Chapter Text

When Gerard was sixteen and Mikey was thirteen, there had been this one time where Mikey had been sick and their parents, both being away on a business trip, were unable to look after him. In fear of Mikey sticking a fork in the toaster, not an unlikely thing to happen, and burning the house down if left on his own, Gerard had called in school and informed them neither one of them would be coming in today.

Gerard and Mikey had stayed in the living room together all day, squashed up on the sofa drinking hot chocolate - mixed in with a little cinnamon for Mikey, and a little vodka for Gerard - and watching horror movies than Mikey was far too young to watch and that Gerard was far too laid back to object to. It had been one of the greatest days of Gerard's life, and hell if that wasn't depressing. The fact was: Gerard was a depressed teenager, and sitting with the person he loved most in the world, relaxing and having fun and laughing at all the cheap, unrealistic gore whilst Mikey cowered in his place behind a plush cushion was his opinion of fun.

Then, after the movie had been taken out of the DVD player, the news had come on and they had sat in silence, listening as a piece about a teacher who had slept with his underage student flashed across the screen.

"It's sick, isn't it?" Mikey had exclaimed, shattering the comfortable silence that had descended upon them.

Gerard had frowned, not convinced. "But ... If they're really in love, then surely -" he had started to object but Mikey had cut him off in that self-righteous way that all newly-turned-teenagers had.

"But he didn't love her! He's just a pervert! He just completely took advantage of her and she didn't know any better 'cause she was so young!"

Gerard didn't think seventeen was so young, but at that moment there had been a knock at the door and it had been Bert, Gerard's best friend, skipping school to see if he was okay. The argument was forgotten by the time Bert left.

***

Gerard felt sick. He had preyed on a seventeen year old - a kid! It didn't matter that Frank seemed to want it too, or that Frank had a scorpion tattoo on his neck that Gerard would eagerly sink his teeth into given half a chance. None of that mattered, because Frank was a student. And Gerard was his teacher.

What had been going through Frank's mind, Gerard wondered, when he had run away? Had he been going to tell someone? To get Gerard arrested? Not that Gerard didn't deserve it - what had he been thinking?

No, he wouldn't tell. He was scared, that was it. Gerard didn't have to imagine how scary it was to develop feelings for someone that you couldn't be with. All the same, Gerard couldn't help wishing that Frank hadn't run away. If he had stayed just a little longer, they could have talked about things. Sorted things out so that Gerard wasn't left feeling so on edge. Why hadn't he stopped him from running? Why hadn't he gone after him? Oh well. He would just have to take him out of his fifth lesson. Then Frank would have to talk to him.

***

Gerard was more than a little worried to discover Frank wasn't in his fifth lesson, although it wasn't entirely a surprise. Of course Frank would skip after what had happened. He debated going to Frank's friend, Ray Somethingorother with the big hair and high pitched voice, but then decided against it for several reasons. He didn't want Ray to suspect something, he didn't want anyone else to suspect something and, as petty as it sounded, he didn't want Frank to think he was desperate.

Gerard wanted Frank. It was as simple as that. Gerard was used to getting what he wanted, and for him to be denied Frank ... Well. It made him more than a little frustrated.
Gerard wasn't self centred. More ... self assured. He knew he was good looking. He good be aggressive when he wanted to be. He could be kind when he wanted to be but above all else he could be manipulative as hell when he wanted to be. As much as the thought of taking advantage of Frank repulsed him - he couldn't stand the thought of being a peadophile, Frank is someone's son! - the thought of making Frank want him back was appealing. He could leave Frank alone. He could pretend it never happened.

But it would be much more fun to tease Frank until the kid was throwing himself at Gerard.
Yeah. This was going to be fun, Gerard decided.

***

Gerard and Mikey didn't live together. They had both made that very clear to their parents once they both moved out. However, it was rare for them not to spend the night at each others' houses at least three times a week. What could they say? They were best friends, and as best friends they had a lot to talk about.

Gerard was at Mikey's place tonight, slumped on the couch and half watching The Evil Dead as Bruce Campbell debated whether or not to cut up his girlfriend with a chainsaw. He had Frank on the brain.

"Hey, Gee?" Mikey started as he walked back into the living room. He was carrying a box of takeaway pizza which he promptly refused to share with Gerard. Gerard, used to his brother's pizza-depreiving antics by now just sighed and uttered a bored, "Yes?"

"You don't by any chance teach a short kid, do you?"

Gerard snorted, rolled his eyes and turned the volume up on the TV. "I teach many short kids, Mikey. I work at a school."

Mikey punched his brother's arm lightly and continued. "No, I mean like an old short kid. Dark hair, great hoodie, think he had some tattoos but I couldn't be sure."
Gerard, who had just heard a pretty accurate description of Frank, perked up and this and nodded eagerly. "Why?"

"'Cause I saw one today. In CC's, buying bad beer. He seemed pretty down. Said his name was Frank." Mikey was looking over at the older man and frowning. Whereas Mikey could always keep his emotions in check and keep quite a pretty impressive poker face - if he did say so himself - Gee couldn't. Mikey watched as a myriad of emotions flitted across his face. He saw him struggling to keep the smile off his face as he casually responded.

"Frank Iero? Sure, I teach him."

"Oh, you do, huh?" Mikey drawled, raising an eyebrow at Gee who then sighed dramatically at Mikey.

"Just tell me what he said, bitch." He said bluntly, all pretences of not caring forgotten.

"He was complaining about a guy. Saying he liked him but he couldn't be with him. Seemed like a pretty sad situation if you ask me."

Gerard, who would usually have muttered something like, 'nobody asked you asshole' in any normal situation, chose to remain silent, instead opting to bite his bottom lip to the point where Mikey let out an exasperated sigh.

"Ok, spill."

And Gerard, being the honest, caring man he was, spilled. He wasn't really concentrating on what he was saying as he told Mikey the whole sorry story; a plan was already forming in his mind.

"Wait so ... when he was talking about that guy... he was talking about you the whole time?" Gerard nodded absentmindedly and then sat up very straight, very alert.

"Mikey, when you were talking to him, you never mentioned my name, right? He doesn't know you're my brother?" Mikey shook his head slowly, cautiously.

"Good." Gerard turned to his little brother, who had been with him his whole life, who he knew would help him out in any situation if he asked. "Mikey: I have a plan, and I need your help."

Notes

This was a little boring, I know, but there will be more Frerard action soon, I promise. <3