Mikey ended up staying for the rest of the night; he called his parents from Gerard's phone and told them he was staying with his brother and his brother's boyfriend - and Frank heard Mrs Way practically squeal at the word 'boyfriend' - and would drive the rest of the way to their house tomorrow. Frank and Mikey set up the spare bedroom together, Mikey said something about boyfriend-brother bonding time, whilst Gerard cleaned up the kitchen. Frank rolled his eyes playfully at his partner when he started wiping down the surfaces and Mikey just told him he was an 'obsessive germaphobic weirdo'.
Gerard threatened to throw him out to sleep on the streets if he said that again, and Mikey said he would tell their mother. Gerard shut up pretty quickly after that.
"So," Mikey began, a smirk playing at his lips. "You and my brother, huh?"
Frank nodded awkwardly and smoothed out the pillowcase he had just finished shoving a pillow into with shaking hands. Was Mikey going to come out with some comment about him being homeless, or him not being good enough for Gerard? He knew he should have stayed downstairs with Gerard - what as he thinking, ending up alone in a room with his boyfriend's possibly judgmental brother? Being alone with your partner's family was never good; it just gave them more opportunities to confront the boyfriend.
To Frank's relief, Mikey didn't attempt to talk him into leaving Gerard. Nor did he say his brother deserved better, or anything like that actually. He simply shrugged and made some comment about Frank having his work cut out for him, and they remained in silence for the rest of the time they spent alone together. When they finally decided the room was clean enough for Gerard's liking and Mikey's acceptance, they hurried downstairs to find Gerard sitting in the middle of the couch, leaving enough room either side of him for his boyfriend and his brother.
Mikey sat down on Gerard's right, leaning as far away from him as possible, whereas Frank sat down on his left and leaned onto him, resting his head on the man's shoulder. Gerard shifted slightly to make the position more comfortable for Frankie and wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulder. Gerard couldn't help but trail his fingers up and down Frank's arm, just to check he was real and alive and there. Frank shivered at the light touches and tried to pay attention to whatever show Mikey had out on - someone was cooking something that looked really nice, but then she had to go and ruin it by adding meat. Ew. Frank's nose scrunched up in disgust and Gerard, who had been watching him out of the corner of his eye, giggled at the sight. How was it legal for him to look so cute?
Gerard bent his neck to kiss Frank's cheek, and smiled when the boy leaned into his touch, purring contentedly. He was so happy in that moment: he had a home, he had a boyfriend whom he loved, he was making friends with Gerard's brother. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been this happy. Probably when he was still closeted and living with his religious parents. It had been around Christmas time and his cousins had come over to stay with them; they had sat around the dining room table with an amazing spread that both Mr and Mrs Iero had helped make. They'd said a prayer and had talked and laughed and joked with one another. Everything had been perfect - his parents had been so happy and loving. Frank had a hard time believing they were the same people who threw him out of the house with only the clothes on his back as soon as they found out he liked men.
Just like that the atmosphere changed. It went from blissfully happy and carefree to gloomy and depressing, and all because Frank has thought of his homophobic, asshole parents. Why did he have to go and ruin such a good moment?
Gerard felt Frank tense up and knew immediately that something was wrong; he could tell when the boy was upset and if his body language was anything to go by, he was upset now. He had no idea what had triggered Frankie's sadness, but he knew it was his responsibility as a boyfriend to cheer him up again.
YOU ARE READING
He Likes Me
FanfictionGerard is a writer. Frank is a figment of his imagination... but is that all he is? *Frerard* *Based off Ruby Sparks*