Chapter Text
"We found another one", Brendon says, slamming his bag on the table.
"Thank you for being so specific, Brendon", Mark says.
"He means we found another kid with powers", Hayley says.
"Why bother?", Patrick says, "Pete always seems to get to them first."
"We have to! We can't lose another one!", Brendon says.
It's true. They've already lost 7 kids with powers to Pete.
"We only have 3 people with powers on this team versus the probably 30 of Pete's team, we can't fail this", Patrick says.
"Okay, Mark, move", Brendon says, pushing Mark out of the way.
"Wow, Brendon, how subtle are you?", Patrick says.
"Okay, wait, okay, here, I got it", Brendon says.
"What is this?", Mark asks.
"Security footage", Brendon says.
"Who is that?", Mark asks, pointing to a person in the footage.
"It's the guy, we saw him use his powers", Brendon says.
Mark watches the tape. It shows a red-haired guy, maybe 22, running into a burning building at light speed and coming back out with a young, about 4, girl. He then proceeds to put the fire out with water coming from his hands. He then runs away from the building with the little girl.
"Wow", Mark says, "two powers. I haven't seen that in a while."
"We've got to get this kid on our side", Hayley says, "after all, we are the good guys."
"One problem, do any of us know who the hell that is?", Patrick says.
"Don't worry, I can do a face scan then look in the database for him", Mark says.
"Thanks, we're gonna go out and look, I mean how many bright red heads can there be?", Patrick says.
~~~~
"I got it, a vanilla latte", Frank says, "so I'll bring it to your table if you want."
"Thanks", Gerard says.
He takes the cup and sits at his usual table. It's the perfect spot to stare at the hot, tattoo-covered barista.
Gerard tries to live a normal life despite of his...gift. Even though he saved that little girl from a burning building, he doesn't feel anything from it.
He's disrupted from his thoughts by someone sitting at his table. Frank.
"Hey", Frank says.
"Uh, h-hi", Gerard says.
"You come in here everyday, you must really love coffee", Frank says.
"Uh, yeah", Gerard says.
"So...", Frank says.
"Yeah", Gerard says. Awkward.
"I was wondering...if you maybe...wanted to, I don't know...go out with me?", Frank asks.
He waited for a rejection. Maybe a No, I'm not interested or maybe a I don't date creepy stalker baristas or the ever so classic I'm straight.
"Uh, yeah, that sounds great", Gerard says.
"Ok, see you tomorrow at 8?", Frank says.
"Sounds good", Gerard says.
Frank stands up and walks back to the counter.
I got a date!! I got a date!! I got a date!! I got a date!! With Gerard!! Yes!!
"Hi, how can I help you?", Frank says to the next customer.
"Hey, Frank, your shift is over, my turn to make minimum wage", Brendon says.
"Okay, I'm out of here, Bden", Frank says, taking off his apron.
Once, Frank leaves the counter, Brendon ducks down and heats the coffee up with his heat breath.
"Bye, Brendon", Frank says.
"Bye", Brendon says, handing the customer his coffee.
Frank starts walking away from the counter.
He walks out the door, shooting Gerard a wink before leaving.
~~~~
"I've just about got it", Mark says.
"It's so blurry", Brendon says.
"The only thing you can see is his hair", Patrick says.
"It looks so familiar", Brendon says.
"Well, I will keep trying", Mark says.
"In the meantime, we're gonna go search again", Hayley says.
"Have fun", Mark says.
"Let's go", Patrick says.
~~~~
"Mikey, what if I screw it up?", Gerard says.
"You won't", Mikey says.
"But what if I do?", Gerard says.
"My powers are completely different from yours, but if you freak out any longer, you'll make the faucet explode", Mikey says, "for the 3rd time this month."
"Yours is easier to control", Gerard says.
"No it's not, every time I scream, even a little, I can make the roof fall down and it's...you know what, forget it, just calm down", Mikey says.
"Okay...be calm, be calm", Gerard says.
The doorbell rings at that moment.
"Ah!", Gerard says, and the faucet explodes.
"I called it", Mikey says.
Mikey opens the door.
"Hello, Gerard is ready, but please know if you hurt him, I will pummel you into oblivion", Mikey says with a fake smile.
"O...kay", Frank says.
"H-hey, F-frank", Gerard says.
"Okay, have fun while I fix the faucet", Mikey says, "again."
"What happened to it?", Frank asks.
"It...uh...", Gerard says.
"The water pressure broke it", Mikey says.
"Okay", Frank says.
"Let's go", Frank says.
"Have fun, but not too much fun", Mikey says.
He winks suggestively.
Gerard gets into Frank's car.
"I'm sorry, he's so embarrassing", Gerard says.
"It's ok, my siblings would do that too", Frank says.
They sit in silence as they pull into the restaurant.
"Hope you like pasta", Frank says.
"Luckily I do", Gerard says.
