Angelo grinned at me when he opened the door. His gaze shifted past me and his eyes widened. Frank waved. “Hey.”
I stepped in between the two, smiling apologetically. “Yeah, so I have a lot of explaining to do, but basically this is Frank and we both need somewhere to stay for the night.”
Angelo glanced out at the wet road, frowning. “Come in, guys. You can't stay out in this weather.”
He shoved my shoulder as I walked past him. “As much as I'd like to leave you out,” he muttered jokingly. I flipped him off and kicked my shoes aside. “Fuck off, Ange. I'm pretty much your only customer.”
Frank grabbed at the back of my hoodie, shivering. Angelo looked him up and down. “Okay. Um. I'm gonna go get you some clothes, I think my roommate’s stuff might fit you.”
Frank croaked a quiet thank you and I slipped my hoodie off, handing it to him as Angelo jogged down the hall.
“Who's this guy?” Frank whispered, hugging my waist from behind.
“He's my tattoo hookup. I do designs for him, he tats them and sells them. Real great artist and a good friend. Single dad, too. Pretty cool.”
Frank nodded and buried his face in the back of my shoulder.
“You okay, hon?” I murmured, rubbing his arms.
“Cold. I'm not wearing very much.”
I chuckled and turned, brushing his hair out of his face. “True. Although it is a very fetching outfit.”
He giggled and looked up as Angelo came back, offering him a pair of sweats and a t shirt. “Bathroom’s down that hall and on the left.”
Frank glanced at me and hurried off, hugging the clothes to his chest. Angelo led me into the kitchen.
“Okay, so who the fuck is that?”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Frank. He's a prostitute,” I admitted quietly.
Angelo glared at me. “My son is home, you realize. My six year old son.”
I chewed on my lip. “I know, I'm sorry. He's from Motionless’s place, the one that got shot up last night.”
He blinked and sighed. “So you saved him?”
I laughed and shook my head, folding my arms over my chest. “I'm no hero, Ange. He was near me and I ran.”
He raised an eyebrow. “So you fucked him?”
I rubbed my face. “Okay, yes. We had two nights together, I paid for it. Then the people came in and he was talking to me so I grabbed him and legged it. I wasn't thinking.”
Angelo ran both hands through his hair, letting out a long breath. “Okay. Why were you there anyway?”
“Favor for Bob, he got me new ID. Some guy broke into my house, I shot him and ran. Okay? Not the best situation.”
He looked up and smiled. “Come in, Frank, it's okay. I don't bite.”
Frank scurried in and over to me, hugging my arm quickly. My hoodie was huge on him, the sleeves dangling over his hands. I kissed the side of his head.
“Gerard told me about what you do. Please don't talk about it while you're here, okay? I have a six year old son, I don't really want him to be exposed to that.”
Frank looked at Angelo blankly. “Okay.”
I frowned and stroked his cheek slowly. “What're you thinking, Frankie?”
He batted my hand away, sucking at his lip. His eyes were wet and he sniffed quietly, hugging me tighter. I sighed and left it alone.
“Sorry, do you guys want coffee?” Angelo asked, glancing at me.
I shook my head. “Nah, we’re okay, but we could both do with a shower. Would that be-”
Angelo waved a hand. “Go. I don't care.”
Frank detached himself from me. “I'll go.”
I nodded and watched him half run off. Angelo gave me an odd look.
“Shy for a hooker.”
I shrugged. “I don't think he had the best family,” I mumbled, looking around. “Did you repaint?”
Angelo didn't take the bait. “You like him.”
“He's cute,” I conceded. “But I'm kinda stuck with him, so..”
He shook his head. “No, no. You really like this kid. It's obvious. What's so special about him?”
I huffed and rolled my eyes. “Nothing. I don't.”
Angelo chuckled. “Now you sound like Ari. Come on! I'm not gonna tell Frank if that's what you're worried about.”
I sighed and felt my cheeks start to heat up. “He's...he just feels different to me. I know he's been through way too much and he's still...fighting back. He's trying to be a better person.”
“Like you,” Angelo finished.
I raised an eyebrow. “I still sell drugs. I'm still a loser.”
He shrugged. “How many times have I peeled you off the sidewalk smashed and crying because you hate yourself? You don't like who you are and you like Frank because you see that in him, too.”
“Plus he's hot,” I muttered, giving up. “I wish you never got that psych degree.”
Angelo shoved my shoulder. “I never needed it to read you, Gerard.”

