four: our own personal Coffee Bean

—a year later—

Bob looked at Frank over their cereal and grinned. "Coffee Bean's comin' today."

Frank choked on his gross fruit and his eyes widened. "Fuckin' seriously?"

"Seriously, man," Bob said and then grinned, leaning in close and whispering so only the four of them could hear. "There's a guy workin' here that's gonna help us. And Ray's comin' with us."

"And Gerard too, right?" Frank asked, his hand moving to rest of Gerard's thigh and squeezing softly.

Bob bit his lip excitedly. "Of fucking course. But you haven't told him too much, right? Just about what Decaf stands for?"

"That and why we're constantly saying Coffee Bean, and our names."

Gerard grinned. The DeCavalcante Mafia chain was growing even bigger and bigger, and since it was, they'd had to come up with code names. Frank had explained that Tony Soprano, known head of the New Jersey Mafia was referred to as DeCavalcante quite a bit, especially to protect his identity, and his code name was Decaf, since the two names were similar. From there, the coffee jokes had sprung. Anyone who was a messenger or on the inside was referred to as a Coffee Bean, and anyone who was a part of the Mafia and just worked under orders was referred to as Grinds.

"Sick, that's about all he needs to know," Bob whispered. "That's what I told Ray too."

"Let's stop whispering, buzzcut guard behind you is staring," Frank said. "Do something inconspicuous."

Bob tilted his head back and laughed loudly, and leant away, and Frank snickered. Gerard and Ray moulded into the charade too, both donning smirks, and when Bob calmed down, Frank noticed that buzzcut wasn't looking at them anymore.

"Nice joke, man," Bob said. "You really had me reeled in there."

Gerard shook his head and laughed beside Frank, and then they all went back to normal, eating the rest of their breakfast and making casual conversation about how much they hated the government.

---

As soon as the guards' footsteps were echoing away from their cell, Frank had Gerard pushed back against the door. He smashed their lips together, and Gerard responded immediately, pressing back with just as much vigour. Frank nipped and sucked at Gerard's bottom lip, and then their tongues were dancing together. Gerard's hands were tangled in Frank's hair, and Frank's hands were gripping Gerard's hip and arse tightly. Then his lips were leaving dark purple bruises down Gerard's neck, and Gerard was breathing heavily, letting out whimpers here and there when Frank nearly broke the skin.

Gerard pushed himself off the wall and then pushed Frank onto his back on his bed, and he left marks of his own down Frank's skin as Frank struggled to turn them over. Gerard won in the end, pinning Frank's hands around his head with his own and then bringing his lips up and moving their lips together slowly and sensually, sucking and biting on Frank's lips when he let out a whine.

Then he pulled off completely and gazed down at Frank's swollen lips and blown-out pupils.

"Someone's happy," Gerard snickered and rolled his hips into Frank's.

Frank groaned and struggled against Gerard's hands. "Gee, let me go."

Gerard let go, and he rolled off of Frank, expecting him to be upset, but was instead met with a brilliant smile.

"Of course I'm happy," he said and took one of Gerard's hands in his own. "I've been stuck here for the past two and a half fuckin' years, you've been here for one and some, and now we get to get out. All four of us. And then the two of us can live together, and start over, and everything might just be alright."

"Yeah," Gerard whispered.

"Baby, what's the matter?" Frank asked, taking Gerard's chin in his hand and lifting it to make eye contact with him.

"I'm just scared that you won't want me anymore after you have access to a world of beautiful people and not just me," Gerard said and slipped his jaw out of Frank's grasp so he could look down at their intertwined fingers.

Frank shook his head sternly. "Baby, look at me," Frank said gently. "I'm your boyfriend, right? And you're mine?"

"Yeah," Gerard murmured and looked up.

"And that's not gonna change anytime soon, I promise you. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth to be with you. You're so amazing, you know that."

Gerard shrugged. "I'm nothing special."

"Shut the fuck up, you oblivious bastard," Frank said gently, cupping Gerard's cheek in his hand. "You're so dumb sometimes, you know that?"

"I--"

"You're all I need, Gee," Frank whispered, and then kissed him. "I wanna... god, I don't know how you feel about this, but I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, baby. I fucking love you so much. You know that, right? Love is like... not a good enough word. I couldn't live without you if I tried."

