The Majesty of Choice

Suspicion

"You know, I feel like I've eaten bread for every meal for the past month and a half," Travie says.

"That's probably because you've eaten bread for every meal for the past month and a half," Hayley responds.

"Ah yes, that would explain things," Travie replies, biting into a piece of bread. It's the easiest thing for them to find in small towns and to transport halfway across the Kingdom. It's hard to bring fruits or vegetables which spoil rather quickly and weigh quite a bit. A good starchy bread is cheap, light and fills you up, so it's the best of all options.

"My friend Ray is the best cook you'll ever meet," Gerard says, more to himself than to Frank who's standing right beside him. Ray is also the only person who's ever really cooked for Gerard, aside from the occasional meal at Patrick's house. His mother is not a fantastic cook, his family works at a candle shop below their house, his mom makes good candles, but candles don't taste nice.

"I've got to meet this Ray sometime. It seems like you have a lot to owe him concerning who you are."

"He's basically my parent. I love him more than I have words to say. He's the best damn person on the planet. Other than my brother."

"I've got to meet him too. I just want to meet your whole family. I'd like to meet your dad even though you're not too fond of the guy. I just want to get to know what makes you who you are, know more about you. Even the evil stepsisters."

"Can't forget about the evil stepmother," Gerard says, "What story would be complete without one?"

"I doubt she'd approve," Frank says, probably referring to his and Gerard's relationship, which makes Gerard blush because Frank always makes him blush. It's not a friendly feeling, your face going all red and the warmth seeming to radiate off of it, but it's a familiar one that Gerard has grown far too used to.

"She's thoroughly convinced that Hattie is going to marry you. Believe me when I say this, if you ever were set to marry Hattie, you should find yourself a good cliff to jump off of in preparation for the wedding."

"I don't doubt that. She's not really my type anyhow," Frank says, and that's a fact if there ever was one. Gerard is the furthest a person could ever possibly get to Hattie. They are so dissimilar that they barely seem like the same species. Frank cannot possibly be attracted to the both of them, they are mutually exclusive. Plus Frank being into guys plays a part.

Gerard wonders what Frank's "type" actually is. Is it brown haired peasant boys? Or maybe it's just sarcastic assholes with big mouths? Or maybe he likes it when people insult him. Maybe he doesn't care as long as they're not female. The existence of Travie makes Gerard doubt that, because surely if you're okay with dating anyone who's not female, your first jump would be the most attractive guy on the planet.

Gerard doesn't have a type. He never has. He's never been particularly attracted to anyone he's ever met. There are people who he has found to be physically appealing, Frank, Travie, Hayley. But no one has a personality that he'd ever want to be around for more than a few hours at once, not even Patrick. Gerard needs some space to himself whenever he's near someone for too long. Except for Frank, who is the person Gerard wants to crawl back to every time he leaves. He can't get enough of this boy, he's hooked on him, addicted.

Part of the reason Gerard's never liked anyone else is because he's never felt comfortable around other people. He's usually on edge around people, even Patrick and Ray, because he knows that at any minute, he might get an order. He might be told to do something. He also just doesn't feel like he can be entirely himself with them, it's like he's been hiding this whole thing a secret his entire life without knowing it. Frank has done a lot to change him, even made Gerard realize things he somehow always was but never knew.