Epilogue 1 страница

It's been six months since Frank graduated from high school and three months since college started. The most important thing, however, is that it's been a couple of weeks since they got the letter from the Bishop saying that Gerard's laicization process was finally being processed.

According to what Frank knows, it takes much more than wanting to be in a relationship to be dismissed from the clerical state and from the vows of celibacy in particular, but he's sure that the Bishop was easily convinced by Gerard's smoothness and the fact that he wants to be with a man. God forbid they had, in their precious Church, someone who likes dick and fucks ass for pleasure, every other day.

Frank doesn't fight them, though. Gerard is going to lose his clerical state and will become a layman, leaving the damn clergy behind. He will simply be an Art teacher at a middle school in the countryside, and will also follow his lifelong cartooning dream, corresponding with fellow students from a superior art school in New York.

Frank is studying Criminal Psychology in college, only three hours away from home and two hours away from Gerard's new job, so he is officially living in the college dorms, financed by his parents, and unofficially living in Gerard's house. Frank comes over two or three times a week, since his classes end at five every day; there is only the inconvenience that he has to get up really early every morning after, but that's a sacrifice he's more than willing to make as long as he gets to spend the night in Gerard's bed, having sex or not.

There is nothing like their post-shower sex, though.

Gerard is sitting in the bathtub with Frank on his lap, fucking himself on Gerard's dick, all wrapped around the older man like a pet. This has never been exclusively about the sex, but for the past couple of weeks Frank has been feeling quite different around Gerard.

Later, when they lie in bed naked and relaxed, Gerard falls asleep pretty quickly. He always does. Frank loves lying there and feeling Gerard with him, spooning Frank from behind and most likely dreaming about the good things in their life.

Tonight, Frank turns around and faces Gerard's sleeping figure. His nostrils flare once in a while and sometimes he smacks his lips in his deep sleep, his eyeballs moving restlessly under his eyelids. Frank always enjoys watching it all.

He thinks about their life, the first months of their relationship as assumed boyfriends. He thinks about how Gerard's family was really supportive, and Frank knows it's because they've seen this happen before, with Gerard's grandfather. Frank's parents accepted it too, even though it's still strange to them how Gerard was once a priest and how he's seventeen years older than Frank. Frank's grandfather is a completely different story. He decidedly ignores that Frank exists and said he would do so for as long as Frank insists in living in sin, especially next to a shameful sinner like Gerard. He even cursed their relationship, but Frank isn't bothered by it. He believes they're stronger than that.

He thinks about next week, how they're going to Gerard's parents' house for the Christmas holidays, and how they're going to spend New Year's Eve with Frank's parents and he can only hope that his grandfather doesn't make any rude comments during their stay. They just want to live their life in peace, especially once the Church dismisses Gerard from all his duties as a priest and dispenses him from all the vows he took years ago.

Frank finds himself thinking about God, asking himself if He will understand that this is much better than repressing their feelings. They're being true to one another, and it's so much better than lying to and deceiving themselves, as well as God. Frank looks up at the ceiling, and imagines God looking down at them right now and feeling proud of two of His children running free under His blessing.

He looks to the side and Gerard is still breathing calmly, deeply asleep. This is definitely the most beautiful thing Frank has ever seen, and he's grateful for how often he gets to see it. He never expected this to happen. When Frank thinks about Christmas last year, he never imagined he would be feeling like this, but now he knows what it's like to actually fall in love.

He closes his eyes, wondering about Gerard's own feelings. Frank would very much like to tell him about the greatness of being in love with Gerard.

Get Over That Collar

happilyappled

Summary:

"Frank, you're very special to me," Gerard says, as he turns around. Frank notices that he's wearing his clerical collar, stark white against his black clothes, standing out so perfectly.

Sequel to "Against the Works of the Flesh" (BBB Wave 1 Fic) set one year later.

Notes:

• For matchboxbones.

