Mint and Honey (SLOW UPDATES)

Chapter 15: Yeah, That Definitely Won't Fly in Clinton

Gerard was laying on his bed, listening to the soft sounds of a cassette tape that Frank had chosen to play. His eyes were closed and he was trying to drown out the sounds of his parents’ bickering. He was also trying to make the space as comfortable as possible while he and Frank healed from their wounds. Especially Frank, who had been on and off sobbing all afternoon while his broken arm fused back together. Frank stirred from his nap, turning onto his stomach to look at Gerard with those big hazel eyes. The Alpha turned from his comic book to gaze down at the omega on his chest, "How’s it hangin’, daddy-o?"

"How are you?"

"Me?" Gerard frowned, "You're the one who got hurt."

"So were you." Frank sat up on his elbow, "You got beat to shit, Gerard Arthur."

Gerard shrugged and looked back up at the ceiling through his broken glasses; he and Frank had returned to the bridge an hour later to retrieve their belongings, grateful that everything had still been left where it had been previously disregarded. Bert had given Gerard his glasses back but Frank's fanny pack had been strewn across the road in a feral haste. Gerard had rescued the belted satchel for his omega, who had then sat and sewed it once they were in the safety of the Alpha’s house. Frank sat up, looking anxious as Gerard turned to him with another lazy-armed shrug, "I said, I'm fine."

"Just because our bruises and bones heal fast and the physical scars are gone, doesn't mean that we aren't still hurt inside." Frank stated simply, his voice softer than usual as he lay a hand on Gerard’s arm, "My arm is already healed from this afternoon, but does that mean that I'm over what happened? Fuck no."

Gerard looked away from Frank's earnest gaze, his heart picking up in pace. His eyes stung with tears that betrayed his usual cool exterior. "Gerard…" Frank shuffled closer on his knees as Gerard sat himself up, "It's okay to not be okay. Just because you're an Alpha, it doesn't mean you always have to be strong."

Gerard looked down at his lap, the omega's words resonating in his head and bouncing off his skull like a paddle-ball. His hot and salty tears rolled down his cheeks as he exhaled shakily and threw his glasses onto the bed. The omega let out a soft, sympathetic whimper and came in, wrapping his arms around his vulnerable Alpha - The touch only made Gerard cry harder and latch onto his best friend.

"It's okay." Frank whispered as he ran his hands through Gerard's greasy locks to soothe him, "You're okay."

Gerard let out a small sob, his eyes scrunching closed as more tears fell down his cheeks. He exhaled shakily and held Frank close, taking in the honey scent that began clouding his head and comforting him down to his core. Frank continued his quietened cooing, his soft voice whispering gentle thoughts into Gerard's ear. All Frank could do was sit there and hold him, he could do nothing but hope that his Alpha would be okay. Gerard's brain wouldn't switch off as per usual, his mind flashing with brutal images of everything that had happened; and even more terrifying, what could have been the outcome, what could have occurred, and what could have befallen them both. He had never felt so guilty and broken in his entire life.

"Please be okay." Frank's voice sounded shaky as though he, too, was on the verge of tears. And he was, his soft omega emotions were tipping over at the sight of his strong alpha being so vulnerable.

It took ages for Gerard to stop crying, his tears stopped falling despite his body still hiccupping with every painful breath he took.

"It's okay, Gerard." Frank sat back and took Gerard's head in his hands, wiping his tears. Gerard's cheeks flooded with a red tinge that was akin to shame for him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cry. I was just- I got emotional thinking about the last time I had sex with your mom." Gerard wiped his tears on the back of his hand when Frank let out a snort.