The Sharpest Lives

“Ack…son of a bitch…” Frank mumbled to himself as he tried to remove the now black waffle from the pan without burning himself.
“Sorry, Frankie. I was trying to make you breakfast.” Gerard said, holding his hand against his chest and leaning forward against the counter.
“It’s ok, baby. What happened?” Frank asked, now gesturing to the wall. Gerard held out his red fist and shrugged.
“Guess I don’t know my own strength.” He chuckled, nervously.
“Can I read it?” Frank questioned, picking the letter up from the counter. Gerard nodded and he watched Frank scan the page, each word he read his expression got more severe.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Frank laughed to himself. “He’s goddamn delusional!”
Gerard just shook his head and grunted in agreement.
“This is just fucking fantastic. Well…I guess I need a lawyer.” Frank said, smirking at Gerard. “Know any?”
“Actually, yeah.” Gerard perked up. He quickly dialed Lindsey’s number.
“Hey, Gee.” She answered with a mouthful of food.
“Hey, sorry to bother you.”
“You’re never bothering me.” She laughed. “What’s up?”
“You’re not going to believe this, but I got a letter from Bert.”
“What?” She gaped. “What did it say?”
“He said he is claiming self-defense and that Frank came after him. He said we would be together soon. Whatever the hell that means.” He said sarcastically.
“He’s obviously insane!” She grimaced.
“I know. But listen, we think it’s a good idea if Frank talks to a lawyer. That’s where you come in.”
“Say no more. He’d be more than happy to.” Gerard could hear her smiling into the phone.
“You sure?” He questioned.
“Hey, we’re not married yet and if he wants to be, he’ll do this for me.” She laughed. “I’ll text you a time when he is available to talk with you both, OK?”
“Ok, thank you so much.” He said.
“See you tonight, ok? Try not to dwell on it, we can all see through is insanity, the court will be able to, too.”
“I know. Thank you, again. He said before saying his goodbye and hanging up the phone.
“Well?” Frank asked.
“Lindsey said Brent would take the case. She’ll let me know when he can meet with us.” He said, motioning for Frank to come to him.
Frank sighed in relief and let himself fall into Gerard’s arms.
“Let’s go back to bed.” Frank mumbled into his neck before pulling him down the hallway and into the bedroom.
When the pair woke back up, it was nearly 2PM. Gerard woke up from a text from Lindsey, instructing him to meet Brent at his office the next day at noon. He wanted to question if he minded coming in on a Sunday to meet with them, but he thought it better not to question his luck. She gave him the address and told him to bring the letter and the envelope it came in. He sat up in bed and rubbed at his eyes. Frank stirred next to him and opened his eyes, looking at Gerard’s back.
“Time’s it?” He mumbled, stretching.
“Like, 2.” Gerard laughed, smiling over his shoulder at his boyfriend. Frank yawned. “You’re so cute when you’re sleepy.” Gerard giggled. Frank made grabby hands at him, motioning for him to lie back down.
“We have to get up, baby.” Gerard said, despite the fact that he laid back down in Frank’s arms. He nuzzled into Frank’s shoulder and sighed contently. “I could stay here forever, Frankie.”
“Yeah?” Frank asked.
“Yeah. Don’t ever want to be without you anymore. Why do we even have separate apartments?” He joked.
“Why do we?” Frank took a more serious tone, stroking Gerard’s hair.
“What?” Gerard asked, sitting up on his elbow so he could look at Frank’s eyes. They were dark and honest. His expression was vulnerable and open.
“Well…I was thinking. My lease renews next month, and I had two options in my head for what I could do.” Frank continued. “I was thinking about moving closer to you, so you don’t have to take the subway to my house anymore.” Gerard smiled at the idea of Frank being closer to him.
“Or…I could renew the lease there, and since it’s closer to your work…” Frank took a deep breath, trying to read Gerard’s now questionable expression. “I was wondering if you would consider moving in with me.” He finally spit out.
Gerard made a confused expression at Frank, trying to filter through all of the thoughts in his head.
