Archive of Our Own

Gerard and Frank were walking down the empty streets of the town. It was dark, and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of their footsteps hitting the pavement. They were on their way to the church, a place that held a special meaning for both of them.

As they walked, Gerard couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over him. He remembered the countless times he had come to this church as a child, seeking refuge from the world outside. And now, as an adult, he found himself back here, seeking that same sense of comfort and safety.

Frank, on the other hand, had never set foot in a church before. But seeing the look of serenity on Gerard's face as they approached the building made him feel like he was about to experience something special.

They pushed open the doors of the church and stepped inside. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional creak of the wooden pews.

Gerard, dressed in his black clerical garb, led the way down the aisle of the church, his eyes fixed on the altar at the front. Frank Iero followed closely behind, taking in the stained glass windows and the intricate carvings on the walls. It was a scene that had become all too familiar to Gerard since he had taken up the mantle of priest in this very church.

Gerard had never envisioned himself as a man of the cloth, but he had found his calling in the church after My Chemical Romance's hiatus. He had always been drawn to the idea of helping others and providing comfort to those in need. As a priest, he had found a way to do just that.

Frank watched with a mix of admiration and disbelief as Gerard made his way to the altar. He had never expected his friend to become a priest, but he could see the sense of purpose and fulfilment it brought him.

As they reached the altar, Gerard turned to face Frank, a small smile on his face. "Welcome to my humble abode," he said, gesturing to the church around them.

Frank nodded, still taking in the surroundings. "It's beautiful," he said finally.

Gerard nodded, looking up at the cross hanging above the altar. "It's a place of peace and solace," he said. "A place where people can come to find comfort and guidance."

Frank looked at Gerard with a newfound respect. He could see the passion in his friend's eyes and knew that he had truly found his calling in life.

Together, they sat in the quiet of the church, with Gerard leading them in prayer. And for the first time, Frank felt a sense of calm and serenity wash over him. He realized that, in Gerard's presence, he too had found a place of peace and solace.

***

As the prayer came to an end, Gerard stood up from his seat and walked towards the confessional booth at the back of the church. Frank hesitated for a moment before following him, intrigued by the concept of confessing his sins.

Inside the booth, Gerard sat on one side of the screen, while Frank sat on the other. "Tell me, my son," Gerard began, "what troubles you?"

Frank took a deep breath before starting to speak. He confessed his past mistakes, the guilt that had been weighing on his conscience for years, and the struggles he had been facing in his personal life. Gerard listened intently, offering words of comfort and wisdom as he spoke.

When Frank had finished, Gerard gave him a small smile. "I understand how you feel, my son," he said. "But know that forgiveness is possible, and it's never too late to start anew."

Frank felt a sense of relief wash over him as he left the confessional booth. He knew that he still had a lot of work to do to make amends for his past mistakes, but he also knew that he had taken the first step towards a better future.

As they left the church, Gerard turned to Frank. "Thank you for coming with me today," he said. "It means a lot to have you here with me."

Frank nodded, feeling grateful for the opportunity to spend time with his friend and mentor. As they walked down the street together, he knew that he had found a new source of inspiration in his life, one that would help guide him towards a brighter future.

Gerard and Frank walked in silence for a few moments, the weight of their confessions still hanging in the air. Finally, Gerard spoke up.

"You know, Frank, I never thought I'd end up here," he said, gesturing to the church. "But it's been the greatest gift of my life."

Frank nodded, still processing everything that had just happened. "I can see that," he said. "You have a gift for this, Gerard. You make people feel safe and heard."

Gerard smiled at the compliment, but his thoughts were already turning to his next task. He had a church service to prepare for, and he wanted to make sure that everything was just right.

As they parted ways, Frank felt a newfound sense of clarity and purpose. He knew that he still had a lot of work to do on himself, but he also knew that he had a friend and mentor in Gerard who would help guide him along the way.

And as he watched Gerard disappear down the street, Frank couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected twists and turns that life had taken him on. He knew that he had found a new sense of direction, and he was excited to see where it would take him.

