There, There.

I'm sorry is there anything that I can do?

Averys father, Gerard, was already waiting for them when they arrived to the parking lot in his big family black car, as soon as he saw them he hurried to get out of the car. He could see even from a distance that Avery was hurt.

Gerard always became really worried when this would happen, the last time Avery got beaten up they nearly broke his nose and he couldn't see from his left eye for almost a week from the huge bruise they left on him. Unfortunately, that wasn't the worst he's ever had, when he first came out as transgender at school, some kids didn't like it and thought that it would be funny to push him down the stairs with the bad luck that Avery twisted his ankle breaking it in the process. That was what made Gerard take his kid out of the school at the age of seven and decided to educate him at home, or as one of his band mates, Frank, liked to call it, busschool.

When Gerard got to them, he enveloped Avery in a warm hug, Avery knew he was trying to be careful but even so he couldn't suppress the hiss that escaped his lips. Gerard took a few steps back instantly not wanting to hurt him even more, and took his face in his calloused hands to keep it still to see the damage. Remembering the hiss from earlier and being capable of only seeing the wounds on his face he asked gently. "Where else are you hurt Ery?"

"My chest hurts a little bit but I'm fine dad. I promise." He dismissed looking to the floor. His chest was kind of killing him but he wasn't going to say anything, he didn't like it when people cared about him. It made him feel weak, like he should always be the strong one.

Gerard knew something was up but he would wait until they were home to take care of it. He put his arm around his shoulders starting to walk to the car. "Alex, you coming with us?"

"Nah, I came in my car today."

"Okay." Avery got in the car with a slight difficulty, putting his gym bag in the back seats. Gerard was about to do the same but he turned to Alex at the last second. "Thanks for taking care of him, once again."

"Well he's my friend, of course I'm gonna take care of him. He has my back and I got his back, always."

"I'm glad he has you as a friend." And with that, Gerard got in the car.

( ) ( ) ( )

Avery was silent in the car, curled up around himself, his chest seemed like it wasn't going to stop hurting anytime soon but at least his wrist wasn't hurting anymore. He knew it wasn't broken so he tested it how it was by moving it in circles. It didn't hurt too much, it was bearable unlike his chest.

Now that he was safe inside the car and with his dad by his side he felt like he was going to start crying as soon as a word would left his mouth so he just distracted himself by looking out of the window.

He could spend hours admiring the urban landscape because everytime he saw it something changed, living in a big city like LA it was guaranteed that you were never going to see the same person twice. Although now that he thought about it he probably has seen the same person dozens of times but his brain didn't processed it as something that he should remember, so it was like seeing a new face everytime.

"So why did it happen this time?" Gerard asked and Avery was pulled out of his thoughts.

He didn't want to respond. It was Gerard who have brought him the t-shirt back from one of his tours on Russia. He thought that it was hilarious that in a country where they would kill you for being gay they would have a t-shirt like that. He didn't want to make his dad feel like it was his fault that he had gotten beaten up this time so he just decided to remain quiet.

"Come on, you know that you are going to tell me sooner or later."

That was true, Avery couldn't keep nothing from his father because for him, he wasn't just his dad, he was a friend too, and for a long time he had been his only friend along with the guys in the band. Admiting defeat he cleared his troath and said. "They just thought that I was being too gay today and that I needed to know that it wasn't acceptable. You know, the typical." He said trying to be casual.

Gerard sighed at hearing that. "I really should change you to another school."

"No!" Avery implored, jumping from his seat which made the pain on his chest worsen and he clutched it. "You know I can defend myself, they end up worse than me most of the time."

"That's the thing Ery," Gerard glanced at him. "you shouldn't be getting into fights everyday. As your dad, it is my job to make sure you are okay."

"Well I think you've been making a good job so far."

"Avery." He warned.

"What? It's the truth, you are always making sure everyone is okay dad, and I'm okay. Having a few bruises doesn't hurt anyone. I'll just be more careful from now on and I won't go anywhere alone. Me and Big Boy share the same clases except for gym so I will be fine."

"Didn't you just have gym now?"

"Ah, yes... Well, at least they don't know I'm trans..." He trailed off.

Gerard just gave up on trying to change his mind. Avery would never leave the school just because someone was giving him a hard time, they had arrived at home anyways.

It was a big house, a two story house with a faded red colour. The sunset light always made it dazzle. There was a big garden with the grass neatly cut. At one far end was the garage, big enough for two cars. But this time, Gerard left the car out.

"Wait." Gerard said when he saw that Avery had took his gym bag and was going to open the door. "Were you gonna tell me that your chest is still hurting or did I have to guess?"

"Wha—I told you that I'm fine."

"I'm your dad. I always know when things are bad." He paused. " And maybe because I have eyes and I can see that you have been clutching it."

Avery sighed, he knew he have been caught and there was no way to deny it now. "It just hurts, I'll be fine with a few painkillers dad." And with that he stepped out of the car and went to get home.

As soon as he approached the door he heard his dog bark and it brought a smile to his face, he always missed him at school. He opened the door and a big grey German Shepherd came out crying like he always does whenever he gets too excited.

"Ey dog, did you miss me?" He kneeled with trouble and started petting him, burying his fingers in his soft hair, while the dog started to lick his face and Avery let out a laugh. 

But as soon as he saw Gerard he took off in a run to greet him too, raising up in his two back paws while leaning into him and starting to cry once again because he was the one that left him alone at home. "I'm sorry that I didn't bring you with me Nutella, I was in a hurry to get to Avery."

( ) ( ) ( )

Once at home Avery left himself fall into the couch, regretting it when he felt his chest exploded with pain. He cursed under his breath for not being more careful. As the kitchen was just behind the couch and there wasn't any wall that separed the two rooms, Gerard saw what happened and started laughing.

"It's not funny." He growled.

"Yes it is." Gerard retorted with a snort. "Hang on, I'll bring you some painkillers. Please don't fall off the couch now."

"Ha, ha, ha, you are so funny..." Nutella aproached him at climbed to the couch next to him, it was a lounge suite couch so there was enough espace for everyone. "You are a good dog, you don't make fun of me like dad." He confided to him while petting his head between the ears.

"You gotta admit that it was funny." Gerard came in with a glass of water and a few painkillers leaving them in the table in front of the couch and then went to get his loved coffee.

"Never. Where's mom?" He asked while sitting up to take the painkillers.

"She went to pick Bandit up." He came back in the room, sitting in the couch and grabbing the remote and turning on the TV. "Wanna watch something? I have some time until I have to start dinner. You don't have to help me today by the way."

"Cool. Can we watch Flash? I haven't watched the last episode yet."

Avery curled up with his dog and put his throbbing head on one of the pillows. Before he knew it he fell asleep.