ladyfoxxx: (Default)
ladyfoxxx ([personal profile] ladyfoxxx) wrote2011-09-04 03:42 pm
Entry tags:

Fic: A Milkshake With Two Straws (Frank/Gerard)

So in between moaning about my BBB I wrote some ridiculous artstudent!Gerard fluff.

Title: A Milkshake With Two Straws
Fandom: Bandom – MCR
Pairing: Frank/Gerard
Length: 2000 words (because I am physically incapable of writing commentfic)
Rating: PG
Author’s Notes: Written for [livejournal.com profile] free2hate who won me in [livejournal.com profile] amproof’s Dollar Drive For The Vile Beast. Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] halfeatenmoon for her awesome beta services, I swear I am not suffering any kind of PTSD from them. *hugs*

Summary: Sometimes Gerard is oblivious.

ETA - Podfic now available by [livejournal.com profile] gigiii3



A Milkshake With Two Straws

There's paint all over Gerard's hands. Fresh, sticky red overlaps with dried-hard blue and yellow. He waves the brush in front of the canvas, planning his next brushstroke, where this next line needs to land.

There’s a soft cough from the vicinity of the doorway. He ignores it. The cough becomes a loud throat clearing, and Gerard's hand wavers. Reluctantly, he looks away from the canvas to see Frank standing in the doorway to the college art studio holding two takeaway cups of coffee, a deep furrow between his brows. Gerard glances back at the painting, and then back at Frank, the need to memorise that last planned brushstroke warring with the all-powerful pull of coffee. A few more furtive glances later, the coffee wins.

"Hey Frank." Gerard says, his voice sticking. He hasn't used it since yesterday. He steps forward and his foot comes down on an empty can from one of last's night's energy drinks. He winces at the loud crunch it makes. "What's up?"

"Um," Frank's eyes skitter around the room, taking in the detritus of Gerard's all nighter - empty pizza boxes and crumpled cans that once held precious energy-giving fluid. He blinks, looking a little dismayed, before meeting Gerard's gaze with a tight smile. "I was uh, just, you know, on my way through, thought you might want a coffee." He holds up one of the cups weakly and glances at the scattering of empty Red Bull cans. "But I'm guessing you don't need any more caffeine."

"Lies!" Gerard says, louder than he means to, and he knows his smile is a little manic as he holds out his hand for one of the cups. Frank hands it over, looking a little unsure about it, but Gerard doesn’t care. He presses the cup to his lips, taking a long, mouth-burning sip and sighing deeply as all the little dials in his brain flip to 'happy'. There's no such thing as too much coffee.

Frank turns his gaze to the canvas Gerard's working on. "Is that um... is that your final piece? I thought it was due yesterday?"

Gerard blinks at Frank stupidly for a moment. He can't remember telling him that. Of course, he doesn't really know Frank that well; he can't even recall how they started talking. Does he know Mikey? He can't remember. Somewhere along the way Frank just started appearing in the studio doorway, sometimes with flyers for his band, sometimes - very, very awesome times - with coffee. Of course, when Gerard's In The Studio his head is in a creative place, not a talking and remembering place, so he can't really be expected to know what he has or has not told Frank.

"Oh no." Gerard says, waving a hand at the mostly-red-splattered canvas. "I only started that last night. I'm thinking of like, a living room in hell? Or like, underneath a bridge over the River Styx. Or something." He turns to look at the canvas again, waiting for it to speak to him.

"Oh." Frank says, his voice sounding soft and a little weird, but Gerard can't figure out why. He's thinking he really needs to work in some more texture in the upper corner, when Frank adds, "When's it due?"

"Huh?" Gerard asks, eyes still locked on the texture-less upper corner. Fuck he needs to figure that out.

"This piece, when's it due? I mean, it's end of term, I thought that Thousand Souls thing was your final piece."

