Not Just Tone Deaf

Chapter Four

~Frank~

Gerard smiled at me as I walked over. He was curled up in one of the big coffee shop armchairs, looking small and sleepy. I sat down across from him, forcing myself to sign despite how nervous I was. Hello.

He grinned and signed something back quickly, something I didn't catch. I blinked and he laughed, typing it out on his phone. 'How are you?'

Good, thanks, I managed to reply slowly, feeling my cheeks heat up. Gerard giggled and nodded.

"That's all I know," I sighed, rubbing one eye. He shrugged and glanced out of the window at the rain.

I settled into the silence, listening to the rain on the roof and the general chatter of the shop itself. It felt strange, thinking that Gerard couldn't hear it. All the sounds I was so accustomed to tuning out just weren't there for him. Sound didn't exist for him. Clocks wouldn't tick, rain wouldn't splash, people would be silent, even when they were shouting. I shivered and he looked up at me, his crooked smile spreading.

Cold?

I shook my head and he nodded, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip from his coffee. 'Why did you want to meet up?'

I shrugged and ran a hand through my hair, trying to ignore the way he twisted a lock of bright red hair around one finger. "I guess I just wanted to check on you. Mikey seemed upset when he came to get you last time."

Gerard smiled and curled up a little tighter. 'He had a fight with his husband. It wasn't really a big deal.' I nodded and rubbed my knee, still a bit nervous around him. Communication was becoming easier, but was awkward.

"He's married? How old is he? He doesn't look much older than you."

Gerard laughed and handed me his phone again. 'We get that a lot, actually. He's 23.'

"Oh, that's really cool," I smiled. "Do you live with him?"

He shook his head and stretched. 'Nope. On my own.'

I decided not to ask the obvious next question, instead opting for a short lull in the conversation.

Gerard stared at me. 'Mikey thinks I need someone. So I'm not lonely. Someone who can take care of me when he's not around. What do you think?'

I chuckled and shrugged. "I think he's your brother and he's worried about you. I don't really think you need someone to take care of you, though. You're very independent. But I can see it on the lonely front. Having people around is important."

He nodded, but didn't reply. I watched him, studying his face as he stared out at the rain. His smile didn't always seem to reach his eyes.

I sighed and shifted, drawing his attention back to me. "Do you like living alone?"

Gerard nodded again, starting to play with his hair.

"Why do you still meet up with me? You don't need to."

He laughed and shrugged. 'Because you're fun. And if I don't, you'll lose your job. Besides, I'm trying to avoid being lonely, remember?'

~

I was at lunch when Ray ran over to me, shaking my shoulder. I looked up at him, confused. I hadn't properly met him before, only seen him with Gerard. He looked upset.

"Frank, Gerard got knocked over and they need you in the nurse's office."

I blinked, frozen for a couple seconds. Then I jumped up, grabbing my bag as I hurried down the hallways.

Gerard was sitting on one of the uncomfortable little beds, looking a bit dazed. He was covered in scrapes, blood oozing from torn skin on his arms, hands, and legs. A cut on his head was dripping blood down his cheek. I hugged him carefully, rubbing his back slowly. He very gently pushed me away when the nurse came back, starting to clean him up. "What happened?" I asked her quickly. She sighed.

"He's too out of it to tell us at the moment, but one of the kids who helped him here said some freshmen were running around being idiots and screaming, and Gerard didn't notice, of course. One of the kids slammed into him and he went head over heels down the stairs."

I frowned and sat down next to him, holding the hand the nurse had already bandaged. He leaned his head on my shoulder, staring straight ahead as tears poured down his bloodstained cheeks. A door slammed and Mikey ran in, looking completely frantic. Gerard brightened up slightly, but didn't reach out for him. Mikey sat down on his other side, stroking Gerard's hair slowly.

The nurse finally finished cleaning him up and I explained what had happened to Mikey, still holding onto the younger boy's hand. Mikey immediately scooped him up, glancing at me. "I'm taking him home, you can come if you want to."

I nodded slightly, a little breathless still. "Yes please."

I held Gerard upright as Mikey unlocked the apartment door, then led him inside. I helped lay Gerard down on the couch, making sure plenty of pillows were under his head as well as warm blankets over his body. Mikey sat on the coffee table, holding his little brother's hand. He looked up at me. "Thanks for being there. He'll be okay, he's just in shock right now. The nurse said he didn't get a concussion."

I nodded and sat down on the floor, hanging my head. "I told him I would go with him to the library," I mumbled. "I said I didn't mind, and he told me he'd be fine on his own."

Mikey rubbed my shoulder. "It's not your fault. Anyway, it's just a few grazes."

I leaned against the sofa, looking up at Gerard. "He looks so small when he's asleep."

Mikey chuckled and shot me a smile. "Yeah. He kinda does."

I tugged a corner of the blanket over the younger Way's feet, fussing with it absentmindedly.

"Frank?"

I didn't look up, nodding slightly.

"Do you like my brother?"

I looked up, blinking. "Of course I like him. He's a nice kid."

Mikey shook his head, biting his lip lightly. "That's not what I meant."

I stared at the sofa cushion for a few seconds, struggling to keep my breathing even. "I don't know," I answered honestly. "I hadn't thought about it until I saw him in the nurse's office."

Mikey sighed and stroked Gerard's red hair away from his closed eyes. "He's always been sort of...prickly, I guess. He doesn't like being close to people he's not used to."

I shrugged and stood up. "I don't blame him."

Mikey watched me as I walked to the kitchen, starting the coffeemaker. "I think he's cute, and sweet," I said softly, looking back at Mikey. "I'm not at like yet, but I think I might be one day."

He smiled and nodded. "You should start learning more sign language."