Eleven - And Without You Is How I Disappear

Frank wasn't bleeding.


That was a very new thing for him these days, but sure enough, when he woke up in his bed, Gerard at his back, there were no fresh wounds on his body, not even the tiniest bruise or smallest fingernail scratch. Gerard had, for some reason, neglected to hurt him, and certainly not on accident. His heart leaped in his chest, terrified that Gerard was saving him up for something somehow worse than what had happened to him before.


They had not said anything last night, which made Frank worry that Gerard was angry at him. Still...he was sleeping now, and was no danger to anybody. Frank tipped his head back so that it rested against Gerard's shoulder, and Gerard hummed in reply, one of his arms wrapping around Frank to flatten his hand against Frank's heart, as though to feel its beat. Frank shifted, and his fingers curled.


He would never understand why Gerard had such an aversion to snuggling but never minded when he and Frank slept in the same bed like this. The bunk bed was too crowded for them not to spoon like this, but Gerard had a perfectly good top bunk.


Still, Frank wasn't complaining. He closed his eyes and tucked his head into the crook of Gerard's neck, soft black hair tickling his nose.


xoxoxo


Frank startled awake again at the wake-up sirens, and Gerard cursed behind him, sounding distinctly annoyed, which was never good. The hand disappeared from his chest and Gerard mumbled something about not sleeping naked anymore before crawling out of the bunk and dressing, glaring at Frank and prompting him to do the same. Damn, Gerard from last night really was gone. Whatever, Frank could deal with it.


He would have to deal with no Gerard at all by the end of the month, so he might as well start now. Tossing his head, he followed suit and skulked back to his bunk, tucking his knees to his chin and tracing patterns in the scratchy sheets.


"I suppose I can't ask about last night?"


Gerard looked up sharply. "Suppose you could. What would you say?"


Frank blinked, his attention abruptly diverted. "It...I don't know." What am I supposed to say? he thought desperately.


"Hm," was all Gerard gave him, turning away and starting up the ladder to his bunk.


Frank threw up his hands. "Hm? That's all you're gonna say?"


Gerard's head peeked out from above him. "What do you want me to say?"


"I don't know, maybe whether or not you liked it?"


Gerard snorted. "I hated it, obviously. The orgasm was completely and utterly faked. Happy?"


Frank narrowed his eyes. "Fine, be a bastard."


"Why? Did you like it, Frankie dear?" Gerard's eyes were definitely dangerous now. "Did you enjoy not being slammed against the wall and not being hurt for once? Do you wish I would do that again?"


"Shut up," Frank muttered. He hated their stupid arguments. He hated Gerard's stupid power complex.


"You may think you do, but I know better," Gerard scoffed, leaning down a little. Frank hoped he would fall off and crack his skull open. "I know you'd much rather take it rough. That's what you've been doing all these years, after all."


"Fuck you!" Frank snapped, flushed with anger. "I did that so they wouldn't fucking murder me in my sleep! Not because...why the hell would you suggest that I liked them doing that to me? Fucking dirty men, prisoners who might have come in here for rape and mass murder and torture and who knows what the fuck else! I would never choose to sleep with them! And guess what, Gerard? You're just another one of them, and they all died!"


Gerard opened his mouth, and then closed it, his brow lowering. "Don't speak to me like that."


"Or what?" Frank growled, "you'll pin me to the bed and rape me? Congrats, that's basically all you can do, and I don't care anymore. I've been here four years, and you're all the same."


"I think you'll find Gerard is not very similar to those other men at all."


They both looked to the entrance to the cell with wide eyes. There was a small group of people there, all dressed in suits and...at the head of them was a woman with a bored expression and...orange hair. She wore a pinstriped suit and was crossing her arms, staring at them coolly.


Gerard instantly relaxed, throwing up his hands. "You certainly took your time."


"Gerard, now is not the time for witty remarks." The woman glanced meaningfully at the security camera in the corner.


Frank stared at her. "Who-"


"My name is Agent Hayley Williams. I'm working with Agent Robert Bryar on your case, Gerard Way, and I am...pleased to say that a verdict has been delivered. You have no more appeals left. Your death by electric chair is scheduled for noon today."


"Noon! Wonderful, I like nice round numbers." Frank couldn't believe it. Gerard was going to die, and he was completely nonplussed.


"Right. Anyway, you're coming with us."


"Can Frank come, too?" Gerard asked, tilting his head to the side and climbing down the ladder. Frank looked at him with horror. No! Did he not understand that that would mean that they would remember Frank, and probably send him to his death, too?


But of course, he realized bitterly, Gerard knew that. Gerard...wanted him to die. Frank backed away, swallowing.


Agent Williams raised an eyebrow. "Well, why not? I'm sure you have your reasons, Gerard."


Frank shook his head desperately at Gerard, who only chuckled and grabbed his arm, easily dragging him out of the cell. Frank struggled, but Agent Williams rolled her eyes and two of the men in suits took each of his arms - or they tried to. Gerard hissed at them and they backed off instantly, which was interesting.


The people of death row looked at them sympathetically, and Ray gave them an encouraging smile as they walked past. Frank was shaking, and he knew Gerard could feel it. He didn't want to die. He was too young to die - he may have delayed it by four years, but...he still had a whole life ahead of him! Frank knew it was dumb to think about all this right now, but it was sort of as though his life was flashing before his eyes, and it was scary as hell.


Gerard didn't seem to care at all, his arm around Frank's waist and his eyes bright and almost...excited. What a freak. He probably looked forward to dying, thinking that the shocks of electricity would come and something incredible would happen, proving to everyone that he couldn't die or something. Cocky bastard. Frank hated him right now. He would die because of Gerard.


