Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > Calm Before The Storm
September 10th 2001; Hoboken, New Jersey
The evening sky is a midnight blue, the odd dull star, pokes through the murky, wispy clouds of pollution. Car engines hum loudly into the evening, a gentle breeze carries is discarded brown paper bag down the sidewalk, people walking to their destinations. A siren blares in the distance, the red and blue lights flashing furiously. Laughter fills the air on a street corner; a small group of teenagers stand on the corner, some cradle a brown or green bottle in their hand, while others nurse a cigarette
Maxwell’s, a small intimate bar, known for the slap up meals that it serves to its customers, along with the home-brewed beer. But it’s more famously known for its music venues and the many names that have passed through and left their mark. Inside, the atmosphere is friendly, as friendly banter echoes throughout the building, laughter bouncing off the walls, the live band having finished playing only a minute or so ago. Waiters and waitresses weave in and out of tables and through crowds, carrying plates, glasses or cups. The bar tender works endlessly behind the bar, serving drinks left right and centre
In a corner of the bar, sat slightly slumped on their stool, shoulders hunched up in hope of not being noticed, sits a man. A man with scruffy black hair; it’s not as long as it used to be. His hazel eyes staring longingly at the brown liquor, a hint of sadness and gloom lurks in the pools of golden browns and honey colours. A quiet slips past his lips, while his fingers tap against the side of the glass as his mind wonders into a different world. But it’s not long, before his mind is brought back to reality, by a sudden tap to the shoulder. He turns his head, eyes wide for a second, before he relaxes and smiles at the person standing in front of him
“Hey Gerard! What did you think?”
Gerard smiles at his friends enthusiastic tone and attitude, and feels those all too familiar flutters in his chest
“Hey, you were really good out there, Frank!”
Frank bounces on the spot slightly, his grin, if possible growing wider, his eyes bright as they gazed at Gerard. Beads of sweat doused his forehead, his hair a lot shorter than it had been a few years ago. His black t-shirt clung to him slightly as Gerard turned away from his drink to look at his friend
“Thanks,” a small blush graced Frank’s already pink face. He glanced around a second, spotting his other band mates, mingling around with the crowd
“Hey, do you fancy going out for a smoke?” Frank offered. Gerard smiled; he could never refuse a cigarette, so eagerly nodded his head. Frank chuckled, before grabbing Gerard’s arm and working their way through the crowds of people and out onto the street. They walked a few paces until they were away from the door and in a quieter area
“Mind I bum one off you? I kind of left mine in the back area,” Frank spoke, patting down his pockets. Gerard smiled and nodded as he pulled out his carton of cigarettes and offering one to Frank first
“Thanks.”
They fell into silence, after doing battle with a temperamental lighter. Frank watched as a few cars passed by, the night air making him shiver a little. He glanced back around, and peered at Gerard, as he stared off into the distance, his face vacant
“Are you ok?” Frank asked softly, stepping a little closer to Gerard
Gerard’s eyes snapped to Frank and he smiled a small smile, though Frank could see in his eyes that he was sad. Frank sighed a little taking a drag
“Hey, don’t worry about your proposal.” Gerard sighed sadly, drawing his attention to the burning embers of his cigarette
“So what if they didn’t accept it? If you ask me, the breakfast monkey would have been a great cartoon, they don’t know what they’re missing out on,” Frank exclaimed slightly, looking hopeful at Gerard. Gerard let out a low chuckle
“No Frank, it never was going to work out.” Frank sighed again
“I don’t even know why I try sometimes, everything I do is never good enough for them.” Frank watched as Gerard kicked the ground a little, flicking the ashes off his cigarette
“Yeah, well, they’re arrogant fucks as they can’t seem to spot someone with good talent.”
Gerard peered up at Frank and smiled, his cheeks warming slightly
“Besides, there will be other opportunities for you.” Gerard nodded his head
“I know, it’s just . . .” Gerard trailed off, looking into the distance again.
