Beyond & Between;

[soulfulfishbowl]

Beyond & Between
Frank/Gerard, Mikey/Ray
NC17 for sex, language and minor violence.




Beyond and Between

Frank tosses the butt of his second cigarette in ten minutes to the ground. The wind picks it up and hurries it away, glowing tip fizzling out as it rolls through a murky puddle. He can feel the nicotine burning his lungs, warming everything from his lips to his fingertips. It's a disgusting habit, but he can see why the humans seem to love it so much.

It's just starting to rain again as Frank crowds himself beneath the small patch of shelter the back door offers, rolling his shoulders in discomfort when a fat raindrop drizzles beneath his t-shirt collar and rolls down his back.

"Hey, Iero. How long do you need to smoke a damn cigarette?" Brian, the bar manager, hollers from inside. Frank rolls his eyes and pushes open the door, walking back into the bar. It's not long until the end of his shift anyway.

It's not busy on a Wednesday night. It's not busy on most nights, except weekends when the classier bars have kicked the bums out, and they all migrate downtown to this place. It's not the worst, not by far. Frank's seen some places even Gerard would think twice about entering.

"About time," Brian says from behind the bar, hands and tattooed arms pressing against the top. He's got a dishcloth over one shoulder and he slaps it down onto the bar before lifting open the hatch door. "I've got a game in five minutes; I need you to cover out here."

Frank nods and slips behind the bar. "I still finish at midnight," he reminds his boss and Brian tosses his head from side to side.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You can work some overtime for me this weekend though, right?"

"Right," Frank replies. He can always work overtime, which is why Brian always asks. It's not like he's got much else to do. If it wasn't for Gerard, he'd probably live in this shitty bar amongst the mice and unconscious alcoholics.

When Brian's disappeared into the back room, Frank pours himself a shot of Jack Daniel's before downing it in one quick swoop. He grimaces, hissing a little as he wipes his mouth with the back of his wrist. Fuck. How do humans put up with this shit?

He dumps the dirty shot glass into the small sink beneath the spirit bottles and rinses it half-heartedly. He stacks it back on the shelf along with the others and turns to face the rest of the room. There's one old guy sat at the end of the bar whose been nursing the same bottle of beer for over an hour now, and taking into account the two middle aged women in bright lipstick and dark bruises, that pretty much sums up his customers for the evening.

Some ten or so minutes later, there's a cheer from the back room and a grunt that sounds distinctly like Brian's just lost a game. Great. That's Frank cleaning the whole fucking place, including the toilets, before he gets out of here alive, then. Whatever. With the muscles that ripple away beneath Brian's tight t-shirts, Frank should be glad that's the only way he handles losing.

Frank rests his elbows on the bar and stares out of the only window in the place, long and thin with random slats of red and green glass. It blurs the shapes outside and casts odd colours over the sticky, brown floor. Frank stares at them until Brian emerges from the back room some time later. He sighs and heads to fetch the mop and bucket.

…

It's really starting to rain when Frank gets out of the bar. The sky is heavy with thick, full rain clouds, and he can sense that it's going to be like this for a while. He zips his jacket up until it covers his chin, shoving his hands into his pockets as his feet splash through the puddles in the road. He stares at the laces of his sneakers, watching as the murky water and street dirt splashes over them.

He doesn't look up until he reaches the corner, where the hooded figure is waiting for him, smoke drifting up from his lips. He flicks the cigarette into the street.

"How many is that today?" Frank says quietly and Gerard turns around to flash him a lop-sided smirk.

"I dunno," he replies, sliding another long cigarette from an almost empty packet. "How about you?" he asks, offering one to Frank.

Frank takes it and leans in when Gerard clicks his fingers, a small flame appearing just above the tips. When the cigarette is lit, Gerard lights his own and then wriggles his fingers. The flame disappears.

"Should you be doing that in public?"

Gerard quirks an eyebrow. "You didn't answer my question."

"You didn't answer mine," Frank shrugs.

"No, I probably shouldn't," Gerard says after a moment's pause.

Frank smiles and raises his cigarette. "My ninth," he replies.

Gerard tutts playfully, shaking his head as he holds out his arm. Frank loops his own around it, allowing Gerard to pull him right against his side.

"So how was your day, angel?" he asks as they fall into a steady, slow walk.

"Same old," Frank sighs. "Some guy threw up in the bathroom; some guy did drugs in the bathroom, some guy passed out in the bathroom…"

"Sounds charming."

"I know, right?" Frank says as he shakes his head. "To say humanity is supposed to be so full of life and beauty, I sure haven't seen much of it."

Gerard laughs. "That's because we're in the gutters of New York City, baby. Nothing is beautiful here. Well, except you of course."

Frank smiles coyly up at Gerard. "Of course," he echoes, slipping a hand inside Gerard's pocket to grasp onto Gerard's own hand. The skin is rough and cold. "Your hands are freezing," Frank says, curling his fingers around Gerard's.

"I guess I'm still not used to the weather here. I've heard it gets warmer though, real soon actually. Just, not as warm as I'd like it." Gerard sighs. "Fuck. I wish we were someplace warm."

"Your idea of warm would probably kill us both now," Frank reminds him, and he can almost feel his bones shift in his still uncomfortable almost human skin.

Gerard puffs some hair out of his face. "Yeah," is all he has to say on the matter.

With his other hand, Frank strokes the crook of Gerard's arm. "So," Frank starts in a much brighter tone, "What's for dinner?"

…

Back at Ray's apartment, it turns out that it's pizza for dinner, from this grubby little place a couple streets away that looks like nothing edible should ever come out of there – but Frank's become strangely obsessed with the cheese and tomato pizzas. He thinks he should be exploring more varieties of food, he knows he should be because it's not been in his life all that long, but he just can't get enough of those fucking pizzas.

Being on earth for more than a few days has had strange effects on Frank and Gerard's bodies, although Ray, being the natural born guider that he is, is well prepared for every one of them. They're running off totally different energy, and this world hasn't got enough juice to power their once immortal bodies. So now they eat, they have to bathe and use the bathroom, they have to sleep for more than an hour or so a day and, what is perhaps Frank's least favourite human function of all, they dream.

With all of the things Frank's seen, everything he knows and everything he's done, his dreams are becoming heavy and not necessarily with darkness but just, with pure information of all the things Frank's not suppose to know anymore, things no human should even be able to think of. Sometimes at night, it feels like his brain is pulsing and his newly human body can't quite handle it yet. He wonders when it will be able to, or if he'll just forget.

Sometimes at night he hears Gerard dreaming too. Some nights Gerard tosses and turns, calls out names that even Frank doesn't recognise. Some nights he clings to Frank and just shakes, because no human should ever have to cope with what he's had to. Frank can barely think about what images must flash behind Gerard's eyelids at night so he does the only thing he can do, wrap his arms as tightly as possible around Gerard and wait for the shaking to stop.


When Ray sets the pizza box on the table, Frank pulls himself quickly up out of his slouch on the couch. He must be moving too quick though, because something twinges in his chest and it makes him cough, deep and rasping.

"Fuck," he chokes, slamming a hand against his chest.

"That's called a Smoker's Cough," Ray informs him. "You've got your little death stick buddies to thank for that."

Frank pulls a face just as Gerard's hand cups his cheek.

"You feel warm," Gerard says, eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Are you ok?"

Frank sniffs. "I guess I don't feel too good."

Ray picks up a slice of pizza. "That's called an immune system. Don't fuck it up."

Frank makes a face again, but Gerard shoves a slice of pizza into his mouth before he says anything that will make Ray give them one of his many lectures on How To Take Care of Your New Human Body.