As Gerard walked away, Frank couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. He didn't want the moment to end. Before he could stop himself, he ran after Gerard and grabbed his arm.

"Gerard," he said breathlessly, "there's something I need to tell you."

Gerard turned to face Frank, a concerned look on his face. "What is it, my son?" he asked.

Without another thought, Frank leaned in and pressed his lips against Gerard's. It was a brief, tentative kiss, but it was enough to make Frank's heart skip a beat.

Gerard pulled away, his eyes wide with surprise. "Frank, what are you doing?" he asked.

Frank looked up at Gerard, feeling a mix of embarrassment and regret. "I'm sorry," he said. "I don't know what came over me."

Gerard sighed and placed a hand on Frank's shoulder. "It's okay," he said gently. "I understand that you're going through a lot right now, but we can't act on these impulses. It's not right."

Frank nodded, feeling ashamed of his actions. "I'm sorry," he repeated.

Gerard gave him a small smile. "Let's put this behind us, okay? We'll both move on from this and continue to support each other in our own ways."

Frank nodded, feeling grateful for Gerard's understanding. As they parted ways once again, he couldn't help but feel a sense of regret for what could have been. But he also knew that he had to respect Gerard's boundaries and the vows he had taken as a priest.

***

In the days that followed, Frank couldn't stop thinking about the kiss. He knew that he had made a mistake, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more between him and Gerard.

One day, as he was walking down the street, he saw Gerard in the distance, walking towards him. Frank's heart started racing, and he wasn't sure what to do. Should he pretend like nothing had happened? Should he apologize again?

As Gerard approached, he smiled warmly at Frank. "Hello, my son," he said. "How are you doing?"

Frank took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. "I'm doing okay," he said. "I wanted to apologize again for what happened the other day. I know it was inappropriate, and I'm sorry."

Gerard gave him a small smile. "Apology accepted," he said. "But I also wanted to talk to you about something else. I've been thinking a lot about what happened, and I realized that I have feelings for you too."

Frank's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Gerard took a step closer to Frank. "I mean that I've been trying to ignore these feelings for a long time, but I can't deny them any longer," he said. "I care about you, Frank, and I want to explore where this could lead."

Frank felt a wave of emotion wash over him. He had never imagined that Gerard could feel the same way he did. But now that he had said it out loud, Frank couldn't deny the feelings he had been suppressing for so long.

Without another thought, Frank leaned in and kissed Gerard again. This time, the kiss was longer and more passionate, filled with years of unspoken longing and desire.

As they pulled away, Gerard took Frank's hand in his. "Let's take things slow," he said. "I don't want to rush into anything, but I also can't deny what I feel."

Frank nodded, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness for what the future held. But he also knew that he was ready to take this journey with Gerard, no matter where it led them.

Over the next few weeks, Gerard and Frank continued to explore their newfound feelings for each other. They started spending more time together, going on walks around the city and having deep conversations about life, love, and spirituality.

As they grew closer, Frank couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at how much his life had changed in such a short amount of time. He had gone from feeling lost and alone to finding a sense of purpose and love in the most unexpected place.

But their relationship was not without its challenges. They had to navigate the complexities of their roles in the church and the expectations that came with them. They also had to deal with the judgment and disapproval of some of the more conservative members of the congregation.

Despite these obstacles, Gerard and Frank were determined to make their relationship work. They found strength in each other, and they knew that their love was worth fighting for.

One day, after a particularly moving church service, Gerard took Frank aside and got down on one knee. "Frank, I know that we've only been together for a short time, but I can't imagine my life without you," he said. "Will you do me the honour of becoming my partner for life?"

Tears streamed down Frank's face as he nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, Gerard, I will," he said.

From that moment on, Gerard and Frank were inseparable. They continued to serve the church together, but they also made time for each other, going on dates and exploring their city. And even though they still faced challenges and obstacles along the way, they knew that they could overcome anything as long as they had each other.

As they stood hand in hand in the church, surrounded by their loved ones, Gerard and Frank exchanged vows and sealed their love with a kiss. It was a moment that they would both cherish for the rest of their lives, a testament to the power of love and the strength of their commitment to each other.