He Likes Me

Frank's eyes fluttered open to see a black haired angel hovering over him, smiling a bright, wide smile that lit up all his features. Frank would have taken a moment to admire his lover's perfect brown eyes and smooth complexion and cute little upturned nose if he wasn't so goddamned tired.

He groaned and rolled over, pulling the covers over his head as he heard Gerard's soft, tinkling laugh from above him. The bed shook a little as he felt the older man get off it, and then his heavy footfalls could be heard traveling around the room and stopping when he was directly in front of Frank's face. The boy squeezed his eyes shut, trying desperately to slip back into the dreamless sleep which his boyfriend seemed determined to steal from him.

"Frankie..." Gerard whispered, tickling the boy's nose to wake him up. Even though Frank looked adorable when he was sleeping peacefully, it was almost midday and Gerard had to go out at two. He couldn't help but kiss Frank's lips softly, and smiled accomplishedly when the teenager started to kiss back. Frank shuffled backwards until he could lean against the headrest at the head of the bed, propping himself up with his elbows.

As soon as the boy's eyes were open and he wasn't in any danger of falling asleep again, Gerard stood up and held out a hand for Frank to pull himself up with - which he did, grudgingly.

"Mikey already left. He wanted to beat the traffic and get to my parent's house before it got dark; he told me to tell you he's sorry he couldn't say goodbye."
Frank blinked a few times in confusion, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and yawning widely.

"Wha - why didn't you - you should have woken me up. I could - could have made you both breakfast." His sentence was broken up with yawns and little sniffles and Gerard would have hugged him if he weren't busy making the bed. Thanks to Frankie's hiding-under-the-covers idea, the sheets were messy and wrinkled and were greatly in need of being straightening out.

Gerard didn't understand why everybody he knew seemed content to live in pigsties! Was it really so hard to make the bed in the morning and clean dishes after they're used, and wipe the kitchen counters with disinfectant spray after cooking on them and turning off electrical appliances when you leave the room? He supposed he was partly to blame; he had created Frank the way he was so he could hardly complain.

"You were too cute to wake up. Besides, you're my boyfriend, not my slave - you don't have to do stuff for me." Gerard replied, shrugging and not missing the grin that spread across Frank's face when Gerard said the word 'boyfriend'.

"But I owe you. Owe you my life Gee. I owe you everything." Frank said seriously, his eyes never leaving his lover as the man hurried around their bedroom - theirs! - unnecessarily tidying things. Frank knew Gerard had severe OCD; he didn't know why or when it had begun but he loved Gerard - loved him with everything in his heart - and in his opinion, the man's flaws just made him all the more desirable. People seemed to think famous people had no flaws, no faults, but knowing Gerard was a human with human characteristics and human problems just made Frank love him more - more than he thought was possible.

Gerard stood up straight so fast he made himself dizzy, and he looked at Frank with wide eyes.
The boy glanced at him, his lips parted slightly in confusion of the sudden action. He was reminded of the morning Gerard had woken up and freaked out on him, threatening to throw him out of the house and claiming he had no idea who Frank was. They had been together roughly a month before that and the only other time he had been as frightened as he had then was his first night on the streets.

When Gerard charged over to him, taking big, long strides with a fire in his eyes that made Frank's heart pound erratically in his chest, Frank honestly thought the man was going to hit him like his father had when he came out and he couldn't help but cower in fear. Gerard surprised Frank by stopping right in front of him, and when he raised a hand it was to cup his cheek and comfortingly stroke his hair rather than to strike him. Frank whimpered in the back of his throat and nuzzled the palm of his boyfriend's hand, still unsure what he had done to upset Gerard.

"Don't ever say that Frankie." Gerard insisted gently, his fingertips trailing up and down from Frank's jawline to his temple. "I don't want you to think you have to do anything for me just because you think I saved you. That's bullshit, Frankie and you know it; you live here because you're my boyfriend, and that means this house - and everything in it - is yours as much as it is mine. You understand?"

Frank nodded meekly; it was obvious this subject wasn't up for debate and it would just irritate Gee if Frank tried to tell him that he did owe him things, he owed him his life and he always would. Gerard had saved him the day he invited him home and for that Frank would be eternally grateful. He could see why the man was worrying, of,course he could: in Gerard's mind, Frank delusionally felt he owed him - he would be worried Frank was only with him because of that debt. That was as far from the truth as it was possible to get, but Frank couldn't think of a single way to show him that wasn't true.

Well, that was a lie... he could think of one.

Frank took half a step closer to Gerard, closing the distance between them easily, and wrapped his arms around Gerard's waist - though that was more because it was easiest to reach. Frank wasn't usually the one to initiate something - as a submissive, it was his job to stand back as let Gerard do the thinking and deciding for him - but he knew sex would calm the older man down and he wanted to show just how much Gerard meant to him.

Gerard returned the hug happily, if a little cautiously, wondering what was going on in Frank's mind. He'd expected the boy to back down or to fight back, not avoid answering altogether.