Frank chews through the first few layers of cheese. "So let me get this right," he starts, to which Ray and Gerard both instantly roll their eyes. "I can pull wings from my body and tuck them back into my skeletal system, but I can't handle a pack of cigarettes?"

Ray starts waving an over talkative hand around. "You don't get to choose what parts of you stay the same and what parts of you change," he explains. "It's environmental. Your body is changing to fit its surroundings."

"So I should become a gambling, alcoholic drug addict bum any day now. And this is supposed to be better than death?" he says bitterly, but as soon as Gerard places a hand on Frank's leg and gives him these wide, almost hurt eyes, he instantly regrets it.

"It is better," Gerard says quietly and Frank returns with a small smile.

"Yeah, it is," he says, placing his hand on top of Gerard's and squeezing, "because we get to be together." He could kiss Gerard right now, just lean in and prove exactly how much he means that, but Ray's sat across from them on this old looking stool, chewing on a slice of pizza and glancing around the room awkwardly.

"So," he drawls when he's finished his slice, "I decided to move you onto phase two of human life now that we've got the basics covered, eating, sleeping, feeling like you want to die." Frank smirks a little and Ray slaps his hands against his thighs as he pushes himself up from the stool. He fetches a bag from the other side of the living room and brings it back, handing it to a bemused looking Gerard. He pulls out from the bag three DVD cases.

"Movies?" Gerard says. "You want us to watch movies?"

Frank plucks them one by one from Gerard's grasp. "E.T., Frankenstein and The Rocky Horror Picture Show?"

Ray nods. "Yeah, I think you should get a pretty good picture of what the world's about from those. There's a portable TV in your room. I borrowed it from a friend so, try not to break it."

Frank quirks an eyebrow. Before being banished, he'd only ever visited earth to be with Gerard and so he didn't have much experience of TV, only catching the reflections in store windows or in a bar he just so happened to be passing. It was mostly news or sports, never movies. He had seen a few large movie posters hanging off the sides of tall buildings, either an explosion of blood or a slender woman standing in front of a plane background with a witty tagline.

He'll give it a go, though.

"Thanks," he says, because he can't think of anything else to say. He looks over at Gerard questioningly, and Gerard simply nods.

"Yeah, thanks."

~

In the early hours of the morning, they're still watching movies. Frank's made them watch Frankenstein three times now, and each time he moves a little closer to the portable TV that sits on the floor, a few feet from their mattress. He's currently rolled over on his front, gazing at the screen through their second round of E.T. Gerard's sat beside him with a hand on Frank's back, stroking softly.

Frank dips his head and bites his forearm when the young boy sees that E.T. is slowly dying, because he swears he's going to cry any second now.

Frank's cried before, though not many times. When the Elders of heaven told him that Gerard had been killed in an attempt to stop them from seeing each other, Frank cried so hard that everything hurt. He became a recluse for days until Gerard finally got a message through to Frank that he was ok.

The memory of seeing Gerard again - full flesh proof that he was still alive and well, is the only thing that keeps Frank from crying now. In fact, he's smiling.

"What are you smiling at?" Gerard asks quietly, hand now still against Frank's back.

Frank rolls onto his side, head propped up by his hand and elbow as he smiles down at Gerard. "Just thinking about how glad I am that you're here," he answers honestly.

Gerard's lips quirk. "I'm glad I'm here too."

Frank takes Gerard's hand from where it's now resting on his side, and tugs a little until Gerard pulls him up into a sitting position. Frank quickly moves past the sitting position, pushing Gerard down onto the mattress until he can climb on top of him, legs straddling Gerard's sides as he leans forward. Gerard's smirking, hands rubbing softly at Frank's denim clad thighs.

Frank leans ever further forward and licks slowly over both of Gerard's lips.

"I love you," he whispers so close that he captures Gerard's bottom lip between his, along with his own words.

Gerard closes his eyes, smiling against Frank's mouth as he moves one hand to grip the back of Frank's neck, pressing their lips firmly together. He loves it when Frank says that, loves the way he says it and the look in his eyes when he does. It makes Gerard feel complete even though half of his life is missing.

When Frank pulls back just a touch, he slips a hand beneath Gerard's t-shirt and presses it against his heartbeat. Gerard raises his hips a little, brushing their groins together. Frank sighs, briefly closing his eyes and smiling as he pushes himself back into a sitting position. He grinds down against Gerard, grinning when he gasps.

"Fuck," Gerard says, hands running up from Frank's thighs to his hips. He's half hard already, eyes wide and silently begging Frank for more. Frank pushes himself down again as he grabs and fumbles at the front of Gerard's jeans.

It takes a few messy minutes for them to pull at each other’s clothing, tugging down jeans and boxers until they're pulled tight around knees and ankles. Frank stays straddling Gerard, pushing his t-shirt up under his arms so he can lean forward and kiss up his chest. Gerard raises his knees, planting his feet on the mattress and causing Frank to fall forward a little until their dicks are aligned. He groans and grinds up against Frank.

When Gerard wraps his long fingers around Frank's cock, Frank closes his eyes and leans his head back. "Gerard," he whispers, hips jutting forward to the rhythm of Gerard's strokes. "Oh, oh."

Frank rides himself steadily against Gerard, one hand on Gerard's chest and the other on top of Gerard's hand which sits gripping Frank's upper thigh. Gerard rolls his hips up against Frank's every now and then, fingers digging into and twitching against Frank's skin. Gerard slides one hand over Frank's abdomen as the other tightens around his dick.

"Angel," he breathes, "fuck, Angel. You're so perfect. I love you so, so much."

Frank's making little noises that almost sound like whimpers with every breath as he stares down at Gerard, mouth slightly ajar and hair falling in front of his eyes. Gerard has to moan again because Frank's the most perfect being he's ever laid eyes on.

Frank wraps his hand around Gerard's dick as it brushes against his own, and it ends up with both of their hands wrapped around both of their dicks, squeezing and stroking and teasing as their hips stutter erratically against each other. Frank leans back against Gerard's raised knees and strokes a little harder.

"M'close," Frank says, nodding to himself.

"Yeah," Gerard replies, "me too, angel. Me too."

Frank comes first, and just seconds before he does his wings spring out, feathers stretched like a scared bird. His eyes are wide open, a moan caught in his throat as he shoots over both their hands and his own stomach. He squeezes a couple more times, riding himself out into their fists while Gerard watches. He comes a few moments later, heels digging into the mattress and back arched as he curses.

They smile as they breathe together; chests falls slowing as Frank's wings slowly dip to rest on the mattress. Gerard's eyes are fluttering in bliss and he reaches out to softly brush over Frank's still healing white and grey feathers. Frank whips his wings back around himself until the tips tickle over Gerard's knees.

Gerard giggles softly and then Frank carefully tucks his wings away again.

~

The next morning and Frank's lay awake, staring at the money jar in the corner of the room. There's a few hundred dollars in there, money left over from paying rent and buying a few more sets of jeans and underwear. Frank never really felt the need to buy anything more, so he and Gerard stuffed all their wages into an old jar Ray found at the back of a kitchen cupboard.

Frank wants to get up, get dressed and go and buy as many movies that two hundred and forty six dollars will allow.

Yes, that's what he wants to do, but he can't. Not with Gerard lay like that, hair a mess from last night and mouth ajar, eyelashes fluttering like he's having the most comforting dream in the world. These have been few and far between, so Frank lays as still as possible, just watching Gerard sleep.


It's not much longer before Gerard finally wakes up, yawning and rubbing at one of his eyes with the back of his hand. He coughs a little and smiles up at Frank, licking his dry lips. Frank strokes a hand lightly across Gerard's cheek.

