He Likes Me

Gerard woke to hysterical sobbing and an empty bed; whilst Frank was nowhere to be seen, Gerard could tell he was in the en suite bathroom due to the noise. The door was shut and, Gerard guessed, locked, but Frank was doing nothing to muffle the sound of his crying which led the older man to assume he wanted to be comforted.

Chewing on his bottom lip, Gerard slid out of bed and fought the desire to fold the covers neatly and plump up his pillow. That could wait, he told himself, right now Frank was his priority. The floor creaked as he walked slowly towards the bathroom and he cringed before he remembered he wasn't doing anything wrong; he was simply walking across his own floor towards his own bathroom. It's not like he was invading on a private moment.

Right?

"Frankie?" He called out tentatively, tapping at the door with his knuckles. The touch had been so light, and at first Frank didn't give any signs to aknowledge Gerard's presence, that he didn't think the boy had heard him at all. But then he heard a sniffle and the desperate cries died down to heartbreaking whimpering, and there was a click as Frank unlocked the door. Gerard swallowed, scared as to what he might find, before pushing the door open slowly, cautiously.

What he did see wouldn't be, in itself, not particularly troubling if you weren't completely besotted by the snivelling, shaking mess hunched in on himself, hiding behind the sink fearfully. Frank's eyes were red and puffy and his lips were chapped and sore looking; his nose was running and his hair was messy, presumably from gripping it with his fingers tightly. When he looked up at Gerard with big, innocent, watery eyes and the older man saw him trembling,

Gerard gasped and dropped to his knees immediately, shuffling over to Frank and hugging him.
Frank was cold and Gerard didn't know how long he'd been out of bed for, so he just held him that much closer like he could hug all the problems away. Frank gripped onto Gerard's pyjama shirt and laid his head in the crook of his boyfriend's neck, nuzzling closer and effectively wiping his tears onto Gerard's skin, who rubbed the boy's back both to calm him down and to warm him up. Goosebumps spread out on his skin under Gerard's hands and Gerard kissed Frank's cheek over and over again.

When Frank was able to breathe in and out without choking on his tears, Gerard pulled back a little bit and cupped his face. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked carefully, not wanting to scare the boy away or make him feel like he couldn't share his problems.

Frank opened his mouth and Gerard waited expectantly for him to say something; was mildly disappointed when the boy closed it again, and he ran a hand through Frank's hair in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture. A kind of, 'let me help' kind of gesture that his parents and brother always have to him when he was upset. It always worked with him, and it seemed to work for Frank too.

"Why would they hate me, Gee?" He asked, his voice shaking as his eyes filled up with new, I shed tears. "They were supposed to love me no matter what, and they... they kicked me out!"
Gerard felt his heart break all over again and couldn't stop the heavy, sickening feeling of guilt from settling in the pit of his stomach. This was his fault. He couldn't blame Frank's parents. It was all down to him that Frank had a troubled past, and it was his fault his boyfriend was curled up on the bathroom floor, crying his eyes out over his family's betrayal.

Gerard squeezed his eyes shut and sighed deeply, making up his mind instantaneously. He couldn't stand to see his boyfriend so torn up about something be knew - or, at least, was pretty damn sure - he could change. He couldn't wake up another day to find Frankie hurting, curled
up in the bathroom on his own. He had to do something about it, and he knew what it would be.

"Don't cry, Frankie. They'll come around; I know it." Gerard begged, trying to catch Frank's eye so the boy could see how genuine he was being, and that he wasn't just spinning some idealistic crap to get his boyfriend to stop crying.

"How do you know?" Frank reasoned logically, although he has calmed down considerably and was no longer weeping hysterically. "You can't know for sure."

Gerard looked up; straight into the large, ornate mirror that hung on the wall above the sink. From his position on the floor he was just able to catch a glimpse of himself in the bottom right corner, whereas Frank was nowhere to be seen. His mouth was set into a determined line and his eyes were steely and hard.

"I just know." He replied.

***

Sitting, once again, at the table he had unofficially labelled his 'writing' desk, Gerard pulled the typewriter into position in front of him and glanced at the door anxiously, as though Frank would somehow be able to tell he was betraying him through the many layers of wood and brick wall that separated them. After getting the boy calmed down, Gerard had made him breakfast and disappeared with the excuse that he had to tidy his study. If Frank knew he was lying, he didn't comment on it. He only looked up at the older man with adoration and awe in his gaze, and obediently munched on a syrupy vegan pancake - Gerard didn't know when he boy had had
time to buy vegan pancake mixture, but he wasn't about to complain.

There really wasn't another option; he had to do this for Frank's sake. It was all his fault in the first place and now he had to fix the situation he had deliberately - yet unknowingly - messed up. Yes, he has vowed never to write, and therefore change people's lives, ever again, but this was a desperate situation and desperate situations call for desperate measures.

