Floating in the Waves (Frerard) (AU)

Chapter 4

"I'm back!" Mikey called as he walked through the door, about thirty minutes later. He walked into the bathroom with a two-liter of Pepsi, two pizzas, plates, and napkins. 

"I got two pizzas 'cause I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving." 

"I could eat a fucking horse." Gerard said as he opened one of the boxes and pulled two slices onto a plate. 

Gerard scooted one of the boxes over to Frank, who smiled as he pulled a piece right out of the box and began eating it. 

His eyes closed in delight. 

"Fuck, I haven't had pizza in so long. It tastes so damn good." He said. He finished the first piece, then grabbed another. 

"You've had it? I thought you'd just know what you call 'ocean food.' No offense." Gerard said.

"None taken. But...yeah, I was actually human once, so I used to eat this stuff all the time." Frank replied as he took another piece. 

Gerard and Mikey stopped eating and looked at each other. 

"You mean you weren't always a-"

"Don't you dare say the m-word. I fucking hate that word." Frank pointed at Mikey. 

"But yeah, I was. I...I had a family, I had friends, and I had legs. So, yeah, I was pretty human. Looking back, I wish I still was." Frank said. 

"What happened?" Gerard asked. 

Frank shrugged. "Fuck if I know. I just...I...got to be like, eighteen, then I started to grow fins on my fucking arms." 

"So it just spontaneously happened?" Mikey asked. Frank nodded. 

"Yeah, pretty much." 

"Damn." 

"But yeah. Living underwater? May seem cool at first, but after about a month, it gets old. After about a year? Fucking sick of it, man!" Frank said, throwing his arms in the air. 

"How long have you even lived underwater?" Gerard asked. 

"'Bout fifteen years? I dunno. I lost track of time." Frank replied. 

"You said you have a family. Don't they visit you?" Mikey asked. 

Frank's expression turned dark, and he shook his head. 

"No, they don't want anything to do with me." Frank replied, pulling out a fourth piece of pizza. 

Gerard looked at Frank with sympathy. Mikey looked at the floor. They both felt insanely sorry for poor Frank. He had no friends, no family, and nothing to do but swim for fifteen long years. 

"I'm so sorry, Frank." Gerard said quietly. 

Frank shrugged. "It's alright. I mean, it's not alright, but it's not your fault, you don't have to feel bad for me." 

Suddenly, Gerard was sitting by the bathtub, next to Frank. 

"You've got us now, Frank." Mikey smiled. 

Frank smiled. A genuine, true smile. 

"Thank you, guys. Thank you so much." 

Frank was nearly tearing up.