(A/n)
Sometimes I panic at the thought that, if something happens to my account, I'll have nothing but a few oneshots saved. it's been just some months since I started saving my stories somewhere else and theres too much for me to save now 😎
This was inspired on another dream, though things went way different, enjoy
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I don't really know how did I get here. I mean, technically, I do, but I never thought I would be here and everything happened so out of sudden to a point I probably look like an idiot. More than I normally do. Like now, that I'm sitting on a bench away from everyone else as sipping on a cold drink I bought earlier and watching everyone talking with each other, unable to do the same. We're taking a break after long hours in the bus and now hang out in the lot.
All of them have tried to approach me so far, mainly Ray, and I believe they understand I'm still getting used to everything. Or so I hope. Gerard is the one I've talked the most to since we had to organize all the contracts, he needed to explain me everything and, after all, he was the one to reach out to me at first. Frank is chill, always making sure I'm alright and I'm weirdly fine with talking with him, despite not doing it so much. I wish Mikey was here, it would be nice to meet him too... except that they wouldn't need a bassist to replace him in this tour – in other words, me – if that was the case. Heh, there will be another opportunity, for sure.
My train of thoughts is interrupted by Frank sitting next to me. I observe him for a moment before looking away, not wanting to seem weird or anything. A sigh comes from him, followed by the hissing sound of his can of soda being open.
"Hell, it's been tiring," he says out of sudden, still watching the others talking and laughing to themselves. "But I missed it. I mean, like this, y'know? What about you, tho? Ever toured?"
His eyes suddenly meeting mine startle me; the persistent doubt if he was really talking to me or not bugging me until now. It takes me a moment to shake my head in response, lowering my drink. "It's the first time I'm even playing in a band seriously. I'm always doing jobs like this. Replacing people or whatever. Not bad, but," I shrug with certain frustration. I've always wanted to be part of a band for real. "Still, I couldn't ask for better now. I really love My Chem."
"You do deserve better than that, you're really talented." Frank's looking at the distance again, taking a pause to sip on his soda. "I remember seeing your covers and I literally chose you at first."
I almost choke on my drink at his statement, looking at him curiously. "You've seen the covers?" As much as I have a lot of references, most of the videos are of me playing on concerts while the covers, specifically, are only on my social networks. At the time, I had been doing a lot of auditions and asking for people to recommend me – that's how Gerard found me, after all. An invitation that almost had me fainting. I just don't have a lot of followers and views, so everything is unexpected. My work is more of... underground.
"I needed to look you up, 'needed to check your background, huh! What if we had a murderer touring with us?" Frank narrows his eyes at me in a playful way before which I can't help but to smile. "And you better continue around, I'm creating another band soon." He leans a bit closer, winking at me with a nudge on my arm.
"Of course," I mutter without thinking, tho meaning it. Well, I am thinking, but not about the subject. It's all about his eyes and how his lips curl up in a soft smile.
"Frank, (y/n)!" Ray's voice suddenly pulls us back to reality. He nods towards the bus before walking in, most of the others already having vanished. Frank and I share a look, smiling, then follow the others.
Being in the bus with them can be kind of awkward. Sometimes I feel left out since they know each other better than I know them and, since it's one of the first tours after the return of the band, they often start sharing memories I don't know of when we're talking, so I'm automatically pushed away. It's not on purpose, of course, and it's not like if they had some sort of obligation in including me, so I don't mind. They do try to pull me back into the conversation when this happens.
A sigh escapes my lips as I lean against the arm of the couch, my attention on my phone, checking the suggested posts on Instagram. It's not like I use it that much for anything asides from sharing my work – or that I have time to use it –, but there's not really any other thing to do now. Most of the suggested content is about artists I like.
"Oh my God," a voice says and I'm suddenly aware to Frank sitting beside me and looking over my shoulder, breath fanning against my neck. "You've been literally spending twenty-four hours per day with us and you're still checking MCR fan accounts," he teases.
"Fuck off, it just happened to show up here," I chuckle as adjusting my position lightly on the couch to make myself more comfortable.
Frank hums unconvinced, placing an arm over the back of the couch, behind me, continuing to watch the screen. His presence leaves me a bit weirded out at first, but I still give the Revenge pic a like before continuing to scroll down – he snorts a laughter, earning himself a playful slap on the arm. "Wait, hold on there!" Frank's sudden words make me stop in the same moment and he goes back a few posts. "It's you!" Grinning, he leans his head against my shoulder lightly as watching the video.
The post is a video of a bass solo I played in one of MCR's concerts some days ago. I can remember it clearly, but I had no idea people had liked it so much. The description is practically talking about why I am touring with MCR instead of Mikey and a bit about me.
"I really liked that," he mutters after the video goes back to the beginning.
"Thank you, really!" Approval is good, but approval coming from people you admire is even better. I lean my head against his for a moment, watching the video for a moment longer.
