As much as Frank wanted to say that he hated filing, there was a part of him that actually liked it for various reasons. It would give him a break from whatever he was working on, give him a break from taking calls and passing on messages to Gerard, and it also gave him a break from being in the same office as Derek. The one person in the office who was watching over him regularly, making sure that he was doing everything correctly. Frank felt pretty damn good about how he had his job pretty much figured out by day three. That had to be a record. It took him at least two weeks to know what he was doing when he worked at the newspaper.

Derek had gone and dumped a load of paperwork next to Frank on his desk, making him look up from his computer. He pulled out an earbud, bringing himself back into the world while Smashing Pumpkins continued to play in his right ear. Derek had taken it upon himself to not do any filing now that Frank had started working. It wasn't like Frank was bothered about the fact that Derek was ordering him around. He probably should have been, what with the way Derek had been treating him over the past two days, but Frank just rose above it, ignoring it and getting on with his job. He would rather work than be bored out of his mind. He picked up the stack of paper that Derek had told him to file, putting his earbud back in while he walked to the filing room.

Frank pushed the door open with his shoulder, juggling the paperwork while he turned the volume up on his music. He began sorting through everything on top of one of the filing cabinets, having his own routine while he put everything where it needed to go. On top of the cabinets before he put it all away, mouthing along to the song that was playing. Working faster while he had Nine Inch Nails playing in his ears; he always believed that he worked more efficiently if he was running on music than silence.

Frank made light work of what Derek had given him to put away. He had it all separated out, he began to sort out the separate files, putting them away, speeding through everything while he was listening to music. Thank God for WiFi at work and Derek telling him the password so he didn't have to drain his data whilst trying to get his groove on. His music changed halfway through his task, having him completely submerged into the next song. Nearly done, Frank thought to himself as he moved around the small room, going to the next filing cabinet where he began to sort through, rearranging in date order. Humming along, he only noticed after he caught a glimpse of something in the corner of his eye. Like he had left a cabinet open by accident. Turning on his feet to close what he thought he had left open, that was when he realized he wasn't alone, jumping at the sight of someone else being in the room with him.

"Motherfu-! Shit-" Frank cursed, immediately tugging his earbuds out of his ears as he saw Gerard watching him with a quirked eyebrow and a smile. Frank leaned back against the nearest cabinet, one hand on his chest while he tried to calm his heart that he swore had pissed into his lungs, "Sorry, sir. You scared the absolute crap out of me."

"I apologize for startling you," Gerard said from the other side of the small room, taking a step closer to Frank, "I didn't realize you had music on, boy. I was looking for you and Derek said I'd find you here and I wanted to make sure you were coping with the size of the load. It's only your third day after all and I don't want you overwhelmed already. Don't be afraid to speak up if it's too much, Frank. I don't want you to take too much too fast and you can't... Handle it."

"Oh, I've got it all handled, sir. Big loads aren't new to me. The pressure at the paper could get pretty intense." Frank apologized, "Still, I probably shouldn't have had them in."

"Nonsense. I don't have any issues with it. I know almost all of my staff do it from time to time," Gerard told him, letting Frank breathe a sigh of relief before he continued, "As long as the work gets done, then I don't mind. What are you listening to?" Gerard questioned curiously, still hearing the quiet tinny noise from where Frank had stuffed his earbuds into his blazer pocket.

"Oh," Frank stammered, unsure of whether to say what he was listening to as he put his hand into his pocket, fumbling with the headphones inside, "I don't know if you would know the band..."

"I may surprise you," Gerard chuckled softly, "I know I am older than you but I do know a thing or two about music." Frank nodded at that, knowing full well that Gerard was intent on knowing what he was listening to. Gerard reached out as he took a step closer, bringing one of the earbuds up to listen without actually putting it into his ear. Frank held his breath at the proximity, looking up at his boss in silence. Gerard smiled almost instantly, "Ah, Korn,"

The comment took Frank by surprise because he knew the usual look he got when he mentioned anything to do with his music. Usually, a frown was a response because they didn't know what he was talking about. Or, the other look; a look of disgust because his music taste differed greatly from most of the people he knew. Frank's eyes widened a little, "Yes, sir. They're a heavy rotation."

"I will admit, I haven't listened to them in a while. I always preferred 'Life Is Peachy' over their debut album. It was much more complex and fun to listen to from start to finish."

"'Peachy' is a great album but I prefer 'Follow the Leader' more. Still a core fundamental for the band itself back at the end of the '90s but before they started dabbling in the raunch of electronic." Frank smiled, finally shutting off his music so the tinny sound didn't ring out from the inside of his pocket.