After placing a chaste kiss on Gerard's chest, he walked backwards to the bed, never breaking eye contact with his lover. Gee's eyebrows furrowed in concentration, and then a startled, almost comical expression appeared on his face and he let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. Frank smirked discreetly, but soon replaced that with a childishly innocent look: wide eyes, wet lips, mouth agape.

Frank was suddenly very, very glad Mikey had already left.

Slowly, with all the grace of a professional dancer, Frank stripped off his pyjama t-shirt - and then deposited it not so gratefully on the floor. Gerard's eyes flickered to the garment in the middle of the floor and there was a small voice in the back of his mind telling him he should go and pick it up, dust it off and hang it up in the wardrobe; but that thought was ignored when he caught sight of what Frank chose to do next.

Slowly, the eighteen year old dragged his hands down his chest, pausing to tug lightly on his nipple and then let his fingers continue on their path down his torso. Frank made sure to twist his features into a convincing blissful expression, like he was really enjoying letting Gerard watch him - which he was. When he risked a glance up at Gee, Frank was pleased to see he was watching in silent awe as Frank rubbed his thumb in circles over the swallow tattoos inked onto his hips.

"Gerard..." Frank whispered, allowing his hand to slip underneath his pyjama bottoms and struggling to keep his innocent expression when he heard the older man make a noise that sounded like a cross between a moan and a wheeze; like he was literally struggling for breath thanks to Frank. Frank had to admit, that made him feel more than a little proud.

As soon as Frank had a hand wrapped around himself, slowly moving it up and down, Gerard was on the bed and crawling cat-like towards him. He stopped a little distance away from the boy, devouring the sight of his totally gorgeous boyfriend touching himself for his benefit.

"Off." Gerard choked out, his voice breaking embarrassingly. He repeated himself with a little more confidence than before. "Take them off."

Frankie obliged, shimmying out of his pyjama bottoms in a way that probably wasn't very attractive or sexy but did the job, until he was totally naked and hard in front of Gerard. It felt better doing this in front of his boyfriend and it felt even better when he realised Gerard's hand was now shoved down his pants and that he was getting off at the sight of Frank jerking off.

"You love me Frankie?" Gerard asked breathlessly, speeding up his hand movements to match his boyfriend's.

"Love you, Gee." The boy cried out, bucking his hips against his hand as he grew closer to finishing. "Love you so much."

Gerard lunged forward at the words, knocking Frank onto his back and smashing their lips together. Frank gasped and opened his mouth eagerly, moaning when the older man's tongue invaded his mouth. Gerard's hands fumbled with Frank's and when he was finally able to find them without breaking contact with Frankie's lips, he guided them to his own dick and let the younger boy jerk him off. The palm of Frank's hand was much softer than his own, but his fingertips were calloused from years of guitar playing; the mixed sensations were so intense that Gerard's hips faltered and he came with a desperate cry of pleasure.

The older man rolled onto his side as he panted through the aftershocks and left Frank to finish himself off, wincing when he realised he would have to wash the bed sheets.

"I have an interview this afternoon. Can you come with me?"
Frank rolled over to face his lover and smiled cheekily. "I thought I just did?"

***

It was a big crowd; bigger than Gerard's usual two dozen fans that followed him to every interview he attended just to get pictures with him. He would even go as far as to say that it was almost as big as the crowds that gathered to see him when he'd first written the damned book, and it was clear to everyone there that Frank was nervous being around so many strangers that simply adored his boyfriend.

When the couple hurried through the revolving doors to the hall, they were at least five minutes late and were greeted by Gerard's manager, Pete Wentz, who looked frighteningly angry.

"What the hell, Gerard?" He whisper-yelled as soon as he was close enough not to cause a scene. His eyes flickered over to Frank briefly but he quickly returned his attention to Gerard, who was shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. He squeezed Frank's hand reassuringly, being able to tell his temperamental manager was making his boyfriend uncomfortable.

"You know, with all the money you earned from your stupid fucking book, I'd would have thought you'd be able to afford a watch!" He hissed, gesticulating wildly and pointing aggressively at the clock hanging on the wall of the hallway. Frank shyed back a step and glanced at the clock, half expecting the inanimate object to fall off the wall under the power of Mr Wentz's accusing stare.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, Pete. You have to remind me about these things though!" Gerard defended himself weakly, attempting to defuse the tension between the three of them. Truth be told, Pete could be terrifying when he was in a mood and it was best to calm him down rather than rile him up. "It's been years since I wrote the book; why are there still articles on it anyway?"

"Because, my friend, people love your sick, twisted imagination." Pete sighed, gently pushing the two in the direction of the stage door, then pausing. "Wait, who is this?"

Gerard smiled at the mention of Frank - any excuse to tell people he had a stunning boyfriend was very welcome - and turned around to introduce him. "Oh right. Pete, this is Frankie. My boyfriend."

Frank smiled in what he hoped was a polite way and not a 'you're a scary motherfucker, please don't kill me' way. He thought about telling Pete it was nice to meet him, but decided he would be safer just keeping his mouth shut.

"What is he, twelve?" Pete accused, and the teenager bit his tongue to stop himself from yelling at the guy. This was Gerard's manager - practically his boss - and insulting the guy probably wasn't the best first impression he could make. He got lucky with Mikey liking him but his luck was unlikely to stretch to this short, angry man.