"Good sleep?" he says and Gerard hums and nods.

"Perfect," he replies, nuzzling his face into the pillow and closing his eyes again briefly. "I think we should go to sleep like that every night."

"What? Covered in come?"

Gerard laughs. "I mean relaxed, blissed out…."

"And covered in come?"

Gerard opens his eyes, lips quirking into a smirk. "You've got a dirty mouth for an angel."

Frank's eyes are giddy and he leans in close to Gerard. "Well that's what happens when you fall in love with demons," he whispers before coaxing Gerard into a warm and tender kiss.

Something crashes against their bedroom door not long later, just after Gerard's shamelessly moaned into Frank's mouth, and they instantly jump apart.

"Can you guys stop now?" Ray asks not so politely from the other side of the door. Frank giggles into Gerard's neck as Gerard apologises.

…

Frank tries to convince Ray to come to the DVD store to help them pick out more movies, but he insists that he's too busy, and when Frank tries to pry a little further and ask what he's doing, Ray gives him the half annoyed look and replies, "Just busy, ok?"


Frank's oddly excited as they step out onto the rainy streets outside Ray's apartment building. He can feel it bubbling in his stomach as he shoves a fist full of cash into his pocket. It's a different kind of excitement, because he's looking forward to something that isn't pizza or sleep or nicotine or sex.

Gerard offers his arm again and Frank takes it, letting Gerard lead them along Ray's somewhat vague directions. Frank slips his hand into Gerard's pocket and rubs at his cold fingers.

The light in the DVD store is way too bright and feels far too revealing. Both Frank and Gerard shrug away from it as soon as they step through the door. Gerard gives Frank's hand a reassuring squeeze and tugs him inside.

"So," he says softly, gazing out across the maze of stacked shelves, "where do you want to start?"

Frank glances around the genre signs that hang from the ceiling like aisle numbers in a supermarket, studying the words before he finally grins. "Romance," he says before pulling Gerard in that direction.

Gerard is keeping his opinions a lot more reserved than Frank, and so he glances over the covers and cases, nodding along with everything Frank has to say about them. Mostly it's about how unrealistic the women and men look, and Gerard has to try hard not to smirk because they've only been here a few months and already Frank's talking like they've been here for years studying what your 'average American' looks like.

Frank's fingers ghost over the countless DVD cases, further across the shelf until he comes to a little sign, a small sub section entitled 'Gay Romance'. Frank stops instantly, staring hard at the few cases which are actually there. On the covers there are men kissing men, men holding men, women looking longingly into another woman's eyes. Young boys holding other boys and young girls holding the hand of other young girls.

Frank presses his thumb against the sub section sign. "Gay romance," he says quietly, unaware of how intently Gerard's been watching him. "Is this what we are?" he asks, looking over his shoulder to see Gerard step closer. "Are we a gay romance?"

Gerard puts his hand lightly on Frank's waist. "I guess so," he says, picking up one of the cases and flipping it over. "Yeah, I guess…I guess we are."

Frank's heard the term very few times before and it feels sort of strange on his tongue when he says it. He doesn't see why it's separated from the others, though; cornered off into its own little section like it doesn’t really belong. He grabs a couple of the cases at random, not even checking the titles or prices.

"Ok," he nods when they're tucked under his arm and he turns around to look over the other signs. "I think…I think we'll go to 'Science-Fiction' now."


Two bags and almost fifty dollars later, they walk back out of the store and into the sunlight. The rain has stopped and a few of the clouds have cleared, allowing pale yellow light to seep through them and down onto the world below. Frank looks up, standing still for just a moment before he accepts Gerard's arm again and heads for home.

…

Ray's not there when they get back, which isn't surprising. Gerard drops the bags onto the coffee table and sinks down into the couch next to Frank. He bumps their shoulders together.

"Hey," he says softly, "you alright?"

Frank presses his lips together and smiles. "I'm fine."

Gerard places his hand on Frank's thigh, digging his thumb into the denim. "It bothered you, that thing at the store, didn't it?"

Frank nibbles on his thumbnail and shrugs. "Kind of."

"Kind of?" Gerard parrots and Frank sighs, leaning his head down onto Gerard's shoulder.

"We've already been banished from two places for loving each other."

Gerard hums softly before turning his head to settle a kiss within Frank's dark hair. "I think they handle things a little differently here, angel," he says and Frank nods into his jacket.

"I suppose."

Gerard slides a finger beneath Frank's chin and tilts his face up until he can look him in the eyes. "Hey," he whispers, "I love you, and there isn't anybody or anything that's going to get in the way of that, ok?"

Frank presses forward, steadily pushing his lips over Gerard’s because he may be a man of few words sometimes, but when he gets them right, boy, does he get them right. Gerard's fingers slip into Frank's hair, curling it back behind his ears as he lets Frank kiss him, softer and softer until they melt against each other.


They drag the bags of DVDs into the bedroom and tip them out over the mattress to sift through them, read synopsises and put aside the ones they really want to watch. Frank's pile is the biggest, since he chose ninety percent of the DVDs anyway. Frank wants to watch 'Pretty Woman' first, and after that Gerard's opted for 'Fight Club' after falling in love with the cover back at the store.

Frank presses play when the first DVD is in and pulls Gerard down onto the mattress, making a pillow for himself with Gerard's bicep as they lay at the foot of the bed.

…

Frank wakes up how ever long later, he's not really sure. He didn't even remember falling asleep and blinks into the now dark room, wondering what happened to the pretty woman and her business man before he realises that Gerard's not there anymore. Rolling onto his front, he presses his face into Gerard's pillow and inhales.

As he's smiling into the comforting scent, he hears raised voices from the next room. Confused, he listens more intently.

"I know you're here for a reason, Mikey, so just spit it out."

Mikey? Mikey? He pulls himself onto his knees, scrambling up from the bed and over to the door.

Out in the living room, it's none other than Mikey Way standing by the front door, looking exactly like the last time Frank saw him, tall and pale, dressed head to toe in black – from his boots to his over coat. It's around the eyes you can tell he's related to Gerard, that and the way his jaw clenches, making his face look hard like stone.

Gerard's close to the bedroom door and Ray's hovering somewhere in between them, looking concerned. They all turn to Frank as he steps into the living room.

"Uh," he says after the silence, "…what's going on?"

"That's exactly what I'd like to know," Gerard says, folding his arms and staring sternly at his brother.

Frank chews his lip and half waves at the other brother. "Hey."

Mikey nods. "Hi. How's earth treating you?"

Frank shrugs, just about to answer when Gerard huffs and throws his hands up.

"Mikey, will you just talk? I know you're not here to 'check up on me', so spill. Now."

Sighing, Mikey leans against the doorframe. "I just wanted to make sure you're ok."

Gerard peers. "And why wouldn't I be ok?" Mikey looks at Ray as if he's looking for help, and Gerard looks between them. "What do you know?" he says to Ray, and Ray holds his hands out in defence.

"Whoa."

"Gerard," Mikey warns in a tone that even Frank hasn't managed to master yet. When his face sets like that, Frank can tell where he's from. "Stop being so, so you about things."

"Well then tell me what's going on," Gerard growls. Frank moves forward and wraps his fingers around Gerard's wrist because he hates it when his voice gets like that. Instantly Frank feels Gerard's skin cool a little beneath his touch, and Gerard glances down at him with a sigh.

"Alright," Mikey says quietly. "Alright, I'll tell you."

Ray nods towards the couch. "You better come in then."