"Oh, Thousands Souls was my final piece." Gerard says brightly. Thank fuck he got it in on time. He'd gone pretty much nocturnal from doing all nighters to make the due date. "I just," He waves an arm, forgetting he's holding the coffee cup and a little sloshes out over his hand, "I just, I mean after I got Thousand Souls in I still had all this like, creative energy, you know?" he pauses, sucking his fingers, tasting as much paint as coffee. "It's like I finally got the faucet turned on and now it's all rushing out, so like, I'm trying stick a bucket under while I can, yeah?"

Franks looking at him like he just confessed to being a Born-Again Christian. "So this isn't an assignment? You're just doing it for what, for fun?"

"No, not for fun." Gerard corrects him, because oh my god, it so isn't fun. "It's just, I finally got my muse talking to me and now she won't shut the fuck up, you know?" Gerard scratches a hand through his hair before he realises that hand has a paintbrush in it. He switches it to the hand that's holding the coffee and grabs at a clump of hair, pulling it in front of his eyes to try and see if he got paint on it. It's too close to his eyes for him to focus on it though, and he frowns.

"Gerard, have you slept at all?"

Gerard refocuses his gaze to Frank's concerned face. "Hmm, what? Oh yeah, um, I got like, an hour?" His eyes fall guiltily on his crumpled coat on the floor in the corner - which made a terrible blanket - lying next to his lumpy knapsack - which made an even worse pillow.

Frank, who is entirely too switched on and has obviously had way more sleep than Gerard, glares at the coat and bag. "Napping in the corner doesn't count."

"Um." Now would be a great time for Gerard to have a witty comeback about nosy dudes coming into his art studio and being disapproving little shits. Unfortunately, he’s got nothing.

Frank steps forward, prying the paintbrush from Gerard's hand. Gerard's fingers tighten protectively around his coffee, but thankfully Frank doesn't try to take that, too (Gerard would totally fight him for the coffee). He walks over to the table holding Gerard's acrylics and drops the paintbrush into a jar of water.

"Pack up your shit, do whatever clean up you need to. Is there a drop sheet or something-?"

"What?" Gerard grips his cup with both hands. "What's going on?"

Frank gives Gerard a very serious don't fuck with me look. "We're getting breakfast."

"But-"

"I'm not taking no for an answer. Pack up your shit," Frank puts his hands on his hips like he’s daring Gerard to argue.

Gerard opens and closes his mouth a few times, staring at Frank and wondering what happened to the nice chatty guy who used to bring him coffee.

When he finally opens his mouth to answer, he surprises himself.

"Okay."

***

A few hours later, with a belly full of pancakes, Gerard flops down on the not-too-fresh sheets of his way-too-narrow dorm room bed. He's full and warm and suddenly so sleepy he can barely keep his eyes open. Obviously, what he needed to achieve sleep was pancakes. Frank is a fucking genius.

Frank is also amazing because he not only took Gerard to the best diner in the entire world, with milkshakes that would make a lesser man cry; he didn't let Gerard pay, walked him back to his dorm room and helped him get out of his suddenly-way-too-complicated boots.

Gerard's so sleepy and content he doesn't even think to be embarrassed as he fumbles out of his jeans and crawls under the covers in only his boxers and paint streaked t-shirt. He blinks up blearily at Frank, licking the stray stickiness of maple syrup from his lips. There's a beam of sunlight that's escaped between the folds of the curtains and it's painting gold light all over Frank, making him look like an angel. If Gerard wasn't so floppy he'd sketch it out with colour pencils.

"You're a genius, Frankie. That was the best breakfast ever." He stifles a sudden yawn into the back of his hand.

He can't see Frank properly through the blur of his fingers, but he's pretty sure he rolls his eyes. "Not what I had planned for our first date, but fine, whatever."

Gerard's eyes pop open, and he sits up, his brain scrambling after the words. "Date?"

That wasn't a date, that was Frank being a good Samaritan and stopping Gerard from killing himself with lack of sleep and a caffeine overdose. Gerard would know if it was a date, right?

"Yeah, a date." Frank says, rolling his eyes again. The mattress dips as he sits down beside Gerard. "Wow dude, Ray said you were lost in your head most of the time, but I didn't think it was that bad."

