(no subject)
Apr. 11th, 2010 02:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wordslingingSo hey! About a million years ago (i.e. Thanksgiving) when I asked for fic prompts, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
theopteryx and shoemaster asked me for some historical backstory for I Was Your Silver Lining. Which I was excited about, but also, as it turns out, super intimidated about writing in someone else's fic universe.
Also, I am no stranger to either writer's block or procrastination. Also I suck.
But! A while ago it occurred to me that Allison and B-Rex have birthdays pretty close together! And I never filled that prompt! And six months later is better than never!
So here is about 1500 words of that, which you don't strictly need to have read their fic for but this will probably make more sense if you do, and which is in no way as awesome as the fic, but contains awkwardness and first kisses. Happy birthday and early birthday, you guys, you're both great and I'm lucky to know you. ♥
Frank fell asleep in Gerard's bed again last night.
Gerard shouldn't have let him. They've been sneaking into each other's bedrooms at night for years, but it was safer when they were younger. If they'd been discovered back then, it could have been forgiven as childish mischief. But they're not children anymore, and Gerard can only imagine what would happen if Sophia knew her only son had slept in another man's bed.
Not that they do anything in each other's beds but talk and read, but Gerard doubts Sophia would believe that, and he couldn't entirely fault her for her suspicions, because she'd be right to be suspicious of him. Even now, when he knows he should wake Frank and see him on his way home, Gerard can't help but linger for a few moments, studying the lines of Frank's sleeping form and the peaceful expression on his face.
But the sky's getting lighter outside, so he puts a hand on Frank's shoulder and shakes him gently. Frank blinks awake slowly, and then his eyes widen and he bolts upright as he realizes where he is.
"I'm sorry," he says, reaching up to smooth down his sleep-ruffled hair. "I didn't mean to--"
"You know I don't mind," Gerard cuts him off. "But you should get home, quickly."
Frank nods, already moving toward the window, where he can lean out and easily grasp the branches of the tree that grows alongside the house. "I'll see you soon," he says, and then swings out and climbs down, quiet and surefooted through years of practice.
***
It's harder to hide the way he feels when the full moon is closer. The itch gets under Gerard's skin and makes him wild, and over the years he's learned to control himself, but that doesn't mean it's easy. And when Frank sneaks into his room again, and they're alone and he's so close, Gerard wonders how long he can go on before he betrays himself somehow.
They're trying to be more careful, to avoid staying in each other's rooms too long or falling asleep. So this time when the sky starts to lighten, Frank looks up from the book he brought and says, reluctantly, "I'd better go."
"Yes," Gerard agrees, then says, hesitantly, "Frank, I've been thinking...perhaps we shouldn't do this anymore."
"What?" Frank looks at him, surprised and a little hurt. "Why?"
"It just...it seems too risky," Gerard says. "Lately it feels like we're pushing our luck, like we're going to be found out sooner or later--and like if we did, it would be worse now that we're older."
Frank shakes his head. "Being older just means we've gotten better at doing it without getting found out." He frowns a little, studying Gerard's face. "Do...do you not want to do it anymore?"
Nothing could be farther from the truth, but Gerard hesitates. Perhaps the truth isn't in their best interests here. Perhaps it would be better for Frank to think Gerard's grown tired of their childhood games than for him to know the truth.
But as Gerard hesitates, something changes in Frank's expression and he starts to turn toward the window, and Gerard knows he can't do it, can't bear to see that look on Frank's face, can't let him leave like this. He reaches out and grabs Frank's hand, pulling him back. Frank's startled face is inches from his now, and his hand is so warm in Gerard's, and Gerard could take one step forward and be close enough to feel that warmth along the whole length of his body, close enough to lower his mouth to Frank's.
"It's not that," he says softly. "I swear, it's not. I'm just worried."
"All right," Frank says, seeming reassured. He looks up at Gerard for a moment, still very close, and then takes a step back. "Look, I need to go--can we talk more about this another time?"
Gerard nods, and squeezes Frank's hand briefly before letting go. "All right. Be careful going home."
***
The next time they see each other is the day of the full moon. It's summer, so Gerard has plenty of time between when his shift at work ends and when he has to get ready for the change. It's a hot, still day, and he'd like to go by the Ieros' stables and see if he and Frank could go riding, feel the wind on his face and in his hair, but the horses get skittish around them on days like this.