Mikey moves to the wall opposite the couch as Frank and Gerard take up seats there, and Ray stays hovering between them. Frank's still got his fingers around Gerard’s wrist, and he doesn't let go when they sit down.

It's silent again for a few moments until Gerard huffs. "Come on, Mikey," he says.

"Ok," Mikey nods, sounding like he's talking to himself more than anyone else. "Ok," he repeats, but then snaps his mouth shut again.

"Mikey!" Gerard warns.

"Verin has been sent to kill you," Mikey suddenly spits out quickly. "Both of you," he adds.

Gerard's eyes widen and Frank instantly feels afraid. He squeezes Gerard's wrist tighter.

"Why?" Gerard says softly, shaking his head. "We've gone, I've been banished. It's not their problem anymore."

Mikey shrugs. "I don't know. I think it might be a pride thing or," he waves his hand forward, "like, a message to everyone else."

"A message?" Gerard repeats. "I've been banished to this rotating fucking rock. What's worse than that?"

"Death, apparently," Mikey answers.

Frank can feel his stomach start to sink and twist. He hasn't seen Gerard angry like this since they were first discovered, and he's never heard of this Verin demon, but by the sounds of things it's not good. He wants to tug at Gerard's arm again, remind him that being here isn't the worst thing in the world, not by far.

"Who's Verin working for?" Gerard asks and instantly Mikey looks over at Ray who sucks in a breath and shakes his head.

"What does it matter?" Mikey says. "He's coming and you need to hide or fight or, I don't know. Just be prepared or have a plan or something."

“Where are we supposed to hide? Chances are he knows we’re here.”

“No one knows you’re here,” Ray says. “And you’ve got to be looking for this place to be able to find it.”

“Alright, well how am I supposed to have a plan? We’ve got limited powers and damaged wings,” Gerard argues, but Mikey simply sighs.

“You’ve got strength, Gerard,” he says. “You’ve got resources and traits that have nothing to do with being a demon, it’s just who you are.”

“And besides,” Ray chips in, “your powers may not be much on your own, but with Frank’s and mine-”

“And mine,” Mikey nods.

“And Mikey’s,” he continues, “then that’s something, right?”

Before Gerard can answer, Frank grabs his shoulder. “Right,” he answers for them.

Gerard smiles weakly, placing his hand softly over Frank’s and squeezing before he turns back to his brother. “Ok, yeah,” he says. “We can do this, I believe you. But you still never answered my question…who’s Verin working for?”

Mikey shakes his head slowly. “It doesn’t matter, does it?”

“I don’t know, you tell me.”

Mikey looks helplessly over to Ray who closes his eyes and rubs at his temples. “Maybe you should just tell him,” he says, but Mikey pushes himself away from the wall and protests.

“What good will that do?” he says.

“He’s got a right to know…”

“I’ve got a right to know what?” Gerard interrupts. Mikey looks back to the floor. “Ray?” he questions and after a moment, Ray sighs and gives in.

“Alright,” he says quietly.

“Ray!” Mikey warns but Ray ignores him.

“Verin was sent by Samuel. There. It was Samuel, ok?” Ray says quickly, hands thrown up in the air. Mikey sinks quickly back against the wall.

Frank looks at Gerard’s face and quickly feels sick. He looks paler than usual, eyes wide and hurt and he looks as sick as Frank feels. Frank slides a hand down Gerard’s arm.

“Who’s Samuel?” he asks, but as soon as he speaks, Gerard gets up quickly from the couch and disappears into their room with a sharp slam of the door. Ray and Frank flinch when the door slams, but Mikey doesn’t move.

Mikey squeezes his own elbow and slowly looks up at Frank. “Samuel is our father,” he explains.

…

Gerard’s standing at the window, staring out to the grimy backstreets of the apartment building, though he’s not really paying any attention to what he’s looking at. His brain is busy, thrumming with so many thoughts that his brain is practically vibrating. He’s blocking out the voices in the other room with his own dark and nasty ones.

When Frank sneaks in, Gerard doesn’t turn away from the window. He waits until Frank appears behind him, snaking his arms around Gerard’s waist and leaning his head on Gerard’s shoulder. Gerard can tell that Frank’s on his tip toes and it makes him want to smile.

“Hey,” Frank whispers. “You ok?” Gerard huffs out a breath. “Stupid question, I know.”

Gerard shakes his head. “Not stupid, no,” he says and then goes quiet again. He can feel Frank’s heart beating against his back as they remain pressed together. “You’re scared, aren’t you?” he says after another moment.

“Aren’t you?” Frank questions.

“Maybe,” Gerard shrugs. “Verin is a fucked up demon, but he’s not that powerful, he just obeys powerful people.”

“Like your father?” Frank says and Gerard’s jaw clenches. He nods sharply and Frank sighs, deflating against Gerard’s back as he runs a hand up the back of Gerard’s shirt. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispers.

“It’s not your fault,” he answers, and Frank can hear the hurt in his voice. “He’s always been this way; you have to be down there.”

“You’re not,” Frank says, pressing his forehead against the back of Gerard’s neck.

“That’s because I fell in love with you, angel,” Gerard replies, turning his head until he can kiss any part of Frank’s face he can reach.

Frank smiles and moves himself smoothly around Gerard’s body, slotting himself between Gerard and the window. He wraps his arms around Gerard’s neck and pulls their faces close together.

“I’m glad you did,” he whispers before pulling Gerard into a slow and consuming kiss.

Gerard’s hands press hard into Frank’s sides before moving to his back, sinking lower and lower until he grabs Frank by the ass and pulls their bodies together. Frank groans into Gerard’s mouth, sounds soon swallowed as Gerard captures Frank’s lips again.

Frank licks his lips when they part for a second, smiling up at Gerard. He laughs, breathily. “Maybe we should go back out there.”

Gerard quirks his eyebrows, “They’ll be ok. I don’t think I’m done kissing you yet.”

Frank smiles, sweet and innocent and it makes Gerard press a hand to the back of his neck and kiss him. “You can kiss me all you want,” he says, and Gerard guides him down onto the mattress.

“Good,” he replies as he climbs slowly up Frank’s body. He buries his face in Frank’s neck when he gets there, sucking lightly at the skin there. Frank squirms against Gerard, hands twisting in his shirt.

“Your brother,” Frank gasps and Gerard cups the growing bulge in Frank’s pants.

“I’d rather not talk about my brother right now,” he says.

“They’re right out there,” Frank tries to say, but it’s difficult with Gerard chewing on his bottom lip like he’s doing right now.

“I don’t care,” Gerard mumbles, “Just,” he stops to close his eyes, “I don’t know, touch me, kiss me or something.”

Frank brushes the hair away from Gerard’s eyes and nods. “Ok, baby,” he whispers, fingers curling into the back of Gerard’s hair. “C’mere,” and he kisses him again, letting Gerard’s mouth consume him.

With nimble quick fingers Gerard pulls both their shirts off, until it’s finally skin on skin and it feels like a relief, so he sighs. He trails his fingertips over Frank’s chest, feeling for his heartbeat and tapping along with it when he finally does find it. Frank’s eyes flutter between closed and open for a few moments, until Gerard starts to tug at his pants and then they fly open.

Whatever’s going on in the other room, if anything at all, Frank’s got no concern for it anymore as he helps Gerard remove the rest of their clothing. Gerard’s skin feels like its vibrating, and so Frank tries to calm it with his touch, stroking along Gerard’s shoulders and arms before he takes a hold of him, fingertips digging into his skin to keep him still.

