coffee dates and other things || frerard oneshots

goose hat

content warning that may upset some readers: suicidal thoughts and depression

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The role of the court jester was to create laughter. And if they did not create laughter, they were simply sent away to waste time somewhere else. 

Gerard had sent many jesters away, though not intentionally. 

He didn't mean to be too sad for laughter, and it only dampened his mood more to realise he would be the reason some poor person was going to lose their job in the castle.

Eventually, his parents decided that they would appoint him his own jester, so that they wouldn't have to go through a million court jesters a week.

Unfortunately (although it was expected) they were each turned away after hours of entertainment that did nothing to take the distant look off of the young prince's face.

The king and queen often recalled the boys' younger days, when he would come racing down the halls covered in paint after he snuck into the painters things. When he would create flower crowns for all the maids, and played pranks on the guards. 

At first they'd thought the decline in activity was simply due to growing up; until suddenly he was 17 and staring blank-faced at their best entertainers, and his mother had the startling realisation that she hadn't seen her baby smile in months.

He was freshly 18 now, staring out over the crowd with unfocused eyes as he struggled to fight through the numbness that had taken over years ago. The prince wasn't quite sure what there was to be so sad about, or when exactly it had started, or why. All he knew was that nothing really mattered anymore. Not even his role as the prince.

He had a little brother who was 15, who could easily take over as the immediate heir, should something... happen, to Gerard. His mother would be distraught but she would move on. His father too. The kingdom would mourn but he would become a distant memory within a year. 

He'd had these thoughts often. Usually during one of their parties, when he was reminded just how utterly useless he had become. Or at night, when there was absolutely nothing to distract the swirling vortex that his mind had become. 

"Boring isn't it?" A voice spoke next to his ear, inspiring the prince to turn his head and blink at the dark haired boy that had appeared beside him. He was wearing boots and light brown corsair pants, the buttons covering his navel and the white shirt he wore beneath an unbuttoned waistcoat. His eyes were hazel.

The boy was looking at him expectantly though, as if waiting for a response, and it took Gerard a second to remember that he was.

"I'm sorry?" He replied, voice quiet and lost-sounding. 

The boys smile softened the slightest bit at the tone of Gerard's voice but he looked back towards to the crowd of people who had come to celebrate the prince's 18th birthday and didn't comment on it. "I said 'boring isn't it?' but I'm going to have to recant that statement because a woman with a goose on her head just walked in. Incredible."

Gerard blinked and turned back around to face the ball room. He followed the boys gaze to a woman who belonged to one of the wealthiest families in their land. And she did indeed have a goose attached decoratively to her hat. 

Normally Gerard would have either not noticed, or simply ignored it, but something in the boys voice when he pointed it out made Gerard realise that the fashion statement was kind of absurd.

"Goodness." He murmured watching as she weaved her way through the crowd.

The boy seemed unable to look away as he stared at the Lady as well, hazel eyes wide in wonder. "Surely that's not a real goose? And if it is I hope whoever caught it has been paid handsomely because those birds are the devil incarnate, and it was surely not an easy task."

Gerard looked between the boy and the Lady with a goose on her head, feeling an unfamiliar feeling unfurl in his chest. 

"I wonder how she got it up there... Actually, no, I'm wondering who gets up in the morning and decides 'Right, today I am going to pay a hat maker attach a goose to my fancy hat and then I shall wear it to a fancy ball.' and then actually go through with it." 

Gerard shrugged, his eyes also trained on the woman's hat now. It was truly a sight to behold, and the odd feeling in his chest grew.

"Actually your highness, I must confess something."

Gerard turned in surprise, gesturing for the boy to continue.

"I must admit that I approached you because you seemed rather downhearted this evening..."

Gerard felt his heart droop, deciding he was not fond of pity, until the boy continued.

"Perhaps it is because you do not own a goose hat."

The absurdity of the comment threw the prince off, his hand flying up to his mouth as he barked out a surprised laugh. In the corner of his eye he saw his mother turn as he attempted to swallow down the remaining giggles that continued to spill pass his lips.

He leaned closer to the boy who was now smiling brilliantly at him, eyes wide with delight at the sound of the princes laughter. "I'm sorry, but may I ask your name?"

The boy nodded happily. "Of course, my name is Frank Iero, your highness."

Gerard smiled in response. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mister Iero."

Frank winced, though there was amusement in his expression. "Oh, I must insist you call me Frank as 'Mister Iero' makes me sound like my father. That is, if you would be so kind, your highness."

"Ah, my apologies Frank." Gerard smiled, the action feeling foreign now that it was genuine. There was still a thick dark fog clinging to his bones, and he could feel the storm clouds rolling back in as he turned back to face the crowd, but there was now an old warmth thrumming just below his skin and he welcomed it.

The queen sat in wonder as she stared across at her son who was smiling at the boy beside him. Smiling. And before he had laughed. It had only been for a moment, but god it had been beautiful to hear that sound again.

She looked to the boy beside her son and decided, with certainty, that he was to remain in their castle for as long as he was able to make the prince smile.

And he did, for many years.

Until he earned his own title as King, right beside Gerard.

um??? prince x jester anyone???