Death Is Strange

SEVEN

Gerard had no idea how long they lay there after, but Frank had untangled Gerard's blanket and pulled it over them, nestling sweetly against him, running his fingers over Gerard's hip, his stomach. "Gee, I want you to promise me something," Frank said, breath warm against Gerard's bare shoulder.

"Yeah?" Gerard was trying to focus on calming down his heart rate. It had never stayed up this long, and he knew the anxiety wasn't helping.

"Don't cut yourself again."

A clammy feeling washed over him. Bert had said the same thing. "I can't promise. I promised that to Bert and broke it."

"You never took your shirt off for Bert either."

"Don't keep bringing it up. I feel guilty."

Frank was quiet for several minutes, palm resting lightly against the side of Gerard's thigh, one finger drawing slow circles against his skin. "Sorry," he finally said.

"It's fine." Gerard ran a hand through Frank's hair, trying to ignore the snarling voices in his mind. You motherfucking cheater. If you disappeared would Bert go to Quinn? Why are you sleeping with Frank? Gerard closed his eyes. Shut the fuck up. Frank makes me feel whole.

"Gee?"

Gerard slowly eased his eyes open again. "Yeah."

"I love how confident you are. Like, assertive. I know you struggle, but it doesn't show when we..." his voice trailed off. "I liked how you kept talking about my tattoos." he giggled softly. "You could make a repair manual sound erotic."

Heat rushed to Gerard's face and he hoped Frank didn't look at how red he was.

Frank was looking, but he was smiling now. "You're so damn cute."

Gerard thought his face would burst into flames. Me? Are you fucking blind? Did you see my stretch marks? Okay sure you did, you licked them. But seriously? And I liked it? What the fuck is wrong with me? With us? How did this happen so fast?

"What are you thinking about?" Frank whispered.

"You," Gerard said. Well, it was just half a lie. He could live with that.

Frank tugged Gerard's hair. "Don't fucking lie to me, Gee." He shifted, propping himself up on one elbow. He tightened his grip on Gerard's hair, and kissed him. "You look really depressed. What can I do?"

"Nothing." There. Frankie had told him not to lie. So he wouldn't. "Just stay with me and I'll be fine."

"Funny," Frank said softly, letting go of Gerard's hair. "I feel as depressed as you look. You ever get voices attacking your brain until you think you'll die of heart failure?"

Gerard stared at him. Reminded himself to breathe. "All the time."

"Me too, baby. It's like we're waging separate battles with ourselves, but when we're together the enemy retreats."

"That's fucking poetic." Gerard nodded slowly. "What has to happen now?"

"I guess we just stick together. I don't know. I don't have all the answers. I'm just a punk kid from Jersey who can turn back time."

Gerard clumsily kissed Frank's shoulder. "You're not just that. You're fucking legendary. To me, at least." He stopped, cursing himself for the unexpected tears stinging his eyes. "I promise you I won't cut myself again."

Frank wrapped his arms around Gerard, tangling their legs in the blanket, Gerard settling his head on Frank's chest.

Gerard closed his eyes and wished the darkness away.