Pretty Boy (You Make Me Want To Live)

Mercy

Tonight was the third night that Frank had waited on the bench in the park. At almost 3 am there was still no show of Gerard, and Frank was on his second pack of cigarettes of that night - although, to be fair, there had only been a couple in the first pack left over from the previous night.

Frank was slouched against the bench, blowing smoke into the air when he remembered the docks. How hadn't he thought of them earlier? Gerard loved going to the docks.

He scrambled to his feet, almost tripping over one of the legs of the bench in the process but quickly found his balance and shoved the packet of cigarettes and his phone into his front pocket (as he was wearing his dungarees again).

He walked quickly through the streets, his hands tucked in his pockets and his head down. The way to the docks seemed so much more intimidating when Gerard wasn't there. The shadows seemed to sneer at Frank as he walked past, and all the quiet noises of animals scurrying in the darkness seemed so much louder, the smallest things making him jump.

He reached the docks and hesitated for a moment. What if Gerard didn't want to see him? What if Gerard wasn't even there?

He eventually pushed away his thoughts, because so what if Gerard wasn't there, it just meant that Frank knew to not bother looking there again.

He swung his legs over the stone ledge, searching for the iron rungs that lead to the small pontoon he had grown to love. He climbed down near enough silently, the only sounds around him being the soft wash of the tide splashing against the pontoon.

He set his feet onto the wooden deck and looked around, completely freezing up when he saw Gerard sat in his usual spot staring right back at him with wide eyes.

"Gee?" Frank whispered out hoarsely as though he couldn't believe the other man was really real.

Gerard didn't reply though, instead he scrambled to his feet, moving as though he was going to try and push past Frank up the ladder, but Frank had other ideas.

The effeminate male suddenly pressed forwards, wrapping his arms around Gerard's waist and his face against Gerard's chest, squeezing the taller man tightly. He felt Gerard freeze up at his touch, but he didn't push Frank away, so Frank really wasn't complaining.

"I've missed you." Frank mumbled quietly, turning his head to the side so Gerard would actually be able to understand what he was saying.

"You- You have?" Gerard choked out unsurely, and Frank could hear Gerard's heartbeat speeding up.

Frank didn't reply, he just nodded trying to pull Gerard closer to him.

"And, I- I'm sorry I disappeared... something happened and I swear, I was going to come back and see you and thought maybe we coul-"

"Shh, shh it's okay, you're here now." Gerard gently stroked the hair from Frank's face, finally moving again and resting his arms over Frank's shoulders.

"Okay." Frank mumbled.

"You, um, you wanna sit down?" Gerard asked after a moment, and Frank nodded again, detaching himself from Gerard to allow the both of them to sit comfortably, although Frank still sat uncomfortably close had almost half his body pressed against Gerard's.

They sat in silence, but it was tense, unlike all the other times they'd done such a similar thing, and Frank knew that Gerard was biting his tongue on saying something.

"What?" Frank teased with a cheeky grin, turning to look up at Gerard.

"So you know I like you-" Gerard breathed out, tensing up even more after he said it, probably expecting Frank to run away again.

"Yeah..." Frank whispered. He was honestly terrified of what Gerard was going to say, but now he knew Gerard wasn't crazy or would try and stalk him or anything, and he felt Gerard almost completely relax against him, showing how relieved the punk male felt about the situation.

"You aren't going to run away again... are you?" Gerard asked nervously, looking down to his lap and messing with his hands.

"I'll try not to..." Frank let out a light chuckle, shaking his head as if to confirm what he'd just said.

"Why... Why'd you run before?" the red-head asked quietly.

"I- I-" Frank stuttered, looking for a response, "I panicked?"

"Yeah no shit, Frankie." Gerard laughed, his head tilting back and he looked up at the sky, a slight hint of a smile on his face.

"No- I- It's just- No one's ever liked me before- well- no- I-" Frank stuttered again, fumbling for the words he wanted, "No, I- guys have liked me before but it was only for the sex... it wasn't for me..." he said softly, his head hung down. His words making him realise how much of a slut he seemed like... Maybe Gerard would stop liking him when he realised how Frank whored himself out just to feel something, to be close to someone.

Gerard didn't reply, which Frank had expected, but what he didn't expect was for Gerard to voluntarily lean around Frank, pulling the smaller male into his arms and holding onto him tightly. The punk's chin rested lightly on top of Frank's head, who had leant into Gerard's embrace, his eyes fluttering shut.

The next thing he knew, Frank was being gently shaken awake and could hear his phone vibrating loudly in his front pocket. Gerard's arm was still wrapped around him, although his hand had dropped to Frank's waist.

"Frank? I think someone's calling you."

Frank squinted into the morning light, shifting slightly and realising what an uncomfortable position he had been sitting in.

He pulled himself away from Gerard and took his phone from his pocket, mumbling a curse when he saw the caller ID.

"Hey there Frank," Maxx sang down the line.

"Hi Maxx..." Frank mumbled back, shuffling away from Gerard again.

"You gonna come home or... I can still make breakfast if you want, but I won't bother if I'm not gonna see you."

"Yeah, yeah I'll come home, I'm sorry, I promise I'll text you next time, I'm sorry-"

"Hey, Frank, it's okay, don't worry about it, yeah?" Maxx sighed down the phone, his bright tone softening.

"Yeah, okay, um, see you soon, bye Maxx."

"G'bye." And Maxx hung up the phone. Frank slowly moved the small device away from his ear, just holding it in his lap idly.

"Was... Was that your boyfriend?" Gerard asked quietly and Frank could hear the hurt in his voice.

"What? No!" Frank rushed out; the last thing he needed was for Gerard to now think that he was seeing someone and had been lying.

"Are you sure? I mean... He wanted you to go home..."

"I think I'd be aware if I was dating him, and yes, because we live together, there's a group of five of us who live together, and we call that house home, okay Gee?" Frank said sincerely, trying to meet Gerard's gaze, finally finding it at the end of his short clarification.

Gerard nodded, but looked away again, chewing on his lip lightly.

"Do... do you um, wanna come and meet my housemates?" Frank asked quietly, leaning closer to Gerard and slipping his small hand over Gerard's larger one, catching his attention again.

"But what if they-"

"They won't 'anything'." Frank promised, sliding his other hand under the one he was already holding, "I won't let them."

"Okay." Gerard whispered, and a massive grin broke out on Frank's face.

"Really?" He asked excitedly.

"Yes, now take me before I change my mind." Gerard grumbled, but Frank could still see a hint of a smile hiding behind Gerard's features.