"I like that you speak your opinion even if it differs from someone else's entirely, it's refreshing." Gerard smiled before be cleared his throat, "I need you to do some things for me, by the by. When you're done with this, of course."

Frank nodded, waiting for Gerard to list the things that he needed him to do for him, but the list never came. It looked like Gerard went into a daydream for a moment, watching Frank, his stare making the pit of Frank's stomach churn with its magnitude. A moment past before Gerard snapped out of it, blinking, "Apologies, Frank."

He smiled sheepishly, trying to ignore the way Gerard's gaze had made his stomach do a thing that he hadn't felt for a long time, "Thought I'd lost you, sir. Was about to call a priest or Ghostbusters or something."

"I think we can leave Peter Venkman and Egon Spengler out of it, boy. Keep their number on file just in case you see a fiery being in the fridge, however. Any marshmallows flying around should definitely warrant a call. My apologies, though. It's just a pleasure to finally see you dressed so smartly. You look a lot more comfortable, if I may say so," Gerard explained, coming even closer to Frank in the small room. He raised a hand, running it over Frank's lapel like it was something that was completely normal. The small compliment made Frank warm up inside as though he were out in the snow and he had just downed an entire mug's contents of hot cocoa. The hand on his lapel, smoothing it down, did more than that to him. The hand moved, taking hold of his tie; the action had Frank hold in a breath and automatically lock eyes with his boss. Gerard adjusted Frank's tie, lining it up before he pulled it a little tighter against his top button. Frank swallowed at the tight constriction around his throat, surprised at how it was already beginning to make him feel breathless. The weird pressure against his larynx had a strange shudder leaving him when Gerard spoke, "I hope you appreciate what I did for you, boy."

Frank nodded, "Of course I do." He breathed a sigh of relief because the tension he felt surrounding them suddenly lifted. Brushing down his collar, Frank smiled weakly at Gerard's proud praise. Frank felt a finger on his neck; the contact to his skin felt alien, cold and warm at the same time.

"This wasn't there yesterday," Gerard commented with a frown as he pulled Frank's shirt-collar down a fraction, his tone low and curious. Frank realized what he had found and his stomach dropped like an elevator with a broken cable, plummeting into his new shoes. In the heat of the moment last night, Ryan must have put it there when he was all up against his neck, pleasure overriding everything else for them both.

"Sorry," Frank immediately apologized for what his boss had stumbled on, putting a hand over the mark as Gerard took a step back to look at him with scrutiny. Frank immediately blushed, knowing that a personal line had been crossed because his boss now knew he had hooked up only a few hours before. His knee shook involuntarily, "I-I didn't know it was there."

Gerard didn't say anything straight away and it got awkward in the small room. Frank wondered if he should have just carried on with the job Derek had given him, but he couldn't move. His feet felt fused to the floor and Frank found himself looking down under the heavy weight of his boss' gaze. Was he really that annoyed about the fact that he had a hickey on his neck? His expression gave Frank that conclusion, but he didn't want to jump to that because what boss, in their right mind, would be annoyed?

"Well, it was date night last night, wasn't it?" Gerard finally broke the silence with a smile that Frank couldn't read. He had seemed annoyed first, but he was coming across like it didn't bother him. Frank nodded, remembering that he told Gerard exactly why he couldn't work late last night.

"Yeah, it was. It was meant to be anyway. I, uh- What do you need, sir?" Frank stammered out, nodding. Gerard continued to look at him as though he was annoyed, but he cracked a small smile.

"I need you to run out for me," Gerard spoke, bringing the conversation back on track. Frank swore that Gerard was suddenly 'off' with him, "I have some dry cleaning I need picking up."

"Yeah, okay." Frank nodded, making a note to look through all the information Gerard had given him because he knew, buried in it somewhere, he would know where to go without having to ask.

"And get me a coffee while you're out. You know how I like it. Now hurry along, boy," Gerard instructed, heading back to the door, "I'm sure you have plenty of work to do once you're back."

"Yes, sir," Frank said, quickly finishing off the filing before he went to do what he had been asked. He whispered the coffee order to himself over and over as he grabbed his car keys from his pocket, frowning when he got it mixed up.

Frank came back as soon as he could, loaded up with everything he had been asked to get for his boss. He had two suits slung over his shoulder as well as a few of his shirts. Frank hadn't exactly seen him in anything else, and he couldn't exactly picture his boss in anything else either. Hell, the guy probably even had a suit that he wore just at home. Frank balanced the dry cleaning and three coffees in a holder in his other hand. Gerard's latte, his own coffee, and a coffee for Derek like last time. He walked back into the office, somehow managing to get the door open with his foot, when he saw Derek down the hallway, looking through paperwork with Lindsey.