"Fuck," Gerard whispered. "I love you too. God, you really mean all that?"

"As unhealthy as it is, yes, I do."

"It's really fuckin' unhealthy, yeah. But I feel the exact same way," Gerard said and leant in so he could peck Frank on the lips. "I wanna marry you."

With that, Gerard was on his back again, and Frank was kissing him sweetly and his hands were holding his hips and waist. And then Frank was kissing Gerard's cheeks, his nose, his forehead, everywhere on his face.

Gerard eventually laughed a little and pulled away, kissing Frank on the lips, communicating his love through the slowness of the kiss, and then when they stopped, Frank was grinning. But Gerard looked a little unsure.

"What's the matter, baby?" Frank said, and he pulled them both up to a sitting position so they could talk.

"I just..." Gerard started, and Frank pushed some Gerard's hair out of his face and behind his ear.

"You can tell me anything."

Gerard started whispering instead, paranoid that there were bugs in the walls. "I know. I... What's gonna happen with Decaf? Is he gonna split us up? Are you gonna keep working for him? And if so, can I?"

Frank bit his lip and whispered too. "Since he's saving me from a life sentence, I'm gonna have to keep working for him. Plus, that's my family. I love them all and I don't wanna leave them. But that wouldn't stop us from being together, at least I don't think so."

"That's good," Gerard murmured. "But what if I wanna work with you guys? I'm really starting to like Bob and Ray's pretty cool, and you're... You're my fucking world. I wanna be a part of that."

Frank blushed and grinned at the sentiment and gave Gerard another small kiss. "We'll see what happens. It's unlikely, but if you use the 'you saved me and now I'm indebted to you, besides I love Frank' card, I'm sure we could work something out."

Gerard nodded. "Okay."

Frank smiled, and then he pulled Gerard in for another kiss. Their lips were moving delightfully when there was a sliver of light creeping across the floor and the creaking of the door echoed through the cell.

"I thought you two might work well when I put you there," said the guard who threw Gerard in on his first day. He brushed hair behind his ear. "C'mon Grinds, and take the boy with you. You gotta be quiet and do exactly as I say, right?"

"Coffee Bean?"

"You know it, Iero," he grinned. "Follow me, and quickly. Ray and Bob are already in the car."

Gerard and Frank sprang off the bed, and a duffel bag was shoved into Frank's hand. Coffee Bean locked the door behind the two and watched as Frank slung the duffel bag over his shoulders and grabbed Gerard's hand tightly in his own. They moved quickly through a maze until they got a door that seemed to be camouflaged into the wall. If the two of them hadn't been lead to it, they certainly wouldn't have noticed it.

Coffee Bean took the keys off his belt and then unlocked the door. He closed it quickly and silently behind the three of them, and then they were outside. They were fucking outside, and there wasn't a fence or anything to keep them in. There was a car around thirty feet away, and as soon as Coffee Bean pushed them, they ran to it. Bob was sitting in the passenger seat and Ray was in the back, fiddling with his hands and looking anxious.

Coffee Bean grinned at them and then nudged Frank's shoulder. "See you around. Good luck."

"Thank you so fucking much for everything," Frank said. "I won't forget you, man."

Coffee Bean shrugged. "I don't care if you do or not. I know this is for the greater good. Now go before someone notices I'm missing."

Gerard thanked Coffee Bean too, and then they were in the back of the car squished together. Bob grinned. "Hit it, James."

As soon as he heard 'James,' Frank's head popped up, and he grinned. The car lurched forward and he tangled his fingers were Gerard's again, holding his hand tightly.

"James! My man!" he grinned. "It's so good to see you again, dude!"

James made it to the highway unnoticed and then glanced in the rearview mirror, grinning. "You too, Frankie. Your mum's been worried sick about you. She prays for you every night. The Catholic side of her's back."

Frank rolled his eyes. "I believe it. I miss her like hell. You been takin' care of her for me?"

"Sure, and your dad too," James said and merged onto the I-95. "They've been having me over a lot. Who's the new kid though? You finally got a boyfriend, and it had to be in prison?"

