch of dry blood approximately the size of half the palm of my hand, just below my collarbone, next to my right shoulder. Gerard felt my attempt of moving myself. He noticed I was starting to wake up. He lifted his head and stared at me with tears in his eyes, hoping I'd be able to realise where I was.

- Frankie? - He asked softly, removing the strand of hair that was sticking to my forehead with his fingetips.
- G'rard? - I mumbled?
- You're awake, you're h-here, you know I'm here, oh my god, I'm here Frankie, I'm here and I'm s-sorry if I wasn't t-there when it happened, I'm so fucking sorry! - He sobbed against my hand. I felt familiar with his warmth, and it was enough to wake me up.
- Baby, 'm here, don't cry, 'kay? - It was my best answer. I was starting to feel a bit dizzy and as a consequence my speech wasn't the best at the moment.
- I wasn't there when it happened, I'm so sorry... - He murmured, tears falling from his eyes. I hated seeing Gerard cry, but he still managed to be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. His greenish-hazel eyes would always look greener when he cried, and his eyelashes glued with tears between eachother. Some might state it's probably just infatuation. We all think the person with who we are in love is the most beautiful human being in existence. But this wasn't the case. Gerard was gorgeous even when he made the most silly expressions. He was truly beautiful, y'know? I tried to make him feel better. I tried to calm him down. And I knew just the thing to do it.

- Lay with me, please? - I asked with a small smile drawn in my lips, my eyes semi-closed. And so he did.

He placed himself carefully by my side on the bed, his arm curled over my head. I could tell he was uncomfortable but I couldn't move to give him a better position. Everytime I tried to move the muscles on my torso everything would just hurt like if I had a giant bruise covering my entire chest, or like if I had done a chest tattoo.
I turned my head to ask him how he was, but his precious little face was the face of someone who had fallen asleep. He always looked so vulnerable when he slept. Not the ''bad'', ''broken'' vulnerable. The good one. The vulnerable I knew I could protect and take care of. Like if he was a lonely flower on the planet after an apocaplypse. Like if he held every ounce of sunshine on him, every ounce of life.
I joined him on his sleep, now too tired to think of ''how's'' and ''why's'' or ''for how long's'', holding his hand gently so he wouldn't wake up, and pressed my lips against his neck. His smell and his breathing lulled me onto sleep, as I felt the last tears he let go drying on his skin.
–
- ...then I just took the keys and drove here as fast as I could. I don't understand how anyone could do such a thing to him. He's so harmless, Mikes, I just don't understand why!
- Gee, I know, but it wasn't your fault, it wasn't his fault either.
- I wasn't there to help him, Mikey, it was my fault!
- Gerard, shut your fucking mouth! Frank is going to wake up and you are going to do you have to do, which is to support him and help him getting better, just like you did with me. Look at me, sometimes you could easily win the award for ''The Biggest Asshole Alive'', but if there's one thing I know about you is that you never loved anyone more than you love him
I heard the ending of their ''moderated argument'' as I was waking up. They were trying to keep a low tone but Mikey started hissing and I wasn't feeling sleepy anymore either.

- H-Hey, guys. - I muttered.
'See what you did?' - Gerard mouthed to Mikey,which made him cross his arms and look over the window rolling his eyes. - Good morning sweetheart, how are you feeling?
- Well, my chest still hurts like hell, but I slept pretty good.
- Do you remember anything that happened yesterday? - Mikey asked me, now with concern filling his face.
- I just remember coming out of the supermarket, I was making my way home and then I saw a guy trying to rob another person, he was pulling him up against the wall, I walked towards them and as soon as the robber saw me I just remember seeing Gee. Like, literally, my brain assumed that man was Gerard just because he had the same hair color. Then I remember losing my senses one at a time... And I think that's it. - I answered, trying to think of some other detail I had slipped. I saw the look on Gee's face when I told them about it. I saw him gasp. And I sure did feel his concern mixed up with... Fear, maybe? His facial expression was overall made of shock.
- You were shot, Frank. The man on the run was caught by police officers shortly after it happened. The guy who was robbed just ran. Fuckin' asshole. - Mikey stated, clearly upset. - The doctor said you were really lucky to get out of it, but the bullet wasn't deep enough because of the way you were holding the bag and the fact that your chest muscles are strong, so it didn't pierced your lung. You do have a fractured bone, but it will heal up in two weeks or less. You might feel super sore and get bruised because of the impact of the bullet, although they said they're going to give you something for the pain.
- It's cool, if the doctors said that I'll be okay. Just another day in the life of Frank 'Bruises' Iero, am I right? And, hey, my birthday is in one week so that's great! - I laughed weakly, feeling the pain we were talking about at the moment stinging my chest. Mikey got a text message in the meantime.
- Uhm, hey... Guys? I'm gonna leave you alone now, I gotta... I gotta go to the bathroom. - He was clearly making up an excuse. He was going to see Dr. Vicenzo. Was that still going on? Should I ask him about it?
- Yeah, sure, go ahead! - I answered. Mikey left me and Gerard in the room.
- Baby, you have no idea of how much I wanted to hear your voice again. - He muttered, tears prickling in his eyes.
- I was so scared of losing you, I was so scared of leaving you behind, Gee. - I was. I was shit scared of dying, I still had so much to live. I still had Gerard, and making him happy was my priority at the moment. He gave me everything I could ask for and sometimes more.
- I have to ask, Frankie... What made you... Uhm... See me in that guy? - He asked me, and I was at loss for words. I don't know why did I saw him on that guy.
- Maybe it was because of his hair... The color was so similar to yours, and it's not a natural color for one to have, so it's obviously not unnoticeable, and I guess it's just I'm so used to see it, my brain assumed it was you. But it wasn't you. You're the most kind person I've met until today, aside from my grandma and even Mikey. I know you wouldn't do something like that to me.