"Hey, Derek," Frank piped up, heading towards him as quickly as possible without dropping anything. How he had managed to return unscathed, he didn't know. He felt proud of himself as he ambled over, "Delivery from the tooth fairy."

"What's up, new kid?" Derek asked, looking at Frank with a wary glance.

"I got you a coffee," Frank told him, coming to a stop in front of them. He adjusted, pulling the dry cleaning higher up onto his shoulder whilst still balancing the drinks holder. Derek saw the cup with his name on it, raising an eyebrow when Frank smiled, "Cappuccino. How you had it the other day."

"Thanks," Derek said uneasily. It was a nice gesture, he just didn't know if Frank had done this for him for a reason. Derek took the drink out of the holder, taking a sip before he thanked Frank again. It wasn't like Frank had done it for a reason. He had, but he kept that hidden. The whole 'new guy' thing, Frank knew that that wasn't going to be dropped for a while, but he just wanted to fit in. Frank wanted to move on with the peace offering.

"I didn't know you were doing a coffee run," Lindsey added with the tiniest pout to her lips as she put her manicured hands on her hips. Frank couldn't help but admire the tiny details of how put-together she was despite still having that 'alternative' look to her. How she matched her ruby lips to the same shade of red on her nails, how her peroxide-blonde hair was up in a corporate bun but still hung a little lopsided with tendrils to frame her face. The daunting leather skirt that was way too tight to be acceptable, but somehow it was because it came to a stop just above her impressively taut calves. She wasn't at all Frank's type, owing to the fact that he was gay, but he couldn't deny that she was gorgeous and he could see why she turned the heads of every women-orientated person in the building. Frank had laughed at poor Cara spilled ramen all over the floor when Lindsey had bent down to retrieve the cord for her laptop. The last time Frank had seen a person that flustered was when he saw Elliot Page coming out on TV.

"Sorry, ma'am," Frank apologized immediately, wondering how he could make it up to her, "Do you want mine?"

"It's fine," Lindsey waved a hand at him, "I'm sure Bob will be on a coffee run soon enough when he realizes that you went out." Frank felt guilty. he didn't want to be seen as the guy who only got coffee for his boss when he was asked. He was only doing what he had been asked. Fair enough, he hadn't been asked to get Derek one, and Gerard hadn't said that he couldn't get one for himself, but he was there and he was just trying to be nice.

"He's in his office with a visitor," Derek told Frank with a glimmer of a smile, sipping on his drink. Frank nodded at that, knowing not to be too long as he started to make his way towards Gerard's office. If he was in the middle of a meeting then he knew to keep his head down and just give him his coffee. Frank got to the door, juggling everything again so he could get the door open, he knew to be as quick as possible. He fumbled with the door, sliding it open.

"Here's your coffee sir," Frank smiled at him, setting the holder down on the desk before he swung the carriers from his shoulder, "Your dry-cleaning, too."

"Thank you, Frank," Gerard smiled at him, leaning back in his chair, "I didn't know I was to be getting a visitor today. If I'd have known, I would have gotten you to hold back on going out."

Frank frowned at that; and when he looked around and saw the one person he was not expecting to see in his workplace it had Frank stammering. He looked around and saw Ryan sat in the chair behind him. Ryan had his arms folded across his chest, a leg over the other, looking way too comfortable in one of the chairs as he smiled at Frank.

"Wh- Ry-?" Frank stuttered out, feeling like a deer in the headlights. His own boyfriend watched him and watched Gerard from where he was sat. He swallowed and leaned in, "Wh-What are you doing here?"

"I came to bring you lunch, honey-bun." Ryan smiled at him, holding out the Power Rangers lunchbox that he had brought food in for his boyfriend. Frank instantly called 'bullshit'; there was no way Ryan had come in just to bring him lunch. Ryan had never brought Frank lunch in the entirety of their relationship bar the three times Frank had been off on a special occasion like a birthday or something. Frank knew that Ryan had an agenda for being here. He could tell from the way Ryan was looking at him and trying to read him from across the office.

