I Will Protect You (A Frerard neko Au)

Pancakes

(AN:- I didn't want to give you guys a short chapter so I've just extended this one. I've got a lot going on in my life right now and I've been trying to write out some other ideas so might be I while before the next update, sorry)

Gerard
He groaned as the sweet warmth of sleep left him. As he stretched out, his fingers curled around the soft sheets, surprising him. For a second, he waited for the usual pain that came with waking up in a bed. But it didn't come. His eyes widened at the memory of last night. He'd been reliving one of the worst parts of his life. And Frank... He helped him. He didn't get angry. He held him and cared for him while he cried. No one had done that for him in years.
I have to repay him for this. He's been so nice.
But Frank had already said he didn't want him to do anything. Especially nothing sexual, though he still had a hard time believing this.
What about breakfast? He can't get angry about that... Right?
Another dilemma. Frank had insisted that Gerard was not supposed to serve him. But he wasn't technically serving him. Just... Thanking him.
Yes. Breakfast. He climbed out of bed, still stretching. Despite the nightmare, this was the best he'd slept since he was eight. He pulled on the shirt and jeans Frank had given him yesterday.
It would be rude to ask for more clothes. After all, these'll do just fine.
Gerard made his way into the kitchen and started to look for options. There wasn't really all that much. He'd been taught a few basic domestic duties but his primary purpose, as he'd always been told over his five years training, was to give his master pleasure.
He looked around for something to help him, and his salvation came in the form of a shelf of cookbooks. He picked one out and flicked through it until he came across a recipe for pancakes. Perfect. There was enough of everything, and it didn't look too hard. Frank would be happy and if he was lucky, he might be allowed to eat himself.

Frank
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
His hand slithered out from under the covers and blindly flailed around in the hope that it would stop hitting the sideboard and find the snooze button. As his frustration mounted, Frank groaned and just yanked the cable out of the wall.
Due to the effort of silencing the alarm clock, he was now fully awake and, unfortunately, unable to go back to sleep. Wiping a small line of drool from the corner of his mouth, he tried to reassemble the events of the previous night.
Let's see... I was working late. Again. Then... Gerard had a nightmare and freaked out when I woke him up... He cried... Then he fell asleep in my arms. That was cute.
Cute as in puppy cute, not romantic cute that is.
So I carried him into bed... And I... Kissed his forehead...
The fuck is wrong with me?
No, I was just doing it in a parental way. Parental.
The sound of movement came from downstairs and his eyebrows knotted together. The hell was Gee doing up at this ungodly time of 8:45?
Gee.
Frank had seen his surprise when he unintentionally used the nickname. Why? He mentioned a family. Perhaps it was what he was called when he was younger. He thought about the possible side effects of using it. It could bring up bad memories and he'd be too nervous to say so. Or it could make him warm up to Frank, pick away at the layers of fear that had accumulated over time. He'd have to ask later.

Rubbing the remaining sleep from his eyes, he forced himself out of bed. He went for the door, but paused and grabbed a dressing gown. (AN:-That's what us Brits call bathrobes for all you States people)
With all he's been through, he'll freak if he sees me in nothing but boxers.
Tying the belt as he walked, he headed downstairs and followed the noise to the kitchen. Trying not to draw attention to himself, he pushed the door open to find Gerard making pancakes.
"Gee?"
The neko jumped a little but fought for composure. His tail entwined itself around his leg. "Y-yes ma... Frank?"
"What are you doing?" It was a genuine question. He had no idea what would compel him to cook breakfast.
"I uh... I wanted to thank you... For last night. You were so kind and... I wanted to make you breakfast."
Frank opened his mouth to protest. Gee shouldn't have to thank him by serving him. He'd already made that abundantly clear. But he paused when he saw the boy's ears flatten and his tail tangle around his waist as though he was hugging himself. He didn't want to cause him further upset. Mulling things over for a second, he found an answer. "Alright, but one condition."
Gee seemed to loose a little of his composure at this. "Y-yes?"
"Make enough for yourself. And by enough, I mean the same amount you would give me. You..." What reasoning could he use to convince Gee he should eat properly? "You deserve it."
At this, he perked up and seemed to smile. "Okay. Thank you."
Frank smiled back. "No problem." Before walking out of the kitchen and back upstairs to pull on a t-shirt and a pair of baggy pyjama bottoms. As he started to head out, he heard a crash and a cry of pain.