"You know that I meant it earlier, right?" Frank pulls away to look at me, so I put my phone down. "Don't fall out of contact. Or do, I'm going to find you anyways and drag you to a studio with me if I need to!" He grins – I roll my eyes and agree vaguely, what makes him let out a chuckle.
There's something different and I can't really define what's it. I have a few guesses, improbable ones. It doesn't feel like he is just talking with me so I'm not left out, but because he wants to, he actually enjoys it. Not mattering the way he concluded this absurd, the interest is clear in the attention he pays to me. That is not exactly something new, he has tried talking with me before, unsuccessful attempts, what leads me to believe he just either gathered the courage to talk to me properly now or got tired of waiting for me to make a first move after not letting many interactions last long.
"You don't need to, I would stalk you until I could get to one of your band anyways," I reply in the same tone, adding a smug air.
"I would put you in jail." He glares, playing along.
"I'd like to see you try."
There's a long moment of silence between us before we start laughing.
~
Today, thankfully, happens to be one of our days off. No concerts and I guess the guys don't have any interview – what'd not make much difference to me, anyways.
I'm sitting out in the lot, under a tree on the grassed area. Staying inside would be really enjoyable, but not after you've been stuck there for continuous hours, so the fresh air is more than a good option right now. The spot under the shadow is quite peaceful and I relax even more with the music coming from my earphones.
About after half an hour of sitting here, I can see Frank approaching again – I turn off the music and slip the earphones back in my pocket, returning the smile he's got on his face as approaching.
"You up for hanging out? We can go grab something to eat if you want to." He nods towards where I presume to be a café's or restaurant's direction as extending me a hand – if you think, he's not really giving me a choice. "Or just walk around, dunno." He shrugs as pulling me up to my feet, seeming excited about his suggestion.
"Sure, it might be nice!" I give his hand a light squeeze before letting go.
Unexpectedly, it makes Frank blush. He stands there for a moment, looking at me in certain surprise and the feeling is absolutely mutual.
"Okay, then, let's go," he breaks the silence, starting to walk.
We buy something to drink in the way there, cold drinks to help with the fucking hot weather, but I do believe summer tours are better than winter ones. Soon, we're sitting on a bench near the convenience store by the gas station, watching the cars going by and the closest people are the guys across the parking lot. It's enjoyable because we're sitting in a discreet spot under a building's shadow and the breeze is pleasing.
"Come closer," Frank says with a small pout as patting the place next to him after I sat down on one of the bench's ends. He seems pleased with me sitting close and goes back to sipping on the milkshake he got, leaning against me lightly. "Are you enjoying everything, so far?"
"Of course, you guys are really nice-" I interrupt myself seeing him grabbing my drink and taking a sip of it, holding back a chuckle. The audacity. "Hey! What makes you think you can do that? You're buying me another!" I do end up chuckling, at him choking on the drink – he probably started laughing too and it ended up leading to that, causing a coughing fit. "And that's karma for you, Mr. Iero," I tease, though making sure he is alright.
"Don't- Don't act like you weren't wishing it would happen to me!" Frank tries to look offended, but ends up laughing once again, still coughing a bit – I scoff, grinning.
"Let me get my revenge, then, will you?" I ask as leaning in and taking a sip from it.
"Indirect kiss." He's recomposed himself, voice serious. It doesn't sound like he thought much before opening his mouth and his expression suggests the same.
Frank's comment, however, makes me pause and look at him with certain surprise. "Why? Want a direct one?" The question is mostly a joke, but, y'know, not something I would actually mind about. I guess – or hope – he notices it.
A silence falls between us for a moment, his cheeks heating up more by the seconds.
"Why?" Frank averts his eyes from mine for second, clearly tense. "Would you like it?"
The insecurity his voice carries is shared by both of us in the same intensity, to a point we barely know how to deal with the situation or what to do next; summing up, two idiots stuttering and too awkward to anything. Well, as much as it is awkward and difficult, the opportunity sure as hell shouldn't be wasted or else, I'll be angry at myself for the rest of my life. No joking.
"I wouldn't complain," I tell him with a small smile and sudden wave of confidence. Frank clearly wasn't waiting for that either, what's shown by the sudden confusion on his face, but he doesn't move away once I start leaning in.
Frank's lips are dry, but the fact doesn't make the kiss unpleasing in any way. A hand is hesitantly placed on my shoulder, his thumb tracing my collarbone, a soft and pleasing touch, while I hold onto his hip. We pull away some time later, immediately locking our gazes together. Some of the nervousness melted away already. The tense atmosphere ceases as soon as Frank smiles a bit and I can't help but to do the same, pecking his lips a last time.
I suck in a breath, about to say something when both of us jump startled and are forced to pull away completely when hearing someone calling for us. It's Ray telling us we need to return already. Something normal, by now.
A sigh escapes my lips as I stand up and extend a hand for Frank. He grins at me, "a shame we were interrupted. Now we're forced to repeat it some other time, huh?"
"I'm not complaining," I smirk at him a bit and lean in to press a kiss to the corner of his lips before we can leave.
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