"Huh?" Gerard sputters, still stuck on the date thing, and hey, wait- "You know Ray?"

"Dude, we do a musicology elective together. I'm pretty sure I've told you that already."

"Huh." Gerard blinks at Frank, who is suddenly unfamiliar, because he's not just the cute guy who sometimes brings him coffee and talks about music like there's too many words in his mouth and he can't get them out fast enough. He looks at Frank's perfect eyebrows, his scruffy adorable hair and his bewildered smile and can't really get his head around the idea that they just went on a date. A date.

"You know, I've only been trying to ask you out for like, a month now." Frank admits, his hands twitching in his lap.

Gerard can't close his mouth. He's pretty sure he's not breathing. "You have?"

Frank snorts out a laugh, "Yeah, I mean as fun as it is hanging out in your studio and talking cubism with you, I was kind of hoping you might come to one of those gigs I kept giving you flyers for. I mean..." he hesitates, "I know you had your big art piece you had to get in, so I figured I'd wait until you'd submitted it. I didn't realise you were just gonna keep painting forever. If that's your way of saying you're not interested well, I guess I'm a little slow on the uptake."

If Gerard stares at Frank any harder his eyes might just pop out of his head and roll onto the floor. Fuck, he can’t even remember the last time he went on a date. Maybe he’s forgotten what constitutes a date.

"Oh my god, please say something, you're killing me." Frank shoves a hand over his eyes, frowning.

Gerard blinks at him a few more times, his mind still chanting "A date. A date!" at him. Apparently eating pancakes and talking about Misfits versus Black Flag qualifies as a date. They didn't even share a milkshake with two straws or anything. Strangely, Gerard can't bring himself to be upset by this new information, he just wishes he'd known at the time that's what it was.

Resolute, he presses his palms to the mattress, pushing himself fully upright. Well, if it really was a date, then he needs to end it the right way.

He pries Frank's hand away from his eyes, linking their fingers and offering him a gentle smile. Frank still looks really, heart-breakingly unsure, right up until Gerard leans in and kisses him.

Frank responds immediately, his mouth opening and his free hand flying up to grip Gerard's shoulder. He sighs into Gerard's mouth, pressing closer until their chests touch, pressing his tongue into Gerard’s mouth and pulling a small moan from him. He tastes like maple syrup and lightly of cigarettes and he kisses like a motherfucker. It's such fucking rush, Gerard's pretty sure he's getting a headspin. It's unexpected and awesome and wow, Gerard had no idea this was how his morning would go.

Fucking best morning ever.

When they break for air they're both panting and Gerard's heart is beating way too hard. He gives Frank a wobbly smile. "I think I'm the one who's a little slow." He admits, his voice low and throaty, "Um, I'm sorry? I really had no idea."

Frank shakes his head, but he's grinning so hard his eyes are creased up. "You know what? Next time you can organise the date."

"Yeah?" Gerard's smiling so wide he's getting a cheek ache, "Next time?"

"Hell yeah, next time. I expect something fucking classy too." Frank quirks an eyebrow in him, his smile fucking radiant.

Gerard smiles back just as hard, because fuck yes, there's gonna be a next time.


(end)

[identity profile] knight-tracer.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I really enjoyed this. I loved the Gerard head space, finding it interesting and amusing, his oblivious nature was very endearing. Although, of course I felt really sorry for Frank, he is so adorable and understanding. The ending is lovely, though I am not sure of Frank's chances with Gerard's planning skills. Looking forward to your bbb. Thanks for sharing.
ext_399013: (gee oh god his stupid face)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw thank you! It was fun to fall into Gerard's artisty headspace. Poor Frank though, Gerard is totally oblivious. Perhaps Frank set an alarm on Gerard's phone to remind him when their date is!

I am actually very nervous about my bbb. Hope it doesn't disappoint!

