༻•••༺

Attempting to get the kitten to take a pill was basically impossible. Of course, being himself, Frank tried just for Gerard but they both came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to happen, at least not while Frank was in such an insufferable state.

He decided, creatively if he does say so himself,  to make pancakes and add the medication into them to avoid any more stress to the boy.

"You can sit on the counter while I make them." Gerard stated.

He lifted the kitten under his arms to the counter top and began pulling out ingredients as Frank watched curiously.

"Gee you don't know how to-" Frank started. The whininess in his voice was annoying to even himself. Gerard placed a finger at his lips to shush him to which he nibbled at.

"The internet is a wondrous place, kitten." He answered before removing his finger from Frank's mouth.

"Oh, will they taste like when the cooks make them? Even with the medicine?" He asked kicking his feet.

"You won't be able to taste any of the medicine, you'll forget it's even there, although I cannot promise that they'll taste exactly like the cooks."

Frank frowned a bit but then smiled. He couldn't help but thankful. Everything that Gerard did for him filled him with pure joy it was impossible to pout for long when they were together.

"Now have a bit of faith in me." Gerard said running a hand through the boy's soft brown hair. The boy yawned at the touch.

"Sleepy," Frank said softly, mid-yawn.

"Not yet." Gerard said already mixing the batter.

"You added too much milk." Frank commented sounding bored.

"Shh," Gerard said while pouring in more mix to makeup for the extensive amount of milk while Frank giggled to himself.

Frank's presence was obviously but more than enjoyable. Every once in a while he would critique Gerard's cooking in a soft polite voice and Gerard would pretend to not be embassy even though quite honestly was. Frank knew more about cooking than he did and probably everyone else in the house including the cooks. He told Gerard of the times where he kept himself from dying of boredom by studying the cooking books that his old master kept but barely used. He had more fortunate hybrid with the rare gift of reading to help him memorize the recipes.

Gerard was nearly done now, his only obstacle was flipping the pancakes in the pan without destroying them. He knew that he didn't have much time to fret over it unless he wanted to burn them so he grabbed the spatula and hesitantly placed it half way under the pancake. He felt ridiculous, being the age that he was and this useless in the kitchen. Though who could blame him, not once in his life did he have the responsibility to keep himself fed.

"Do you need help sir?" Frank asked sleepily rubbing his eye.

Gerard glanced behind himself quickly to see Frank already behind him almost too close.

"Eh, No—No I believe I've got it." He said masking him embarrassment with a chuckle.

He shifted the metal spatula to no avail. He still heard the boy's bare feet shifting against the floor behind him, he let out another laugh before saying,

"I must say, i'm quite offended that you see me as so helpless-" Gerard started to add.

He let out a hum of surprise as he felt Frank snaking his way between himself and the oven, standing up straight again to place his hand on top of Gerard's. The shorter boy silently guided the spatula under Gerard's hand, skillfully flipping the pancake as if it was second nature.

"You have to be quick but gentle." Frank said. The boy turned around and smiled up at the man.

Gerard stared moronically at the boy. At his smile and the glittering sparkles in his joyful eyes. Frank's beauty was unmatchable and only made greater by the innocents that he carried.

"Thank you." Gerard said. He only trusted himself to say those two words before closing his mouth again.

"You're welcome, sir." Frank replied before pushing is face into Gerard's chest. Gerard placed his hands at the boy's back as he rubbed his cheek against him affectionately.
He still felt out of body as they embraced each other, Frank's warmth was exhilarating.

"Sir there's—Oh" A maids voice,

Gerard felt Frank go tense in his arms before whimpering. He rubbed a hand down the boy's back to comfort him.

"What is it?" Gerard asks.

"A man is here for you, a Dallon Weekes." She said questioningly.

"I'll be there in a moment." Gerard said with a tinge of attitude. The maid nodded and retreated back into the hall.

He hadn't been expecting Dallon today. Or any day for that matter. After canceling he and Frank's get together he had hoped that the man would take a hint and forget about Frank.

Gerard removed the pancake from the stove when it was ready, with no help from Frank this time.

"Gee," Frank said with a muffled voice.

"Yes, kitten?"

"I don't want Dallon right now. I want you." He admitted.

Gerard could physically feel his ego swell at that though he didn't let it show. "It's alright, darling, wait here." He said running a hand over the boy's hair.

As Gerard  Made his way towards the door  he noticed Bert who sitting was sitting on a cushioned chair in the hall, gaming device from last christmas in hand. The boy glanced up at Gerard for a moment before smirking.

Gerard didn't allow Bert's teasing to get to him, he was nearly immune.

The maid from before stood at the main entrance.

"He's waiting in the vestibule, sir." She informed him. Gerard nodded at her muttering a "thank you," before she excused herself.

Gerard inhaled deeply running a hand over the lower part of his button down that Frank has creased a bit. He smiled at the wrinkles that he would usually find himself scowling at. He couldn't be embarrassed of the imperfections simply because Frank was the one who'd caused it.

Opening the door he was met with natural light for the first time in quite a while, though he resisted squinting showing any form of  his discomfort in the presents of Dallon.

The tall man was sitting in one of the matching  fauteuil chairs but stood up when he noticed Gerard.

"Mr. Way," Dallon said, coyly.

"Dallon." Gerard smiled at him respectfully. "I must say, I was not expecting to see you hear after canceling you and Frankie's get together."

He takes notice of how the mention of Frank makes Dallon's cheeks tinge red.

"Um, yeah, actually I was here to see how he was?" He said. It sounded like more of a question than anything. Gerard's impatient brow raised at him made talking no easier. "You said something about him being sick, and I just wanted to see if he was okay."

Gerard saw right through his nervous front. Whether it was natural or forced it was only a distraction from the man's actual intentions.