Gerard’s got one hand on Frank’s waist and the other on the bed, steadying himself over Frank’s body as he moves to kiss his neck again. He bites and nibbles until Frank’s gasping again, smiling playfully as he does so. Gerard flattens his tongue against Frank’s pulse, almost tasting the life as it thrums through him. Frank’s always been so full of life, energetic and adventurous and that’s what Gerard loves about him, amongst other things.

Settling himself between Frank’s parting thighs, Gerard grabs him by the knees and wraps Frank’s long legs around his waist. He then splays his fingers over Frank’s cheek, thumb hooking around his chin.

“I love you, Frank,” he says quietly, and Frank instantly feels his chest tighten and heart swell. “You know that, don’t you?”

Frank nods slowly, eyes locked with Gerard’s as he settles his hands on Gerard’s broad shoulders.

“Make love to me,” Frank whispers, sinking back into the pillows when Gerard presses against him. He leans down and nips quickly at Frank’s lips before smoothing his tongue over the skin and finally pushing inside of Frank, steady and careful. Frank eyes screw shut and he breathes out slowly, letting his body engulf Gerard in its heat. Frank knows it’s always going to be the most complete feeling in the world. Any world.

Gerard stays completely still for a few seconds, buried deep inside of Frank with their eyes locked onto one another. This, right here and now, is his favourite place to be, because here, with Frank and just like this, nothing else matters. This is why they’re fighting, why they’re surviving here on this world between their own, so they can be together, complete and totally connected and it’s now that Gerard realises that it doesn’t matter which world they’re on, because Frank will always be his.

“I hope you know,” Gerard says with a quivering breath, “that I didn’t mean what I said before, about this being the worst place to be. It’s not…not with you here.”

Frank smiles almost sleepily and nods, taking in another shaky breath. “I know,” he says, before slowly rolling his hips up against Gerard’s.

Gerard’s head drops down between his shoulders and he moans, forehead resting on Frank’s chest momentarily before he picks it up a little to reach Frank’s mouth. The kiss is searing, almost burning Frank’s lips but he holds the sides of Gerard’s head with both of his hands, holding the kiss together as the rest of their bodies start to move in tandem.

The heels of Frank’s feet dig into the top of Gerard’s ass, pulling him in as close as possible every time. Gerard’s moans keep getting caught in his throat because he’s losing his breath when Frank pulls him in. Frank pulls at Gerard’s hair, forcing the moan out of him.

“Fuck, Frankie…angel,” he pants.

Frank nods, leaning up to tug at Gerard’s bottom lip with his teeth. “Yeah,” he breathes, hands sliding down to Gerard’s chest, a hand rubbing against one of his
nipples. He licks the bitten spot on Gerard’s lip, thrusting up as Gerard grinds down.

With a hand on the underside of Frank’s thigh, Gerard pushes Frank’s knee towards his chest, enabling him to move in even deeper. Frank’s back arches off the mattress and he moans, low and long as his fingernails dig into Gerard’s chest.

“Gerard,” he groans, hands sliding up and around to Gerard’s back.

Gerard keeps pushing at Frank’s thigh, pressing deeper every time until Frank’s shaking with sweat.

When Gerard gets his hand on Frank’s dick, Frank loses control. He starts to babble, saying different parts of Gerard’s name as his whole body quivers. His back arches high off the bed as his wings suddenly appear, like always, and he finally comes, spurting between their bodies, thick and warm. As his insides tighten around Gerard’s cock, Gerard’s whole body stops and shudders.

“C’mon,” Frank says, wings fluttering back down to the mattress. “Keep going until you come,” his eyes are lidded and his voice breathy and Gerard nods, hips snapping forward until he comes, and he rides through it until everything becomes too sensitive.

Gerard pants onto Frank’s skin, face pressed to his shoulder. Frank pets Gerard’s hair back, fingers skimming through the matted strands. He can still feel his insides pulsing, and Gerard’s breath hitches in time with them.

When Gerard feels like he’s got enough energy, he slowly pulls out of Frank and they both sigh, feeling sensitive and empty. He falls against Frank’s side, peppering kisses along his shoulder.

Frank runs his hand over his own stomach, covering it in sticky come. He grimaces and wipes his hand on the sheets.

“I think we need a shower,” he says, but Gerard’s already half asleep. Frank chuckles to himself and kisses Gerard’s forehead. “We’ll shower in the morning,” he whispers, and Gerard makes a grunting sound.

Frank shifts around carefully, avoiding the wet patches on the bed as he turns on his side, wings soon tucking themselves away again, and cuddles himself snugly against Gerard’s chest. He kisses it a few times, and Gerard hums sleepily, coiling an arm around Frank’s waist and pulling him in close.

“Night, angel,” Gerard whispers.

Frank tucks his hands beneath his own chin and lets Gerard hold him. “Goodnight,” he replies, and he really does hope that it will be.

-

It’s early in the morning when Gerard stirs slowly from his sleep. He stares at the back of his eyelids for a few moments, expecting to see Frank still snuggled against him and sleeping softly when he opens them.

Frank is still snuggled up against him when his eyes finally do flutter open, but he’s not asleep. Frank’s looking right at him, looking so intently that at first it makes Gerard flinch in surprise. Frank smiles softly.

Gerard chuckles shortly. “That’s kinda creepy, angel.”

“Sorry,” Frank says, cheeks growing a little pinker. “I was just making sure you slept ok.”

“I slept fine,” Gerard yawns, rubbing his face into the pillow. “It’s pretty easy to sleep when you tire me out like that.”

Frank laughs. “Are we back to the ‘We should have sex every night’ conversation?”

“Maybe,” Gerard grins, leaning in for a good morning kiss.

Frank pecks Gerard’s lips a few times before wrinkling his nose. “I think it’s definitely time for that shower,” he says.

Gerard yawns again and rolls over. “Five more minutes.”

…

Frank pads softly down the hallway in a pair of Gerard’s boxers on his way to the bathroom. Gerard’s probably fallen back to sleep, so he’ll turn on the shower and maybe get himself clean before he prods his boyfriend awake again.

Just as he walks by Ray’s bedroom door, it quickly flies open and Frank jumps back, surprised, as a tired looking Mikey Way steps out, half way through zipping up his black coat. When he looks up and sees Frank, Ray’s face appears over Mikey’s shoulder, cigarette hanging from his lips. He looks…satisfied, and Mikey’s suddenly smirking.

“Morning, Frank,” Mikey says. “Sleep well?” and he instantly licks his lips.

“Oh my god,” Frank says, a hell of a lot louder than he intended to. Ray makes a concerned face as movement sounds from the other room, but Mikey doesn’t look that bothered.

“Frank?” Gerard’s voice comes from within their room, and a moment later he comes stumbling out with unzipped jeans and obviously no underwear beneath them, if the pubic trail is anything to go by. “Baby?” he says, looking from Frank to Mikey and then to Ray. It’s silent for a moment and then Gerard grimaces. “Ew, oh my god, Mikey.”

“What?” Mikey almost laughs.

“You…and…” Gerard gestures back to Ray, “and him. You guys, you actually…oh my god, I think I’m going to be sick.”

“You?” Mikey says with narrowed eyes. “What about me having to listen to you two climb on top of each other and grunt?”

Frank blushes and looks down at the floor, but Gerard crosses his arms and clicks his tongue against his teeth.

“So, where are you off to now?” he says, and it’s obvious the subject has been dropped. For now.

“We’re heading out to see if Verin has been nearby.”

“We?” Gerard parrots and Mikey nods towards Ray.

“Me and Ray. You guys are staying right here,” Mikey replies, very as a matter of fact-ly.

