FOUR: Vanilla in Our Veins

6: When I Come Toward You, What Do You Do?

Frank and Ty entered the house quietly and Frank immediately turned to help Ty out of his coat and boots, kneeling in front of his secondary Dominant to show his respect. He set Ty's enormous shoes down by the door along with everyone else's, and was allowed to stand. He turned to see Josh peeking out of the living room with a smile, but when he saw the grave expression on Ty's face, and Frank's mild nausea, his smile dropped.

He came over and took Frank's hand immediately, his eyes widening when Frank flinched at the touch. He looked at Ty, "Daddy, what happened?"

"Let's just sit him down first, he's had a tough day, chiot."

Josh steered Frank into the living room and sat him down, crouching down to help Frank out of his sneakers as Ty lay a blanket over his shoulders. Frank looked at Josh and swallowed, a twisted curl of disgust made the corners of his mouth turn, "A nasty old man tried to grope me in the store."

Josh's eyes widened, looking frantically between his two partners for any semblance of dishonesty, but from the stoic expression on Ty's face to the resentful maw that Frank's features had become, he could no longer hope. He put his hands on Frank's shoulders and gave him a reassuring squeeze, "It's okay, Frankie, you're home now, and you're safe with us."

"I'm okay." Frank lied, surprised when his voice came out in a warble. He looked down and pulled the edges of the blanket closer over his chest, "Is he here?"

"He's upstairs in his office." Josh whispered and stepped aside as Frank got up and traipsed out of the living room. He slowly made his way up the stairs, unable to look at anything other than the floor, his sanity and tears hanging back by a margin. He reached the door to Gerard's study and knocked lightly, opening when he heard the offer to enter. He stepped into the warm and cozy wood-paneled office, shutting the door with his foot.

"How was your outing?"

Frank looked up, unable to answer, unable to stop his lip from wobbling and tears blurring his vision. He could see the faint shape of Gerard's body as he rose from his chair, growing larger as he crossed the distance between them. It was the mere touch of his Dominant's hands on his biceps that had his tether finally snapping. He let out a small sob and buried his face in Gerard's chest, crying surprisingly loudly, and breaking the silent reverie that had once taken over the book-shrouded workspace. Gerard wrapped his arms around his submissive and held him, remaining silent as he knew to do until Frank had gotten the first wave of tears out of his system.

He moved them slowly until he was able to sink into the comfort of a velvet armchair near the crackling fireplace, and lowered Frank into his embrace once more. He wrapped Frank up in the safety of his arms and held him, giving his forehead a kiss, "Whatever happened to upset you so astronomically, I promise you, you don't have to feel embarrassed about your reaction," Gerard paused and took a small breath wherein which he took one of Frank's hands into his own, "If it upset you this greatly... I know it was for a good reason. I'm honored that you feel safe enough with me, my prince. You don't have to share with me if you don't want to, no one is forcing you."

Frank sniffed, wiping his eyes on the corner of the russet-colored blanket, "Some guy tried to touch me in the store and Ty had to pull him off. I just... I froze. I could have defended myself and...and I didn't. And I didn't get to buy you gifts and- and..." he trailed off, feeling a tangent of pure nonsense burning its way up his windpipe, yearning to spout forward but he stopped it, knowing he would blow the entire thing out of proportion.

"Someone assaulted you?" Gerard whispered, his voice growing six shades colder, a stern cadence that was akin to an unimpressed father.

"Well, he- I mean, he touched my arm at first and then over my chest and I know he was probably going to try something else but-"