Linda Iero realised the mistake she had made immediately after she closed the door; the sight of her son's retreating drama haunted her, and for months afterwards she attempted to find and make contact with her son. She had always been unsuccessful... until now. She didn't know whom the text had come from or how whoever sent it knew her number - she had changed it multiple times since Frank left home - but early morning on Friday she recieved a text, informing her of her son's whereabouts. Naturally, she left at once.

As soon as the words were on the page, forever printed in big, black lettering across the smooth paper, Gerard retracted his hands like the inanimate object was going to attack him. He felt physically sick; he was meddling with Frank's life, going behind his back, possibly making everything so much worse... but if he had the power to improve his boyfriend's life, if he had the power to make Frank happier, then of course he was going to do whatever it took.

Gee stood up shakily and packed his typewriter away, making sure to rip the paper out of the slot and stuff it into his desk drawer. He locked it and pocketed the key in case Frank decided to snoop around in here. That would be hard to explain: "oh, sorry I've been writing about you but my words seemed to inspire your existence so don't complain." No. No way.

He didn't know what he was expecting to happen - probably for there to be a knock on the door immediately and for Linda Iero to be standing there, desperate to see her son. As it was, there was no knock on the door and even though Gerard waited a good three minutes before leaving his study, there were no signs of an approaching guest. Perhaps she was on her way?

Whatever the reason, Gerard sniffed judgementally, she'd better turn up soon or there'd be hell to pay when she did arrive. If she did arrive. The man briefly entertained the idea of being rude to her when she got there - after all, she wasn't a very good mother when she found out the truth about Frankie's sexuality - but then he decided that may be a bit too harsh. If anything, she should be being rude to him for making her kick her son out.

Oh God. Gerard hoped like hell that he hadn't caused a mental breakdown or any heavy shit like that. It must be horrible waking up morning after morning for months, not knowing where your child was or if they were safe and knowing it was your fault that they might be in danger. It must have been torture for Linda and Gerard was to blame for every single ounce of pain he had put both his boyfriend and his boyfriend's mother in.

He just hoped the guilt didn't show on his face.

***

Granted, Gerard hadn't expected her to just show up straight away. Well, he didn't know what he expected so she could have done anything, but by the time the clock struck eleven at night and she still hadn't knocked on the door and presented herself, Gerard was starting to get anxious. Who was to say his quota of magic had run out? What if each legendary writer only got to manifest one person out of thin air and their writing skills alone, and Gerard had used up his on Frank? Would the supreme being who was controlling this let him change Frank's story if this didn't work, or was Frank doomed to have a depressing background for the rest of his - debatably - natural life?

Frank, of course, being the loving, caring, adorable boyfriend who would never assign such a sad past to his lover, picked up on Gerard's nervous mood around five. Gerard was able to bullshit his way through dinner by saying he was just worried about Frankie, which the boy responded to with a guilty look and a mumbled apology that was totally unneeded. He forced himself to choke through a conversation with his mother - who had been filled in on all the 'Frankie' details thanks to Mikey - and he managed to watch a whole Star Wars movie with Frank before he let his nerves overwhelm him. He sat on the sofa, his knee bouncing up and down as he chewed holes into his lower lip.

"Gee," Frank began sternly, managing to sound ridiculously sexy despite the ridiculously unsexy situation. "Tell me what is wrong."

Gerard swallowed. He didn't want to lie to Frank... but he was already, technically, lying to him, so what was one more little falsity going to hurt?

"Nothing." He protested weakly. "I swear, I'm just distracted."

Frank got a thoughtful look on his face and Gerard was unsure as to what he was thinking; that is, until he got up on his hands and knees and practically crawled across the sofa to the older man. Gerard's gaze was fixed on Frank's face: his silly narrowed, playful eyes; his full lips and the pink tongue that darted out to wet them every few seconds; the wavy lock of hair that fell into his eyes as he moved. He was perfect in every way, and Gerard could barely comprehend how lucky he was. Few people got to say they got to live with their dream partner, and here Frank was, willing to spend the rest of his life with the writer.

"What's distracting you?" He all but purred, stopping just inches from Gee's face and letting his eyes flicker down to Gerard's lips. He didn't make a move to kiss the older man though, and after being confused for a few seconds it dawned on him. Frank wasn't going to take control.

That was Gerard's job, and he wasn't going to break that unspoken rule.

In less than a second, Gerard lurched forward and smashed his lips to Frank, swallowing the surprised gasp that slipped past the younger's lips. He was quick to kiss back, and before either of them knew what was happening, Gerard was pushing the boy down onto his back, his legs twisted underneath his body in an unnatural position. The soft leather of the couch was pressing into Frank's back as Gerard ran a hand underneath his lover's t-shirt, spreading his fingers across Frank's chest. He ran his thumb over the boy's nipple and smirked when Frank gasped and arched into Gerard's touch; his eyes fluttered closed and he subconsciously parted his lips.