They walk into the restaurant.
"Hey, Ray, table for two", Frank says.
"Oh so you finally got a date. Took you long enough", Ray says.
Gerard let's out a small laugh.
"Ray!", Frank says.
"Okay, okay, follow me", Ray says.
Frank and Gerard follow Ray to the back of the restaurant.
"Enjoy", Ray says.
They sit down and Ray gives them menus.
"I'll take a beer", Frank says.
"And you?", Ray asks Gerard.
"I-I'm fine with water", Gerard says.
"What's your name?", Ray asks.
"G-Gerard", Gerard says.
"I'm Ray, Frank's best friend", Ray says.
"Nice to meet y-you", Gerard says.
"Okay, I'll be back with your drinks", Ray says and he leaves.
"He s-seems nice", Gerard says.
"Don't be nervous, I like you, you like me, that's all that matters", Frank says.
"Okay", Gerard says.
Ray comes to their table.
"Here's your drinks, are you ready to order?", Ray says.
"Yeah, I think we are", Frank says.
As they wait for their food, they talk about their work.
"Well, obviously I work on a coffee shop, what about you?", Frank says.
"I'm still in college, I'm trying to get my degree in Art & Design", Gerard says.
"Well, I do like educated guys", Frank says.
Frank makes a bold move and reaches for Gerard's hand. Gerard immediately goes red.
They sit in silence for a while. Until some asshole walks by them and mutters 'fags' while giving them a dirty look. He sits down at a table about 10 feet away from them.
"That guy's a douche, don't listen to him", Frank says.
But Gerard wasn't gonna let it go.
He puts one of his hands under the table and tries to control his powers. He levitates the guy's water cup and puts it over his head. Within seconds, the asshole was covered in water.
"What the hell?", the guy says as Gerard drops the cup. He storms out of the restaurant.
Frank burst out laughing.
"Oh my god, that was so cool", Frank says.
"I know", Gerard says.
"How did that even happen?", Frank asks.
"I don't know", Gerard says.
"But what if-", Frank says.
"Oh, look, here's our food", Gerard says.
Ray comes to their table and sets down their plates. "Here you go, can I get you anything else?", Ray says.
"No, I think we're good", Frank says.
After they eat, they wait for their check.
"No, dude, it's on the house", Ray says.
"No, let me pay for it", Frank says.
"I'm still giving you a discount", Ray says.
"Oh god, fine", Frank says.
A few minutes later, Ray comes back with the check.
"Here you go", Ray says.
He leaves. Frank looks at the check. Ray wrote 'get some ;)' on it. Frank bursts out laughing and writes 'you asshole :)' on it.
"What's funny?", Gerard asks.
"Oh, it's nothing", Frank says.
Ray comes back to get the check and winks.
The two of them walk out of the restaurant holding hands.
"Thank you, Frankie, for a great night", Gerard says.
"My pleasure", Frank says, opening the door for Gerard.
"What a gentleman", Gerard says.
"Well, I try", Frank says as Gerard gets in.
Frank opens his own door and gets in.
"So...where do you want to go?", Gerard says.
"I don't know", Frank says.
"Your place? I would invite you to mine but my brother's there", Gerard says.
"Sure", Frank says.
They drive in silence.
"Here we are", Frank says.
"Which apartment?", Gerard says.
"Hope you don't mind stairs", Frank says.
They walk up 4 flights of stairs to get to Frank's apartment.
"Oh my god, how do you do that every day?", Gerard says.
"Takes months of practice", Frank says.
Frank unlocks the door and they both drop onto the couch.
"Hey", Frank says.
"Hey", Gerard says.
"So...what do you want to do?", Frank asks.
"I don't know", Gerard says.
"Wanna watch a movie?", Frank says.
"Uh...sure", Gerard says.
30 minutes later....
"This is officially the stupidest movie I have ever seen", Gerard says.
"Yeah....", Frank says.
"So...you're, like, really, um, awesome", Gerard says.
"Thanks, you too", Frank says.
"So, I, uh, kind of, like, um, wanted to know if, um, you maybe wanted to, well, be my boyfriend?", Gerard says.
"Oh, hell yeah", Frank says.
He connects his lips to Gerard's.
Gerard kisses back and it all escalates from there.
Let's just say Frank did 'get some'.
~~~~
He goes into the back room and gets his stuff.
Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring!
"Oh, shit", Frank says.
He pulls the phone out of the bag.
"Talk to me", Frank says.
"Gabe found another kid with powers", Pete says.
"Where is he?", Frank asks.
"He saved a girl from a burning building", Pete says, "we have to recruit him onto our side."
"What does he look like?", Frank says.
"He has red hair, bright red hair, get him to me", Pete says, "I'm putting you in charge of getting him, don't fail me."
And he hangs up.
"Bright red hair...", Frank says.
He walks out to the shop and sees Gerard.
"Oh my god...Gerard", Frank says.