Frank had always hated seeing Gerard sad; he knew that there was something more to it and it killed a part of him every time he saw that look of doom and gloom in Gerard’s eyes
“Hey, you could always start a band,” Frank suggested, smiling slightly. Gerard looked at him, slightly bemused as he blew smoke out into the air, before laughing
“A band?”
“Yeah,” Frank chuckled, “I mean, you can sing after all.”
Gerard stared, wide eyed at him, as a group of people walked past
“What?” Frank asked innocently, taking another drag of his cigarette, “I hear you, when you sing in the shower.”
Frank chuckled at the lovely pink colour that graced Gerard’s face; Gerard’s eyes narrowed
“Do you spy on me, when I shower or something?” Gerard asked, eyebrow raised
“No! No of course I don’t,” Frank laughed, “Your voice, just carries, so I hear it.”
The blush stayed on Gerard’s face, as Frank chuckled even more, dropping his cigarette to the sidewalk and stamping it out
“You know, I really think you could have a shot Gerard, in the music world.” Gerard glanced back at Frank
“You think?” Frank nodded his head smiling still, as Gerard took one last drag out of his cigarette
“I’d back you all the way of course, I mean, it’s the least I could do after everything that you’ve done for me.”
Gerard tilted his head slightly at Frank, as he stubbed out his cigarette
“I mean, you took me in, gave me a warm place to stay. You gave me food and water. You helped me get on my feet properly, you introduced me, not only to your friends, but you also introduced me to your family; made me feel like I had a family again.”
Gerard smiled fondly at Frank, the sadness disappearing from his eyes, as he remembered the first time he introduced Frank to his mother and father and how they had more or less accepted him as if he was one of their own
“Heck, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here right now, standing with you, having this conversation. I wouldn’t have anything; I’d still be in that house, and I wouldn’t have what I have today, which is my music. And I owe it all to you.”
Gerard held Frank’s gaze, smiling still, a constant flutter tingling throughout his chest
“Frank-”
“No Gerard, it’s true and you know that,” Frank says, stepping closer to Gerard. Frank knows exactly what it is, that he wants to do, as he gazes at Gerard in the yellow dim of the street lights
“And I feel like I never really thanked you enough for everything that you’ve done.” Frank shuffles even closer, so close that Gerard takes a small step back, but only bumps into the brick wall behind him
“Frank, you don’t-” but Gerard was silenced; silenced by Frank, who has raised himself onto his tip-toes, and pressed his lips oh so softly to Gerard’s. Gerard’s body tenses, eyes trained on Frank’s closed ones, before he feels himself relax, and shyly kisses Frank back
After a few seconds, Frank pulls away, and watches Gerard with a doe-eyed expression. Gerard’s heart stutters in his chest as he stares back. Nerves flood Frank’s body, his fingers tingle slightly as he slowly reaches a hand out to touch Gerard’s arm
“Please, let me be the one to stand by your side through everything that you do?”
Gerard takes a few second’s, to let those words sink in, a police car goes flying by, its sirens screaming, as it turns sharply round the corner. Gerard’s mouth twitches into a shy smile
“Are you . . did you just . . . . ask me out?” Gerard finally asks. Frank blinks before he smiles and blushes, his cheeks flushing red, before nodding his head slightly
“Yeah, I guess I just did,” Frank looks up and Gerard can’t help the girlish like giggle that escapes, making Frank laugh
“Ok.”
“Ok?”
“Yes,” Gerard laughs again, though he smiles still, “I’ll go out with you.”