[identity profile] fleurdeliser.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 03:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Cute cute cuuuuuuuuuuuute. Best way to start my morning. :D
ext_399013: (frankie being quiet)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww thank you!
melusina: (Default)

[personal profile] melusina 2011-09-04 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
N'awwww - they're adorable and this is great fun!
ext_399013: (Frankie is actually a zombie)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Heee, failboat boys are my favourite. Thanks for reading!

[identity profile] anoneknewmoose.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Adorable ♥
ext_399013: (frankies pubes)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
♥ ♥ ♥

[identity profile] red-adam.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Huge heart eyes for the boys. Bless their little cotton socks, Gerard for being oblivious and Frank for his persistence and all round adorableness in the face of Gerard's Muse.
ext_399013: (Frankie on the floor)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
They are the MOST darling! Oh poor Frank and stupid Gerard so tied up in his muse he can't see there is someone who wants to DATE HIM. &hearts Thanks for the love!

[identity profile] graciexmae.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
FAILBOATS IN ~LOOOOOOOOVE, MY FAVORITE. ♥____♥
ext_399013: (Frankie guitar sex 2)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
RIDICULOUS AND DORKTASTIC! Heeee. Glad you liked it bb!
isweedan: White jittering text "art is the weapon" on red field (Default)

[personal profile] isweedan 2011-09-04 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
OMG Gerard. You are the most sleep deprivedest of oblivious people.
ext_399013: (frankie stop that you tool)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
He is so ridiculous! Glad it got a reaction ♥

[identity profile] kat-lair.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww this was just adorkable, made me smile.
ext_399013: (Gerard drawing. He is the hunchiest.)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw so happy it made you smile! Mission accomplished.
greedy_dancer: (Default)

[personal profile] greedy_dancer 2011-09-04 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
AWWWWW! I love that Frank's basically PISSED OFF at this point. "RIGHT! TAKING YOU ON A DATE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!"

And Gerard going all "nooo this wasn't a date was it?" is too adorable.

Eeeee!
ext_399013: (Geeway gleeface OMGSURPRISEWTFBBQ)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
YOU HAVE NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER. DATE. NOW.

Gahhaahahaa. I love putting Gerard on surprise!dates. Thanks for reading bb!

[identity profile] draconic-girl.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Clueless!boys and sleep-deprivation: how is a girl supposed to resist? ;) Right, she can't!

Loved this *epic grin*
ext_399013: (Frankie guitar sex ON HIS HEAD)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Heee clueless boys and sleep deprivation make for all sorts of fun. Thanks for reading, glad you had fun!

[identity profile] romanticalgirl.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwwwww. BOYS. Cutest. ♥
ext_399013: (geeway artfully smoking THE HAND)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Ridiculous and so precious. ♥ &them;
turlough: purple crocuses (frank and gerard were my downfall)

[personal profile] turlough 2011-09-04 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwww, this was totally adorable!!! You write a fabulous lost-in-his-head Gerard!
ext_399013: (geeway umbrella academy and also TWELVE)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww thank you! And thanks for reccing it! It's so self indulgent, but I love it anyway. ♥

[identity profile] annemaris.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Adorable! *flaps hands* I started reading it and then had to dash off to catch a train, THE HORROR, and now I finished it and ADORABLE. SO ADORABLE. Ugh, faily oblivious boys are the BEST. GERAAAAAAAARD. FRANKIE THOUGHT HE'D WAIT UNTIL GERARD WAS DONE WITH HIS PROJECT. GERAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD. MOST PRECIOUS BOYS. MOST. <333
ext_399013: (gee oh god his stupid face)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Heeeee! Thands bb! Glad you were able to finish reading it despite public transport woes. You KNOW that Gerard would let his art project eat him alive and you KNOW Frank would've figured that out when he kept hitting on him and getting nothing back but pain spatter. So precious. Thanks so much for reading and enjoying bb!

[identity profile] morebliss.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahahahaha and awwwwwww and all that good stuff! :D
ext_399013: (frankie and gee adorkable)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
D'awwww and *blush* and heeee and all that other good stuff. ♥

[identity profile] broken-faith12.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww, so cute!
ext_399013: (Geeway floppy hair and cute smile)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww thank you!