He goes down to the pond instead, thinking he'll dangle his feet in the water for a while (hell, maybe even dunk his head under). As he rounds the little copse of trees that hides the pond from view of the main road, he sees someone there already--of course, he wasn't the only one to have the idea--and as he gets closer, he realizes it's Frank.
He's stretched out on the bank with his feet in the water and his arms folded behind his head, eyes closed. He's barefoot, trousers rolled up past his knees and sleeves rolled up past his elbows, jacket and tie discarded completely. It's a lot more of Frank than is usually on display, and Gerard can't help but stare as he approaches.
A twig snaps under his foot and Frank sits up, opening his eyes and smiling when he sees Gerard. "Hello."
Gerard sits down beside him, pulling off his shoes and socks and rolling his own trousers up past his ankles. "Looks as though you had the same idea I did," he says, sliding his feet into the water.
"Good day for it," Frank replies, leaning forward to brace his elbows on his knees.
They sit in silence for a little while, until Frank speaks up again.
"I've been thinking about what you said the other night."
Gerard looks over at him, eyebrows raised slightly. "Yes?"
"Perhaps you're right," Frank says. "Perhaps we should stop taking so many risks. Honestly, I've had that thought myself in the past, but I didn't want to stop spending time with you."
"We don't have to stop spending time together," Gerard reassures him.
"I know, but it won't be like spending the night together," Frank says. "It's been one of my favorite things to do since we were children, and I haven't wanted that to change."
"I know," Gerard says. "I haven't, either."
Frank draws his legs up onto the bank and turns, facing Gerard. "But it has changed, hasn't it?" he asks softly. "We're not children anymore."
"No." Gerard meets his eyes, and reaches to cover Frank's hand with his own on the grass. "No, we're not."
Frank is the first to lean forward, but Gerard meets him halfway. When their lips touch for the first time it's light and almost chaste, but then Frank's mouth parts under Gerard's and he presses closer, until their knees are jammed together awkwardly.
Gerard raises his free hand to cup Frank's cheek, and Frank tries to rub against him without breaking the kiss, which makes Gerard grin, which more or less spoils the kiss anyway. He backs off, lets out a breathless little laugh, and then presses his lips to Frank's again, twining both hands in Frank's hair.
Frank presses even closer, one hand on Gerard's shoulder, the other on his knee. Gerard wants to keep kissing him until they're both dizzy, ease him down on the grass and put his hands all over Frank's warm skin, do everything he's dreamed about and maybe some things he's never dared to dream. But reality comes crashing back to him, and he pulls away.
"Frank," he gasps, "Frankie, we can't do this here. Not now."
Frank draws back, flushed and breathing heavily. "No--no, of course not."
Gerard leans in again, but not for another kiss. He cups Frank's face in both hands and presses their foreheads together, closing his eyes. His mind is racing and his heart is pounding, because of course, they shouldn't be doing this anywhere, ever. But he's wanted this for so long, and he's reeling with the knowledge that Frank wants it, too, that Frank wants him.
"After the moon," he says eventually. "We can figure out what to do then."
"All right," Frank says. He pulls back enough to look at Gerard, and smiles. "And tonight we can run together."
Gerard returns the smile, and then kisses Frank once more, drawing back before they can lose themselves in it again.
They make themselves more or less presentable before leaving the pond, though Frank only knots his tie loosely, and leaves his jacket off entirely, draping it over his shoulder with one hand. They walk back towards town side-by-side, and for a while Frank reaches over and touches Gerard's hand very lightly, just his little finger hooked around Gerard's. Light as the touch is, it makes Gerard's whole hand tingle, and when someone else comes into view on the road and Frank lets go, the feeling doesn't go away.
theopteryx and shoemaster asked me for some historical backstory for I Was Your Silver Lining. Which I was excited about, but also, as it turns out, super intimidated about writing in someone else's fic universe. Also, I am no stranger to either writer's block or procrastination. Also I suck.
But! A while ago it occurred to me that Allison and B-Rex have birthdays pretty close together! And I never filled that prompt! And six months later is better than never!