I heard footsteps and looked up. Aristotle squinted.
“Daddy! I'm hungry!”
Angelo laughed and walked over, scooping up his son. “You've already had dinner. How about some cereal?”
Ari nodded and grabbed at his dad’s hair before finally noticing me. “Uncle Gee!”
Angelo set him on his feet and he ran over, throwing himself at me. I lifted him into my arms, chuckling. “Hey there, Ari. What's up?”
“My daddy’s getting me cereal,” he boasted. I grinned. “Oh yeah? What kind?”
“Cheerios!”

I looked up and saw Frank standing in the doorway, his hands shaking at his sides. I waved him over and he walked to me robotically, forcing a smile.
“Ari, this is my friend Frank. Why don't you show him around?”
Ari nodded quickly and I put him down, smiling as he grabbed Frank's hand.
Angelo sighed, setting the bowl down on the counter and watching Ari lead Frank away. “He's so happy all the time. So much energy. Some days I just can't deal with it.”
I shrugged. “He's a cute kid, though. You're lucky.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes. “You tell me that every time you see him.”
Frank was sitting down on the couch now, smiling as Ari explained the tv remote to him.
“You changed when you had him, Ange. In a good way.”
“I know. He's my life now, y’know? Ari, come here!”
He handed the boy his bowl of cereal and watched him run back to Frank.
“Frank's good with kids once he stops crying,” Angelo commented.
I sighed. “Again, I don't think his childhood was exactly the same as Ari’s. And I don't think he sees that many kids.”
He glanced at me. “It wasn't an insult. I was trying to say I think he's a keeper.”
I grinned, shaking my head. “I've known him for three days, Ange. Once it's safe for him to go back, I'm sure he will. There's nothing for him with me.”
Angelo slapped me on the back of the head. “Shut up. You're just as much of a catch as him.”
I sighed and gave him a short glare. “I'm gonna go take that shower now.”

---

Frank groaned softly as I slid into bed next to him. I leaned over him and flicked the bedside lamp on, rubbing his side. “We gotta talk, hon,” I murmured, kissing his cheek. He pulled a face and tried to hide in the pillows, but I pulled him back gently. “Hey, it's alright..”
Frank sat up quickly and hugged himself, shaking his head repeatedly. I sighed and got up, getting a glass of water from the ensuite and walking back to him. He managed a small sip, but tipped some down himself thanks to his shaking hands. I sat next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist.
I let Frank take his time to calm down in silence, holding his hand and staring at the opposite wall. After he seemed to have stopped shaking, I spoke up.
“Why did seeing Ari upset you so badly?”
Frank sniffed and looked down at his hands. “Because he was so happy,” he whispered, his shoulders rounded. I stroked his cheek slowly and brushed his hair back into place.
“What happened to you, sweetie?” I murmured sadly, nuzzling his jaw. “Why are you hurting so much?”
He flinched suddenly and moved away from me slightly. “My dad was a bad man,” he managed.
I let him drift away, not sure quite how to handle this. “You told me that before. Why not?”
Frank shivered and started to cry silently. “He b-beat me,” he choked out, his grip on my hand tightening to an almost painful level. “And m-made me do s-stuff.”
I wiped the tears away with my sleeve, being as careful as I could. “You mean like sexual abuse?”
He sobbed, nodding imperceptibly. I laid down and tugged him with me, pulling him close. He hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe, and grabbed onto my shirt. I wrapped my arms around his waist and just held him until he finally fell asleep.

---

The snow was starting to fall by five a.m.
I watched it settle on the road as I sat on the porch and smoked quietly. Frank was still asleep, exhausted from a rough night. I had left him to it, needing space to think and breathe.
I flicked the ash off my cigarette and sighed. Angelo had been right about me and Frank. I did like him, but I didn't believe that Frank was particularly interested in me. I was a good crutch, but probably little else.
I heard the door swing open, but didn't look up. Angelo sat down next to me, bumping my shoulder with his.
“I heard Frank crying. What'd you do to him?”
I rolled my eyes and took a long drag, blowing the smoke out slowly. “Nothing. We were talking about his...life.”
Angelo nodded and picked up a rock from the gravel path, tossing it into the bushes. “I'm nosy. What did he say?”
I glanced at him. “He can't know I told you.”
He shrugged. “I guessed.”
I rubbed my eyes with one hand, then flicked the ash again. “His father was sexually and physically abusive. His mum died when he was two, so I think he was hurt since then by his dad.”
Angelo tensed up and glanced back at the door. “He's not worried about me and-”
“No, no. He's upset because Ari is so happy and he never got the chance to be, I think.”
Angelo visibly relaxed. “Okay. You should go back inside, anyway. I think I heard him moving around.”