"Isn't that nice? I do like it when Lindsey brings me lunch." Gerard commented with a breathy sigh, making Frank internally fume and want to punch himself in the face. He suddenly realized what was going on and why Ryan was here. The sudden epiphany happened when he saw Ryan wearing the ring that Frank had given him almost four years ago. It was a crappy ring from a gumball machine that Frank had jokingly given Ryan as a makeshift promise ring. Ryan had stopped wearing it once the silver had begun to wear off and it was starting to turn copper. It stuck out on his ring finger, the hand that was holding out Frank's lunch, obviously showing off the tainted jewelry as some asinine show of the bond between him and Frank. Frank knew that he was jealous, even if Ryan would come to deny it later at home, again, but Frank would call 'bullshit' until he was blue in the face.

"So thoughtful," Frank spoke through gritted teeth, eyes locked with Ryan's, trying to mentally choke him with the Force. This wasn't his workplace and he couldn't just turn up on a whim; this was out of line, Ryan should have known. Frank walked towards him, absolutely furious, "What the fuck are you doing here?" Frank hissed as he leaned down closer to Ryan, lowering his voice so Gerard wouldn't hear him.

"I brought you your lunch," Ryan said innocently, voice sickly sweet even though his eyes read otherwise. He glared at Frank, jealousy practically seeping out of every pore while he sat with the man who was apparently more than happy to spend a small fortune on his boyfriend. His smile was wide and showed off every perfect veneer. Frank wanted to sit on him and pull every single tooth out with rusty pliers if he could. He hadn't felt this angry in a long time. Not since they canceled 'Firefly', or when he found out who 'Gossip Girl' actually was in the end. Frank was furious as he snatched the bag out of Ryan's hand, scowling at him before he stood up straight and turned away from him. Frank couldn't even bring himself to look at Ryan right now.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Frank asked, hoping that he would get the hint that he didn't want him here. Frank then noticed that Ryan was sat in the chair wearing part of the plaid suit that he had got Frank to wear yesterday. He had worn the brown paisley pants with a forest green shirt and all of his beads and chains around his neck. He flipped a brown curl and shifted in his chair to look up at Frank from under his lashes. Frank wanted to physically donkey-kick the expression from Ryan's face as he politely asked, "What about work?"

"I got a half-day today, I wanted to surprise you, Frankie," Ryan said far too casually for Frank's liking, making him internally groan The last time he got a half-day was when he had a family arrangement he had to attend. Clearly, he had done this just so he could come in after last night and wanted to get the low-down on Frank's new boss. Ryan tilted his head to the side, "I wanted to surprise you."

Frank muttered under his breath, "That you did in spades"

"It has certainly been interesting to get to know the person that I have heard so much about," Gerard spoke after far too long Frank looked at his boss and saw his eyes practically alight and molten with the humor contained in them, peering at Frank from behind his steepled fingers. He had his elbows on the arms of his desk-chair and had his fingers up and entwined in front of his mouth, resting his index fingers almost between his lips as though contemplating. He was also swaying slowly from side to side in his chair, his eyes never shifting from his assistant at that moment. Frank gave Gerard a pleading look. Don't do this to me, he thought, hoping and praying that this wasn't actually happening.

"Same here," Ryan added with a honey-twisted inflection to his words, "I couldn't resist getting to know the man that Frank had been so excited to interview only days ago. Did you tell him how excited you were, Frank? How nervous you were?"

"Of course, I did," Frank lied, smiling at Ryan. He put his hands on his hips and tried his best to quell the wave of nerve-induced nausea that had him feel as though he were on the deck of a fishing barge, "He knows all that stuff."

"Frank likes to share," Gerard added in simply as he took a sip of his coffee, leaning an arm on his chair, eyes flickering to Ryan's perturbed face before they stopped on Frank's own livid expression. Frank knew his face was fluctuating between red, white, and green. He was pale with anxiety, red with rage, and positively green with quease.

"Well, Ryan was just about to go," Frank stated then as he clasped his hands and turned to look down at his boyfriend pointedly, "Weren't you?"

"But, we were talking about how you're getting along in your new job," Ryan said with a pout, pretending to be bothered that Frank wanted him out, "You're not throwing me out after you just got back?"

"Yes, I am," Frank told him, uncaring that Gerard was watching the two of them right now, analyzing both of them as Frank got Ryan up and out of the chair, "I'm busy. Gerard is busy so, please, if you could..." Frank pushed on Ryan's arm, directing him towards the office door, absolutely seething. He knew they were going to fight when he got home tonight. 'When he got home', being the key phrase. He had promised Gerard that he would do overtime tonight to make up for the minimal time he had spent in the office only yesterday. Ryan was going to be incensed, and Frank could already picture just how that was going to start before he could even walk through his own front door.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Ryan," Gerard piped up from his desk, holding up his latte that Frank had given him, "And thank you for my latte, boy. You know just how I like it."