He ran downstairs and burst into the kitchen. Gee was hunched over by the cooker. The pan and the remains of a pancake were lying on the floor and he was cradling his wrist. At the sound of the door opening, he looked up in terror and backed into a corner.
"M-master, i-it was an-an a-accident... I-I'm s-sorry, please... P-please"
The poor boy was on the verge of tears. Stepping around the mess, Frank made his way over to him, ignoring the way he pressed himself against the wall and continued to frantically stutter apologies. Slowly, he took Gerard's hand and examined it. There was a painfully large burn mark across his left hand and blood was visible at the edges. Frank winced internally at the sight. Poor Gee.

Gerard
Tears ran down his face and tiny mews accompanied them as he let his master take his hand. He was waiting. Waiting to feel the frying pan come down on his head, or to be dragged to the gas top and have his injured hand held over the flames, or at least to be kicked in the stomach for his insolence and stupidity.
Stupid, stupid tail. This is why I'm nothing. I'm just a filthy neko who just gets in the way. Why doesn't he just take me upstairs and have his way with me? At least I can do that. It's all I can do... Give pleasure.
"Gee?" Frank's surprisingly soft voice broke the silence.
He replied in the tiniest whisper he could get away with. "S-s-si-sir?"
He took Gerard's other hand and his thumb traced circles on his palm slowly. "I'm not angry... Okay?"
He didn't respond, just stared at the floor.
"It's alright." He stared to guide him out of the corner, despite every fibre in his body screaming and crying not to.
Don't make a bad thing worse. I deserve punishment.
The sound of running water broke the silence and he hissed a little as he felt it hit his injured hand.
"Just hold it there for a little while. I'll clean this up."
Still shaken and scared, he gave a little nod and held his hand under the cold tap, ignoring any discomfort.

A short while later, Frank came back over to him holding something wrapped in a towel. He turned off the tap and handed Gerard the bundle, which seemed to contain ice.
"I'll finish up, you go wait in the lounge."
Seeing no other alternative, he walked out slowly and into the lounge, kneeling down by the couch.
If I deserved equality earlier, I certainly don't now. I've messed up. Again. Oh God, what if he gets rid of me? I can't go back. I can't. But...
I'll just have to make it up to him. Try to get him to keep me. I'll just...
No! I hate those! Not that!
It's that or the market. At least it'll only be one man here. Hopefully.
He flinched at the sound of the door opening but steadied his breathing. He'd done this before, he could do it again. Frank walked over to him and knelt down.
"Gee."
Hearing that name almost sent him into a panic attack. But he squeezed his arm to steady himself. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the cord of his masters sweatpants.

Frank
He stared at Gerard's hands as they moved to the cord of his jogging pants and fumbled with the knot. As it came undone, he realised what was going on and he grabbed Gee's hands, ignoring the way he flinched.
"Stop it!" He snapped, more aggressively than he intended.
Gerard whimpered. "P-please... Let me make up for my mistake master."
Frank exhaled and guided his hands back to the bundle of ice blocks. "What happened in the kitchen was. An. Accident. You just knocked the pan over and burnt yourself in the process. I don't care about the mess, I don't care about you trying to 'make up' for it, I care about your well being."
He looked up at him and took the ice. "I'm sorry."
Frank held back a sigh. He hated this. The terror in his eyes. The unrelenting apologies. The reflexive fear of punishments and trying to find ways to avoid them. How badly was this kid fucked up?
"I... Look. If it makes you feel better to cook breakfast or clean every once in a while, go ahead. I won't stop you. But don't just... Offer yourself up like a piece of meat. I don't want any kind of 'services' from you. You're my friend."

Gerard
He presses the ice against his burnt palm. It seemed impossible. He'd built up these kinds of actions to the point that they were reflexive. And now here he was being told to abandon them completely. But... It was a chance for a better life. And a chance he had to take. "I'll try."
He looked up cautiously and saw Frank smile. He returned the gesture and straightened up a little.
"You go wait in the dining room, I'll finish breakfast."
"Okay."

(On the subject of other ideas, how would you guys feel about me writing a poetry book?)