Chapter Text
Frank worked through his closing shift like a zombie. It’d been a tough week. He’d been called “ma’am” at least three times that day alone. He’d forgotten to charge the whipped creams so he’d had to do it again. He’d dropped several cups, messed up multiple orders, accidentally tore some skin off his thumb from one of the espresso machines, and every plan he’d attempted to make with his friends had fallen through. His back ached from his binder, and he wanted to curl up and cry himself to sleep in the drive through window.
The only thing that was keeping him going was that his mom was going out of town for the weekend, so he was staying at the Way’s. With his luck, though, he half expected a text to come through saying sorry, we don’t actually care about you, go sleep in a ditch you piece of shit.
His anxiety was proven wrong when he left Starbucks and saw the familiar beat up old truck with the cab lights on and The Misfits blaring, Gerard visible through the windshield, his hand hanging out of the window with a cigarette between his fingers.
Frank speedwalked to the passenger door and all but flung himself inside. Gerard grinned at him, his arm extending towards him and Frank lunged across the center console to bury his face in Gerard’s shoulder.
“Rough day at the office, dear?” Gerard asked, stroking his hair gently.
“You have no idea,” Frank said, his voice muffled. “I got called ma’am at least three times today.” Gerard’s other arm came around to hold him as well.
“‘M sorry, Frankie,” Gerard said into his hair. “You wanna go home and binge the Scream trilogy?”
“Fuck yes,” Frank pulled away and got himself settled. “I might be a little tired, so don’t be alarmed if I fall asleep.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got all weekend to rewatch the bits you miss.” Gerard started the car. Frank grinned.
“Oh, before I forget,” Frank rummaged through his bag, “these went out of date today.” He pulled a package out of his bag.
Gerard glanced over at it. “Score! Free cake pops!” He pumped his fist in the air and then darted over to kiss Frank on the cheek. “Have I ever told you that you’re the best boyfriend in the world?”
“Yes, but you can always say it again,” Frank said cheekily. Gerard pulled out of the parking lot and they drove home, singing along to Dig Up Her Bones .
When they got inside, Gerard put the cake pops on the counter (after taking two for himself) and left a note next to it that said: Free cake pops from Frank. Don’t eat them all .
“Mikey’s at Pete’s,” he explained.
“Cool,” Frank said.
They got down to the basement and Frank put his bag down on some of the clutter by Gerard’s bed. They were halfway through the first Scream , when, sure enough, he began to nod off onto Gerard’s shoulder. Gerard paused the movie.
“Uh uh, mister,” he said. “Take off your binder before you go to bed, you know the rule.”
“But ‘m so tired,” Frank said sleepily. “Don’ wanna get up.”
“Do you want me to take it off for you?” Gerard asked. “Because I will.”
Frank almost woke up completely at that. While they had been sleeping over at each others’ places together for years, Frank had always changed in the bathroom. Any kind of “sexual act” between them was nothing more than sitting on each other’s laps and making out (though there were some hickeys). At the beginning of their relationship, Frank had stated that he wasn’t comfortable with sex until he was eighteen. Gerard had respected that.
When Frank didn’t respond, Gerard backpedaled. “Sorry, sorry, I shouldn’t have suggested it,” he rushed to say. “I know you’re uncomfortable with it, even though this wouldn’t be–”
Frank cut him off by sitting up completely and taking off his shirt. “I trust you,” he said. “Just get me a sweatshirt or something.” The bed creaked and Gerard got up to find something for him. He came back with a sweatshirt, sniffing it.
“It’s probably clean,” he said.
Frank smiled. “It’s okay– I’ll smell like you.”
Gerard chuckled. “You’re so weird.” He sat back down on the bed. “So, uh…” Frank turned around, so that his back was to his boyfriend. His breath hitched as he felt Gerard’s fingers on the bare skin of his back, right below his binder. “So I just take it off?”
“Uh huh.”
Gerard hooked his fingers under the elastic. “Lift up your arms,” he said softly. Frank did so, and Gerard slid the binder up over his chest and off his arms. Frank wrinkled his nose at the cool air hitting his breasts. Gerard gently tugged his head through the hole of the sweatshirt, and Frank immediately put his arms through the sleeves.
Gerard leaned his head against the back of Frank’s neck, wrapping his arms around the smaller boy’s torso. “You ok, baby?” he asked softly.
Frank leaned into him. “Mhm.”
Gerard pressed soft kisses to the nape of his neck. “You wanna continue the movie?”
“Not tonight, too tired,” Frank said just before a loud yawn.
“Okay. I gotta change though, okay baby?”
“Okay.” The comforting warmth of Gerard vanished, and then a pair of sweats were tossed at him. “Can you change your pants or do you want me to do that too?”
Frank giggled drowsily. “I got it.” he got up and pulled down his pants.
Gerard stuttered. “Oh– okay. You’re– you’re doing that. I’ll just– I’ll just turn around.”
Frank put the sweats on as fast as his exhausted body would let him, and then flopped back down on the bed. There was some rustling behind him and then Gerard’s arms were back around him, pulling him further up the bed.
“Let’s get under the covers, yeah?” Gerard murmured.
“Yeah,” Frank slurred. He felt the covers pulled up around him and turned so he could snuggle deeper into Gerard’s chest.
“Goodnight, Frankie,” Gerard whispered, kissing his forehead.
“G’night, love you.” Frank was fast asleep before the weight of what he;d just said registered in his brain.