"I'm just that bad at getting boyfriends," Frank said and then grinned at Gerard. "He's my world, man. He's that amazing."

"He got a name? Or a voice?"

Everyone laughed, and Gerard spoke up. "My name's Gerard."

"Nice to meet you then, man, welcome back to the real world. Ray, you doing okay back there?"

"I'm good."

Bob turned around. "You sure man? You don't look good."

"I... I just don't have anywhere to go, so I'm tryna think of someplace I can crash till I get my shit sorted out."

"You coulda asked me. You still can," Bob said. "I bought an apartment before I got thrown in jail. You can totally crash with me."

"That'd be awesome, man," Ray said. "You're the best, thanks."

"No problem. How 'bout you, Frank. Thought about that yet?"

"I have an apartment too," Gerard said and then turned to Frank. "You wanna live with me, babe?"

Frank grinned. "My only other option is at my parents', so yeah, that'd be great."

Gerard pressed a kiss to Frank's forehead. "Great."

Frank leant into him, and Gerard wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Frank smiled softly and let himself be held. There was love pumping its way through his heart and veins, so he leant up and kissed Gerard's cheek quickly. Gerard smiled and his thumb started rubbing Frank's shoulder where it sat. Ray smiled at their actions and when James glanced back, he chuckled.

"Woah, Frank, when did you get so soft?"

"Since I found the love of my life, fuck off, Dewees," he smiled, and his hand found Gerard's free on and tangled their fingers together.

"I'm glad you're happy, man," James grinned. "You being all lovey-dovey is just really new to me."

Frank shrugged. "Get used to it. He's my boyfriend."

"Hey at least you got one good thing outta prison in the two and a half years you've been stuck in there."

"Yeah," Frank breathed and then turned to Gerard. "Don't you wish we coulda met outside of prison?"

"Sometimes, but right now, I don't care," Gerard replied after some thought, and Frank smiled and laid his head on Gerard's shoulder. Gerard's head rested on top of his and squeezed Frank's hand. He whispered, "I love you."

"I love you more," Frank whispered back.

"Ew, guys, that's crossing a line," Bob said, rolling his eyes.

"You're just jealous," Frank retorted and Gerard rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, okay, you believe that, dude. At least my girlfriend's been visiting me lately. I hope she and I... are okay."

"Me too. I like her. She's real good for you," James said approvingly, and Bob grinned. "She's been waiting for this to happen for a long time."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, man. She hasn't slept with anyone since... since you got sent away."

"God, I love that woman," Bob said, and his voice took on a gentle tone that Frank had only ever heard when Bob was talking about his girlfriend.

As the car wound through the streets of New Jersey, Bob and James made idle conversation, and their voices turned into a heavy mumble below the music playing from James's radio. Gerard and Frank sat tangled with each other, watching the streets go by and talking about memories they made on them as they popped up. With the two conversations going on and the music playing, all the noise seemed to blend together into a dull drone, and Ray fell asleep, lulled away by the white noise and the gentle movement of the car.

Around forty-five minutes of driving later, the car came to a stop in front of an Italian restaurant. Frank grinned and jolted up, waking up Ray and startling Gerard.

"You've got someone to say hi to, Frank. We'll all wait out here."

"My dad..."

Frank nodded, tears springing to his eyes, and he crawled over Gerard, pressing a kiss to his lips before he got out, and then closing the door gently. Frank hovered outside of the restaurant door before he opened the door and walked up to the counter.

"Dad?"

The man behind the counter looked up, and his face morphed from confusion into sheer happiness, his mouth stretching into a grin. "Frankie?" he whispered, and Frank nodded, running around the bar so he could get behind the counter and pull his dad into a bone-crushing hug.

"How the fuck did you get back, son?" Frank's dad whispered into his ear, and Frank pulled away.

"I can tell you in private. My friends and boyfriend are waiting outside for me. I can come around to you and mum's place tomorrow and talk? James just stopped by and told me to say hi."

Frank's father nodded. "God, it's so good to see you. We couldn't come and visit, we were too scared they would turn us away or that we'd get you into more trouble, but I'm so sorry."

"It's alright, that's what I guessed," Frank smiled. "I've got to go, but I promise I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait," Frank Snr. said and stopped his son. "You said you have a boyfriend. You meet him in... there?"