MAJOR THANKS to Erika, for betaing and being the best friend I don't deserve <33

Dedication: This story goes out to Megan because she fell in love with a certain plot detail from the beginning, and kept cheerleading me about it, so I decided to give it to her <3

Work Text:

Gerard picks Frank up from the bus station, early Friday evening. They're making out in the car as soon as Frank has thrown his bag to the backseat; the door isn't even closed. Frank's spending the weekend at Gerard's house, since he handed in his last essay in college this afternoon and Gerard only has teachers' meetings next week.

The summer is at its peak and the days are hot and sunny, and it's going to be nice to spend a couple of weeks just the two of them. For the first week, they will be at Frank's parents' beach house and for the second week, they will return to Gerard's house and be hermits together. Frank is sure it's going to be amazing.

He talks about that with Gerard during their car ride to Gerard's home, although they stop by the supermarket first to stock up for the weekend. Frank takes the list out of Gerard's jeans back pocket, with their eyes locked and his hand squeezing Gerard's ass for a tiny second in the middle of the veggies corridor. They get everything on the list and, at the check out line, Frank presses his crotch to Gerard's ass and places a kiss on the back of his neck, over his black T-shirt. He can see a man and a kid, most likely the man's daughter, in front of them, and he can also feel how tense Gerard is and how his cheeks get slightly red. Frank shifts away from him and asks, "What's up for dinner?"

"I was thinking of making my mom's pasta salad," Gerard replies, only half stuttering.

"Mmm, you know how much I like it." Frank rubs Gerard's back affectionately and sees Gerard turning his head and widening his eyes at him when the man shakes his head at them, pays what he's due and takes the kid away swiftly. Frank giggles only a little when he sees this. He should feel offended by the fact that people still think it's disgusting or inappropriate that two people of the same sex are being affectionate in public, but he just finds it funny how people try to avoid this kind of behavior like it's the plague.

Back in the car, Frank and Gerard laugh it off, although the older man admits that it was slightly embarrassing to him, before he puts the car into motion. Frank slides a hand over Gerard's thigh, squeezing the flesh comfortingly, but he never takes his hand away. He keeps it close to Gerard's crotch the whole time, looking forward to the sexiest part of their weekend together.

Frank is really horny tonight, and excited, and needy, because it's been over two weeks since they were together for the last time, as one had exams and the other had to grade exams. And well, Gerard is really fucking cute when he's embarrassed and Frank just wants to fuck him right here in the car. He likes to wait for the privacy of Gerard's home. He realizes that Gerard is excited as well because Frank knows his jeans aren't usually this tight over his crotch. He must be getting hard over this too. And Frank grins the whole way to the house.

Gerard's pants are unbuttoned before he closes the front door and they're halfway down his thighs along with his boxers when Frank pushes him down on the big couch. He pulls at Gerard's pants until they're off with his shoes and Gerard is bare from the waist down. The older man slides down the couch and lands on his back, one leg stretched out across the floor and the other thrown over the cushions. He's spread open just like Frank wants him.

Still this isn't enough and Frank kisses him hard, biting on Gerard's tongue and pulls away hastily to descend Gerard's body and mouth at his balls. Frank likes toying with them. It was never weird to him, as he had learned early on what Gerard liked or didn't like, and discovered how sensitive he is down there. So tonight Frank bets on driving Gerard mad and plays with his balls, mostly with his hands but also with his mouth, teasing them with his tongue until Gerard is squeezing his cock to not come right away.

However, that is exactly where Frank wants him, so he takes Gerard's hand and pumps, leaving Gerard to it as he lifts Gerard's ass and tongues up and down the flesh between his balls and ass. It's when he bites at Gerard's flesh and slides two slick fingers inside, pushing in just right, that Gerard bucks up, shouts Frank's name and comes. Frank climbs over him quickly, still fucking him with his fingers, but now drinking what he still can of Gerard's come. The ultimate look of satisfaction on Gerard's face, a gaping mouth, his chest muscles shaking — everything is gorgeous — and Frank doesn't want it to fade away.