Gerard can’t help but to laugh again, at the huge child-like grin that appears on Frank’s face. Frank feels his heart swell in his chest to bursting point. Gerard smiles and laughs, before a glow of warmth washes over him, as Frank stretches back up on his tip-toes, his hands grabbing the front of Gerard’s jacket to steady himself more, as he connects his lips back to Gerard’s once again. Slowly, Gerard gently wraps his arms around Frank’s torso, holding him in place. Frank giggles after a moment before pulling back a little
“You know, we both could get beaten to a bloody pulp right now,” Frank says, glancing at the passer-by who gave the pair a very disgruntled look
“Well, maybe we should head back?” Gerard suggested. Frank nods his head in agreement
“Besides, I have to be up early tomorrow,” Gerard said, groaning slightly at the thought of having to get up early
“Oh yeah, you’ve got that meeting at that art gallery in Manhattan tomorrow,” Frank said smiling
“Yep, see if they’ll take in any of my art.”
“I’m sure they will Gerard,” Frank said in a hopeful tone, pulling back a little more. Gerard smiled as Frank took hold of his hand
“I just need to grab a few things, and say goodbye to the guys, and then we can head on back.”
“Sure,” Gerard nodded his head.
Frank beamed at him, before pressing a very quick peck on Gerard’s lips, before the two headed back towards the door in Maxwell’s. As the two wondered back through into the warmth of the bar, they passed a man; a man in his late forties, with very similar features. His eyes followed the pair as they disappeared back into the crowds of people that filled Maxwell’s. His smile was a proud one at that, as he looked away and down at the ground, feeling the tears build, before he looked back up, spotting Frank walk up to one of his band mates, Gerard close behind
“At a boy Frankie, I knew you could do it. I’m proud of you,” the stranger spoke, to no one in particular. He smiled, watching a few seconds more, before he turned, and walked out of Maxwell’s, walking down the street and disappearing into the night.
*******
Thank you, to those who did follow along and read this. Yes this story is finished, and I don't plan on doing anything more with it and I do not plan/intend on doing a sequel as I have had one/two people ask me if there is going to be one. I have had an idea for a one-shot, but unsure as to whether I want to make it into a Bobkey or a Frerard, but for now, I will take a short break from writing before I think of doing anymore. I may consider taking in one-shot requests or story ideas, but not right now. Thank you again, I may come back and tweak this a little, I'm not sure yet
The evening sky is a midnight blue, the odd dull star, pokes through the murky, wispy clouds of pollution. Car engines hum loudly into the evening, a gentle breeze carries is discarded brown paper bag down the sidewalk, people walking to their destinations. A siren blares in the distance, the red and blue lights flashing furiously. Laughter fills the air on a street corner; a small group of teenagers stand on the corner, some cradle a brown or green bottle in their hand, while others nurse a cigarette
Maxwell’s, a small intimate bar, known for the slap up meals that it serves to its customers, along with the home-brewed beer. But it’s more famously known for its music venues and the many names that have passed through and left their mark. Inside, the atmosphere is friendly, as friendly banter echoes throughout the building, laughter bouncing off the walls, the live band having finished playing only a minute or so ago. Waiters and waitresses weave in and out of tables and through crowds, carrying plates, glasses or cups. The bar tender works endlessly behind the bar, serving drinks left right and centre
In a corner of the bar, sat slightly slumped on their stool, shoulders hunched up in hope of not being noticed, sits a man. A man with scruffy black hair; it’s not as long as it used to be. His hazel eyes staring longingly at the brown liquor, a hint of sadness and gloom lurks in the pools of golden browns and honey colours. A quiet slips past his lips, while his fingers tap against the side of the glass as his mind wonders into a different world. But it’s not long, before his mind is brought back to reality, by a sudden tap to the shoulder. He turns his head, eyes wide for a second, before he relaxes and smiles at the person standing in front of him
“Hey Gerard! What did you think?”
Gerard smiles at his friends enthusiastic tone and attitude, and feels those all too familiar flutters in his chest
“Hey, you were really good out there, Frank!”