Oh shit, Frank was afraid of this. It just came out…he didn’t mean to push him, shit, shit, shit. “Listen, Gee. I know things went bad when you moved in with Bert and I totally understand why you wouldn’t want to. It was just a thought…I’m in no rush…” Frank was cut off by Gerard’s lips on his.
When he pulled away, he smiled at Frank below him. “Fuck, yes Frankie, I’ll move in with you.” He said through a wide smile. Frank laughed and grabbed Gerard’s waist, pulling him down on top of him, kissing him roughly.

The couple finally made it out of bed nearing 4PM, rested and happy, but starving.
“Ordering a pizza, baby!” Frank yelled through the bathroom door where Gerard was taking a shower.
“Ugh, yes!” He replied, famished.
Frank laughed and dialed the delivery number. After ordering, he turned to his guitar, strumming mindlessly, trying to prepare his fingers for the show that night. He rested his left arm gently against the neck and flipped through chords. There was a little discomfort, but nothing he couldn’t deal with. He sang along quietly, closing his eyes and losing himself in the song. When he was finished, he opened his eyes to see Gerard standing in the doorway of the living room, staring at him. His hair was wet, and he was in just his jeans, topless. Frank felt his face go red with embarrassment and lust.
Gerard laughed and walked over to him, taking a seat next to him. “I love watching you play. You get so into it.” He smiled at him.
“That’s embarrassing.” Frank laughed.
“I think it’s sexy.” Gerard mewled in Frank’s ear. He kissed his jawbone, emitting a groan from the younger man. Frank’s arms went limp in his lap, his guitar only being held in position by the shoulder strap. They we’re interrupted by a knock on the door. Frank took a handful of Gerard’s hair in his hand, lightly pulling his gaze up to Frank’s. He kissed him short on the lips, rough and teasing, before getting up to answer the door.
“Bastard.” Gerard mumbled to himself before clearing his throat and adjusting himself in his pants. He flipped on the TV while Frank was paying for the pizza.
“Mmm. Smells good.” He said as Frank walked passed him. He stopped flipping channels when he tuned to nickelodeon.
“SPONGEBOB!” He yelled enthusiastically.
“Oh god.” Frank mumbled as he pulled plates from the cupboard.
“WHO LIVES IN A PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA?” Gerard motioned wildly intending for Frank to continue.
“You’re a literal child.” He said, grinning as he returned with the plates.
“You’re supposed to say SpongeBob Squarepants…” Gerard pouted.
“Shut up and eat your pizza.” Frank kissed Gerard on the cheek, placing a plate in his lap.
“This is a good one.” Gerard said, eyes glued to the TV.
“Yeah, Sailor Mouth.” Frank said, plating a piece of pizza for Gerard since he was apparently occupied, his eyes now trained on the screen in front of him as well.
“You’re so perfect, Frankie.” Gerard unstuck his vision from the TV and planted it on Frank, taking his lunch from his hands.
“And you’re adorable.” Frank rebutted, smiling at him.
The two ate their lunch and retired into the bedroom around 6:30PM, needing to get ready for Frank’s show.
“I love those pants.” Gerard said into Frank’s ear as he walked passed him towards his dresser.
“I know, that’s why I keep them here.” He winked at Gerard as he pulled them on. They were tight and black, as usual. They made his ass look fantastic, and he might have known it. Gerard sure did.
“Pretty soon all of our clothes will be mixed together and we won’t know whose is whose.” Gerard laughed.
“I can’t believe you’re actually going to move in with me.” Frank smiled at him, pulling a shirt from the dresser. “I was so afraid you’d say no.”
“I could never say no to you, Frankie.” He giggled.
“But you want to, right? I’m not pressuring you?” Frank asked, not wanting to push Gerard into something he wasn’t ready for. That was what Bert did, and he wanted to be as far away from Bert as a person as possible.
“No, I don’t feel pressured. I want to.” Gerard sat down on the bed, slipping his socks on. “Listen, with Bert…I should have seen it coming, looking back. He was a violent person; it was only a matter of time before he turned that on me. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach before I moved in with him. I don’t get that with you, ever.” He sighed.
