sin ; frerard

II

Frank was half-asleep atop the bed when he heard a light knocking at the door.

"Frank?" came Gerard's soft voice from outside. "I have dinner, if you're hungry."

Frank was up in an instant. He almost tripped over himself trying to get to the door.

"Yes, please," he said eagerly after throwing open the door.

Gerard seemed surprised by his excitement, then cracked a faint smile. "Well then."

Frank followed him back down the hall, down the staircase and into a side room. It was a dining room, with a huge table.

"Geez," said Frank, unable to hide his astonishing. "You live here alone?"

"Ah, yes," admitted Gerard, smile fading from his face. "My brother used to live with me, but he has... moved on."

"Where'd he move to?"

Gerard tilted his head back and looked upwards. "The heavens."

"Oh." Frank mentally kicked himself for his tactlessness. "I'm sorry."

Gerard shook his head. "Don't be. It is not your fault." He gestured to the table. "Please, sit down. You seemed hungry upstairs."

"Oh, yeah!" said Frank as he pulled out a chair, the subject of his host's dead brother already forgotten.

There it was again - that ghost of a smile. "I'll be just a minute. You wait here, okay?"

Frank nodded, drumming his fingers anxiously on the table surface.

Something soft and fuzzy rubbed against his leg. He reached down to pet it, expecting a dog, but when he was looked, he saw the furious eyes of a snarling grey wolf.

He screamed, jumping up and scrambling away from the table.

Gerard walked into the dining room with two steaming plates, which he set down on the table. "What's this all about?" He caught sight of the wolf and was, as Frank looked on in fear, considerably unconcerned. In fact, he looked slightly irritated.

"Bella! What did I tell you about scaring guests?" The wolf trotted over, and Gerard scratched its chin affectionately. "You almost gave poor Frank a heart attack!"

Frank watched in morbid fascination. This wolf was... Gerard's pet?

Another wolf slunk over from the doorway Gerard had come from (a kitchen, perhaps?) and nuzzled its head against Gerard's leg. He chuckled, giving that one some attention, then smiled at Frank apologetically. "Sorry. They love stealing the spotlight."

Frank considered commenting something along the lines of "you have a fucking wolf in your house what the fuck" but decided against it and nodded vaguely.

"Almost forgot..." Gerard picked one of the plates back up and slid it onto the table in front of Frank. On it was a slab of meat - Frank assumed it was steak - cooked rare, and a bread roll. It looked - and smelled - absolutely delectable, especially to the very hungry Frank.

Only problem was that Frank was vegan.

Frank was sure his eyes were as big as quarters. "Oh, God..." He looked up at Gerard in wonder. "I... You made this?"