"'Boy'?" Ryan spat out as Frank got him out of the office, looking at him with pure rage and confusion etched into every moisturized pore. He let out a humorless scoff, "He calls you 'boy'?"

"What the fuck do you think you're fucking doing?" Frank finally spat once he got Ryan out of Gerard's office and near the front door. He didn't care if the receptionist was behind her desk, looking startled because Frank had stormed passed, holding onto Ryan's arm with a look of fury on his face.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ryan replied haughtily, pulling his arm free from Frank's grip.

"You can't just turn up at my fucking job and decide that it's okay to sit with my new boss," Frank hissed. He didn't want to cause a scene, seeing as Derek and Lindsey were still nearby, probably able to hear everything that was going on. He ran a hand through his hair, "Who the fuck does that?"

"Who buys their assistant suits?" Ryan jabbed at Frank, folding his arms over his chest, "Who even calls a grown man 'boy' anyway? Something is not kosher here, Frank."

"I don't know what you think is going on," Frank started, voice wobbling as he tried to control his rage, "But there is nothing. I thought you knew that last night. You've got to get your head out of your own ass, come back to reality and realize you're being an over-jealous bitch."

Ryan flinched at that. He ran his hands over his shirt to neaten it, clearing his throat, "I think I should go,"

"I really think you should," Frank agreed curtly, clenching his fists, one still curled around the handle of his lunchbox; Ryan's fucking kind gesture that came with a hidden agenda. "I'm so fucking mad at you right now."

"You're mad at me?" Ryan scoffed, "That's rich coming from the person who is clearly up to something."

"God, just-" Frank started but couldn't finish his own sentence. He opened the front door, holding it open as he waved a hand at Ryan, signaling him to walk out of it right now.
How fucking dare he do this, Frank thought as Ryan huffed, taking a step outside.

"Go to Hell, Frank."

He closed the door in his boyfriend's face with a grunt. He turned, muttering to himself, "That's where you belong, you fucking shit. Dethrone Satan himself with that fucking attitude, I swear- Who the fuck does he think-"

"Hey, Frank," He heard, looking up to see Derek stood near their office doorway with a wide smile that seemed way too happy. Derek added in a sing-song, "You might want to check your de-esk..."

Frank was confused; was Derek was dumping a fresh load of work onto his desk to help take his mind off Ryan in the most annoying way possible? Frank skulked into the office to grab the files he no doubtedly had to put away, when he stopped in his tracks. On his desk sat a bunch of red roses and right beside it, a smaller bunch of colored flowers in a lavish display. Ryan had left the flora bouquets along with a lavish box of chocolates. It would have been a nice gesture if Ryan hadn't gone all batshit crazy. Ryan had done this and he assumed that he had done it to mark his territory. It was the grandest gesture to Gerard to back off because Frank was his, and he was Frank's, and that was that. Frank sighed as he opened his lunchbox, tossing his lunch from Ryan into the nearby trash. He scowled, resting his hands on his desk while he looked down at the mess of fucking romance that had been put right where he worked.

This was unbelievable. Frank was all for impromptu romantic gestures, but this had been done with jealousy aforethought. Frank heard a familiar chuckle, looking over his shoulder to see Derek stood in Gerard's office doorway, talking about it with his boss. Gerard looked at him, expression unreadable like earlier. Gerard smirked as Derek looked back at him, chuckling again, making Frank whine and collapse into his chair. He then noticed that flowers and chocolate weren't all that littered his desk. He had missed the three stuffed bears hiding behind all the leaves and petals. He wanted to take a pair of scissors and mutilate their cherry faces smiling smarmily up at him. Frank took a moment to look at the bunch of roses, scanning the box of chocolates. This was not going to work; Ryan was not going to be able to just waltz into his office and mark his territory like a pissing dog telling everyone, including Gerard, in his office to back away from Frank because he was taken.

He stood up, grabbing the roses and chocolates before he left his office, leaving both Derek and Gerard wondering in his wake. Fuck Ryan and his roses, he thought, Fuck Ryan and his chocolates.

Frank just wanted to be rid, knowing that one person in the office that would appreciate them. Frank knocked on the door, waiting patiently until he heard 'come in' from the other side. Placing the box of chocolates under his arm, he opened the door, hiding his anger and frustration as he smiled, seeing Lindsey sat at her desk, working away, "Can I help you, sweetie?"