Eventually, though, it does and Frank is being pulled back against the couch and his pants are open and his cock is out, and then Gerard gets him off with one hand and his mouth in less than a minute.

A fully dressed Frank lets Gerard cook on his own, wearing only his T-shirt, boxers, socks and the apron Frank 'stole' from his mother, a white one with printed flowers, and gave it to Gerard on his birthday. Frank is tempted to stay in the kitchen and grope all over Gerard's body, but he has a call to make first. He always calls his mom when he's at Gerard's house, to tell her that he's alright, that his bus trip was safe and that he's perfectly fine right now. She has no idea how much, though, and he grins to himself while his mother says that she's got some news to share with him.

After he closes the call, Frank is eager to tell them to Gerard, but first he hears a crash and hurries to the kitchen. Gerard is there with his eyes on the ceiling and it looks like the room is less illuminated, and the older man says, "Oops."

"What happened?"

"I guess the bulb just burst," Gerard says, with a strange facial expression. He looks slightly guilty over a blown bulb, so Frank doesn't understand and lifts his eyebrows in a question. Before he gets an answer, though, Gerard turns back around to his cooking, but Frank clears his throat to get Gerard's attention again. Turning back around to face Frank, Gerard admits, "Well, maybe I did it. I guess I suck at opening bottles."

"What?" Frank laughs when he realizes that Gerard just blew a bulb with a bottle cap, but it's not a big deal. This kind of accidents happen a lot in the kitchen and Frank is aware of that, and the fact that Gerard is a great cook covers for those little accidents, or incidents, that might occur. So he just adds, "I'll go get a replacement from the living room. Just don't break anything else while I'm gone, okay?" He goes laughing.

"Thank you," Gerard says when Frank comes back to the kitchen with a new bulb, taking it off the package and handing it over. Gerard has to be the one replacing the burst bulb with the new one, standing on a kitchen chair, because Frank is only slightly too short. Frank checks the counter and tries to help with the pasta salad while Gerard's at it, first checking around the area if there are any remnants of glass from the bulb, but he remembers what he wanted to tell Gerard.

"Hey, remember 'Father Fungus'?" he asks nonchalantly, because Gerard will know who he's talking about. And in fact, Gerard's reaction is a loud laugh. 'Father Fungus' was the nickname the kids from their hometown got to Father Fergus, who replaced Gerard at the church when he was dismissed. It's a rather nasty nickname because people realized what kind of person he really was soon enough, and the kids would have never let it go unnoticed.

"Yeah, what about him?" Gerard asks at last, still giggling a bit as he gets down from the chair. Frank is watching him over his shoulder, before he replies,

"Well, my mom said he has finally been sent to jail." The truth is that Father Fergus was actually an impostor. Someone Frank didn't know had denounced him to the Police for his fake documents, stating that he was a priest when that wasn't true and that he had stolen the identity of a priest that had died years ago, and for his past as a child abuser. As far as Frank was aware, there hadn't been any proof just yet, but it appears to be solved now. He's in jail.

"It's about time," Gerard comments, shaking his head and joining Frank at the counter. He drapes an arm over Frank's shoulders and kisses his temple randomly, but Frank can't resist when Gerard is a sap, so he pecks Gerard's jaw in return. Then, Gerard resumes their last conversation and asks, "Why did it take so long?"

Frank shrugs. "Mom didn't know, but it was probably some bureaucratic shit. People had an eye on him and now that he's in jail, this nightmare is finally over." Gerard agrees and they go back to their dinner, slicing ingredients for their salad.

After dinner, they play some videogames, watch a movie and play some more videogames until Gerard starts yawning. Frank turns the TV set off and pulls his boyfriend upstairs, but Gerard insists they take a shower first. It's kind of contrary the way he was yawning before, but Frank goes with it and joins him in the small shower booth. And well, it's not really a surprise when Gerard grabs Frank's head and kisses him fervently with the hot water falling around them.

