It was 7:15 and Frank Iero had just got on the bus that would take him to hell-- also known as Belleville High. Frank wasn't a morning person, but he wasn't necessarily grumpy. He was just really, really tired. The only thing he was looking forward to was the entrance of his best friend, and they were now at his stop.
Frank looked to the front of the bus in anticipation. He watched a skinny boy with glasses and a beanie awkwardly shuffle over to his very emo friend in the third seat. That was Mikey, and the other boy was Pete. Now it was Gerard's turn.
He walked through the doors looking down and smiling at his hoodie. One of his hands was in his hoodie pocket while the other gripped the strap of his bag. He glanced up and found Frank before smiling wider. He quickly and carefully moved to the back of the bus and sat next to his short friend. Frank noticed that his nose and eyes were slightly red.
"Frankie, you're never gonna believe what I found!" He said excitedly.
"Not even a hello?"
Gerard sneezed. It was the cutest thing Frank had ever heard.
"Aw Gee, your sneeze is the cutest damn thing in existence."
"Beg to differ," Gerard replied.
He reached into his hoodie and pulled out something gray. It was a little ball of fur that was hardly bigger than Gerard's hands. Frank heard tiny noises leave the kitten's mouth as Gerard brought it out of its warm, cozy den in his hoodie. Gerard smiled at it fondly as he gently stroked the cat with his finger.
"Gerard, what the fuck?" Frank whisper-yelled.
A look of horror crossed Gerard's face as he quickly pulled the cat to his chest.
"Frank! Language!"
Frank was going to respond to that, but he closed his mouth instead, taking a deep breath.
"Gerard," he tried again," why do you have a kitten on a school bus?"
Gerard shrugged and moved he cat away from his face. He held it in his hands carefully and circled his thumb over its back and along its side.
"Me and Mikey were at the curb waiting for the bus, and I heard a little noise coming from a bush. It was really weak, but we followed it and found this little lady tangled in the branches. Mikey said to leave her there, but I couldn't let this tiny, helpless kitten survive on its own. So I scooped her up and put her in my pocket, and here we are."
Frank looked at him incredulously.
"Gerard. YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO CATS!"
"And? If me taking care of this little baby keeps her alive and safe, it's worth it. I can deal with itchy eyes and sneezing for a while until I can get a shot or something."
Frank stared at him.
"Gerard, you hate shots," he stated quietly.
The other boy nodded and brought the tiny kitten up to his face. The cat nudged her nose against his cheek, and Gerard smiled. Frank just wanted to kiss the sweet boy.
Instead, he settled for reaching a hand out and stroking the kitten. Gerard glanced at him and grinned wider. Frank smiled back.
"What's her name?"
Gerard shrugged.
"I wanted to name her Ziggy Stardust but that's probably not good name for a cat..." He trailed off, looking discouraged.
Frank leaned in and pecked his cheek.
"Gerard, you can name her whatever the fu-- frick you want. You're the one that's taking care of her."
Gerard was blushing. He looked at the kitten in his hands.
"Hey, girl," he whispered, "would you like the name Ziggy Stardust?"
The kitten stared at him. Then she squirmed in his hands and nuzzled her face against his cheek, purring. Gerard beamed at the kitten, and Frank grinned at Gerard. He looked over to Frank and held the kitten out to him.
"You wanna hold Ziggy?"
Frank was hesitant, but he carefully took the kitten into his hands anyway. Ziggy was she softest thing he'd ever felt. And she was so light! She barely weighed a pound, and Frank found himself quickly becoming attached to this kitten.
As he held Ziggy, he felt a weight on his shoulder. Gerard had laid his head on Frank's shoulder, and he was watching the two interact. When Ziggy noticed the other boy, she meowed and pawed the air in his direction. Both Frank and Gerard smiled, and Frank turned and kissed Gerard's head.
"Gee, I'm gonna help you take care of Ziggy. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, I'll help you."
Gerard replied by nudging his face more into Frank's shoulder. Frank smiled as he petted Ziggy.
"You're more of a cat than she is, Gee."
Gerard chuckled.
"Well, I'd hope not. Bestiality is illegal, Frank."
Frank blushed so hard he could probably clear the snow off the Jersey streets in winter. Gerard glanced up at his face and then broke out laughing. He leaned up and kissed Frank's jaw.
"Love you, Frankie."
"Love you, too, Gee," Frank mumbled.
Ziggy meowed at the pair, and she fought to get out of Frank's hands. The two boys giggled at the kitten. Ziggy just stared.