"I noticed that your office didn't have any flowers in it," Frank said while he stepped into the room. Lindsey spotted the roses, eyes going wide at the sight of them. Frank placed them down on her desk, "So, I thought I could brighten the place up a bit. They match your nails and stuff, too. I dunno if girls like that kind of thing but, y'know. Here."

"They're beautiful," Lindsey gushed, picking them up to smell them before she looked at Frank quizzically, "Why are you giving me roses? What did you do?"

"What did I do?"

"I've worked with these people way too long. The only time I get something from them is if they want something or they messed up." She squinted, "What happened?"

"Nothing." Frank lied smoothly, not wanting to tell Lindsey that his boyfriend was a complete tool-bag and he didn't want anything to do with what he had given him, "I just wanted to brighten up your office. Plus, you can have these, too. Figured you might enjoy them more than I will. I'm not a big 'candy' person."

"And you're sure no one died? No one is filing a complaint? You're not trying to soften the blow?"

"No, ma'am." Frank sighed out, smiling as he tucked his hands into his pockets, "Just a nice gesture, especially seeing as I forgot to get you coffee." He handed her the box of chocolates with a smile on his face, hiding his annoyance before he told her that he had to get back to work. Or, get back to quietly fuming at his desk while he did what he had to do. Although, she didn't need to know the latter.

Frank flopped back down into his chair, sighing as he tried to relax. The thought seemed so futile as he tried to breathe through his anger, stopping when he saw a card and a stupid cuddly toy bear that had 'I love you' emblazoned on it still sat on his desk, another smaller pink bear sat beside it holding a heart in its hands. There was a pink fluffy photo frame with a picture of the two of them behind its glass window. More flowers were tucked down the side of his computer. More flowers to give to Lindsey, Frank thought as he picked them up and looked at the yellow blooms. There was a card tucked in between the stems and Frank just sighed. More shit that he had missed. Frank cursed under his breath, ignoring Derek next to him. Frank tossed everything under his desk because he really didn't want to see any of it. He didn't entirely have the heart to throw anything else in the trash, so leaving them hidden under the desk was the next best thing to do. He put his elbows on his desk and closed his eyes, hands in his hair while he tried to lose some of his frustration. Far too cutesy and so sugary sweet, Frank swore he could get diabetes from it. He couldn't; Ryan had infuriated him and now all Frank could think about was how he was going to have to deal with his boyfriend who had clearly gone 'psycho' today.

"Frank?"

"What?" He snapped, spinning round in his chair to see Gerard stood in his office doorway, taken aback. Even Derek looked at him, surprised that Frank had spoken to Gerard like that. He immediately shrunk in his chair, feeling awful because he had retaliated at the wrong person, venting out momentarily until he realized, "God- Sir, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you. I am so-"

"It's okay," Gerard cut him off, looking far too happy for Frank's liking. He had just snapped at his boss and he expected to be pulled into the office to be told off. Gerard just nodded at him with a smile on his face like he understood, and as much as the smile confused Frank, he just felt relieved over the fact that Gerard had said it was okay. He looked down at his watch, "I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind popping out for me again. I fancy some lunch if you feel like getting some air."

"Okay," Frank nodded, pushing his chair away from his desk, standing up to go and do his next task. Thank God, this was getting him out of the office again to calm down. Frank was more than happy he walked up to Gerard, "What am I getting you, sir?"

"Just a BLT sub from the deli around the corner," Gerard told him, handing him some money before holding out something that Frank had left in his office, "Don't forget your coffee."

~

"You coming this time or what?" Derek asked as he stood in the doorway of their office, looking at Frank, who was scribbling notes down in his journal for Gerard.

"No can do," Frank muttered without looking up, copying down the diarized template on his computer screen for the large diary that he carried around for Gerard's various appointments.

"Date night with your... Y'know, I don't even have a word for whatever he is?" Derek snickered and Frank soured, feeling his mood drop yet again, knowing Derek was doing it on purpose.

"No." Frank replied shortly, "I have to work."

"Ah..." Derek muttered, "Should have guessed. Rather you than me, new kid."

"Next time." Frank looked at his screen and then at Derek, "I was supposed to yesterday."

"Whatevs." Derek shrugged before he turned and walked to the door with the rest of the employees, making Frank's stomach churn unhappily, a tidy curl of guilt welling up in his stomach.

"Ah, I'm glad you're still here." Gerard purred, making Frank jump out of his guilted daze and turn in his chair to see his boss leaning in.

"I did promise." Frank smiled, "Ready when you are, sir."

"Good. Go and stretch your legs, we'll be busy for a while." Gerard nodded, "There's a lot for you to handle tonight."