And it's great when Gerard holds Frank against the wall and fucks deep into him, slippery from the water and the soap. Frank wraps his arms and legs around Gerard, gasping, convulsing without even needing to touch his dick. Gerard hitting his prostate regularly is more than enough to make him come tonight.

And well, there is nothing quite like their shower sex.

When Frank wakes up, he stretches his legs and tightens his arm around something. It turns out to be Gerard's thighs, but he's leaning forward to kiss his bare hips when Gerard's voice sounds, "Don't move."

Frank opens his eyes and sees that Gerard is drawing, his sketchpad in one hand, a sharpie in the other. He catches a glimpse of the page and it's actually very detailed, in Gerard's sharp style that always reminds Frank of the Silent Hill videogames he started playing after he met Gerard. The drawing looks a lot like Frank, though, only with less white sheets and more viscera. Frank smiles.

Gerard drops the sketchpad on the nightstand a few minutes later and writes his morning greeting on Frank's arm, adding a tiny star afterwards that matches the one Frank got tattooed earlier this year. Then, Gerard slides back into bed, and Frank kisses his lips and hums against them, approving of this cuddly mood. He says, "Good morning."

Seeing a smile on Gerard's face, Frank rolls over and hides his face on Gerard's chest, placing a kiss there too. He hears Gerard sighing and he looks back up at the older boyfriend and asks, "What time is it?"

"Does it matter?" Gerard replies sweetly, making Frank grin and shake his head in response. Frank goes back to kissing Gerard's chest, listening to his next words. "I made coffee, though, and Western omelets without onions; bacon and pancakes and toast. Everything you need on a lazy Saturday morning with me."

Frank can't help but giggle at the amount of things Gerard prepared for their breakfast. "That's a lot of stuff. I don't deserve this. Have you eaten yet?"

"No. I've been waiting for you."

"Well, you should have woken me up. It will have gone cold by now," Frank says, with another giggle. He feels hungry and he can't refuse Gerard's breakfasts, but he feels slightly reluctant when pulling the covers back and getting up. He would love to stay in bed and be lazy with his boyfriend, making out, cuddling, listening to Gerard reading a book out loud and all the beautiful things they always do in bed when there's no rush. But breakfast sounds great, too. They can come back and be lazy afterwards.

As every other Saturday, they dedicate themselves to volunteer work. They start with a couple of hours at the children's hospital, entertaining the kids for a while, and then they go spend another couple of hours helping out at the seniors' club. Today, they also pass by the local animal shelter because Frank has always talked about getting a dog, but he can't have one because he's so busy with college. They still like to go over there and take a look at the different dogs, mostly helping out with small tasks such as bathing the dogs and walking them down the street.

Lastly, after having dinner out at a pizzeria, they head to the town's shelter for homeless people. They do as much as they can every Saturday, helping as many people as they can, because this is what they believe in. They have faith in human contact and in how it contributes to live happily. There is nothing better than helping people in need and collecting their own morals, stories and life lessons. It's a beautiful way to live, spreading God's message through their actions and smiles.

At the shelter tonight, the volunteers are divided into the usual teams. Frank and Gerard never stay on the same team; they don't want to because they work better separately and it's always interesting to hear the other's experience when they go back home.

This time, Gerard chooses to go on one of the vans who provide help on the street, mostly distributing food and blankets and a few minutes of company. They're Frank's favorite teams because they always see different people and, although alarming, it opens their eyes to how cruel living on the streets can be, but tonight Frank stays in at the shelter. Here, they supply a bowl of hot soup to everyone who comes and distribute blankets and spend more time talking to people, if they somehow need to be listened to. Frank has to gulp down his emotions every single time because these people are usually hopeless but, at the shelter, they know they can find some comfort.

Tonight, Frank meets a very special kid. He's in no way older than Frank, but he looks broken down and his clothes have lost color and don't seem very comfortable anymore, all torn up to shit. Frank finds him some 'new' clothes at the storage the shelter has, filled with items the community has donated for charity and, when he gives them to the kid, Frank is a little surprised when he finally speaks up.

