Fic: Sleep
Aug. 25th, 2009 12:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
koritsimouTitle: Sleep
Characters: Gerard, Frank (MCR)
Wordcount: 930
Disclaimer: I own no one. I claim nothing as fact. I make no profit.
Notes: For Ellie. From the alphabet fic request thing. S is for Sleep. This is the first fic I’ve ever written with a pairing. It changed greatly as I typed it up, from what I’d originally written. Also, the above number 930 does indeed make it the longest thing I’ve ever posted. Beta’d by lemonsherry@lj
Originally Posted: November 5th 2007. Here
-----
Frank knew Gerard had trouble sleeping. The fact was evident, although the numerous reasons why had never been fully explained. Frank still didn’t mind. He didn’t need to know why.
Gerard knew Frank had no trouble sleeping. Gerard had watched as he once fell asleep in his just-served breakfast. Gerard remembered because he had craftily cut out the middle of each pancake, barring the top one so Frank wouldn’t notice the difference in the stack until he had made his escape. Bob ate what Gerard had left though, so the brilliance of his plan was never fully appreciated.
Gerard had told Frank repeatedly that he didn’t have to stay up to keep him company, but Frank regularly insisted he couldn’t sleep and dragged Gerard into his bunk to keep him company. They talked about movies, music and superheroes in hushed voices, until Frank struggled to keep his eyes open. Then they’d talk to each other in near-silent whispers, Frank curled up around Gerard, who sat up as much as the bunk would allow. Sometimes they would listen to music, an earphone each and Frank’s iPod, because Gerard could never be bothered to update his. Once Frank had even begged Gerard to tell him a story. He'd giggled so loudly at the different voices Gerard put on for the characters (Roberto, Raymondo and Michelangelo) that Bob woke up and threw a balled up t-shirt at them. Frank never found out if Roberto and Raymondo managed to save the coffee mine from collapsing, or if Michelangelo went down with his beloved mine.
Gerard used to feel uncomfortable about Frank’s apparent feeling of obligation to stay awake for him. The guilt subsided pretty quickly after the first few times Gerard witnessed how peacefully Frank slept after he allowed himself to drift off. Gerard’s favourite part of the night was when Frank reached the very edge of consciousness and started to talk complete gibberish. They once had a thrilling conversation about cuddly pink bunnies which are only born if the mother rabbit has eaten doughnuts with sprinkles within the last week of her gestation period. Frank told Gerard that they should go hunting for rabbits and feed them doughnuts, because there wasn’t nearly enough cuddly pink bunnies in the world; Frank never remembers those conversations.
Well, so Gerard assumed, because he and Frank had never talked about their late-night chats in the morning. Except that once.
-----
“Gee.”
Gerard looked up, somewhat surprised. He’d expected Frank to sleep for another few hours yet.
“Gee,” Frank said again, his voice just above a whisper and his eyes not all the way open as he lifted his head toward Gerard.
“Yeah, Frank?”
“Whatcha doin’?” Frank asked.
“Reading, Frankie,” Gerard answered and waved the book a little.
Frank’s eyes almost tried to follow it, but quickly gave up and closed again. “Okay.”
Gerard watched Frank for a few more seconds, slightly bemused, before his eyes flicked back to his book.
“Gee,” Frank’s eyes were open once again, but he was sort of looking at Gerard’s feet.
“Yeah?”
“What do you do when I’m asleep?”
“I watch for monsters.” Gerard answered without missing a beat.
“No, really. What do you do?” Frank was now inspecting the side of Gerard’s t-shirt.
“What do you think I do?” Gerard asked, his focus switching from his book to Frank and back lazily.
Frank watched the gentle rise and fall of Gerard’s stomach and answered very quietly, “I think you leave.”
Frank kept his eyes on Gerard’s stomach as it stilled, unable to look away. Gerard could though, and turned his face to where the bunk curtains were still closed. They stayed like that for what felt like the longest time, before Frank turned onto his back, staring up at the ceiling of the bunk as Gerard slipped out without a sound.
That night Frank didn't drag Gerard to his bunk, nor did he stay up in the lounge with Gerard. In fact, Frank turned in for the night straight after Bob did. Ray might have given Gerard a questioning look. Gerard may have ignored it. That night Gerard slept in the lounge. He didn't head for Frank’s bunk, but he wasn’t ready to use his own.
After three spectacularly ordinary days, Gerard retired to his own bunk instead of the couch. And instead of Frank‘s. It was the first time he’d used the bunk for about four or five weeks, and it found itself supporting the weight of two; Frank was sitting in Gerard’s bunk when he finally climbed into it.
It’s late. Long past the hour when Frank would naturally fall asleep. Past even the hour when Frank would let himself fall asleep in the company of Gerard. It’s the kind of late where Gerard actually suspects that Ray might wake up in an hour or so.
Frank watches Gerard settle himself into the bunk, but Frank isn’t looking at Gerard when Gerard looks at him. He looks tired. More tired than usual, and more tired than Gerard even feels.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Frank says, looking past Gerard.
Gerard closes the bunk curtains and lies down. He pulls Frank towards him a little, and Frank leans his head against Gerard’s shoulder. Frank exhales like a sigh and Gerard can feel him relax, feel the tension seep out of him.
“Goodnight, Frankie,” Gerard says quietly after he’s sure Frank’s asleep.
“Goodnight Gee. Thanks for looking out for the monsters.” Frank says, and presses a kiss under Gerard’s jaw. Gerard smiles and closes his eyes, as Frank’s breath ghosts over his neck.