"I'll be alright." Frank stood up with a smile.

"I insist," Gerard stated simply and Frank narrowed his eyes.

"Sir?"

"Yes, boy?" Gerard blinked, raising an eyebrow as Frank put his hands behind his back.

"Would you like coffee?"

"Was I that obvious?" Gerard eyed Frank with a coy smile to his lips, making the latter grin. Gerard said farewell to his employees as they left for the day before he wandered into the small kitchenette where Frank was making them both coffee. Frank glanced up when he saw the shadow move across his periphery, seeing his boss leaning against the doorway to watch him.

"Your boyfriend..." Gerard started up a sudden conversation, "He's..."

"Whatever you're going to say, I can think of something more colorful, trust me. Not that he deserves it." Frank mumbled unhappily as he stirred milk into both cups, throwing the empty carton in the trash before he handed Gerard a mug. They walked back into Gerard's office and Frank watched his boss sit down gracefully in his chair.

"I have no doubt. You looked rather overwrought to see him this morning." Gerard commented simply and Frank frowned. He looked up at him over the rim of his cup when Gerard explained, "Upset, boy."

"Oh..." Frank sighed again, "Well, he didn't tell me. And... I just don't think it's right to pop in at someone's work. Especially if it's a new job. And if they're not there, you leave."

Frank sat down on the floor and began sorting through the enormous pile of paperwork he had already started on the night before, sorting them all out as he had done. Gerard got up and sat down on the floor only a few feet away, nursing the mug against his chest, "Well, he seemed dead set on seeing me, too." Gerard stated and Frank looked up at Gerard beside him, "He even asked Hayley if he could come in to see me."

"Of course, he did..." Frank trailed off and looked down to continue alphabetizing the stapled stacks.

"I was on the phone and he just waltzed in and sat down."

"Oh, my God." Frank buried his face in his hands, letting out a whine, "I don't know what's gotten into him."

"Oh, I do." Gerard chuckled slightly as he handed Frank another small stack of papers, "Your little boyfriend is worried. I think he thinks something is going on here, Frank. And I'm almost one-hundred-percent certain that he came in here to check me out."

"I- You know?"

"Of course I know." Gerard took a sip of his coffee, a sly smile curled one corner of his lips, "I'm not an idiot, boy. You're his boyfriend and I did a grand gesture, and he's worried about the stability of your relationship."

"And I'm worried about the stability of his head." Frank snarked, making Gerard snort into his cup.

"I doubt there is any stability at the moment. He's a little jealous, I think. And definitely suspicious like an insecure housewife with an attractive husband." Gerard signed away on some papers before handing them over, "I doubt you being here after hours will help."

"Yeah, well..." Frank put them in the correct pile, trying not to focus on the fact that Gerard had called him 'attractive'. He swallowed as he continued, "I don't exactly feel like going home, even if I didn't promise to stay after work."

"It's sweet that he's so territorial. Although, the flowers were a bit much." Gerard snickered, "I see you gave them to Lindsey. She came in to brag, carrying them around in her arms like Betty Belfour."

"Who?"

"An English actress during the 'silent era' of film," Gerard explained, sipping his coffee, "She played a woman in a series of films who used to sell flowers."

"You know a lot of random shit, don't you?"

"I know much about everything and everything about much." Gerard smiled, "Rather that than everything about nothing and nothing about anything."

"So, when Lindsey came to parade her flowers around," Frank took a sip of coffee, "You didn't tell her why I gave them to her, right?"

"Heavens no, dear boy." Gerard chuckled as he read through a contract idly, "For which kind of monster do you take me? I would never break my wife's heart like that. She enjoys a financial display as much as the next person."

"Hope she likes them." Frank shrugged, "I don't want them."

"It's making me look bad." Gerard smiled, "I haven't bought her flowers in a while and my assistant one-ups me, chocolates and all."

"Sorry." Frank blushed, "Next time I'll give them to Derek." Gerard let out a loud chuckle at Frank's dry comment, covering his mouth with his hand at the thought, a wide grin hidden that made Frank smile lightly for the first time that day.

"Frank, may I ask you something... Slightly intrusive?" Gerard queried and Frank nodded, looking up at Gerard, who had steepled his fingers for a moment, brows furrowed in thought, "Your boyfriend..."

"What about the malevolent gremlin?" Frank asked and Gerard tried to hide the smile on his lips before he cleared his throat.

"You mentioned that you boys have a date night every Tuesday. Like a routine."

"Yes, sir."