"Pete..." Gerard started warningly. He didn't want to put Pete in a mood, but he couldn't just stand by while the man verbally attacked his boyfriend.

"Whatever." he said bluntly. "He can't go on stage with you."

"Oh, that's fine," Frank cut in, eager to appease Mr Wentz, even though the man has done nothing but insult him and ignore him since they'd arrived. "I can wait in the car Gee."

"No, you don't have to do that babe. You can hang out backstage. Is Patrick back there?" A swift nod from Pete spurred Gerard on to grab his lover's hand and beckon him forward. "C'mon, Frankie."

Frank bit his lower lip and tried to ignore Gee's manager anxiously tapping his foot against the floor and pointedly staring at his watch at regular intervals. He was just about to refuse - to shake his head and say again that he'd wait in the car until Gerard came out - but then his boyfriend repeated himself in a differed voice.

"C'mon, Frank." He commanded, raising his eyebrows expectantly at the teenager, and fuck if that wasn't his bedroom voice; the voice he used to make demands. There was no way Frank was saying no to him now, not when those words alone sent shivers down his spine, so he nodded his head and followed the two older men obediently.

"You stay here and wait for them to call out your name, then just walk on, smile and answer their questions. 'Kay?" Pete spoke a mile a minute and Gerard just nodded, taking in what he could. Then Pete turned his attention to Frank and made a vague 'hurry up' motion with his hand. They walked past the curtained door that led out onto the stage - where Gerard had to wait - and were soon hurrying through crowded hallways into a big open space. People in fancy suits with professional looking clipboards were bustling about, shouting orders into a mouthpiece and frantically scribbling notes down onto pieces of paper. It was busy, intimidating and completely out of Frank's comfort zone. It didn't help that Pete, Frank's only ally, seemed to despise him.

"Wait here, don't touch anything, don't go anywhere, don't talk to anyone. I'm gonna go find Patrick to babysit you, but you break any of those rules and you're out of here. Got it, kid?" Frank didn't think the man could be any more patronising, but he swallowed his pride and nodded because he knew Pete wouldn't leave him alone if he didn't. Plus, Gerard wanted him to stay backstage and he would probably be ... ah, punished, if he got kicked out. Frank couldn't help but smirk at the thought, and he was tempted to break Pete the Prick's rules just to see what would happen. Before he could do that, though, he was startled by a loud roar of applause coming from the stage and he took an involuntary step back - right into someone.

"Oh, shit man! Sorry!" Frank apologised immediately, turning to see a short man with a cute hat covering neatly slicked back blonde hair.

"My bad." The man smiled friendlily, and Frank suddenly panicked that he had already broken one of the rules. He wasn't supposed to talk to anyone, but surely an apology didn't count ... right? Pete couldn't kick him out for saying sorry, right?

"You're Frank, aren't you?" The man checked, and grinned when he received a suspicious nod from the boy. "I'm Patrick. Pete sent me to keep an eye on you. Make sure you don't get into trouble, you get me?"

He looked happy enough to see Frank, and better yet he looked like he wasn't about to give Frank a lollipop and a pot of crayons and tell him to sit still, so Frank decided he wasn't that bad. If he was friends with Pete, he couldn't be all good, but as long as he wasn't treating Frank like a child he was alright.

"So, you're friends with Pete?" Frank asked with a hint of bitterness that Patrick didn't seem to pick up on. Instead he smiled dreamily and giggled, nodding so his hat fell off and he stooped to pick it up.

"Well, he's my husband actually." Patrick answered and Frank just about choked on his next words. It was hard to imagine this happy, bubbly man with the quirky fashion sense marrying the moody, condescending man that had ushered him backstage and threatened to throw him out.

Patrick, seeing Frank's gobsmacked expression, just laughed and shook his head. His cheeks were tinged with pink and he looked embarrassed.

"Yeah, I know he can be a handful sometimes but he's really sweet when you get to know him. It's just the stress of getting everything ready on time." The man was quick to jump to Pete's defence and Frank nodded; he didn't want to upset the only person who wanted to be his friend here.

"Yeah, I get it." Frank sighed. "Gee can be difficult sometimes, but I love him."

"So you and Gee are dating? How long has that been going on?"

"Just over a month. I know it's not long, but I really do love him." Frank said breathily, thinking of the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Some people would say he was too young to want to feel like that, but they couldn't know what he felt about the man that had saved his life in so many ways. They would never understand how much Frank loved him.

"Yeah, I can tell." Patrick said, and continued when he received a confused glance from the boy. "It's the way you look when you talk about him. Like ... your eyes light up and your voice gets softer and ... I can tell."

Frank nodded gratefully, glad the guy wasn't trying to persuade him otherwise.

"I was young when I met Pete and my parents told me I should wait until I finished uni to get married but I didn't want to. I knew I loved him then just like I know I love him now, so what was the point in waiting?"

Frank made a quiet sound of affirmation, and they stayed there for the rest of the interview, just talking about inconsequential things while Frank waited for the love of his life to come get him and take him home.

Notes