The Hue of Autumn is Blood (Frerard)

Chapter 12 - Retrouvailles

Gerard didn't know why the staking did work, perhaps the legends lied, wooden stakes didn't work on vampires, or the stake missed a vital part of their heart, or the vampire gods didn't wish them dead, or this witch resurrected them. Gerard liked the last the most, it felt so romantic, so Frank.

"I didn't resurrect you." Though the herbs and the candles in the room told a different story.

Through the tears, Gerard grinned, "But you did make me retrouvailled you."

"Huh?"

Gerard smirked, "It's French."

In the eighth grade, Gerard received an A in French and therefore, was an expert in all things French, the language of love.

However, Gerard forgot—temporary, of course—how verbs worked in French, so they figured adding an -ed suffix would do the trick. English stole from many other languages, so it must have a chance of appearing correct.

Frank laughed, "That's definitely not French, Gerard."

Gerard stuck out their tongue, "How would you know, Frankie?"

"So, what does it mean?"

Retrouvailles was a word in French that referred to when one sees someone again after not seeing them for a while.

And oh, how the time between the staking and resurrection felt as if multiple eternities had passed like staring at the seconds hand in a classroom clock for the entire school day, waiting for it to strike the end and suddenly, each second couldn't move any slower.

Oh, how they had all the power. Gerard giggled and stroked the back of Frank's hand, "You have to earn that, Frankie."

"So you don't know French," Frank sighed. "I know you don't know French."

How dare Frank question their French abilities, Gerard frowned, "But—"

Frank chuckled and gripped their hand tighter, "Gerard, I don't want to hear about your A in French. It doesn't count."

Gerard giggled, "Sounds like someone is obsessed with me."

Frank narrowed his eyes and blushed, "You mention it once a month."

"It's okay, Frankie, I'm obsessed with you too," Gerard re-interwove their fingers with his and stuck their tongue out, "You made me fall in love with you."

Gerard had to tell Frank; they didn't care if he loved them. He needed to know.

Frank wore a blank expression and he stared at the knife next to Gerard's head; they wished that knife a very unpleased rest of its existence/

"Uh—I... What... made..."

Gerard guided his hand to hover over their mouth and Frank pressed his fingers against their lips. The taste of blood on his hand caused their fangs to flare and mouth salivate again. Despite only drops brushing against their lips, his blood tasted so sweet like the day after Halloween when one scoffs down all the candy they collected, it doesn't matter the types and the flavour since it all moulds into one ultra-sweet sugar flavour. How fitting.

Gerard grinned against his finger, so soft and tender, "I love you, Frankie"

Frank stared at the herbs on their stomach and swayed back and forth though, his expression didn't change.

Gerard added, "You don't have to say it back, but I want you to know."

For a while, Frank rocked in silence and stared somewhere beyond the walls of the room, "Gerard, I want to believe you."