"Yeah. He's a good guy, I promise, dad."

"I trust your judgment. Bring him around some time, yeah?"

"Of course, dad," Frank said and pulled him into another hug. "See you tomorrow."

"Come around lunchtime. I can get some time off then."

"Twelve-ish then. Would it be okay if I brought my boyfriend around too?"

Frank's dad shrugged. "I don't see why not. It might be a bit awkward for him though."

The silence hung in the air, and Frank found himself somewhat sad to leave so soon, but he nodded. "Alright."

"See you," his dad said and kissed the top of his head before letting Frank out of the booth and out of the restaurant.

As soon as Frank stepped out on the street, he felt nostalgic, he bit his lip as he got back to the car and swallowed his tears. Gerard's arms were waiting for him when he got in, and to no surprise, as soon as he was nestled in them with his cheek pressed against Gerard's chest, he started crying softly. Gerard understood, or at least it seemed like it, because he pressed a kiss to Frank's forehead and rubbed his back soothingly.

When they got to an unfamiliar address, Gerard straightened up a little bit. "This is my place," he whispered to Frank. The short man had stopped crying by then, so he smiled sweetly.

"James, you have my number and you can give it to Bob and Ray, right?"

"Sure, of course. Your cell's probably dead though. It should be in the duffel bag along with your other personal possessions they took when you got in. Gerard's too."

"You guys are the best," Gerard said quietly. "Thank you for everything, seriously."

"Yeah, you really are," Frank said, looking at the fading light in the sky as he and Gerard stepped outside.

"I gotcha, man," James winked, and then the car was pulling away, leaving the lovers on the sidewalk outside of an apartment complex. Gerard's fingers were curled with Frank's and he didn't let go as he punched in the code to get into the complex and up the elevator. He pulled a key out from under the doormat outside of a door on the fourth floor and grinned when it fit the lock.

He pushed the door open and grinned. "Fuck, I've missed this place."

---

Frank woke up in Gerard's arms and grinned. He hadn't really seen the bedroom too well because they'd gotten in, stripped to their underwear, and collapsed on the bed, both of them almost instantly falling asleep, so he took in the room while it was illuminated with the soft morning light. The walls were white, but there were a few framed New Yorker magazines and paintings hanging around it.

The closet door was closed, but it was painted a deep red, mirroring the bedsheets and fluffy carpet. And then there was a chest of drawers tucked into the corner of the room with a few framed photos on it. The window's curtains were a deep red too, and Frank slipped deftly out of bed without waking Gerard to go over to it and look outside. As he held the curtains back, he felt that they were velvet. He stood there, stroking the velvet and looking out over the street of New Jersey that Gerard lived on.

It was quiet, and he saw someone walking down the sidewalk and talking on the telephone. A couple of cars passed by, but other than that, it was mostly dead. Frank sighed quietly, leaning on the side of the window. He heard the sheets rustling and looked back at Gerard who'd seemingly just woken up.

"Frankie?" he croaked and then turned his head to see him standing at the window. Gerard hauled himself out of bed and walked over. He wrapped his arms around Frank's waist from behind him and pressed a gentle kiss to his neck which was still covered in hickeys from the day before when they'd been making out... in a prison.

"It's so nice to wake up in a house and be able to look outside," Frank whispered and Gerard's arms tightened around him, pressing his warm chest to Frank's back. Frank felt another kiss being placed on his neck, and whispered, "I fucking love you."

"I love you too, babe," Gerard murmured. "We're... we're really here, now, aren't we? We're out."

"Yeah," Frank murmured in disbelief, and then he turned around, pressing his back against the curtains and feeling the velvet under his shoulder blades. "Gerard?"

Gerard hummed, his hand coming up to hold Frank's chin up. He brought their lips together sweetly and when they pulled apart, he was smiling. "Yeah?"

"Will you marry me?"

Gerard's smile widened and he just pressed his lips into Frank's again. "Fuck, yeah, of course."

Frank giggled softly and then kissed Gerard again, and when they pulled apart, he leant his forehead against Gerard's. "Fuck," he grinned. "This is actually happening. I'm not dreaming, we're actually going to be okay."

"Don't jinx it, love."

