~Two Day Time Skip Because I'm A Lazy Motherfucker ~
Frank smiles at Gerard, whose face immediately softens as their eyes meet. It's become apparent to everyone working with them that Gerard's got a soft spot for Frank. Alright with them so long as Gerard doesn't turn into a complete softy and end up killing them all. They know that that won't happen, though, because anytime he addressed another member, his voice went to its usual 'if you so much as do anything to make me think you're a screw up I will shoot you and have no regrets about it' tone. Some of them, the members who had been around for Bert, understood why he was the way he was with Frank. So he liked Frank. Big deal. It wasn't like it was messing up their chances of survival... yet.
One of the men, the name is not for you to know yet, had gotten the idea in his mind that Frank was a threat. Understandable, really. Gerard had known that many of his men had thought the same about Bert. Gerard was more protective of Frank now, though. He was beginning to think that if Frank were to be of any use as a body guard, he'd need time to get his legs completely better. So it was with regret that he assigned Bryar as his temporary body guard. Gerard had watched, shocked, as Frank had begun to tear up in Gerard's room(which Gerard supposed was Frank's room now, too) as Gerard told him.
"Frank, what's the matter?" He had been laying down, Frank safe in his arms when he had mentioned it. Frank had hastily pushed Gerard away and had stood up. "Frank?" Frank ignored him and walked slowly over to the bathroom, closing it softly yet quickly. But not quickly enough to prevent Gerard from seeing that Frank's eyes were brimming with tears. He had ran over to the door, which was locked, and knocked on it. Frank slid a sheet of paper under the door.
'NOTHING'S WRONG, GERARD. I'M FINE.' even though it was a piece of paper with words, Gerard could tell Frank wasn't fine. He picked up his multi-tool from the dresser and began to look through the tools, looking for the one that would let him get the door unlocked. All the while he was searching he tired urging Frank to come out.
"Then why won't you come back out?" Frank slid a new piece of paper under the door.
'MY LEGS HURT, THAT'S ALL.' Gerard sighed and found the tool, moving to unlock the door then.
"Then why don't you come back out so I can see what's wrong? Or better yet, I can take you to Billie Joe... He'd know what to do, Frankie." He was worried then. Frank slid a new piece under the door. Gerard bent to pick it up, continuing trying to pick the lock.
'WHY DON'T YOU GET BRYAR TO COME HERE, THEN?' Then Gerard understood. Frank thought that Gerard was replacing him. Gerard hurried in finishing opening the door. When he did, he found Frank huddled next to the shower, his knees brought up to his chest and his face buried in his arms. He was shaking slightly. Gerard knew he was crying as he sat next to Frank and pulled him into his lap. Frank didn't fight, instead burying his face in Gerard's shoulder and letting it all out.
"Shh, Frankie... I care about you, you know that... I want you to get better before going back out..." He holds Frank close to him, smoothing down his hair, away from his eyes. He kisses Frank's forehead, the top of his head, anywhere he can reach without moving Frank too much. Frank shakes his head, his tears soaking Gerard's shirt, but neither of them care.
"Frankie... You said you care about me, didn't you?" Frank nods, not looking at Gerard still. Gerard smiles. He was worried so badly about Frank he hadn't realized he had been tearing up as well.
"Then let me care about you. You care about me, so let me do what I need. Bryar's not gonna replace you, he's temporary. I just know that the next deal we're doing requires a lot of running and you still can't walk that far without my help." He nuzzles his face against the top of Frank's now-messy brown faux-hawk. He could tell that Frank's hair used to be in dreadlocks, just by how tangled parts of it still looked. But now it was brown and styled into a forward-type swoosh that Gerard would always find himself flattening down to cover Frank's eye. It was endearing, really, and Frank didn't mind.
"Frank... Frankie..." Frank sniffles a bit, but otherwise had stopped crying, which relieved Gerard to no end. Seeing Frank cry was unbearable. "Frank..." He coos, kissing Frank's cheek. Frank looks at him with those wide, hazel eyes that were just innocent enough to make Gerard want to hug him and never let go-of course, he usually would do this, depending on where they were. Gerard smiles and kisses him softly. "I care about you a lot." Frank nods and rests his head in the crook of Gerard'd neck, at his collar bone. Gerard is happy. After all, Frank is happy, so why should he be upset.
Gerard gets the idea in his head as he's sitting there with Frank, who's occasional sniff allowed Gerard to have the idea in the first place. Gerard puts his arm under Frank's knees and the other goes around his shoulders and he stands up, carrying the smaller man in his arms. Frank gasps quietly, what would be a squeak if he could, and wraps his arms around Gerard's neck, clinging tightly to the older man for dear life. Gerard laughs.
"I won't drop you, Frankie. I haven't before and I sure as hell won't do it ever." Frank nods and relaxes a bit, pressing a tender kiss to Gerard's shoulder, the closest area he could reach.
Gerard sets Frank down in the middle of the room and digs his old radio out of his closet. He looks at the CD that's inside of it before plugging it into the wall and turning the volume up. He allows the softer songs from some of his favorite bands to come through the old speakers. He goes back to Frank and grabs one of his hands, holding it up while the other goes to his waist. Frank follows suit and puts his free hand on Gerard's shoulder, unsure of what to do. Gerard just laughs and attempts to teach Frank wordlessly how to dance slowly. Frank must not be able to do it, though, because he just keeps tripping.
Gerard laughs as Frank stumbles again and settles for allowing Frank to stand atop his feet while they move in slow, small circles about Gerard's room. Frank's head is resting on Gerard's chest and Gerard presses a kiss to the top of Frank's head, wishing he could live in that moment forever. But he can't, because then he wouldn't be able to do anything else with his Frank. Yes, his. Gerard had decided on his own that Frank would be his and only his. Because Frank cared about him. No one had cared about him since Bert. Before Bert had been Mikey and his mother... who he had killed so long ago.