Gerard pursed his lips, "Is that... The only routine between you two?"

"Well..." Frank trailed off, feeling his cheeks heat up slightly, "No..."

"That's what I thought," Gerard nodded, "But Frank, just remember something."

"What, sir?"

"Paulo Coelho once said that 'adventure is dangerous but routine is lethal'. Remember those words."

"Hi, boys." A voice called out, making them both look up in surprise. Lindsey had just walked in, smiling to herself as she waltzed into the office and looked down at Frank on the floor beside Gerard with a raised eyebrow, "Having fun?"

"Superfluous amounts." Frank sighed softly, making her giggle as she set a plastic bag down on Gerard's desk. Frank noted that she had dressed down, obviously having gone home. She had kept the beautiful floral blouse on from earlier but had traded her leather skirt and stilettos for dark jeans and ballet pumps. She smiled at them warmly, "I didn't want you boys working into the night without food so... I brought you some Chinese."

Frank straightened up at the thought of food, eyeing the bag on Gerard's desk when he realized something that made his stomach sink. Lindsey didn't know he was a vegetarian; no one knew, Frank was sure that Gerard didn't even know. Frank hoped that Lindsey had gotten something plain or else he'd either have to break the news and her heart or tough it out and eat meat. Lindsey unpacked the white take out containers onto the desk as Frank got up onto his knees beside Gerard and had a closer look.

"You didn't have to do this..." Gerard sighed softly, looking flustered, "You're too good to me, honestly."

"Of course I did, you old grump. I'm not letting my husband starve because he's a workaholic." She looked at Frank, "I'm certainly not letting you starve after you bought me such lovely flowers, sweetie."

"So, what, uh..." Frank cleared his throat, "What did you get?"

"I got Gerard his favorite." She pushed two containers towards her husband, "Sweet and sour pork, and fried noodles." Gerard let out a small hum as he opened one of them and peered in, smiling happily as Lindsey pushed a container towards Frank, "And for you, I got a vegetable chow mein."

"You..." Frank frowned at the food and at her, "How did you-?"

"Gerard told me." Lindsey smiled as she stashed the plastic into her handbag. Frank looked at Gerard with a raised eyebrow, looking at his boss' all-knowing gaze with complete confusion.

"A good boss knows his employees, Frank. And besides..." Gerard took a set of chopsticks from his wife, "Ryan told me."

"He did?" Frank tilted his head to the side, "How did that even come up?"

"He was trying to one-up me on you. Telling me that he knows you more than I do, so I decided to use his jealousy for my own gain. I asked him what things he knew that I didn't, and he took the bait and prattled on for a bit. You being a vegetarian was one of the things."

"Oh, God." Frank slid a set of chopsticks towards himself, "Dare I ask what else he said?"

"Your favorite color is dark green or teal." Gerard shoveled a bite of pork into his mouth, "You love Dead Kennedys and Korn. Your parents split when you were three years old and you have a number of body modifications, tattoos, and otherwise. You walked in as he was about to tell me in detail, but I got the picture."

"Oh." Frank went bright red in the face and slightly relieved that his boss wasn't aware of whatever was going on under his clothing, piercings included, "Right."

"You have tattoos?" Lindsey asked with a smile. Frank opened his take out and picked it up, sitting back on the floor with his legs crossed before he looked at the pages around him. He scooted back on his ass and away from the important files.

"Yeah." Frank then began eating, chewing happily on his noodles, "Quite a few. Not as many as I want, though."

"I wish I could." Lindsey pouted, "Maybe later in life. A lot of people already question what I have."

"Yeah," Frank swallowed, "It sucks. In my first three job applications, I got turned down because of my appearance. I mean, before I worked at the paper."

"They don't know what they're missing." Gerard piped up as he bit into a piece of pork, eyeing Frank out of his periphery, making the latter blush.

"I better get going." Lindsey smiled, "I'm glad you boys are fed. I bought milk earlier for the fridge so there is coffee for you. as well. Do you need anything else, lovely?"

"I'm fine, dear." Gerard smiled, "You're more than welcome to go back to your TV shows. I hear Carrie Bradshaw and Big are getting back together again."

"Don't spoil it." She kissed him chastely on the temple, "I'll see you later."

"Bye, dear." Gerard watched her leave before he sat back in his chair, setting his food down, "Enjoying yourself?"

"Mm-hmm." Frank managed around his mouthful of food, smiling awkwardly at his boss, who reciprocated warmly.

"Good. I'm glad you're eating." Gerard pushed his food aside, "You eat while I carry on, there's a lot to do here."