“Promise?”
Gerard stood from the bed and cupped Frank’s chin in his hands. He pressed their noses together and breathed him in. “Promise.”
After they finished getting dressed, Gerard helped Frank load his guitar’s into his car. Gerard was going to sound check with Frank and would meet Lindsey and Brent there.
“Got everything?” Gerard asked.
“Think so. Hope I didn’t leave anything at home.” He laughed, shutting the trunk. “Ready?” Gerard nodded and Frank opened the passenger door for him, letting Gerard slide into the seat. Frank took a moment to look at Gerard, really look at him, as he situated himself. His arms were fairly bare now; he hadn’t cut himself since he left the hospital. By the time he had woken up from the coma, his arm was nearly healed. Frank would run his fingers up and down the scars sometimes late at night when they were lying in bed together, feeling the smooth skin that was finally free of marks. The first time Frank did it, Gerard cried. He hadn’t seen his arm so clear in years, and he could finally feel Frank’s touch there without it making him hiss in pain. The next day Frank found Gerard in the bathroom, cleaning out his bathroom of all the razor blades he had stashed in various places.
Gerard’s hair was getting pretty long now, longer than it had been in years he said, showing Frank pictures to prove it. It was almost touching his shoulders, black and soft, and Frank loved it. When he met him, it was just long enough to curl over his ears, and Frank fell in love with how full and pretty it looked. It looked just as beautiful now, falling in his face so that his hazel eyes peaked out through the strands. Sometimes Frank would play with it while they sat on the couch, just running his fingers in and out.
He’d put some of the weight back on that he’d lost in the hospital, about half of it in the two weeks that he had been home, but he was still 15 pounds too light from what Frank fell in love with. Frank would love Gerard at any size, but his extra thin frame reminded him of how sick he was at the time, and it made his chest hurt. He was glad to see Gerard put some of it back on already.
“Whatcha starin’ at?” Gerard giggled, looking up at Frank who had yet to shut the door for him.
Frank was pulled from his gaze and he shook his head. “You.” He smiled at Gerard before shutting the door. Gerard blushed and buckled his seat belt.
“Dork.” Gerard said when Frank got in the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, but I’m your dork.” Frank chuckled and kissed Gerard on the lips before starting the car.
The ride to the Queen was comfortably quiet. Frank and Gerard held hands during the short trip, Gerard gazing out the window at the grass that was now returning to a less dead appearance. He was feeling strangely optimistic about the spring, even though he knew what it would bring. Gerard knew that Bert’s trial was in a few weeks, and that it would bring briefings, consultations and ultimately a testimony leading up to it. All that mattered to Gerard was tonight, though. He couldn’t force his mind to dwell on the future, even if he wanted to, which was a breath of Fresh air to him. Frank was his fresh air.
He closed his eyes and laid his head back on the seat, he inhaled deeply, breathing in Frank’s scent. His car smelled the same it did on the day they met and Frank drove a slightly drunk Gerard out for a middle of the night veggie burger. He took a minute to appreciate the smell, letting a smile befall his lips before feeling the car shut off.
Frank looked over to him and squeezed his hand before opening the door and slipping out. Gerard just smiled and followed suit, helping Frank to unload the trunk.
“Hey man!” James yelled from the steel door that Frank and Gerard had escaped through on their second night together. James held the door open so they could carry in Frank’s instruments and amp head. “Hey Gee, how’re you?” James asked, outstretching a hand for him to take in his own. Gerard shook his hand.
“I’m great, thanks. How about yourself?” He asked.
“Living the dream.” He smirked at Gerard. “Glad we can finally get back to playing! But the break was nice.” James smiled at Frank.
“Let’s just hope you remember how to play.” Frank remarked.
“What, you don’t think I’ve been practicing, Frank? I’m disappointed.” James joked.
“I know you haven’t been practicing, James.”
“Yeah….well, anyway.” He chuckled and shut the door once they were finished unloading.
