Work Text:
"It was nice meeting you!"
Frank said his goodbyes to a fan wearing a vampire costume, who gave him a stuffed animal as a gift. Unlike his band members.
It was Halloween, which meant it was Frank's birthday, marking the day he was 23. He was the youngest out of the band, and the shortest. Which made him a victim of being called "shortie", being mistakened for a child, etc etc. Frank doesn't mind it usually. He knows peoples intentions when they speak to him, so it's easy to scope out the assholes and the people who genuinely make a mistake.
It was the evening, and the band just got done performing at a local venue. Working on his birthday always felt like the best birthday present. He loved playing with the people who's been there for him through thick and thin, and who's always supported him no matter what.
It might sound stupid, but mcr was his favorite band. He adored every second they spent together.
So when everyone, including Gerard, was ignoring him, he felt a pang in his chest. It wasn't just that either. They didn't even say 'Happy Birthday' to him, which hurt, a lot.
Gerard didn't even announce Frank's birthday on stage like he usually would, and that threw him off completely.
Did they somehow forget? Bullshit. They never missed Frank's birthday. Not once. To make the excuse that they just magically got amnesia overnight, wasn't gonna slide.
Did he perhaps do something wrong? He doesn't think he has. Sure, the band had their disagreements, but it wasn't that bad that his 4 besfriends would just ghost him on the whim.
Whatever it was, Frank needed to confront them on it. He wasn't just gonna sit there like a lost puppy. He was gonna say something, whether they liked it or not.
Frank made his decision as he approached their tour bus, the kind smile on his face had disfigured into one full of resentment.
It was fucking freezing outside, making it feel like winter than it simply being October, but Frank was too buried deep in his thoughts to notice.
He climbed the small staircase and yanked the door open, more forcibly than he wanted, and went inside. It was pitch black. Everyone else had gone back to the bus so he knew they were all in here.
"Guys, we need to-"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK!"
Frank jumped at least 3 feet in the air, his eyes widening in surprise. The plushie in his hand fell to the ground.
All the lights had cut on, showcasing the inside of the bus being littered with terrible Halloween decorations, lame props, and even more boring decorations.
Whoever was in charge really went for the, 'single mom hosting a party full of 4 year olds to look cool' approach. If this was a contest for worst holiday decorations, they would've won 1st place.
In front of him was no other than his band members, smiling down at him. Well, it was more like Ray and Gerard were the ones smiling, Bob laughing his ass off, and Mikey pulling the stone face act. Which was obviously a fuse. Frank could clearly see the tiny smirk he tried so desperately to hide, and even Gerard had let out a laugh.
Gerard stepped forward, holding a small rounded store bought cake, a message in the middle written in black frosting that read, "Happy B-day Frankie!!", an attempted drawing, Frank assumed was supposed to be him, right next to it. At the very top, was two unlit wax candle numbers that showed Frank's current age. This had Gerard's name written all over it.
The cake itself was covered in white, cute little orange icing dots rounding the top, and bottom of the cake neatly. Surprisingly, the cake hadn't gotten smushed like the other 3 cakes he's received since he joined this band.
"Well? Aren't you gonna thank us?"
Gerard asked Frank, who's eyes were glued to the cake the eldest was lifting carefully.
Frank shot his head up at Gerard, his eyes darting at his other bandmates, then at the Halloween themed bus.
Was Gerard being serious right now? Thank them? After everything that transpired today, thanking them was the last thing on his mind. A surprise party wasn't going to fix the torment he felt ever since he first woke up.
Maybe Frank was over exaggerating, but how would you feel if the people you considered family acted like you didn't exist on the day you were born? He was naturally pissed. And Frank was in no mood to sugarcoat anything.
Frank let out a bitter laugh, that progressed into a roar of laughter. He clutched his stomach, tears pricking at the corner of his eye sockets.
Gerard frowned, watching Frank laugh like Gerard said the most hilarious thing in the world. Of course, it was funny to Frank, as he was the only one crying tears of laughter.
Eventually, Frank was able to control himself, letting short giggles escape every now and then, brushing away tears, leaving behind smudged red eye shadow down his heated cheeks.
That was when all the feelings he kept to himself, spilled out without warning. Once he started, he couldn't stop himself.