[identity profile] ina-pok.livejournal.com 2011-09-04 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
♥ this was so adorable and fluffy and perfect. I really liked the mood and it was a great way to end my evening :-)
ext_399013: (Frankie guitar sex 2)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh that's so cool, I've had one person say great way to start their day and now you say great way to end it - now my life is complete! Thanks for the love. ♥

[identity profile] monkey-pie.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
So very sweet, I'm gonna start my day with a smile thanks to you! (um, and coffee). I love those fail-y boys, and art school gee is kind of a favorite of mine.
ext_399013: (geeway never enough stupid faces)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww thanks bb, glad you liked it, and hell yeah coffee! I'll tell you a secret, art school Gee is kind of a favourite of mine too. ♥
ext_6287: It is an orange field, upon which badly drawn letters are blazoned in a cyrillic script, signifying 'all my love' (Default)

[identity profile] la-dissonance.livejournal.com 2011-09-05 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Eeeee too too too cute. (Although I admit I was a little mad at Frank for pulling him away between brushstrokes. Harsh, dude.)
ext_399013: (Frankie is actually a zombie)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 12:00 pm (UTC)(link)
True, true! Interrupting an artist between brushstrokes is kind of harsh. But just remember what Frank's face looks like. Like you wouldn't forgive him anything.

[identity profile] brynnmck.livejournal.com 2011-09-07 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
EEEEEEEEEEEE THIS WAS SO ADORABLE. Artist!Gerard is hilarious and HOT AS HELL, obliviousness and all, and I love Frank just sort of doggedly SHOWING UP over and over again until he finally has to hit Gerard over the head with it. Augh. BOYS. ♥
ext_399013: (Geeway the director)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Oblivious Gerard is my favourite Gerard. (Well, next to sexy-as-hell Gerard and awkward basement Gerard). You know Frank wouldn't give up! Not until he gets a definitive NO from his paint-spattered crush, which of course he won't. Heeee, glad you liked it bb. Thanks for commenting!

[identity profile] alasse.livejournal.com 2011-09-07 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, god, BOYYYYS. This was AWESOME. I loved Gerard being all lost in the creative haze and his living room in HELL or in the River Styx and Frankie just saying fuck it and taking charge. AND AWWW, GEE. I'm sure Frank will drink a milkshake with two straws next time.

SO CUTE. <333
ext_399013: (Geeway floppy hair and cute smile)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 12:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Sometimes you just have to take charge! Frank wasn't gonna give up that easily. And it's not like Gerard gets to go on that many dates, if there isn't a shared milkshake how the hell is he supposed to know that's what it was?

Thanks so much. I love these two idiots. :D

[identity profile] auctorial.livejournal.com 2011-09-09 09:36 am (UTC)(link)
Heee, it is lucky that faily!Gerard is so adorable. And that Frank is so sweet to him. :D Their first date! ♥ ♥ I'll just be over here grinning in the corner now. :DDD
ext_399013: (killjoys - Geeway fingerguns WHEEE)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 12:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Heeee, I'll be over here grinning too! I don't think pancakes and milkshakes is a bad first date at all! ♥

[identity profile] free2hate.livejournal.com 2011-09-14 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm soooo sorry I didn't comment before this, I just started college so I've been busy. BUT OMGGGG this was perfect and amazing and I'm so glad you wrote it, and just ugh so adorable<333333333333
ext_399013: (text - I wrote THAT?)

[identity profile] ladyfoxxx.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 12:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey you found it! I'm so glad you liked it! \o/ It was a lot of fun to write and it wouldn't exist if you hadn't made your donation, so thank you. ♥

[identity profile] desfinado.livejournal.com 2011-09-18 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
OBLIVIOUS GERARD AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW I could watch him touching his hair/face and then checking his hair/face for coffee/paint/whatever ALL DAY LONG.

"Lies!" Gerard says, louder than he means to, and he knows his smile is a little manic as he holds out his hand for one of the cups.

LOL so great. All of this: so great ♥