They walked into the main room, and the prison guards snickered at them, Agent Williams dipped her head cordially, and so did Gerard. The motion made it possible for Frank to see a flash of gold at his throat, and stared at the cross necklace Gerard had grabbed at some point in time, presumably wanting to die along with it. Frank squeezed his eyes shut, and heard Agent Williams speaking with the guards, who let them pass wordlessly.


Frank stumbled back.


Sunlight washed over him, and he blinked rapidly, squinting up at the sky, which shone smooth and sapphire. Fuck, he hadn't seen the sky in four years. And now...now he never would again. Frank made a quiet sound and Gerard pulled him closer. Frank wrinkled his nose but didn't try to get away again. The suits and Agent Williams were leading them down the gravel path, and were approached by more suits, and another woman, this one with long blonde hair and accusing eyes.


"I'm Agent Ballato. I'll be escorting Mr. Way to the car."


"Hello, Agent. Because of a...special request, Mr..."


"Iero," Frank said quietly, keeping his head down.


"Because of a special request, Mr. Iero will be joining us."


Agent Ballato raised an eyebrow, and maybe it was Frank's imagination, but he could have sworn she met Gerard's eyes questioningly. It was strange behavior for a federal agent, almost too familiar. But it was gone as fast as it had happened, and instead she was saying. "Of course. Mr. Way, Mr. Iero, please follow me."


They did.


xoxoxo


"Gerard, what is going on here?" Frank asked him urgently, pressed up against the older man in the backseat. They were in a Hummer, the suits on either side of him and Agent Ballato in the driver's seat.


"We're dying, I thought that was obvious," Gerard replied, but he was still smiling. The suits shifted uncomfortably. Frank sniffed and slumped down in his seat.


"Right. Of course."


Gerard only grinned and looked out the window.


xoxoxo


They arrived at the blank, white building around half an hour before noon. Agent Ballato escorted them out, and the suits waited unsurely behind.


"Just follow me," she said, and they did again, going through yet another maze of passageways before they got to a heavy metal door. Frank gulped audibly. Maybe he could just make a break for it and run now. But he could see the suits farther down the passageway, watching with their shaded eyes.


Agent Ballato had pressed a buzzer on the door, and a suit opened it, revealing an empty room beyond - empty save for a single large, padded chair with wire running up and down the back of it and leather straps on the arms. Frank's breath shortened. Shit, shit, shit. This was really happening.


Two suits were in the room, and Agent Ballato smiled at them, teeth blindingly white. Then she turned to Gerard and Frank, her eyes grave. "Mr. Way," she said in a low voice, "we have gone to a lot of trouble to ensure you, and now Mr. Iero's, safety. You will not be searched for, since we will provide them with bodies. They will think you are dead. Be very careful."


Gerard dipped his head to her. "Many thanks, Lindsey."


Her eyes flashed. "The boss says you better prove to him that you're worth keeping along. If you have to call in any more favors, he might have to...dispose of you. For good."


"I believe he'll refrain from doing that. I've 'disposed' of many for him. He would do well to learn it."


Agent Ballato, or...Lindsey, glowered at him. "Don't speak of the boss like that. You may be high up in the ranks here, but there are still superiors."


"I am aware. I apologize." Gerard's words did not reflect his voice, but Agent Ballato accepted them. Meanwhile, Frank was just as confused as the suits in the room.


"Excuse me, Agent, but what-"


He was cut off by the dart fired at him from the female agent. He clutched his neck and then fell to his knees, before slumping on the ground, head lolling to the side. The other suit opened his mouth to shout, but was out just as fast as the other. Agent Ballato looked directly at Gerard, dart gun still held in her hands. "Take their clothes, you and Mr. Iero should dress and get out of here as fast as possible. The Hilton Garden Inn on 10th Street downtown is prepared for you, your name is Mr. Zale. In two days time, you are to take the nine a.m. flight at Richmond International to Newark. From there, you are on your own. Play it safe, Gerard."


"Thank you," he said, and though he did not smile, Frank sensed the first genuine emotion besides anger that he'd ever seen in the man. Gratitude.


Then it was gone as Gerard stalked over to the first man and casually stripped him of his suit, stepping comfortably out of the ugly prison clothes and dressing himself in the suit of the unconscious guard. Frank stared at him, but was snapped out of it when Agent Ballato shoved him towards the other, and his new outfit. Taking a deep breath, he followed 'suit' and remained in a daze even behind the dark sunglasses and under the scrutiny of the cameras and suits in the hall. Gerard walked beside him with an easy stride, and he tried to copy it. He felt too obvious, even though he knew the orange prison clothes were so distracting that the suits probably hadn't even noticed their faces.


When they were out of the death building, Gerard didn't stop walking, and Frank hurried to catch up with him, feeling like a baby deer trying to walk with his uncertain, ungainly steps. The suit was way too big for him - the man it really belonged to had been rather overweight.


When they came to the gate to the facility, there was a limousine idling at the curb for them. Gerard, in an unexpected stroke of gentlemanly manners, opened the door for Frank, who all but fell in. The chauffeur was unseen, separated from them by a dark, tinted partition. Gerard slid into the seat across from him, smiling hugely. Frank didn't know what to do. He was still terrified.


"What the fuck just happened?" Frank stammered, wringing his hands in his lap. Gerard caught his wrist and just kept smiling, and it was starting to get sort of creepy. "Are we...are we not going to die?"


"Not by electric chair," Gerard giggled manically, taking his shades off. His golden eyes glittered incredibly bright, and Frank's heart beat faster. They weren't going to be killed. But what was going on here? How had that happened? How had they gone from a prison to a limo in under twenty-four hours?


But Gerard provided no more answers, and the limo turned corners and sped down roads until the prison was far behind, and the city visible in the distance.  

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