So here is about 1500 words of that, which you don't strictly need to have read their fic for but this will probably make more sense if you do, and which is in no way as awesome as the fic, but contains awkwardness and first kisses. Happy birthday and early birthday, you guys, you're both great and I'm lucky to know you. ♥
Frank fell asleep in Gerard's bed again last night.
Gerard shouldn't have let him. They've been sneaking into each other's bedrooms at night for years, but it was safer when they were younger. If they'd been discovered back then, it could have been forgiven as childish mischief. But they're not children anymore, and Gerard can only imagine what would happen if Sophia knew her only son had slept in another man's bed.
Not that they do anything in each other's beds but talk and read, but Gerard doubts Sophia would believe that, and he couldn't entirely fault her for her suspicions, because she'd be right to be suspicious of him. Even now, when he knows he should wake Frank and see him on his way home, Gerard can't help but linger for a few moments, studying the lines of Frank's sleeping form and the peaceful expression on his face.
But the sky's getting lighter outside, so he puts a hand on Frank's shoulder and shakes him gently. Frank blinks awake slowly, and then his eyes widen and he bolts upright as he realizes where he is.
"I'm sorry," he says, reaching up to smooth down his sleep-ruffled hair. "I didn't mean to--"
"You know I don't mind," Gerard cuts him off. "But you should get home, quickly."
Frank nods, already moving toward the window, where he can lean out and easily grasp the branches of the tree that grows alongside the house. "I'll see you soon," he says, and then swings out and climbs down, quiet and surefooted through years of practice.
***
It's harder to hide the way he feels when the full moon is closer. The itch gets under Gerard's skin and makes him wild, and over the years he's learned to control himself, but that doesn't mean it's easy. And when Frank sneaks into his room again, and they're alone and he's so close, Gerard wonders how long he can go on before he betrays himself somehow.
They're trying to be more careful, to avoid staying in each other's rooms too long or falling asleep. So this time when the sky starts to lighten, Frank looks up from the book he brought and says, reluctantly, "I'd better go."
"Yes," Gerard agrees, then says, hesitantly, "Frank, I've been thinking...perhaps we shouldn't do this anymore."
"What?" Frank looks at him, surprised and a little hurt. "Why?"
"It just...it seems too risky," Gerard says. "Lately it feels like we're pushing our luck, like we're going to be found out sooner or later--and like if we did, it would be worse now that we're older."
Frank shakes his head. "Being older just means we've gotten better at doing it without getting found out." He frowns a little, studying Gerard's face. "Do...do you not want to do it anymore?"
Nothing could be farther from the truth, but Gerard hesitates. Perhaps the truth isn't in their best interests here. Perhaps it would be better for Frank to think Gerard's grown tired of their childhood games than for him to know the truth.
But as Gerard hesitates, something changes in Frank's expression and he starts to turn toward the window, and Gerard knows he can't do it, can't bear to see that look on Frank's face, can't let him leave like this. He reaches out and grabs Frank's hand, pulling him back. Frank's startled face is inches from his now, and his hand is so warm in Gerard's, and Gerard could take one step forward and be close enough to feel that warmth along the whole length of his body, close enough to lower his mouth to Frank's.
"It's not that," he says softly. "I swear, it's not. I'm just worried."
"All right," Frank says, seeming reassured. He looks up at Gerard for a moment, still very close, and then takes a step back. "Look, I need to go--can we talk more about this another time?"
Gerard nods, and squeezes Frank's hand briefly before letting go. "All right. Be careful going home."
***
The next time they see each other is the day of the full moon. It's summer, so Gerard has plenty of time between when his shift at work ends and when he has to get ready for the change. It's a hot, still day, and he'd like to go by the Ieros' stables and see if he and Frank could go riding, feel the wind on his face and in his hair, but the horses get skittish around them on days like this.
He goes down to the pond instead, thinking he'll dangle his feet in the water for a while (hell, maybe even dunk his head under). As he rounds the little copse of trees that hides the pond from view of the main road, he sees someone there already--of course, he wasn't the only one to have the idea--and as he gets closer, he realizes it's Frank.
He's stretched out on the bank with his feet in the water and his arms folded behind his head, eyes closed. He's barefoot, trousers rolled up past his knees and sleeves rolled up past his elbows, jacket and tie discarded completely. It's a lot more of Frank than is usually on display, and Gerard can't help but stare as he approaches.