“What? We’re just going to stay here like sitting ducks and wait for him to find us?” Gerard says and Ray shakes his head, handing his cigarette to Mikey and pulling on his shirt.

“He won’t find you here. Like I said, you can’t see this place unless you know it’s here. You’re safe in these four walls.”

“And why can’t we go with you?”

Ray sighs, aggravated. “Because you can’t take a fallen angel along to talk to a bunch of demons, nor can you take a banished demon along to talk to a bunch of demons.”

“Stop explaining things,” Mikey says, exhaling cigarette smoke out towards his brother’s face, who bats it away with an annoyed glare. “We’ve got to get going.”

Ray nods and grabs his jacket from somewhere within his bedroom. “Alright,” he stops to point at Frank and Gerard. “You two, stay here.”

Gerard sighs. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t go anywhere, we got it. Have fun on your date.”

“It’s not a date!” Ray tries, but Mikey’s already dragging him down the hallway.

…

Gerard paces the room for almost twenty minutes as Frank watches from the couch. Finally, Frank huffs and throws his hands in the air before pulling Gerard down onto the couch next to him.

“Will you just sit still?” he says as Gerard collapses in a pile of stressed out bones.

“I can’t,” Gerard replies, his fingers quickly starting to fidget on his legs. Frank sighs and covers one of Gerard’s hands with his own.

“Just try for me, ok?” he says, and his eyes are kind and Gerard instantly feels a little more at ease looking into them. “It’s going to be alright.” Gerard nods shortly. “Mikey and Ray will find out where he is and we can send him back. Four against one, that’s pretty good odds, right?”

Gerard smiles uneasily and nods again. “Yeah, it is,” he says quietly. “We’ll be fine.”

Frank’s grinning back when the phone in the kitchen starts to ring loudly in that annoyingly high pitched way. Gerard grimaces and Frank pushes himself up from the couch, disappearing into the kitchen.

“I wonder where they got lost,” Gerard says after Frank, smiling to himself.

Frank laughs as he picks up the phone, but he’s not met with such a friendly response.

“You better not be having fun, you asswipe!” Brian yells. Frank mentally curses, oh shit. “You’re an hour late for your shift.”

“Crap,” Frank says. “I’m so sorry Brian, we had…uh, a relative, from out of town. I totally forgot.”

“Yeah, well,” he says, “you better get down here in five minutes or you’re not going to see Christmas. I gotta game on hold here while I wait for you.”

“Yeah…sorry. I’m really sorry; I’ll be there as soon as I can be.”

“Five minutes!” Brian yells before slamming the phone down. Frank gulps and also hangs up.

“What was that about?” Gerard says when Frank gets back into the living room.

“It was Brian. I totally forgot about work,” Frank explains. “He’s pretty annoyed.”

Gerard shrugs. “So did you tell him you were sick or something?”

Frank shakes his head. “No, I told him I’d be there as soon as possible.”

Gerard quirks an eyebrow. “What? Frank, you know we’re not supposed to leave the apartment.”

“Baby,” Frank says, sitting back down next to Gerard, “if I don’t go in, then I’m going to lose my job. You can come with me,” he tries, but Gerard doesn’t look convinced. Frank sighs. “Look, you said yourself that we’re going to be alright.”

“Yeah, if we stay here…”

“Ok. I see what you’re saying,” Frank starts, “but I don’t think Verin is expecting us to be in a bar with the lowest forms of humanity. He’ll more than likely expect us to be with Mikey, since he probably knows that Mikey’s here. There’s no way he’d expect us to be at the bar.”

Gerard thinks for a moment, sucking in his bottom lip in a way that actually does make Frank want to stay in the apartment. “I guess…”

Frank smiles. “It’ll be fine, ok? It’s only a four hour shift while Brian attempts to win back the money he lost last week. If he wins then we’ll be back here before you know it.”

“And if he doesn’t win?” Gerard asks.

Frank winces. “Let’s try not to think about that,” he says, grabbing both of their jackets.

…

Ray and Mikey stumble out through the back door of the ‘Night and Day Café’ bar, batting the smoke and any remaining flames away from their clothing. Ray coughs as he pats down his left shoulder, making a face at the burn marks in his jacket. His clothes stink, and what’s worse is Mikey’s clothes look no different.

Mikey notices Ray watching him and he stops to smile crookedly. “So,” he says, “That went well.”

Ray laughs, leaning his head back to chuckle and when he comes forward, he finds Mikey staring back at him. He shifts a little uneasily in his smouldering jacket. “Yeah, who knew demons were so temperamental,” he says lamely, and Mikey grins.

Within a flash, Ray finds himself pressed up against the cold brick wall of the club’s alley, and he’s got Mikey’s still grinning face taking up his whole vision. Ray blinks, confused.

“You looked really hot in there,” Mikey says, twisting his hands in what’s left of Ray’s jacket. They both laugh at the pun and then Mikey rolls his eyes. “You’re a pretty good mediator.”

“I don’t think that guy thought so,” Ray replies, eyes jutting back to the club.

Mikey drops his gaze to the floor and shakes his head, smirking in a way that should be more threatening than anything, except to Ray it’s anything but. “I’d have found it pretty hard to say no to you,” he says, looking back up, straight into Ray’s glowing brown eyes.

Ray’s stomach drops and his pants tighten. “I don’t know,” he says, voice low and warm, “You seemed to enjoy being the one telling me what to do last night.”

Mikey’s eyes darken, and Ray actually sees his pupils get larger like he’s some sort of animal. He shoves his hands into Ray’s hair, pulling tightly at the curls, dragging Ray’s head forward until their lips meet.

The kiss is desperate and deep and Mikey tastes like smoke. His tongue is quick and teeth sharp and Ray finds himself just trying to keep up, hanging onto Mikey’s hips with a firm grasp. Mikey nips at Ray’s lips and shoves their bodies closer until Ray’s head knocks back against the brick.

One of Mikey’s hands slips down from Ray’s head to his chest, and he uses it to push himself slowly out of the kiss. Ray’s eyes spring open immediately, and Mikey is still smirking.

“Well, maybe next time we should see what you can talk me into,” he says before pushing away from Ray completely.

…

When Frank walks into the bar, Brian immediately grabs him by the elbow and hauls him over to restock drinks before quickly disappearing into the back room. Gerard snarls in his direction, letting his blood run smooth again after boiling and bubbling up at seeing someone grab what’s his.

Frank gives Gerard a reassuring look before glancing to the seat at the end of the bar. Gerard quickly occupies it as Frank starts pulling down empty liquor bottles.

“Oh, bartender,” Gerard calls all nonchalant. Frank turns around and sticks a hand on his hip.

“Yes?” he smirks. “How may I help you?”

Gerard pulls out a few crumpled bills from his pocket and slaps them onto the bar. “A bottle of your finest, please, and whatever your pretty face wants.”

Frank rolls his eyes playfully before pulling a beer out from one of the broken fridges and twisting the cap off. He places it in front of Gerard and then grabs another for himself.

“You really gonna keep this up for four hours?” he asks. Gerard simply grins.


From across the room a hard faced man has a twisted grin, satisfied that the angel and demon are too wrapped up in themselves to notice him. He notices them, alright. There’s no doubt about that. They stink of shame and betrayal.

He stands, pulling his trench coat tighter around himself before slipping quietly unnoticed out of the bar.

He’s going to be in Verin’s good books until the next millennium.

…

“Alright,” Ray says, “Where to now?”

Mikey sticks his hands into the pockets of his long black coat and shrugs a little. “Aren’t you suppose to know all the best spots in town?” he smiles.

Ray laughs shortly. “You never know, there might be a place even I don’t know about.”