"Thank you? Are you fucking serious, Gerard? How can I thank you, when you all acted like I wasn't here the whole fucking day? You guys didn't talk to me, you didn't say 'hi' to me, and you didn't even wish me happy birthday, until I walked on to the bus just now. You guys made me feel like absolute fucking shit all day, because I was convinced that I did something wrong, that you all hated me. So no, I'm not giving my thanks after all the shit you guys pulled, just because you all wanted to surprise me with some stupid fucking birthday party, made for a fucking 5 year old!"
Each word that came out of Frank's mouth felt like seething poison, one worst than the last.
Frank breathed heavily, having not taken any breaks from his outburst, staring at his bandmates. They were gawking at him, all of them shocked. Even Mikey was startled, his eyes wide open.
Frank immediately regretted everything he said, contrite striking him like a wave, his heart beat quickening.
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The smaller man grunted in frustration, tears filling his eyes once more, and stormed out of the tour bus, his hands clenched into fists. The nails of his tattooed fingers were digging into his palms so hard, he was sure he drew blood.
Frank could've swarn he heard someone call out to him, but the ringing in his ears were too deafening.
He rounded the left side of the tour bus and slammed his back against it, a loud bang audible from the impact.
As soon as he did, Frank blubbered, his face dropping into his hands, full on weeping. He really was a baby. He had a temper tantrum in front of the people he cared about, and stomped out like a spoiled child who was told, 'No'. Now he was crying in solitude, the peaceful silence of the night broken by Frank's pathetic cries. If he was gonna act like a child, he mind as well be one.
"Frank?"
A familiar voice spoke out. Frank sniffed, looking up at the person in question.
It was Gerard.
Frank, in the mist of his crying, hadn't even heard the black greasy haired male even approach him, but here he was, the dim moonlight showing Gerard's frantic expression that was clouded with worry.
When Gerard seen Frank's tear stained cheeks and red eyes, he yanked Frank's arm and embraced him in a tight hug, his back hunched over due to how small Frank was. He rested his chin on Frank's back, his arm wrapped around his waist, while his free hand was placed on Frank's sad excuse of a black mohawk.
Frank was stunned, frozen in place, new tears glossing his hazel eyes. He returned the hug, fisting the back of Gerard's black suit that he hasn't changed out of yet.
Why was Gerard hugging him? Frank just cursed them out, and now he was hugging him? Why did he even hug back? This was all too much for Frank, and he began to sob uncontrollably.
Gerard shushed him, petting his head in soothing strokes. He soon broke the hug when Frank didn't quiet down, his hands gripping Frank's shoulders.
"Frank, hey, look at me.", Gerard demanded quietly, anxious.
Frank bashfully peered up at him, his shoulders bouncing under Gerard's firm grip as he hiccuped.
"I'm not mad at you. We're, not mad at you. You were right, we shouldn't have ignored you like that, even if it was meant for a harmless surprise party. We were complete assholes."
Gerard admitted, avoiding eye contact.
"B-but, I yelled at you guys.."
Frank reminded meekly, hiccupping between words. He really regretted everything.
Immediately, Gerard's tense gaze sprung back up at Frank.
"Frank, I'm fucking glad you did. We truly deserved it. We didn't take your feelings into consideration, and we hurt you. If anything, you should've yelled at me. I was the one who thought it was a good idea. I'm so sorry, Frank."
Gerard's voice had gotten soft at the end, apologetic eyes staring at Frank.
Frank shook his head.
"No-"
"Frank, please."
Gerard interjected, his grip tightening, causing Frank to wince, and unconsciously gulp down saliva that was pooling in his mouth. He went silent, waiting for whatever Gerard had to say next.
"This won't happen again, I promise."
Gerard's tone was light, yet serious, and with the way he looked at Frank, the other knew that he meant every word.
Frank nodded half heartedly, feeling lightheaded from how much he was crying. The autumn breeze finally caught up to him, making him shiver, rubbing his arms spotted with goosebumps.
Gerard gave him a small smile, letting go of his shoulders. Frank was sure they were bruised.
"Ready to go back inside and have the worst Halloween-birthday party ever?"
Frank laughed weakly, wiping his wet face. There was even snot running down his nose, Frank hurriedly smearing it on to his bare forearm.
"Sure."
Gerard's face lit up, much brighter than the moon that shone upon them. Grinning ear to ear, he grabbed Frank's wrist, dragging him to the other side of the tour bus, and up the staircase.
The others were sitting down, awaiting Frank and Gerard's return. Everyone's head snapped towards the entrance as soon as they strolled in.
"Who's ready to party?!" Gerard shrieked.
Everyone cheered.