Crimson Reflections | Ferard

II

A/N: I couldn't wait to post this chapter! I love this story so much already I can't srop writing! Next chapters are coming up very soon!

...

"The infamous Frank Iero."

That was how Ray Toro decided to greet him once Frank made his way into the club. Frank would've been pissed off hadn't he loved the man like a brother.

Frank's face splitting smile wouldn't even go away even after the bone crushing hug he received. He hadn't stepped into the place in a very long time, but fuck it if it didn't feel like home. He had seen Ray though, he wouldn't have been able to survive not seeing the dude.

"I thought you wouldn't ever come here again, man." Ray was saying as he poured Frank his usual, and Frank realized why he loved the place so much as he slumped into a barstool, grinning to Ray.

"How's everything? How's Mia? I haven't seen her or your mom since forever, man."

"It's good. Mia is fine." He answered and started playing with the glass in front of him, spinning it in circles on the bar. He smiled, "she's started applying for colleges last week."

Ray's smile was blinding, "fuck, college? When did that happen? She was twelve last week."

"Tell me about it. She has a boyfriend too."

Ray whistled, "Does he knew who her brother is?"

"Haven't met the kid yet. I'll make sure he does though," he smirked to his glass, then was silent for a second, waiting for Ray to finish giving some guy his drinks.

"I took the job."

Ray actually froze for a second. He was whipping the bar and not looking at Frank, but Frank knew he understood what he meant. Ray was the one who connected him with Way in the first place.

"I'm not—" Frank went on, hesitating, "I'm not dragging you into this. I know you have Christa and your kid now and—"

"Frank," Ray interrupted, his voice serious, "don't be an idiot. You're my family as much as Christa and Owen are." He was silent for a moment, his voice significantly dropping in volume, "I wouldn't have even told you about what... he wanted, hadn't I known you needed the money. There's nothing you can do to stop me from helping in whatever he asked."

Frank shook his head, "I don't need your help in what he asked me to do. It's pretty standard anyway."

Ray's eyebrows shot up, getting what Frank was hinting at, "then why—"

Frank shrugged, "I don't know. I don't ask questions, Ray. It's probably why he wanted me for the job anyway."

Ray was nodding before he looked up, "then what is it that you need?"

Frank smiled and gestured at the door to the bar, knowing that Ray would understand what he was implying, "I have something I need you to keep safe for me."

...

The room felt like it was closing in on him, but Frank regulated his breathing through his nose and closed his eyes.

Frank fucking hated hospitals.

The room they were waiting in was thankfully deserted and they weren't waiting in the corridor anymore, so there was no chance he would run into some random sick person breathing their germs all over the fucking place any time soon. He still felt dreadful though. Mia has long fallen asleep next to him on the chairs and was using his thigh as a pillow, so he didn't dare move.

In any way, he couldn't bolt. The doctor had told him he was going to come tell them what happened once they were done and Frank wouldn't risk not being there when that happened.