The sight was just too tempting to resist, and Gerard had to lean over and kiss him. The teenager didn't even bother with trying to fight for dominance; he just allowed the older man's tongue to enter his mouth without resisting, and he released a breathless moan when Gerard started licking and biting at his neck, sucking bruises into the delicate flesh.

Frank reached up and started to pull on Gee's top, implying he wanted it off, and Gerard hardly had time to consider the fact that Frank's hands were shaking before the boy was pulling his own top off, closely followed by his jeans as he stripped for his boyfriend, until he was left wearing only underwear, socks and a blissful expression.

Once they were both naked, it didn't take long for Gerard to realise they had no lubricant to hand and he cursed himself for not keeping it with him at all times. With a boyfriend as gorgeous as Frank, it was stupid not to carry it around with him all the time. He bit his lip and looked down at Frank, naked and spread out and waiting for him, debating with himself whether to go all the way upstairs to grab the lubricant from their bedroom or to just make do with spit as best they could. When Frank made a needy sound and writhed underneath the man, though, the decision was made for him.

He held out two fingers, nudging gently at Frank's wet lips with his fingertips as he waited patiently for the boy to open his mouth. He did, and Gerard let the digits slip into Frank's mouth as he swirled his tongue around each of them, coating them fully. The sight was so erotic, so fucking hot, that Gerard couldn't hold back his moan.

When he deemed his fingers to be wet enough he pulled them back and went about pushing Frank's legs apart and his knees up to his chest. "You ready?" He asked and Frank nodded desperately.

Frank mewled softly as Gerard pushed a finger inside him slowly, careful not to hurt him despite how much he just wanted to skip the prep altogether. Looking down, he saw that Frank was watching him with wide, innocent eyes that held so much love and adoration, so much trust and kindness and beauty, that Gerard knew then he was in love with him. It didn't matter that he had only known him for a few days. Frankie was Gerard's creation - Gerard would love him anyway, simply because of that fact - but because Frank had been made to be the perfect match for the older man, it was inevitable that he would fall in love with the boy. It already felt like they'd known each other for however long Frank thought they'd known each other for. All these thoughts bounced around the walls of Gerard's head as he added another finger inside Frank and gently scissored them.

It wasn't a big revelation in itself: the fact that Gerard loved Frank. It wasn't a mind blowing, everything-slows-down kind of moment; it was more a quiet realisation. An, "oh yeah, I'm in love with him," sort of thing that caused Gerard to smile and his heart to flutter inside his chest. It was only when Frank gasped and jerked his hips up that Gerard remembered where he was and what position he was in, and he quickly retracted his fingers, deciding that there had been enough prep.

He held his hands on either side of Frank's head as he pushed in slowly, and it was one of those rare moments where Gerard was actually glad to own a spacious sofa. They both groaned at the initial feeling; their tingling senses and wonderful sensations coursing through them, and Frank leaned up at the exact moment that Gerard leaned down so that they met in the middle, sharing a heated, passionate kiss.

Gerard soon set up a rhythm and Frank clawed at his back as he tried to hold back his shrill moans of pleasure. When Gerard hit Frank's prostate for the first time the boy cried out and flung an arm over his face. The older man wasn't sure if that was because he was embarrassed or if it was just a reflex action, but he didn't like it. He wanted to see Frank face; he leaned down, bending his neck at an uncomfortable angle, and began peppering Frank's neck and jaw with feathery light kisses.

Frank came undone first, screaming Gerard's name as he let go, and that was what pushed Gerard over the edge. They were a sweaty, panting mess, tangled together on the couch as they struggled to suck air into their lungs. When they had finally caught their breath, Gerard rolled onto his side and watched Frank blink sleepily and yawn. He smiled to himself and reluctantly got up; he folded their clothes and laid them neatly on the empty coffee table - he couldn't be bothered to carry them upstairs but he wouldn't allow them to remain in a heap on the floor - and daintily picked up his sleeping boyfriend, careful not to bash him against anything. He let out a contented sigh and curled himself into a ball, twisting and shoving his head into Gerard's chest so suddenly that the older man nearly dropped him in surprise.

Gerard was relieved when he finally reached his room; PE has never been his best sport at school and Frank was heavier than his small body made him look. Gerard let the boy drop to the bed and crawled in beside him, pulling the covers up to his chin and wrapping an arm around Frank. He didn't let himself think about the fact that his plan hadn't worked. Frank's Mother wasn't here and, whilst he had sort of succeeded in cheering Frank up, it hadn't been in the way that he had first intended. He couldn't constantly have sex with him whenever the boy was feeling upset - although he probably wouldn't object to that being Frank's coping method himself - because that would help. Not really. It would just take his mind off his problems for a short while and he would still have to deal with them when he came down from his euphoric high.

Gerard sighed and allowed his mind to shut off. He was tired and holding the boy - no, man, - he loved in his arms. He would face the rest of his problems in the morning.

Notes