“I highly doubt that,” Mikey replies, subconsciously moving a little closer to Ray as they walk. “I think we should go and check on my brother, make sure they haven’t done anything too stupid.”

“I don’t think even they are that reckless in these types of situa-” Ray’s cut off suddenly when something sends him flying down another club’s back alley.

Mikey hears him hit whatever stops him with a groaning of metal, and then there’s a taunting laugh.

“Come and get him!” someone chuckles.

Mikey glares down the alley and smoothly undoes the large buttons on his coat. “You messed with the wrong demon,” he growls before disappearing in the same direction.

…

Frank’s mopping up something brown and sticky near the front door when the small, out of date phone from behind the bar starts to ring. He looks up quickly. He’s never heard that thing ring before. He was never completely sure it even worked.

“You gonna get that?” Gerard asks, looking up from his half empty beer. Frank shrugs and drops the mop letting it clatter back against the wall.

He grabs the phone from behind the bar, placing it slowly against his ear. “Hello?” he says uneasily. There’s heavy breathing, a mouth so close to the phone that Frank can almost feel the breath against his ear. “Hello?” he says again, quieter, voice more careful. Gerard’s watching curiously and Frank’s about to give up and pull away when someone laughs.

“If you’ve got the desire to see your pathetic little friends alive, then I suggest you get yourselves down to warehouse fourteen, ten blocks east of the bar.”

“What?” Frank whispers, hand tightening around the phone. Gerard quickly stands from his seat.

“Don’t keep me waiting.” And then the line goes dead.

“What? What is it? What’s happened?” Gerard snaps quickly when Frank lets the phone slide on to his shoulder.

“Verin’s got Mikey and Ray.”

Frank’s barely got time to let the phone drop to the bar before Gerard’s running for the door.


When Frank gets around the back of the bar, he rounds the corner just in time to see Gerard’s dirty grey wings spring out behind him.

“Gerard!” he calls, momentarily afraid that Gerard might actually leave him behind. He runs faster and Gerard turns around, holding his arms out for Frank.

When he crashes into them, Frank buries his face into Gerard’s chest, arms tight around his body.

“Let’s go,” Gerard whispers and Frank’s wings instantly flap out, sprouting from his back and whipping softly against Gerard’s.

Gerard fists his hands into the back of Frank’s t-shirt and hauls them both into the sky.

…

Warehouse fourteen is by the docks. There’s a long line of identical warehouses that are mostly abandoned, one or two are used by shipping crews for storing cargo. They have large white numbers spray painted on their sides, and Frank and Gerard come to rest beneath the giant one – four.

Frank slowly turns his face out of Gerard’s chest, his cheeks cold from the sharp winds, though now it feels colder down here than it was up there. He takes a step back, his legs a little shaky. It’s definitely been a while since he’s flown. He looks up to see Gerard shaking his head.

“I think we’re a little rusty, huh?”

Frank swallows, his mouth and throat dry and sore, and nods. “I guess.”

There’s a crashing sound from inside of the warehouse and Gerard spins around towards the direction of the noise. “Ok,” he starts. “I’ll go in and look for the others. You hide here and wait for my signal.”

Frank snorts. “You’re joking, right?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” he says, pointing to his own face.

“Gerard!” Frank protests. “There’s a demon in there who wants to kill you, both of us. I’m not going to just let you walk in there, on your own and hand yourself over on a plate, ok?” Gerard goes to talk, but Frank presses his hand against Gerard’s mouth. “So you’re going to shut up and let me come demon hunting with you, alright?” Gerard nods sharply. “Alright,” Frank concludes. “Let’s go.”

Gerard lets Frank walk off first before smirking to himself and following.


They manage to bust their way through a small wooden side door. It’s locked, but the hinges buckle easily away from the wall after just a few slams from Frank’s shoulder. When it crashes to the ground, a plume of dust rises from the floor and into the light. And then silence.

Frank and Gerard glance at each other and then into the darkness of the warehouse. Gerard’s hand slowly slides into Frank’s and they grasp at each other tightly.

“Come on,” Gerard whispers.

…

There’s a pile of ash on the floor that’s quickly getting hurried away by the wind. Mikey claps his hands together. “I don’t think we’ll be hearing from him again,” he says triumphantly.

“Well, no. Not with him being dead, and all,” Ray points out. The pair stares at each other for a moment before laughing.

“That was fun!” Mikey grins, and Ray shakes his head, still laughing.

“That is definitely a demon thing to say.”

Mikey winks. He’s about to say something witty, but Ray’s pocket starts to ring. He stares at the phone that Ray pulls out like its alien.

“You have a cell phone?”

Ray shrugs. “Uh…yes?” he says before he answers it.

There’s a short pause, a silence that makes Ray glance up at Mikey uneasily, and it seems to last longer than it actually does.

“The demon and his angel have been spotted by the warehouses at the docks. Verin’s set a trap for them.”

The line goes dead, and by the widening of Ray’s eyes, Mikey instantly knows something’s wrong. “What?” he says hurriedly. “What is it?”

“We’ve got to go, right now. They’re in trouble.”

…

“Mikey,” Gerard calls in a half whisper, peering through the dark and around the abandoned warehouse. “Ray?” Nothing.

“Maybe we should split up and look for them?” Frank suggests, but Gerard quickly dismisses it.

“Oh no. You made a fuss to get in here, so no way am I letting you out of my sight.” He practically hears Frank rolling his eyes.

“Fine,” he says. “Well, Mikey and Ray obviously aren’t just going to pop up out of nowhere, so let’s try another approach, shall we?” Frank says in a smart ass tone before walking to the center of the large lower floor. “Verin!” he calls.

Gerard’s eyes widen and he quickly jumps to Frank’s side. “Frank! What the hell are you doing?”

“He’s being clever,” a voice states from up above. Sure enough, where another lever of the warehouse ends, half hanging over the lower floor, Verin appears, stepping in to the light from the broken windows. His hair is dark and slicked back, shoulders sharp as they move around in the tailored jacket of his clean, grey suit.

“Verin,” Gerard snarls. “Where’s my brother, you waste of fucking space.”

Verin throws his head back and laughs. “Me a waste of space? I’m not the one who upset dear daddy so much that he sent someone to vanquish me.”

“He can’t be that upset if he sent you,” Gerard spits back. Verin laughs again.

“You’re not really in a position to be throwing stones now, are you, Gerard?” he says.

“Stop wasting my time, Verin,” Gerard barks. “Just let Mikey and Ray go and we can sort this out ourselves. Unless you’re scared of me, that is?” Gerard’s eyes glint as the light catches them.

“Ah, Gerard. Unlike you, I don’t play fair. Therefore, there is nothing for me to fear. Not when you have friends like mine, that is.” And as his sentence finishes, balls of fire appear on the higher levels, five to be exact. When the smoke clears, demons that Gerard recognises are all grinning down at them.

Frank takes a step closer to Gerard as the demons loom above them, snarling and excited. Their eyes are dark and evil in a way he’s never seen from Gerard or Mikey. They’re full of despise and hate.

“You’re such a fucking coward, Verin!” Gerard shouts.

“Yes, well, let’s see how brave you and your little pet are, shall we?”

“I don’t think so, Verin!” an angry voice shouts from high up in the rafters. Everyone quickly looks up, and standing lazily against one of the many ceiling beams is a smirking, pissed off demon.

“Mikey!” Gerard announces gleefully. “You’re ok.”

“That demon you sent after us was pathetic,” Mikey informs Verin. “He didn’t keep us busy for very long, did he, Ray?”

From the opposite beam, Ray grins and shakes his head. “Nope.”