Frank bounces on the spot slightly, his grin, if possible growing wider, his eyes bright as they gazed at Gerard. Beads of sweat doused his forehead, his hair a lot shorter than it had been a few years ago. His black t-shirt clung to him slightly as Gerard turned away from his drink to look at his friend
“Thanks,” a small blush graced Frank’s already pink face. He glanced around a second, spotting his other band mates, mingling around with the crowd
“Hey, do you fancy going out for a smoke?” Frank offered. Gerard smiled; he could never refuse a cigarette, so eagerly nodded his head. Frank chuckled, before grabbing Gerard’s arm and working their way through the crowds of people and out onto the street. They walked a few paces until they were away from the door and in a quieter area
“Mind I bum one off you? I kind of left mine in the back area,” Frank spoke, patting down his pockets. Gerard smiled and nodded as he pulled out his carton of cigarettes and offering one to Frank first
“Thanks.”
They fell into silence, after doing battle with a temperamental lighter. Frank watched as a few cars passed by, the night air making him shiver a little. He glanced back around, and peered at Gerard, as he stared off into the distance, his face vacant
“Are you ok?” Frank asked softly, stepping a little closer to Gerard
Gerard’s eyes snapped to Frank and he smiled a small smile, though Frank could see in his eyes that he was sad. Frank sighed a little taking a drag
“Hey, don’t worry about your proposal.” Gerard sighed sadly, drawing his attention to the burning embers of his cigarette
“So what if they didn’t accept it? If you ask me, the breakfast monkey would have been a great cartoon, they don’t know what they’re missing out on,” Frank exclaimed slightly, looking hopeful at Gerard. Gerard let out a low chuckle
“No Frank, it never was going to work out.” Frank sighed again
“I don’t even know why I try sometimes, everything I do is never good enough for them.” Frank watched as Gerard kicked the ground a little, flicking the ashes off his cigarette
“Yeah, well, they’re arrogant fucks as they can’t seem to spot someone with good talent.”
Gerard peered up at Frank and smiled, his cheeks warming slightly
“Besides, there will be other opportunities for you.” Gerard nodded his head
“I know, it’s just . . .” Gerard trailed off, looking into the distance again.
Frank had always hated seeing Gerard sad; he knew that there was something more to it and it killed a part of him every time he saw that look of doom and gloom in Gerard’s eyes
“Hey, you could always start a band,” Frank suggested, smiling slightly. Gerard looked at him, slightly bemused as he blew smoke out into the air, before laughing
“A band?”
“Yeah,” Frank chuckled, “I mean, you can sing after all.”
Gerard stared, wide eyed at him, as a group of people walked past
“What?” Frank asked innocently, taking another drag of his cigarette, “I hear you, when you sing in the shower.”
Frank chuckled at the lovely pink colour that graced Gerard’s face; Gerard’s eyes narrowed
“Do you spy on me, when I shower or something?” Gerard asked, eyebrow raised
“No! No of course I don’t,” Frank laughed, “Your voice, just carries, so I hear it.”
The blush stayed on Gerard’s face, as Frank chuckled even more, dropping his cigarette to the sidewalk and stamping it out
“You know, I really think you could have a shot Gerard, in the music world.” Gerard glanced back at Frank
“You think?” Frank nodded his head smiling still, as Gerard took one last drag out of his cigarette
“I’d back you all the way of course, I mean, it’s the least I could do after everything that you’ve done for me.”
Gerard tilted his head slightly at Frank, as he stubbed out his cigarette
“I mean, you took me in, gave me a warm place to stay. You gave me food and water. You helped me get on my feet properly, you introduced me, not only to your friends, but you also introduced me to your family; made me feel like I had a family again.”
Gerard smiled fondly at Frank, the sadness disappearing from his eyes, as he remembered the first time he introduced Frank to his mother and father and how they had more or less accepted him as if he was one of their own
“Heck, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here right now, standing with you, having this conversation. I wouldn’t have anything; I’d still be in that house, and I wouldn’t have what I have today, which is my music. And I owe it all to you.”