"You're Frank Iero, right?" Frank frowns, not recognizing the kid and not understanding why he seems to recognize him and know his name.

"Yes, I am. Why do you ask?"

"I know who you are. I went to school with you, but I was two years behind. Everyone in my neighborhood knows your story with Father Way. Well, I know he's not a priest anymore, but—" The kid gulps and doesn't add anything else.

Frank points him to the community tables and goes get him a bowl of soup, hoping that the kid makes more sense when he's eaten some. Frank is intrigued about what else he might have to say.

"You inspired me, you both did," the kid says, taking his eyes away from Frank's and looking down when he's finished. Frank takes a few breaths, considering what to say next. He sits down, facing the kid, just so they talk for a minute or two, and asks,

"What do you mean?"

"I loved Father Way. He was amazing in Mass, but I never—" The kid pauses and eats a few more spoonfuls, and Frank nods, wanting to tell him that he can continue his story. "I came out to my parents after the news about Father Way and you were out in town, but it didn't work out for me. My parents kicked me out that same night, not even letting me bring any of my stuff with me, and they never reconsidered."

Once more, Frank has to gulp down his feelings. He doesn't want to say that he's sorry, because it would sound very patronizing, but he wishes this kid had been as lucky as he was, just getting a few insults from his family. He asks, "Have you been living on the streets ever since?"

"I spent a few nights at a friend's house, but it didn't work out either, so yeah. The streets have been my home. There are some good nights, and it's definitely not so bad in the summer."

"Do you always come here?" Frank asks, really interested in knowing that such a young kid had at least one place where to go to in order to feel safe.

"When it's open, yes. I love it here. You guys are amazing and I'm honored to meet you," he says, slightly blushing. Frank feels really flattered that people looked at him this way, his story of coming out inspiring people so much, no matter how he never asked for this. He can't help the tight feeling in his chest when he thinks about how it doesn't work out the same way to everybody. "I believed in your strength, in the power of God's work in my family, but I was betrayed. God doesn't care about me because I have no one to seek support in."

"No, don't say that," Frank disagrees, shaking his head and bringing his hands together on the table. "God loves everyone equally; don't think otherwise because you're living on the streets. You're young. I'm sure you'll find the strength in yourself to fight back. Did you know there's a shelter south of here that stays open through the night? You can sleep in there some nights. And if you take care of yourself, you can turn your life around."

Thinking that this might be a chance to change this kid's life again, for a better outcome this time hopefully, Frank adds, "God is giving you an opportunity to overcome your difficulties, to step over your own barriers and get something out of your life. He always does this. We just don't always understand the way He chooses to confront us with our own fears. If He put you through this, it means He knows you're strong enough to survive."

"I'm not so sure anymore." The kids doesn't look up at Frank anymore. He's staring into the bowl of soup like it will drown his anguish as well.

"Think about it, though. It's better to fight for something than let the bad things in life get the best of you, isn't it?" Frank insists on his point of view, and adds a soft smile.

The kid keeps sipping his soup silently, ignoring Frank's words and intentions for now, but Frank doesn't take it personally. He understands that life has been harsh for this kid, but he's young and he will eventually find the courage and strength to take what he deserves. Frank stays sitting down for a moment, but someone waves at him and he knows he has to help. "I have to go, but please don't just give up on fighting or you'll never leave the streets." He squeezes the kid's shoulder and waits for a reply.

"Thank you," the kid says and Frank nods at him and leaves.

As they drive home, Frank tells Gerard about the kid and Gerard seems to agree that Frank shared a very good point with the kid. "You did your best, Frank and that's everything you could have done."

"I'll have to look out for him, though. I mean, I wouldn't want to find out that something bad happened to him."

"Did you get his name?"

"No." When Frank thinks about it, he really regrets not having asked the kid's name, realizing that it would have been easier to check on him regularly. But he can always keep in touch with other shelters and, using a description, try to find out something more about this kid. Frank hopes he really gets off the streets before it's too late. Gerard hums in agreement, but he only says, "There's only so much you can do, Frank. Don't wear yourself out. We will never be able to help everyone in need."