-----
I remember always looking up to you, but you were never looking down
Characters: Gerard, Frank (MCR)
Wordcount: 930
Disclaimer: I own no one. I claim nothing as fact. I make no profit.
Notes: For Ellie. From the alphabet fic request thing. S is for Sleep. This is the first fic I’ve ever written with a pairing. It changed greatly as I typed it up, from what I’d originally written. Also, the above number 930 does indeed make it the longest thing I’ve ever posted. Beta’d by lemonsherry@lj
Originally Posted: November 5th 2007. Here
-----
Frank knew Gerard had trouble sleeping. The fact was evident, although the numerous reasons why had never been fully explained. Frank still didn’t mind. He didn’t need to know why.
Gerard knew Frank had no trouble sleeping. Gerard had watched as he once fell asleep in his just-served breakfast. Gerard remembered because he had craftily cut out the middle of each pancake, barring the top one so Frank wouldn’t notice the difference in the stack until he had made his escape. Bob ate what Gerard had left though, so the brilliance of his plan was never fully appreciated.
Gerard had told Frank repeatedly that he didn’t have to stay up to keep him company, but Frank regularly insisted he couldn’t sleep and dragged Gerard into his bunk to keep him company. They talked about movies, music and superheroes in hushed voices, until Frank struggled to keep his eyes open. Then they’d talk to each other in near-silent whispers, Frank curled up around Gerard, who sat up as much as the bunk would allow. Sometimes they would listen to music, an earphone each and Frank’s iPod, because Gerard could never be bothered to update his. Once Frank had even begged Gerard to tell him a story. He'd giggled so loudly at the different voices Gerard put on for the characters (Roberto, Raymondo and Michelangelo) that Bob woke up and threw a balled up t-shirt at them. Frank never found out if Roberto and Raymondo managed to save the coffee mine from collapsing, or if Michelangelo went down with his beloved mine.
Gerard used to feel uncomfortable about Frank’s apparent feeling of obligation to stay awake for him. The guilt subsided pretty quickly after the first few times Gerard witnessed how peacefully Frank slept after he allowed himself to drift off. Gerard’s favourite part of the night was when Frank reached the very edge of consciousness and started to talk complete gibberish. They once had a thrilling conversation about cuddly pink bunnies which are only born if the mother rabbit has eaten doughnuts with sprinkles within the last week of her gestation period. Frank told Gerard that they should go hunting for rabbits and feed them doughnuts, because there wasn’t nearly enough cuddly pink bunnies in the world; Frank never remembers those conversations.
Well, so Gerard assumed, because he and Frank had never talked about their late-night chats in the morning. Except that once.
-----
“Gee.”
Gerard looked up, somewhat surprised. He’d expected Frank to sleep for another few hours yet.
“Gee,” Frank said again, his voice just above a whisper and his eyes not all the way open as he lifted his head toward Gerard.
“Yeah, Frank?”
“Whatcha doin’?” Frank asked.
“Reading, Frankie,” Gerard answered and waved the book a little.
Frank’s eyes almost tried to follow it, but quickly gave up and closed again. “Okay.”
Gerard watched Frank for a few more seconds, slightly bemused, before his eyes flicked back to his book.
“Gee,” Frank’s eyes were open once again, but he was sort of looking at Gerard’s feet.
“Yeah?”
“What do you do when I’m asleep?”
“I watch for monsters.” Gerard answered without missing a beat.
“No, really. What do you do?” Frank was now inspecting the side of Gerard’s t-shirt.
“What do you think I do?” Gerard asked, his focus switching from his book to Frank and back lazily.
Frank watched the gentle rise and fall of Gerard’s stomach and answered very quietly, “I think you leave.”
Frank kept his eyes on Gerard’s stomach as it stilled, unable to look away. Gerard could though, and turned his face to where the bunk curtains were still closed. They stayed like that for what felt like the longest time, before Frank turned onto his back, staring up at the ceiling of the bunk as Gerard slipped out without a sound.
That night Frank didn't drag Gerard to his bunk, nor did he stay up in the lounge with Gerard. In fact, Frank turned in for the night straight after Bob did. Ray might have given Gerard a questioning look. Gerard may have ignored it. That night Gerard slept in the lounge. He didn't head for Frank’s bunk, but he wasn’t ready to use his own.
After three spectacularly ordinary days, Gerard retired to his own bunk instead of the couch. And instead of Frank‘s. It was the first time he’d used the bunk for about four or five weeks, and it found itself supporting the weight of two; Frank was sitting in Gerard’s bunk when he finally climbed into it.
It’s late. Long past the hour when Frank would naturally fall asleep. Past even the hour when Frank would let himself fall asleep in the company of Gerard. It’s the kind of late where Gerard actually suspects that Ray might wake up in an hour or so.
Frank watches Gerard settle himself into the bunk, but Frank isn’t looking at Gerard when Gerard looks at him. He looks tired. More tired than usual, and more tired than Gerard even feels.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Frank says, looking past Gerard.
Gerard closes the bunk curtains and lies down. He pulls Frank towards him a little, and Frank leans his head against Gerard’s shoulder. Frank exhales like a sigh and Gerard can feel him relax, feel the tension seep out of him.
“Goodnight, Frankie,” Gerard says quietly after he’s sure Frank’s asleep.
“Goodnight Gee. Thanks for looking out for the monsters.” Frank says, and presses a kiss under Gerard’s jaw. Gerard smiles and closes his eyes, as Frank’s breath ghosts over his neck.
-----
I remember always looking up to you, but you were never looking down