“We’re gonna get set up, you wanna head down to the floor and keep an eye out for Lindsey and Brent? Don’t want to bore you with the technical shit.” Frank smiled at Gerard.
“Sure. I’ll see you up there, Frankie. Good luck.” Gerard kissed Frank on the cheek and waved goodbye to him as he headed towards the hallway that lead to the stage.
“Ooooooh.” James and Tim said in unison. Frank felt is face get red with embarrassment and turned around to flip them off.
“Frankie has a boyfriend, Frankie has a boyfriend.” Tim mocked in sing-song as they walked towards the back of the stage. Frank smiled to himself, face still flushed, knowing they were only teasing him.

Gerard made his way through the small crowd that had gathered, mostly for the bar. He perched himself at a small, two person table in the lounge area and pulled out his phone. He scrolled mindlessly through facebook, twitter, email. He was just trying to buy time. It was about 8:30 and Pency Prep would go on at 9, meaning Lindsey should be here in just a few…
“Hey you!” Lindsey called, Brent on her arm.
“Hey.” Gerard smiled and stood up to hug her and Brent. “How’re you guys?”
“Not bad. How are you doing?” She asked with a cocked eyebrow.
“I’ll be fine. Tonight will be fun, I’ll think about tomorrow, tomorrow.” He grinned at her.
“I like you like this, Gee, not dwelling on things. Remind me to thank Frank for you.” She laughed, taking a seat at the table.
“Gerard, I honestly wouldn’t worry too much about this. We’ll go over everything tomorrow, but it sounds like an open and shut case from what Lindsey has told me.” Brent shot her a glance, and Gerard knew what it meant. It meant that Lindsey had filled him in on every detail, repeatedly. He had shot her that look a few times himself. “There is a no contact order filed against him for both you and Frank, and this letter clearly violates it.” Brent said.
“Yeah? I hope so. I’m just worried about Frank.” Gerard sighed.
“Well he has the best legal representation in New York.” Lindsey winked at Gerard, taking his hand in hers, comfortingly. Brent smiled at her. He was so in love with her, and Gerard could see it in his eyes. When he looked at her, he seemed to be looking through her, like into her soul. He hoped that Frank looked at him like that.
“I’ll get us something to drink. Beers?” Brent asked.
Gerard and Lindsey both nodded.
“He really loves you.” Gerard said to Lindsey. She blushed, her eyes going towards the floor. “The way he looks at you, man, he adores you.” He remarked, smiling up at her.
“You know, I think I know what you mean. Frank looked at you like that every day while you were in the hospital. Like you were a piece of china that needed to be coddled.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s nice to know someone loves you that much, isn’t it?” She asked, rhetorically.
“It really is.” Gerard remarked more to himself than anything.
“Alright…one for you, one for you, and one for me.” Brent returned with the drinks, placing them in front of his friends.
“Thanks, Brent.” Gerard said. Lindsey kissed him on the cheek. The lights then began to dim and Gerard knew it was just about time for Frank to make his entrance. The band filed out, and the crowd which had grown somewhat since Gerard first arrived, started to cheer.
“Alright! This song is about sucking dick for cocaine!” Frank screamed into the mic. Lindsey choked on her beer.
“Oh dear lord.” She uttered, laughing. Gerard giggled at her and continued to stare up at his boyfriend. He was fucking remarkable. He ran around the stage like he had endless energy, screaming and kicking while still playing the guitar. His voice was rough and raspy, just the way Gerard liked it. It wasn’t perfect, but it was distinctly Frank’s – beautiful in the most abstract way, like him. Gerard could see the sweat dripping from his forehead, and his hair matting on his face. He was lost in the music, focusing only on that moment. Gerard envied Frank in that way, how he could just let himself go and play without fear of what people would think. In a way, Frank was teaching Gerard how to do just that, however, because right now all Gerard could think of was the man on stage in front of him, and just how much he loved him.

Notes

I hope you're still enjoying this! Please leave me comments with your thoughts or questions. Also, anyone who can correctly name where each chapter name comes from wins a gold star!