I nodded and stood up, tossing the cigarette butt away as I walked back inside. Frank was standing in the hallway, looking lost. I smiled at him. “Hey, how about a joint shower this morning?”
Frank shook his head, his shoulders still slumped and the usual life drained from his eyes. “I don't feel like doing stuff like that.”
I took an extra step forward and hugged him loosely. “I know. That's not what I meant, anyway. No funny stuff, just washing.”
He leaned into me and gave me a thumbs up sleepily.

---

Something caught my eye as Frank turned away from me. I grabbed his hips gently, holding him in place. I hadn't noticed it before, having been focused on other, slightly more exciting areas of his body, but his back was a mess of scar tissue. I traced my finger over some of the whip welts, my eyes wide. I couldn't imagine how long they had taken to heal, or how many of them there really were, buried under one another. I hugged him from behind, kissing the backs of his shoulders.
“I'm so sorry, handsome,” I mumbled, rocking him as he leaned back into me. “I wish I could have been there for you.”
Angelo knocked on the door, somewhat ruining the mood. “Guys, I'm taking Ari to school and going to work. I'll see you soon.”
“Okay,” I called back, then hugged Frank a little tighter. “We’ll have the house to ourselves.”
He nodded and played with my fingers, trembling slightly. “Mhm.”
I kissed the side of his neck lightly. “We don't have to do anything, lovey. I was just thinking movie and cuddles.”
He turned to look up at me, smiling slightly. “Okay.”

I spread out on the couch, Frank laying in front of me, my arm over his waist. He was already half asleep, but I didn't mind.
Frank made it to about halfway through the movie before his body went limp and he drifted off. I ran my fingers through his hair and kissed the side of his head. “I like you,” I whispered, hugging him just a little tighter. He whined and rolled over, burying his face in my chest. I screwed my eyes shut, trying to force the feelings away.

I heard the door slam and Angelo hurried in, dumping his backpack. “I gotta go get Ari from school. Go take that boy on a date.”
I rubbed Frank's back, glaring at Angelo. “You can't tell me what to do.”
He grinned. “Yes I can. Go!”
I flipped him off and shook my head. “I don't wanna.”
Angelo walked over and pulled a lock of my hair gently. “If you don't, I'll put you in different rooms tonight.”
I sighed. “Why do you care anyway?”
He smiled and ruffled Frank's hair. “Because this is cute and I want you to be happy. Wine and dine the bitch, yeah?”
I slapped at his hands as he walked off, grinning. The door opened and closed again and I felt Frank stir against my chest.
I lifted his chin and kissed him awake, my arm tightening around his waist so he didn't fall off.
“Hey, Frankie,” I murmured, trying to smooth down his wild hair as he squinted at me. “How about dinner tonight? Just you and me?”
Frank grinned sleepily and grabbed at my cheeks, nodding. “M’kay. Yes please.”

---

Angelo shoved Frank out of the bedroom. They'd gone shopping so Frank had something to wear that night, and he honestly looked stunning. I pulled him into a hug, careful not to wrinkle his new shirt too much. “You're so handsome,” I hummed, kissing the side of his head. “You really are.”
Frank smiled sadly as I pulled away. “Thanks.”
I frowned, stroking his cheek slowly. “You don't agree?”
He went bright red. “I uh...I dunno, Gee,” he mumbled, waving a hand vaguely. “I still have...really noticeable hips and stuff, kinda makes me insecure. Especially in skinny jeans.”
I hugged him again, nuzzling his jaw. “Well, I think you look amazing and I can't see your hips. I'm sure it's not anywhere near as bad as you see it.”
I backed away a step and played with his hair, then moved my hands to the sides of his head. “You’ll always be my handsome boyfriend.”
We both froze. I blinked first and Frank sniffed.
“Boyfriend?”
I swallowed the huge lump in my throat and took a deep breath. “I was gonna ask you tonight, after our date thingy. Sorry for assuming, I-”
He cut me off by kissing me. Surprised, I slid my arms around his waist and kissed back, my fingers trembling. Frank pulled away first, giggling. “I've never had a boyfriend before.”
I grinned and scooped him up, spinning him around. He squealed happily, sliding to the floor when I stopped. I laughed and helped him up, kissing him again briefly. “Let's go get that dinner.”

Notes

Sorry it's the only decent length chapter so far..