Disenchanted (Frerard + Petekey)

I Never Told You What I Do For A Living

Gerard moved his desk back, did his best to spit-shine the suspicious stains off the floor, and set his empty bowl in the hall.
He couldn't risk going to the kitchen, not in the shape he was in.

He took the screen out of his bedroom window, pausing to send Mikey a text.

"Thank you. See you after school. Sorry. Am safe. Don't tell mom.  p.s: close my window"

His parents wouldn't notice him missing but Mikey sure would. The kid had never ratted him out in the past, the text was really more to put his mind at ease anyway.

He grabbed his bag tightly in one hand, and launched himself swiftly from the second floor window.

It wasn't his first time sneaking out, and while it was far from sneaky, it was effective.
He landed feet-first, but it was more of a falling-out-the-window than jumping situation and he caught himself with his hands, skidding across the rocky yard.
His feet and knees hurt from the impact, but he was more concerned with the blinding pain from his upper appendages.

"Haaaa!" Gerard exhaled in quiet agony, attempting to pick the tiny rocks out of the newly reopened wounds he'd ground into the dirt. "Hooooooly fuck. Shit. God damn!"

He continued muttering curses as he darted around the side of the house and shot off down the street.

Bert had texted that he was "here" but Gerard knew what that really meant. He was parked on the side of the road a good ten minutes walk away. Being suspicious while trying to not raise suspicions.

As he flopped, winded from his journey, into Bert's dingy multi-coloured trash-bin of a car he was instantly soothed by the aroma. A feeling he wouldn't usually attribute to the stale musk of old cigarettes, empty energy drink cans, and a moldy smell that seemed to emanate from the fabric of the vehicle itself.

"Thank you!" He exhaled earnestly, pushing his long hair back as he turned to his unexpected saviour.

The voices were screaming at him, but Bert's electric smile at having his favourite passenger back on board made Gerard grin back in response.

"I'll always rescue you babe, you know I-" Bert stopped mid sentence as the smile left his face. His eyes were glued to Gerard's hand as he removed it from his hair and pulled the sleeves of his sweater up past his thumbs.

"It's nothing I just tanked the landing when I jumped is all-" Gerard stammered.

"You jumped? Like, out the window? Shit dude was it that bad at home?"

He didn't reply, shifting his gaze to his lap and shrugging in response.

"Well I'll fix you up when we get back 'kay?" Bert was already perking back up, pulling onto the road as he accepted the half-truth, "Just don't get blood on my baby."

Gerard eyed him sulkily, "I thought I was your baby?"

He laughed and placed a hand on Gerard's head, ruffling his hair, "You're number one," he moved to pat the dashboard, "but Sheila here's number two!"

"Ugh I thought I was your baby?" Came the mocking voice, "What a fucking joke Gerard. Seriously? Ugh. Fucking pathetic you make me sick."

Gerard shrugged, playing it off as readjusting his seatbelt so Bert wouldn't notice.

If he can shut you up I'll be his anything.

Bert's bathroom was probably the most disgusting place Gerard had ever been. And he'd been in a lot of pretty shitty places.

Every white surface was instead caked in shades of brown. The sink was brown, the floor was covered in stray hairs and miscellaneous garbage, Gerard had almost gagged at the sight of the inside of the toilet, and had closed it upon entering.

If anything accidentally fell in there it would just have to fucking die there.

Luckily Bert didn't force the issue when Gerard demanded he leave the room while he cleaned up. He'd whined about how he wanted to play doctor, but Gerard had stood his ground. As far as Bert knew he'd just skinned his hands when he fell, he hadn't seen the real mess he was.

As Gerard took his sweater off he was glad his friend had left him alone.
Everything had reopened.

Gerard studied the labels of Bert's questionable bathroom products as he pealed the cotton sleeves of his sweater away from what used to be his flesh.

Fuuuck you really messed yourself up this time.

"What a wimp. Oh you looooove pain eh? You're so fucking fake!"

Great, that's still happening is it? Ugh.

Gerard's sigh turned into a whimper as he reached a particularly stuck portion of his sleeve.

God and there's still the other one to do.

"You okay in there?"

Was that Bert or is that You?

Gerard didn't risk a reply, gasping as he finally slid one arm free.
His sweater sleeve hung stiffly. It was black but much darker on the lower half.
He met the eyes of his reflection in the mirror and sighed, reaching for the other sleeve.

"HOLY FUCK GERARD!"

He jumped, whirling to find Bert stood in the half-open doorway.

...wasn't that locked?

"What the hell happened?!" Bert seemed to be frozen on the spot, his voice growing louder and more terrified as he spoke, "Did you do this?! You did this? You did this! Fuck, what? Why?!"

Gerard cradled his visible arm to his chest. He tried to back away from Bert, away from the scene unfolding in front of him but he merely bumped into the sink, clattering things to the floor.

He looked back quickly, side stepping around the toilet as his pulse pounded in his ears, threatening to drown out all else.

"I- I- uh... I- I- fell..." Gerard stammered in a panic as his ankles bumped into the bathtub. Instinctively he stepped into it.

Fuck. Run? No can't run, he's in the door...
You're in a god damned bathtub here Gerard you need to think about this!

"I didn't mean to, I just-... they wouldn't-... Ray took-...."

Bert raised both hands in front of him to show he meant no harm, and lowered his voice as he stepped slowly into the tiny bathroom.

"Hey, it's okay. It's gonna be okay. You and me right?" He nodded at Gerard slowly as he spoke, reaching across the room to him with one hand while maintaining eye contact.

Gerard realized his whole body was shivering as he found himself nodding along with Bert, using the older's outstretched hand to balance himself as he stepped cautiously out of the tub.

At least it's Bert and not Ray. Maybe he gets it. Maybe he won't turn you in, maybe-

Bert cut off Gerard's rambling thoughts abruptly as he turned his hand over, touching the massacred skin lightly.

"Fuck!" Gerard yelped, snapping his hand away. He knew his friend was trying to be gentle but damn he'd done a number on himself this time.

Bert looked at him sadly. "Sorry." He reached for his arm again and Gerard reluctantly let him take it, "You really did a number on yourself. Let's get you cleaned up."