"And you could've sent a text?" Gerard asked watching with amused eyes as Dallon swallowed. "Or called even?"

"Well, I just," Dallon was a wreck of teenage hormones and fear so strong that Gerard could smell it.

Maybe it was a sixth sense from years of being around conniving crooks with dollar signs in their eyes. Gerard refused to be played though he decided against calling the man out and embarrassing him even more.  Dallon knowing that he was onto him was more than enough satisfaction.

Gerard hummed, uninterested. He was quite ready for the man's visit to be over and he hadn't even entered the house yet. The
pancakes were surly getting cold.

Dallon was speaking again, trying to regain his  confidence to continue. Gerard was no longer interested in what the man was saying, his focus now on the unknown person in the passenger seat of Dallon's sedan.

The man was young, seemingly around Dallon's age but it was impossible to see much else.

"Sir?" Dallon said attempting to regain Gerard's drifting attention.

"Who might that be in the passenger's seat of your car?" Gerard asked, straightforwardly.

Dallon's lips were moving for a split second before words came out, "My friend Peter."

Gerard nodded, looking down at his watch. He'd left Frank alone much too long.

"Unfortunately, I need to get back to Frank, I'm sure if you would've sent a call my way we would have had longer," Gerard said letting his statement hang for a moment.

"Oh, um yes sir of course." Dallon said visibly disappointed, "Could you tell Frankie that i hope he gets better?" He asked.

"Of course, have a safe drive home, Dallon." Gerard said.

Once back inside Gerard passed Bert who was   on his knees in a chair looking out of the window like a nosy child.

When he heard Gerard footsteps he sat up, "Who's that in the car?" He asked with a raised brow.

"A friend of Dallon's. Why do you care?"

Bert shrugged, "I never really see anyone pull up to this prison unless they're one of your people or someone you're expecting."

"You're not in a prison." Gerard said ignoring most of Berts statement. He was walking again.

"Might as well be." Bert said following Gerard up to the doorframe of the hall, making sure that he heard him. Gerard turned to him, his sharp green eyes meeting his blue ones.

"You know that I know what's best for you though if you believe that you no longer need my assistance, the door is never locked." Gerard said, his voice not wavering once.

Bert sucked his lip into his mouth, not trusting that the words that would come out would go unpunished. His goal was to get on Gerard's good side but he was failing tragically.

Gerard continued down the hall seemingly unphased. Bert sighed, wandering back to his seat near the window.

Looking out of it he noticed the car still parked and the empty drivers seat. Walking over to the door he peeked through the small window near the too that he had to get on his tip-toes to see.

The boy from before was still there, sitting on the porch this time. He opened the door to the vestibule alerting the boy who stood up quickly showing of his height.

Opening the second door that led to the porch Bert looked Dallon up and down before speaking. "Why are you still here?"

"I was," Dallon stopped, rubbing his arm, "Just,"

"Sitting on someone else's property while—" Bert paused looking around the boy's shoulder, "Your friend sleeps in your car." He said staring at Dallon for an explanation.

"I don't know I just kind of hoped,"

"That Frank would come out here so that you two could make sweet passionate love on this porch because that ain't happening."

"No!" Dallon snorted, "It's just that he wouldn't let me see him after all this time. It's almost like he's keeping him from me on purpose."

"He is." Bert deadpanned.

"He's what?" Dallon said moronically.

Bert sighed and rolled his eyes as he leaned against the doorway, "Gerard is purposefully keeping Frank way from you because he's possessive and doesn't trust you. And frankly, neither do I."

"Oh."

"No hard feelings it just freaks me out that you want to be around him so much he's practically a kid." Bert shrugged.

"He's actually a really nice person and we have a lot of fun together, ask him." Dallon said suddenly over-defensive.

"Uh-huh." Bert said, "How do you know the guy in the car?"

"My roommate, why?" Dallon said with his arms crossed.

"Ah." Bert said. "Your car?" He asked.

"Yes?" Dallon said questioningly.

Bert nodded, "In that case, I'm pretty sure we can work something out."

"Like what." Dallon asked.

Bert shook his head, "No not now, you've been here way to long. Just- Just uh call Gerard later on today and ask for Frankie i'll get the phone from him."

"Why wouldn't I just call you?"

"No phone as of now, but that's none of your business."

"Oh, alright." Dallon said.

"Not get off our porch, you creep." Bert said jokingly with a smirk.

Bert smiled back at him, "I'll talk to you soon."

•••

Gerard sat across the table watching intently as Frank nibbled on his syrup covered treat.

"How is it?" He asked.

"'S good." Frank said around his filled cheek.

"I'm happy that I didn't mess up too bad." Gerard jokes.

"Maybe," Frank started before swallowing, Gerard quickly slid the glass of milk over the table to him. He sipped some before speaking again. "Maybe the extra milk wasn't such a mistake."

Gerard laughed, which caused Frank to follow.

Once his plate was clean Frank pushed it aside to down the entire glass of milk at once.

"Slow down" Gerard warned.

Frank only stopped when the glass was empty, "I'm sorry."

"Thirsty?" Gerard asked.

"Not anymore." Frank responded. He pushed his chair away from the table and walked over to Gerard, who welcomed him with open arms.

The smaller boy crawled into his lap and pushed his head into Gerard's chest, leaving the older man's face to be pushed into his hair. Their shared warmth was like a hug around both of them as the held each other close. Gerard noticed then with his face shoved so close to the boy that he did in fact smell different.

༻•••༺
a/n :
i dont quite feel comfortable with this book, as i write i constantly feel like going back an editing things from earlier that i feel would make the book much better. so editing in the near future is a definite possibility.

also what are your thoughts on this book so far ?

-serrae ✧