Verin growls, yelling in frustration as he shakes his head. “After them!” he shouts to the others, arms flailing as he points up and down. “After all of them!”

Like a shot Mikey drops down from the ceiling, landing on the back of the first demon before he’s got a chance to see him coming. With his hands clamped around the demon’s neck, Mikey quickly turns him into a walking fire ball, jumping back just as he goes up in flames. The demon yelps and stumbles around before falling off the ledge and plummeting to the ground.

Before he hits the floor, Mikey sends another fire ball into the next demon’s chest.

When the first demon lands on the floor in a pile of smouldering ash and lumps, Frank jumps back. High above, another demon has jumped up to the floor where Mikey is, waiting with his hands full of fire. Ray swoops down from the ceiling beams to help.

Verin growls. “If you want something done right,” he spits, “then you have to do it yourself!” He jumps down from the ledge, landing effortlessly on the floor beside the piles of ash. He stomps his way through them.

Frank and Gerard take a few steps back. Gerard throws both palms out towards Verin and a very hot light flashes in the space between them and Verin. He’s not got as much power as his brother, but the light and it’s heat are enough to keep Verin in place and shielding his face for a few more seconds.

“Frankie, run!” Gerard instructs, but Frank shakes his head furiously.

“Not on your life!”

Verin cackles. “No, little Angel, on yours,” he replies before shooting his own bolts of bright, hot light right into the center of Frank’s chest. Frank goes flying back into the darkness of the warehouse, crashing somewhere with a dull thud.

“Frank!” Gerard calls before spinning back around to deliver another hot flash between himself and Verin. “You fucking bastard!” he shouts, sending another flash and then another, more and more as he steps back. He can hear Ray and Mikey struggling above, faintly see their figures moving across the upper ledges as he continues to throw a succession of flashes in front of Verin’s face. It’s frustrating. With his old powers he’d have Verin on the floor in half a second and be able to get to Frank quickly, much quicker than this.

“You’re playing games with me,” Verin says, just a few feet away. He smirks and it’s twisted and crooked, he knows he’s going to have Gerard cornered soon.

Frank’s lying beneath a shattered window amongst the shards of glass. He’s barely conscious, moving his head like it’s a cannonball on a string as he groans. Gerard wants to shoot more flashes at Verin, but he’s got both hands up and ready to defend himself. As Gerard’s mind races, he desperately tries to think of what to do next.

Suddenly, what appears to be a large wooden crate comes smashing down in between them. Verin jumps back, shocked, and Gerard quickly uses the opportunity to send a blinding flash his way. Gerard glances up to see Mikey stood at the ledge of the top level, smirking as he sends another crate smashing down directly on top of Verin.

Without wasting time, Gerard quickly gets over to Frank, who’s now trying to wearily get back onto his feet. Gerard helps him up with hands around Frank’s shoulder and bicep.

“You ok?” he says and Frank nods, wincing.

“Yeah,” he wheezes. “I’m alright. It’s ok, I can stand.” As Frank steadies himself on his own two feet, another crate comes whooshing down, burying Verin beneath the broken wood.

“Running out of crates here!” Mikey yells down to them and Gerard nods sharply. He’s got to think of something, and fast.

“Both of us,” Frank says suddenly. “We can both kill him, me and you, together,” he explains.

The pile of broken wood begins to move as the demon beneath it groans.

“Will it work?” Gerard asks, eyebrows flicking up in worry.

“Only one way to find out,” Frank says, just as there’s a burst of pure hot flames and an angry roar. The wood flies out from the floor, burning away in mid air until it’s nothing but ash.

“Now!” someone shouts from above.

Frank and Gerard quickly grab on to each other with one hand just as Verin’s back on his feet. He creates a ball of flames between his hands, gnashing his teeth together as he pushes even more of his power into it as it flares with angry red sparks.

In the same moment he hurls it forward, Frank and Gerard each throw a hand forward. A wave of orange and yellow collide together, stretching out until they hit Verin’s ball of pure hot energy. It’s a struggle at first, it hurts so much that Frank has to close his eyes. He can feel the heat running all through his body, as though he’s being bathed in fire. His arms feel heavy and pain stabs through his hand. He can only imagine that Gerard feels the same, so he grabs onto him tighter.

With one last angry yell they push forward with everything they’ve got, every last ounce of angel and demon energy that they can possible sum up within them comes shooting out of their fingertips. The wave of maddening colour finally engulfs the ball of angry fire and surges past it, right for Verin.

“No!” is the very last thing they hear, haunting and pained before the demon disappears in a flash, and all the colours in the room quickly melt away.

Frank and Gerard fall against one another, exhausted. From the corner of his eye, Gerard sees Mikey and Ray landing effortlessly on the ground to inspect the thick black burn across the warehouse floor.

Verin is gone. There’s nothing left but the smell of burning wood.

-

Frank’s got his head tucked neatly beneath Gerard’s chin, nose and lips pressed against his throat. He’s comfortable, more comfortable than he’s been in days. The pain is only just starting to wear off, and Frank’s head still buzzes like an out of tune radio at night. It’s not all bad, though. Gerard’s very good at providing distractions.

Gerard’s arm tightens around Frank’s shoulder and Frank feels protected and safe. He dots a quick kiss against Gerard’s throat, to which Gerard hums in response.

“I’m hungry,” Frank says. “What’s taking Ray so long?”

Gerard shrugs. “Probably waiting for Mikey.”

Frank sighs, annoyed, and rolls his head onto Gerard’s shoulder. His stomach grumbles.

“I’m starving,” he whines. “How do humans get anything done with this constant need for food?”

Gerard laughs softly just as the apartment door opens. Ray’s carrying two boxes of pizza and a plastic bag full of bottles.

“Hey,” he greets before setting everything down on the coffee table. Frank rolls away from Gerard and grabs at the top pizza box.

“Finally!” he exclaims before practically tearing the lid off.

“You’re welcome,” Ray replies, rolling his eyes.

Gerard sits forward and his back cracks. His body still aches. “So, where’s Mikey?” he asks.

“Not back yet,” Ray simply says before flopping down on one of the two new chairs. He picks up a slice of pizza and Gerard doesn’t ask any more questions.


It’s not even twenty minutes later when Mikey arrives, looking tired but incredibly pleased with himself over something. He greets everyone with a nod before taking up the only empty seat.

“Did you buy beer?” is the first thing he says. Ray nods and hands over his own almost full bottle. “Thanks,” he says, smiling kindly at Ray before taking one large and long gulp. He gasps and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “I needed that.”

“So?” Gerard says. “What happened?”

“I told him I’m leaving,” Mikey replies.

Gerard’s eyebrow quirks. “What, and he was just ok with that?”

Mikey shrugs. “I didn’t really give him much choice in the matter. I told him I was staying on earth, and there was nothing he could do to stop me.”

The corners of Gerard’s mouth pull down and he nods, impressed. “What did he say?”

Mikey picks up a slice of pizza. “He offered me another job.”

“Here? On earth?” Gerard says. Mikey nods. “As what?”

Mikey’s lips quirk into a small smile. “Seems that New York City could do with two mediators,” he replies, looking directly at Ray, who quickly grins back.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Mikey says. “If that’s alright with you, of course.”

One of Ray’s hands slides over to Mikey’s thigh where it sits and squeezes the flesh softly. Gerard quickly averts his gaze as Frank laughs.

“That’s alright with me,” says Ray.

Frank picks up another two slices of pizza and folds them into an odd sort of sandwich. “We’re gonna need a bigger place,” he says, just before cramming the food into his mouth.



End!


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