A twig snaps under his foot and Frank sits up, opening his eyes and smiling when he sees Gerard. "Hello."
Gerard sits down beside him, pulling off his shoes and socks and rolling his own trousers up past his ankles. "Looks as though you had the same idea I did," he says, sliding his feet into the water.
"Good day for it," Frank replies, leaning forward to brace his elbows on his knees.
They sit in silence for a little while, until Frank speaks up again.
"I've been thinking about what you said the other night."
Gerard looks over at him, eyebrows raised slightly. "Yes?"
"Perhaps you're right," Frank says. "Perhaps we should stop taking so many risks. Honestly, I've had that thought myself in the past, but I didn't want to stop spending time with you."
"We don't have to stop spending time together," Gerard reassures him.
"I know, but it won't be like spending the night together," Frank says. "It's been one of my favorite things to do since we were children, and I haven't wanted that to change."
"I know," Gerard says. "I haven't, either."
Frank draws his legs up onto the bank and turns, facing Gerard. "But it has changed, hasn't it?" he asks softly. "We're not children anymore."
"No." Gerard meets his eyes, and reaches to cover Frank's hand with his own on the grass. "No, we're not."
Frank is the first to lean forward, but Gerard meets him halfway. When their lips touch for the first time it's light and almost chaste, but then Frank's mouth parts under Gerard's and he presses closer, until their knees are jammed together awkwardly.
Gerard raises his free hand to cup Frank's cheek, and Frank tries to rub against him without breaking the kiss, which makes Gerard grin, which more or less spoils the kiss anyway. He backs off, lets out a breathless little laugh, and then presses his lips to Frank's again, twining both hands in Frank's hair.
Frank presses even closer, one hand on Gerard's shoulder, the other on his knee. Gerard wants to keep kissing him until they're both dizzy, ease him down on the grass and put his hands all over Frank's warm skin, do everything he's dreamed about and maybe some things he's never dared to dream. But reality comes crashing back to him, and he pulls away.
"Frank," he gasps, "Frankie, we can't do this here. Not now."
Frank draws back, flushed and breathing heavily. "No--no, of course not."
Gerard leans in again, but not for another kiss. He cups Frank's face in both hands and presses their foreheads together, closing his eyes. His mind is racing and his heart is pounding, because of course, they shouldn't be doing this anywhere, ever. But he's wanted this for so long, and he's reeling with the knowledge that Frank wants it, too, that Frank wants him.
"After the moon," he says eventually. "We can figure out what to do then."
"All right," Frank says. He pulls back enough to look at Gerard, and smiles. "And tonight we can run together."
Gerard returns the smile, and then kisses Frank once more, drawing back before they can lose themselves in it again.
They make themselves more or less presentable before leaving the pond, though Frank only knots his tie loosely, and leaves his jacket off entirely, draping it over his shoulder with one hand. They walk back towards town side-by-side, and for a while Frank reaches over and touches Gerard's hand very lightly, just his little finger hooked around Gerard's. Light as the touch is, it makes Gerard's whole hand tingle, and when someone else comes into view on the road and Frank lets go, the feeling doesn't go away.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 07:52 am (UTC)Oh, if only they knew the tragedy that awaits them.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 12:39 am (UTC)Inorite? Writing this was a very :D: experience.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 08:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 12:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 12:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 12:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 01:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 12:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 02:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 12:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 02:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 12:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 02:39 pm (UTC)This is the most marvelous of birthday presents! :DDDDDDDDDDDD
no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 12:13 am (UTC)And yay! Glad you like it. :D
no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 03:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 12:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 04:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 12:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 04:38 pm (UTC)Thanks for this!
no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 12:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 05:50 pm (UTC)<33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
(But sneaking into each others' rooms at night is one of my favorite things, so double plus YAY)
no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 12:14 am (UTC)(And oh man, me toooooo.)
no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 05:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 06:30 pm (UTC)That image of the two of them, in their old-timey clothes, walking down the road with their pinkies hooked. Gorgeous♥
no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 10:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 12:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-12 06:35 am (UTC)Gorgeous.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 06:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-14 12:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-14 10:16 pm (UTC)I do love this. :D
they are so in LOOOOOVE~~!
no subject
Date: 2010-04-14 11:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-18 03:47 pm (UTC)