Regret Flows (Frerard)

Same Old War

Flashes of lightning continued to illuminate the night sky followed by deep rumblings of thunder reverberating around the city. The tall windows of the Way house pattered as the rainfall blew sideways into them, leaving streaky trails as they dripped. All evidence of life outside the towering black walls was nonexistent, leaving the home like a sanctuary for the last two men alive, and a cozy one at that. 

Gerard stood in the kitchen watching out the windows, counting the seconds between the bright blasts of lightning and the inevitable crashing thunder in his head. The house was completely silent with the exception of the coffee maker sputtering as it brewed a fresh pot. Gerard turned his body to the side, examining his reflection in the mirror like windows. He was wearing loose fitting grey sweatpants and no shirt, something he never did. Perhaps it was the sense of new changes in his life, or the boost to his ego he just had when Frank screamed his name from under him a few hours ago. He smoothed his hand over his stomach, appreciating the generous shadows giving his abs unrealistic definition. 

The pot finished brewing, breaking Gerard from his refection. Careful not to wake the other on the couch, he carefully pulled a ceramic mug from the cupboard and poured himself a full cup. Quietly, he walked around the kitchen island and over to the couch, smiling as he looked down at Frank wrapped cozily in warm blankets. The pair had fallen asleep after they returned from the cathedral and immediately fucked on the couch, each of them letting down any defensive barriers they had previously. Knowing Frank was still completely nude under the blankets was killing Gerard, desperately wishing to pull his gorgeous body on top of him again. 

Not wanting to accidentally wake the younger, Gerard walked back to the dining room and stopped under the large painting Frank was admiring earlier. He stood pondering, occasionally sipping his coffee in silence. In the end, he decided this was too grotesque for the new life he was manifesting; a life of happiness, joy and trust. Another flash of lighting lit up the sky as he continued to count until the rolling thunder crashed around the house; twelve seconds. He walked up to the back door and rested his hand on the handle, waiting for the next flash to come. When it did, he counted again, and waited for the thunder to finish rumbling before he jumped outside.

Immediately slapped with the freezing wind, the artist jogged across his soggy yard to his studio where he threw the door open and jumped inside. Significantly warmer in here than outside due to the temperature control he kept to preserve his work, he stopped shivering almost immediately. Gerard set his coffee down on the stool that sat before the empty easel and made his way over to the far corner where he kept his large finished pieces. Tipping through one by one, he scanned each as a potential replacement for the dining room. Unsatisfied, he leant the collection of eight foot tall canvases back into place. He  turned to face the room again, deciding he would need to create more options now that he was feeling a new surge of happier emotion.

Wanting to avoid going back into the house, Gerard decided to lay on the floor the same way he had in the chapel. He reached for a pack of cigarettes he had laying around, placed one between his lips and lit it, inhaling the thick fragrant smoke into his lungs. He closed his eyes, pulling the smoldering stick to and from his lips on autopilot as his mind wandered. He thought about how to approach Frank regarding the boundaries he had with his studio space. He didn't want to offend Frank by telling him he was not welcome, however he also wanted to express how important it was for him to have this as his own private space; maybe the debacle with the plumber would lighten the air, he thought.

Gerard's fingers tightened around the cigarette as he realized there was also the issue of explaining his family situation. He decided to delay that conversation as he didn't want to overload the poor boy with the demented and greedy pair that are Donald and Mikey Way. Homophobic slurs cast upon him rang in his ears as he thought about the two, dreading the day they would all be together again. Gerard inhaled again, but was cut short of his favorite final long drag. He held the smoke in his lungs and pondered while admiring the still glowing ember tip. Unable to resist, he turned the butt in his fingers and held it to his bare hip, extinguishing it along with all hallucinations of family members. The artist smirked peacefully, appreciating the calmness flowing back through his body before he stood and made his way back into the house. 

Way quietly closed the door behind him, and made his way through the dark room back to the couch. To his satisfaction, the younger was still sleeping soundly despite the storm raging outside. Unable to restrain himself, Gerard reached out a soft hand and gently brushed the other's hair with his fingers.

"Huh?" Frank mewled, sleepily blinking his heavy eyes. 

"Aw, shit, sugar I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Gerard apologized as he slipped under the blanket next to Frank. 

"Why are you so cold?!" Frank initially protested but immediately gave in, cuddling against Gerard's bare chest.

"I've just been doing a couple things, the thunder woke me up." Gerard breathed, expelling hot breath against Frank's neck, satisfied with the lust filled quiet moan given in return. 

"Mmmmm," Frank gently moaned as he sniffed Gerard's chest, "You smell like cigarettes.. and coffee," taking another deep inhale. 

Gerard chuckled which boomed loudly as it was amplified from his chest into Frank's ear. "I just made a pot, if you want some,"

"It's like, two in the morning," Frank replied, pulling his face up to meet Gerard's. Another satisfied moan slipped from the twenty three year old as he was pulled into a deep kiss, tasting the way the coffee and cigarette mixed in the elder's mouth. "Actually, yes."

Not about to protest another coffee, Gerard pulled himself from the younger and made his way into the kitchen. "Aren't ya coming?" he called to the younger as he flicked on a light and pulled two mugs from the cupboard.

"You have pants on!" Frank cried back from the darkness.

"That's not my problem!" Gerard called, smirking to himself as he heard rustling coming from the couch. He set the two mugs on the counter, placing Frank's on one side of the counter, keeping his close by himself. Frank emerged from the living room wrapped entirely in an oversized blanket, getting a deep happy laugh from Gerard in return. Iero perched himself up on the same stool he had the first night Gerard invited him over, and smugly sipped his coffee. The artist smiled into his own mug as he heard the gentle clink of Frank's piercing against the ceramic. 

"How long have you been up?" Frank asked as Gerard held out an open cigarette carton, offering the younger first pick before he slipped another into the corner of his mouth. 

"Only about an hour or so," Gerard began as he pulled the lighter from his pocket, admiring the way the flame flickering was paled in the reflection of Frank's bright eyes. "I decided I need to replace that painting, I'm sick of it." He nodded to the large painting of the man slumped against the tombstone as he casually lit his own cigarette. 

"What?! But why?!" Frank gasped as his head flew over his shoulder to the painting. He could barely see it in the dim light but was still amazed by the shadows he could make out. 

Gerard shrugged as he held the cigarette in his mouth, taking a deep inhale. "I'm just over it, Ive seen it too much." He let out a long exhale of smoke before taking another sip of his coffee. "Plus, I made it when I was in a much different headspace.. I'd like something that reflects how I feel now," he said, smirking and raising an eyebrow at the younger. 

"And that is...?" Frank softly questioned

"Happy." The artist replied simply, loving the way any compliment always made Frank blush. "However, I'm out of canvas so I'll need to pick some up tomorrow if you'd like to join me." Gerard offered.

Frank happily agreed to tag along to the art store, and the two continued to chat from either side of the kitchen counter. Eventually, Frank finished his cigarette and extinguished the butt into the black glass ashtray the two had been sharing. Gerard reluctantly twisted his into the glass as well, fighting the urge to press it into his skin again. Realizing he was fixed on the ashtray without saying anything for longer than usual, he looked up to meet Frank's concerned eye line. 

"C'mon," he broke the silence, "let's go take a shower." he suggested with a smile. The younger blushed immediately until he was swooped into Way's arms like a bride over a threshold and carried up the stairs.