Frank's POV :

It was a nice Monday morning. Gerard was at work and I was home, supposedly doing the homework he gave me. Key word : supposedly.

More like daydreaming, actually. I was thoughtfully chewing on my pencil tip, not motivated enough to work but too responsible to flip off my homework and go watch TV.

A real dilemma and probably the worst case scenario, because I found myself taking the third option and do nothing. Just stare at the window, not really in this world and not quite in an other one.

So yeah, daydreaming.
And a quiet scratching noise snapped me out of it.

I looked up and saw a little furry thing at the bottom of the floor-to-ceiling window. I dropped my pencil and looked up.

Oh my God, a kitten ! A little grey kitten !

I opened the window and stepped in the front yard. Crouching, I approached the kitten slowly. It was surely a feral kitten, but it seemed tame enough, or at least used to human presence.

It stared at me blankly and tilted its head. "Meow!"

Oh my God ! So cute !
I stepped forward slowly and crouched. The kitty stared at me on its guard but I guessed I wasn't impressive enough to scare it away.

"Hello little fella," I said softly once the kitten was a foot from me. "I'm Frank! What's your name?"

"Meow"

I reached out for the kitten and petted its head. At first it let me, but all of a sudden it bolted away like I had just turned into a monster. It slid through a hole in the wooden fence that had kept me away from the world so far.

I looked through that hole and saw the kitten staring at me from the street. It seemed like an invitation to follow it.

I pressed my hand on the fence gate and froze in the middle of my motion. I hesitated.

I am not allowed to leave the house under any circumstance. Forbidden.

But Gerard is at work, right now. So... he won't know, will he?

With a lump in my throat, I unlocked the gate and put a foot on the sidewalk. It was the first time I discovered that street. Oh God, this is a bad idea...

"Meoww..." The kitten licked its paw lazily. I died a little at the sight. It was just too adorable. I crossed the street and crouched before the kitten.

"Aren't you a little cutie pie? Lil fuzzy friend," I cooed, rubbing behind the kitten's ears. The kitten meowed and purred happily.

"Where's your owner? Are you alone? You can come home, if you want ! You gotta meet Miss Jackson, you're gonna love her. Gerard will be okay with it. He took me in ; he'll take you in too !" I started getting excited at the thought.

The kitten rubbed its jaw on my knee and I felt blessed. Aww, pretty kitty...
"Who's a good little kitten? Huh? Who's a little cutie? You wanna be my friend? Wanna come with me?"

Suddenly, my arm was grabbed, and I was yanked back violently. I let out a bloodcurdling scream. The kitten pounced away.

I thrashed and screamed out "no !", as someone brought me close to them, pressing their large hand against my mouth. In the span of a mere second, I envisioned violence submerging me just the way Gerard said it would happened to him if I dared disobey.

It all happened so fast. I couldn't do anything and got immobilized so easily. Fear paralyzed me. The outside world was a death zone and I was meeting my end. Game over.

I managed to look behind myself.
G-Gerard?!

His face was empty of all emotion, except maybe anger. He was utterly pissed. He looked like a hitman, grave and all, just like in the movies ! Never had I seen him so much on edge.

"Are you out of your mind?" he fumed through gritted teeth. He dragged me back to the house.

"Gerard, y-you're hurting my arm..." I whined as he tugged on it, walking so fast that my little legs had trouble catching up and I almost fell. 

He basically pushed me through the gates, then locked it behing himself.
"Inside." Gerard pointed at the front door. He was so upset he couldn't even form a sentence.

I hurried inside. Once again, he followed me and locked the door. I started shaking from the emotional shock.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" I cried out. "There was a kitten and I just wanted to see it. I would've got back home right after!" I immediately defended myself.

Gerard stayed quiet. He rubbed his chin, staring at the thin air - although I knew that a hundred things were going through his mind at the moment.

I could see the disappointment on his face. And I hated it. I had hurt the one person who had never hurt me and who trusted me. I hated myself for disappointing him so much.

"Gerard, I am so sorry. I promise I will never do it again." My voice shook with emotion and shame. Gerard let out a thoughtful sigh and ran a hand though his hair.

I stepped closer. Tear spilt on my cheeks. "G-Gerard?" I croaked out, begging from any kind of reaction from him. "Please say something !"

I wanted to disappear. I wanted to reset the day. I needed any sign from Gerard to tell me that I hadn't just irreversably lost his trust. I had broken a major rule.

Finally, Gerard looked at me. "Do you have any idea of the risk you just took?" he said quietly, yet his choice of words clearly expressed anger.

"I-I..."

"Do you have any idea of what would've happened if someone had taken you, or even recognized you?" He articulated.

I looked down. I knew he was completely right. It was reckless of me. Gerard made the choice of putting himself in a delicate position to help me have a better life, and I'm just making his task more complicated.

"Frank, you are nearly 15. I thought you would have known better by now. If anybody recognizes you, they will take you away from me! I'll be in trouble and you will never hear of me again! Is that what you want?!" Gerard pointed at the street.

I burst out in tears. "No! No, I swear! I'm sorry! I-I promise I won't do it again."

Gerard's expression softened a little, seeing I realized that I was in the wrong. He sighed and pulled me in a hug. I melted in the comforting embrace. 

"Shhh..." Gerard shushed softly. "I was so scared for you, Pumpkin."

"I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..." I repeated, crying against his chest. Gerard stroked my hair.

"I know, I know." He gave me a small forehead kiss. "You have to promise me to respect the round rules and never leave the house again. Alright?"

I nodded energetically, hugging Gerard tighter.

"Is it the first time that happens?" Gerard asked softly. My heart skipped a beat.

"Yes! Yes, I swear! It was the first time. I... I just wanted to pet the kitten."

Gerard hummed. "Alright. Come here, little one."
He picked me up. I clutched onto him like a koala to their tree and he carried me to my bedroom.

"I'm going to prepare dinner, then we can correct your homework. You did finish it, right?"

"I... I, uh..." I babbled, unable to lie to Gerard.

"I see." Gerard looked down. "It's okay. We'll finish it together. Get some rest, I'll call you when dinner is ready." He kissed the top of my head.

He left and I collapsed on my bed, thinking about what happened. Dinner went as usual, so I had hopes that Gerard wasn't too mad at me. It was a true relief.

After Gerard and I finished my homework together, I went to bed and Gerard came to see me like he did every evening. He gave me a kiss on top of my head and wished Miss Jackson a goodnight as well. She just waved at Gerard since she was a selective mute.

"Gerard?" I called softly as he was about to walk out if my bedroom.

"Yes, angel?" Gerard answered.

"Are you... Are you still mad at me for today?"

Gerard sat on the edge of my bed and affectuously brushed strands of my hair out of my face, smiling at me. "Of course not, Pumpkin. I was scared of losing you, that's all."

"So you're not disappointed in me?" My eyes widened. Gerard cupped my cheek.

"I could never be disappointed in you, Frankie." Gerard looked right into my eyes and then gave me the warmest smile I had ever seen on his face. I was so relieved.

Gerard kissed my forehead lovingly and turned off my lights as he left. I was ready to peacefully fall asleep lulled by Gerard's sweet words. But right after my door closed, I heard a little metallic noise.

Gerard had locked my door from the outside.

I opened my eyes. I felt a pang in my heart and my smile slowly dropped. The shadow of shame and regrets swallowed me whole. I didn't sleep at all that night.

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