Mint and Honey (SLOW UPDATES)

Prologue: They're Gonna Shit When They See You Anyway

A/N: Okay so here's the deal. This is an old story of mine that I wrote a few years ago for a different fandom. And I fucking love this story more than I realized, but oof, it was not written very well back then in comparison to my skill now. So, I decided to revamp it and make it a frerard because, well, hello. Why the fuck would I not? Yes, the story is on Ao3, but it's not gonna be exactly the same, this one is a lot more fleshed out and it's gonna be a lot better tbh. So even if you've read that one, I'd give this one a fresh set of eyes, tbh. Also, if you have read the other one, no spoilers. Don't ruin this. Even if its not Vanilla, this is still a safe space. 

1989

"Oh, my fucking God. Oh, my God. OhmyGod. Shit. Gerard, wait. This is a bad idea. Push it back in. No, don't- ah. Fuck, ow. Stop. Stop. Gee, I swear to God-" Frank panted anxiously, his words coming out way too fast as he looked at Gerard's pink cheeks and wide eyes - wider than a fellow thirteen-year-olds should be. It was dark and secluded around them despite the fact that they were outside and hiding under the shelter of a large bridge away from prying eyes. Frank looked up at Gerard's face in the shadowy darkness and natural light, and tried to focus on his facial features rather than the agony that radiated from the emptiness that he felt in his body that he hadn't felt in a long time.

"Frankie, I- I can't just push it back in." Gerard whispered as he watched a flash of pain run over Frank's face when he touched him again, "I'm hurting you."

"I don't fucking care." Frank snapped quickly, he could tell he was starting to sweat from the dulled knife ache, "If my mom sees me like this, she will fucking kill me. I can't go home like this, Gee. Push it back in a couple times."

Gerard nodded, his pouted lips parted as he drew even closer to Frank than he had been, hoping to shield him and protect his trembling frame, "Wait, no." Frank screwed his eyes shut, "No. Bad idea. I change my mind. I can't do this. It hurts too much."

"For God's sake, Frank." Gerard groaned impatiently, "It's gonna hurt either way. Whether I do it or someone else does it."

"That's unhelpful." Frank narrowed his eyes up at Gerard with genuine agitation and pain-laced fear, "Why did you have to say that?"

"Because it's true." Gerard shrugged a little and pushed his glasses up on his pixie-sloped nose, "Think about it. Get it over and done with, with someone who's done it before."

"I- I- Fine." Frank groaned and then looked at Gerard with wide hazel eyes, "Please be gentle. Last time you did this, it hurt so bad."

"Last time I didn't have any experience." Gerard countered as he took Frank's arm and held it firmly. He stepped back, guiding Frank's arm to place his limp hand on his chest, the latter's lip began to tremble as the pain shot through him again.

"I'm gonna push on 'three' okay?" Gerard whispered to Frank but the latter just nodded vigorously and tried not to think about the invasive pain. Gerard reached out and put Frank against the wall, the action made him gasp as his back hit the wooden wall behind him. Gerard swallowed hard and pushed his glasses back up on his nose before he took Frank's arm at the elbow and wrist and pulled gently, aligning the dislocated limb with the shoulder socket. Frank cried out wordlessly, mouth dropping open with sheer agony as Gerard continued to push. He grunted, planting his feet as he pushed even harder to try and pop Frank's arm back into place.

There was an eventual pop of bone in cartilage and the sharp electrical numbness radiated down Frank's left arm that seemed to stay there. The tears ran down his flushed cheeks and he cradled his arm to his chest when Gerard let go.

"Better?" Gerard asked softly and Frank nodded, wiping a stray tear, "Good job, Frankie."

"Shut up, you know I hate that," Frank replied with a grunt as Gerard put an arm around his recently-beat-up best friend.

"Whatever you say, Cranky Frankie." Gerard smiled as they walked the rest of the way of the sheltered kissing bridge towards the field where everyone liked to hang out together, locally known as the Springs.

"Let's go. Before McCracken tries to find me again." Frank looked behind them for any signs of the large bully or the Pontiac that he feared more than the Chariot of Death. Although, to Frank, those two things were one and the same.

"Yeah. Ty is gonna blow his lid when he sees what happened to you." Gerard's voice was gravely at the mention of their leader. But he recovered and put on a smile, looking down at his short friend.

"Is he gonna be mad at me?"

"Of course not, Frankie. The man's no' a reprobate," Gerard put on the best accent he could muster as he helped Frank over the edge of the bridge carefully.

"Hey, that one was pretty good," Frank commented as he climbed over the wooden fencing and steadied himself over the wet leaves and mulch of the rolling hills that cascaded down.

"Thanks, Frankie." Gerard helped Frank down the hill carefully.

"My arm really hurts," Frank whined unhappily and Gerard looked down at Frank's previously dislocated arm. Gerard sighed softly, feeling so terrible that Frank had become the recent target instead of himself as usual. He took off his backpack and set it at his feet before he removed his favorite flannel, and turned to Frank in just his AC/DC t-shirt and his shorts. Frank frowned, his lips parted with a puzzling shift to his eyebrows. Gerard lay Frank's arm in the back of the shirt and pushed it gently against Frank's chest before he tied the rest of it behind his neck in a makeshift sling.

"Oh." Frank sighed, his entire body radiating relief.

"C'mon." Gerard put a hand on Frank to guide him to the Springs, "I don't wanna keep them waiting. They're gonna shit when they see you anyway."

"Shuddup, Gee."