Frank smiled and then reached up to run his fingers gingerly through Gerard's hair.

"Shit, I'm so in love with you. How could you do this to me?" Frank whined and pressed his face into Gerard's chest, wrapping his arms around his neck in the process. "Fuck you for being so beautiful and irresistible and so kind."

"How could I do this to you?" Gerard giggled. "Baby, I didn't do anything. Your heart was the one who decided to fall in love."

"I'm fucking hopeless. I'm a hopeless romantic now, babe, you've corrupted me. It was supposed to be the other way all along. I was the one who was supposed to make you gross and evil and you fucking... did your magic shit and now look at us."

"We're happy," Gerard whispered and Frank nodded, kissing Gerard's chest and then looking back up at him. Gerard whispered again. "We're in love. We're gonna be okay."

Frank nodded. "I'm so far gone for you, baby. You gotta tell me I'm not the only one."

"Oh, I'm helpless at your hands too, Frankie," Gerard giggled. "You're not the only hopeless romantic in this relationship."

Frank grinned and kissed Gerard lazily and mumbled "I fuckin' love you," into Gerard's lips.

Gerard hummed and kissed back, murmuring "I love you too" into Frank's neck as he kissed down it gently. And when that stopped, they just stood in each others arms for a while until Gerard admitted that he couldn't really make a better breakfast than they'd been having for the past year, and Frank said that was okay, because at least now they were in the real world, and Gerard had to agree.

They called up James once their phones were charged, and then he said he was coming over with Ray, Bob, and breakfast, so Frank thanked him.

"Can I borrow some clothes?" he asked Gerard once he set the phone down.

"Oh, I love this stage in a relationship."

"It's a little late," Frank giggled, but he followed Gerard into his room again and put on the clothes he was leant. Gerard got changed too and then they settled down in the living room.

"I love your curtains, by the way," Frank said, twirling some of Gerard's hair between his fingers. Gerard giggled and looked up at Frank from his place on the man's lap.

"You like velvet, baby?"

Frank blushed and nodded and Gerard giggled.

"What?"

"I've got just the thing for you, then," Gerard whispered, but before Frank could ask what that was, there was knock on the door.

Gerard and Frank got up, and Gerard opened the door to see Bob, Ray, and James, the latter of the three holding two plastic bags. "I got all of us waffles."

"You're a blessing to this earth," Frank said, and Gerard stepped back, inviting them all in.

"I know, Frank, you've told me that more than once."

"Yeah man," Ray chimed in. "But you bought us fucking waffles."

"What can I say, I'm the best," James teased. "Gerard where's your table? We're all starving."

---

"What'd you mean when you said you had just the thing for me before everyone got here?" Frank asked and Gerard closed the door by leaning back on it. He smirked.

"How do you feel about men dressing in women's clothes?"

"Drag?"

"Not quite... think less clothing."

"I like seeing it, not doing it personally," Frank said, blushing at the way Gerard was smirking.

"Good. Go to the living room again."

"Fuck, Gee, are you gonna dress up for me?"

"Go to the living room."

Frank just nodded and slipped off to the living room again, perching on the sofa, feeling his skin crawling in anticipation. After what seemed like an eternity, he heard Gerard's voice again.

"Close your eyes. And when I tell you to open them, don't make fun of me. I've never shown this to anyone before."

"I wouldn't dream of it, baby," Frank said and closed his eyes. "My eyes are sealed."

He heard Gerard's footsteps on the floor walking towards him, and he squeaked when he felt Gerard's bare legs around his thighs and his arse against his lap.

"Can I open them?" he whispered.

"Not yet."

Frank felt kisses being laid on his neck, so light that he almost doubted they were there. His head fell back on instinct and he ran his hands up Gerard's bare thighs softly. Gerard's hand rested on his shoulder as he pressed his lips to Frank's and then trailed down his torso, landing on his crotch and palming him through the jeans he'd leant him.

Frank let out a moan, pushing his hips back into Gerard's as he kissed him, tongues fighting for dominance inside Gerard's mouth. He let his hands trail up further up Gerard's legs and then to his hips, where he felt soft velvet under his fingers. He gasped into Gerard's mouth, and Gerard pulled away.

"Open your eyes."