Gerard held Frank’s gaze, smiling still, a constant flutter tingling throughout his chest
“Frank-”
“No Gerard, it’s true and you know that,” Frank says, stepping closer to Gerard. Frank knows exactly what it is, that he wants to do, as he gazes at Gerard in the yellow dim of the street lights
“And I feel like I never really thanked you enough for everything that you’ve done.” Frank shuffles even closer, so close that Gerard takes a small step back, but only bumps into the brick wall behind him
“Frank, you don’t-” but Gerard was silenced; silenced by Frank, who has raised himself onto his tip-toes, and pressed his lips oh so softly to Gerard’s. Gerard’s body tenses, eyes trained on Frank’s closed ones, before he feels himself relax, and shyly kisses Frank back
After a few seconds, Frank pulls away, and watches Gerard with a doe-eyed expression. Gerard’s heart stutters in his chest as he stares back. Nerves flood Frank’s body, his fingers tingle slightly as he slowly reaches a hand out to touch Gerard’s arm
“Please, let me be the one to stand by your side through everything that you do?”
Gerard takes a few second’s, to let those words sink in, a police car goes flying by, its sirens screaming, as it turns sharply round the corner. Gerard’s mouth twitches into a shy smile
“Are you . . did you just . . . . ask me out?” Gerard finally asks. Frank blinks before he smiles and blushes, his cheeks flushing red, before nodding his head slightly
“Yeah, I guess I just did,” Frank looks up and Gerard can’t help the girlish like giggle that escapes, making Frank laugh
“Ok.”
“Ok?”
“Yes,” Gerard laughs again, though he smiles still, “I’ll go out with you.”
Gerard can’t help but to laugh again, at the huge child-like grin that appears on Frank’s face. Frank feels his heart swell in his chest to bursting point. Gerard smiles and laughs, before a glow of warmth washes over him, as Frank stretches back up on his tip-toes, his hands grabbing the front of Gerard’s jacket to steady himself more, as he connects his lips back to Gerard’s once again. Slowly, Gerard gently wraps his arms around Frank’s torso, holding him in place. Frank giggles after a moment before pulling back a little
“You know, we both could get beaten to a bloody pulp right now,” Frank says, glancing at the passer-by who gave the pair a very disgruntled look
“Well, maybe we should head back?” Gerard suggested. Frank nods his head in agreement
“Besides, I have to be up early tomorrow,” Gerard said, groaning slightly at the thought of having to get up early
“Oh yeah, you’ve got that meeting at that art gallery in Manhattan tomorrow,” Frank said smiling
“Yep, see if they’ll take in any of my art.”
“I’m sure they will Gerard,” Frank said in a hopeful tone, pulling back a little more. Gerard smiled as Frank took hold of his hand
“I just need to grab a few things, and say goodbye to the guys, and then we can head on back.”
“Sure,” Gerard nodded his head.
Frank beamed at him, before pressing a very quick peck on Gerard’s lips, before the two headed back towards the door in Maxwell’s. As the two wondered back through into the warmth of the bar, they passed a man; a man in his late forties, with very similar features. His eyes followed the pair as they disappeared back into the crowds of people that filled Maxwell’s. His smile was a proud one at that, as he looked away and down at the ground, feeling the tears build, before he looked back up, spotting Frank walk up to one of his band mates, Gerard close behind
“At a boy Frankie, I knew you could do it. I’m proud of you,” the stranger spoke, to no one in particular. He smiled, watching a few seconds more, before he turned, and walked out of Maxwell’s, walking down the street and disappearing into the night.
*******
Thank you, to those who did follow along and read this. Yes this story is finished, and I don't plan on doing anything more with it and I do not plan/intend on doing a sequel as I have had one/two people ask me if there is going to be one. I have had an idea for a one-shot, but unsure as to whether I want to make it into a Bobkey or a Frerard, but for now, I will take a short break from writing before I think of doing anymore. I may consider taking in one-shot requests or story ideas, but not right now. Thank you again, I may come back and tweak this a little, I'm not sure yet
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