Frank nods and drapes his hand over the console to grasp Gerard's right one, saying, "I know."

They keep quiet and thoughtful, Frank holding Gerard's hand when he's not changing gears. He can feel the weight of his thoughts in his skull as they float around what happened at the shelter and how it's gonna affect his future volunteer work in there. Someone knew him because he fought with his sexuality a year ago and Frank has no idea how to deal with that. He feels Gerard squeezing his hand and asking if Frank is alright. Frank hums and turns to looks out through the window, distracted.

Frank showers after Gerard, trying to relax and not think about that kid. It's not the first time he has heard things that he knows will always stay with him, but it's the first time it has hit so close to home that he had to stick his head out and give personal advice. It felt good to realize that he might have helped someone in more ways than just hot soup and a blanket for the night, but he still questions how much of what Frank said will really get to that kid.

Frank rinses his body and shuts off the water. He leaves the bathroom with a towel around his waist, but finds the bedroom buried in darkness. He wonders what's going on because he can see Gerard standing by the window. Could another bulb have burst?

"Gerard, is everything alright?" There's no reply. Frank puts the lights back on and everything looks normal; no bulbs have burst. It's when he looks at the window, though, that he notices something strange. Gerard is turned to the window, looking outside, but he's wearing black clothes, not his pajamas, even though he took a shower and told Frank he'd wait in bed. This doesn't make sense, so he asks, "Gerard, what's—"

He interrupts himself when he notices something falling from Gerard's hand. It's his rosary, with the light reddish-brown beads and the golden cross, so Frank insists, "What's going on?"

"Frank, you're very special to me," Gerard says, as he turns around. Frank notices that he's wearing his clerical collar, stark white against his black clothes, standing out so perfectly. He gasps in shock. "We can't do this anymore. We're not supposed to live this sin. I'm your priest."

Frank tightens a fist on the towel around his hips, holding it up and just not knowing exactly how to react at first. His chest constricts and his heart pounds, realizing what Gerard wants, so he decides to play along, "But I want to. You're in my dreams. You're in my mind the whole day, and at night..." Frank drops the towel to the floor and he's not hard or anything, but he knows this will work out in the end. He's always had a special feeling for Gerard in his old collar.

"At night, I can't control myself. At night, I touch myself, thinking about you." Frank grabs his cock and stands there, getting himself harder by the second from the sight of Gerard biting his lip, and Gerard's collar, and the sound of Gerard's raspy breathing, and Gerard's hand adjusting the crotch of his pants. "I want you. How can you ignore me? How can you deny me so easily?"

Frank's half hard and approaches Gerard, trapping him against the window. Frank tries to kiss Gerard, but he turns his face away. "Frank, don't."

"You want to." Frank touches Gerard's hand swiftly, moving his knuckles against Gerard's fingers. "I see it in your eyes."

He gets closer and closer, fisting at his cock again, getting himself harder. He continues, "This collar is only a disguise, but you don't have to hide behind it anymore, Father. " Their faces are really close and Gerard closes his eyes, gulping. Frank inhales and whispers, "Kiss me. You know you want to."

Gerard shakes his head and turns his face away again. Frank slides a hand around Gerard's hips, pulling Gerard close until their crotches meet. Frank is hard and there's a hard bulge in Gerard's pants as well. Gerard groans when Frank presses into it.

"Don't you want me? Don't you want to be my first?" Frank nudges Gerard's jaw with his nose and they finally kiss, heavily. They make out as Gerard embraces Frank with two arms, holding him close, grabbing Frank by the hips and carrying him to the bed. Frank moans and sits up, jacking his own dick. He knows this is one of Gerard's biggest fantasies, watching Frank jerking off. He loves that gleam in Gerard's eyes, his slightly opened mouth, the bob of his Adam's apple as he swallows hard. Then everything happens very quickly because Gerard suddenly takes charge and presses Frank into the mattress, kissing him.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-27