Gerard and I shared a look of trust as he held my hand and drew circles with his thumb in it. Someone knocked on the door and after I gave my permision, Gerard already had stood up.

- I'll get it, honey, don't worry. - He smiled at me. I still can't get over his cute little teeth.

It was Mikes and Dr. Vicenzo. I looked over at Mikey, who wouldn't stop smiling, and even Dr. Vicenzo was turning red, smiling shyly to the ground, trying not to lose his posture. He wasn't with his professional uniform. That was weird. I think it was actually the first time I'd seen him in casual clothes. It must have been his day off. He followed Mikey with short steps until meeting my bed.

- Hello, Frank, how are you feeling? - Dr. Vicenzo asked, handshaking me before he put his hands on his jeans pockets.
- Good morning, Doc. I'm fine, it just feels like I have something burning my chest whenever I try to get up, but it's better than last night.
- Frank, since today isn't a work day for me, you can call me Aaron. I feel like that's too professional. Only if you want, obviously. Just don't feel so restrained. Outside or inside work I'm still a normal person. - He shrugged, giving both me and Gerard a reassuring look and a smile, as he fixed his hair with his hand. Then he proceeded. - Did you sleep well?
- Oh, okay. Well, Gerard stayed with me the entire night, so, yes. - I said with a shy voice. Gee smiled, looking at his lap. - By the way, I don't even know about this, but how long have I been here?
- You were... shot in the afternoon. I got distracted in the store and Mikes called me telling me he was getting worried about the time you were taking to let him know you were coming to get him. So I came to the hospital to meet him. I tried calling you and you wouldn't answer – that's when I started getting really worried. I met Mikey outside the hospital and then some doctor recognized us and told us about you. I freaked out. When we knew about it, you were already in surgery and the only thing we could do was wait. As soon as you were able to receive visitors in your bedroom, I just came to see you and, well, the rest you already know... Then Mikey called Aaron and he said he'd come visit you as soon as he could. So, basically you've been here for two days now. - Gerard told me. Damn.

- Oh, okay, then. - I was totally going to ask Aaron about Mikes, now. - So... The two of you. Is that a... ''thing''? Without meaning to be rude, of course.
- Is it that obvious? - He chuckled, staring at Mikey, gently holding his hand.
- Well, I knew it since day one, to be fair. Mikey is good at keeping secrets, but not this one. - Gerard choked himself on air and glanced at me because he knew exactly what I was referring to. Haha.
- How come I was the only one who wasn't aware of this? - Gerard whined.
- Well, maybe because you were too busy painting your boyfriend to show him off to everyone. Among other things. - Mikey smirked rolling his eyes to me. Well, that caught me by surprise. And apparently he obtained the reaction he had planned on getting from me. Somehow the three of us were all remembering ''certain'' recent events. Telepathy, much?
- I remember that painting, it was stunning. Very well made, if I must say, Gerard. Congratulations! You do have amazing skills and talent, from what I was able to see. And the event itself was incredible overall. - Gerard murmured a ''thank you'' and held my hand, blushing like crazy. He'd always get so happy whenever people compliemnted his art. He earned every single compliement, let's be real.
- So, how did that happened? My brother and you? - Gee asked Aaron. He wasn't awkward or anything, he was truly curious, and honestly, so was I. Mikey hadn't been telling me anything lately and I fully respect that, because I know whenever he needs to talk to me he does it.
- The universe has a certain way of doing things, I guess. Michael helped me when I needed the most, and ironically, so did I. We've grown very fond of eachother, and he's my dream come true.

Wow. I wasn't expecting that, either. I liked seeing them as a couple. It's strange, but they seem good for eachother. Mutual healing, physical and psychological. It's balanced, in a way. I was happy for them, really.

The hours passed by. Mikes left for lunch with Aaron and Gee had lunch with me. The food wasn't the best, but as long as I had his company, everything was alright. By the end of the day Gee texted me, when he was already at home with Mikey.

(6:47pm) From: Gee <3
Hope you're feeling better, baby. The doctors said you would be able to come home tomorrow night, they just need to run some tests and you're good to go! I'm gonna take care of you and cuddle you all you want. You're the best thing ever, I love you, midget! :) <3

(6:50pm) To: Gee <3
That's rad! I hope I get better by the time of my birthday. Not like I'm going to do anything special, it's just another day of me getting old, but I want to spend that day with you at my best :) I love you more <3

I put the phone down, getting another text from him telling me to get some rest. I felt tired so he was right. I should get some rest. I turned the TV on and just watched The Simpsons until I fell asleep once more, feeling my bed empty without Gerard. My own heaven made of marble-white skin.

Notes