FicWad

I've been working on this one for the last couple of days, honestly, I kinda had a sudden case of writers block, so thats why it kinda sucks. Thanks for the few people that responded to this story, really appreciate it. Without further ado... A rather mediocre chapter (I'm very self critical.)

Title: Bad Brains

xxLee


Frank studied the mildew growing on the end of the shower curtain as he reflected his day. He had immediately regretted agreeing to go to lunch with Gerard, he was aware it wasn't exactly anything intimate, but interacting with Gerard outside of a work environment contradicted every reason he'd come to Newark in the first place. If frank let it get out of hand in anyway he'd have to leave town.
 
Frank decided to use the body wash a second time for good measure, you never know what diseases could be hanging around that motel bed.

 once Frank had exited the shower he didn't know what to with himself. He had brought along a few Harry Potter novels, but he had read those so many times it was as if the words were permenantly etched into the walls of his mind. Sighing dejectedly, he flopped back onto the bed.

 He was scared of tomorrow. He was scared of yesterday. He was scared of right now. Every time period was utterly terrifying. At any given moment, he could snap, and that'd be it. He had to admit it could be nice to have someone to talk to about these things. About the complete feeling of being trapped.

 Frank blew his fringe out of his eyes and rolled over, tired of listening to the ramblings of his inner thoughts. He hummed thoughtless tunes to himself, thinking of how great it'd be if he had been able to bring his guitar, until falling asleep. His dreams full of cages and secrets and death, as usual.

...
 
"Hey, kid?" Frank was sitting on the same awkward couch he sat on when he applied, face jammed into Doom Patrol.

 "Uh huh?"

 Gerard was glaring down at the counter top as he attacked a stubborn stain with windex. "Lunch?"

 "I, uh, guess so." He placed the comic back on the shelf, trying to even out his breathing.
 For most, this would just be a friendly coworker lunch. For Frank, this would be the first time he had voluntarily interacted with someone outside of his family in years.

 The restaurant Gerard had chosen was rather small, but still sufficiently busy. Upon being seated, Frank couldn't help but nervously pull at his fingers. His eyes rested on anything but Gerard, darting around the different paintings on the wall.

 "So, Frank, you said you're visiting a brother?" Frank's breath caught, if Gerard found out he was lying he might call the police, or worse Frank would lose his temper.

 Frank was going to have to lie.

 "I'm moving in. Just needed some independance.” Frank was shocked at how easily the lie had slid out, who knew that he was so skilled in the art of deception.

 Gerard nodded slowly, studying the boy who sat opposite to him carefully. Frank had been a mystery to Gerard since the day he had stumbled into his shop. Gerard knew Frank wasn’t being entirely truthful, he lived in a town where everyone knew everyone, and he had never heard the name Iero before now. Despite that, Gerard decided to play along. Eventually he’d figure out what Frank was so desperate to hide.

 Gerard realized that he hadn’t responded to Frank. “Right, what’s your brothers name?” He noted the way Frank fidgeted at the the question.

 “Uh, Owen.”

 “Funny, I’ve never met an Owen Iero.” Gerard mused.

 “He lives on the outskirts.” Frank lied, feeling like he was going to throw up. This is what he was afraid of, he was going to slip up for sure.

 Gerard nodded.

 The rest of lunch consisted of Frank stuttering out more lies, Gerard eyeing him suspiciously, and eating mediocre food in awkward silence.

…

Gerard was not satisfied with how the lunch went. He had originally meant to show Frank that he could be trusted, not interrogate the poor kid. Gerard glanced over at Frank, who had returned to the ugly couch in the corner with a comic.

 Gerard had to admit he thought Frank was attractive, adorable even, but Frank seemed to be extremely uncomfortable with normal human interaction. It made him wonder what had happened to Frank, people don’t get that anxious over something so insignificant unless they’ve been through a lot.

 Maybe he was abused.

 Gerard cringed, glancing over at Frank a second time. Maybe he just wasn’t fond of people. Gerard had heard of people like that before, people that just couldn’t handle being around other people. It made sense, humans were crazy.

 Gerard wasn’t the biggest fan of people either, but dealing with them is just something you needed to do to survive.

 Frank was just one confusing mess, and Gerard was ready to figure him out. He wasn’t quite sure why he was so wrapped up in Frank, something about the kid was just so intriguing.  The way his eyes would glaze over when he was lost in thought. How he spoke quietly, as if someone was always listening to him, waiting for him to reveal something big. The way you could tell he was hiding something.

 Gerard was going to figure out what was so scandalous. He didn't want to be forceful with Frank, he was going to befriend him.

 "Hey Frank, lunch again tomorrow?"

 Frank looked up with wide, fearful eyes. "I, uh, nah." He stuttered out, pressing himself closer to the furthest arm of the couch, putting as much distance between the two as possible.

 This is going to be a challenge,Gerard thought almost bitterly. Whether the discontempt was towards himself, Frank, or the whole situation in general, Gerard wasn't sure.


Ugh, I just realized how short this is. Damn it. Oh well...