Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Planetary (GO!)

Gerard's head whipped up, his face paling. He stopped rummaging in his backpack and practically threw a helmet at Frank, muttering a quick apology as Frank hissed when he pulled it over his cut. Gerard tugged his own helmet on quickly, looping the backpack straps around Frank's shoulders and then swinging a leg over the bike.

"Get on," he said to Frank, jerking his head back behind him, "and if you feel like I'm going to fast, just don't let go. Don't let go, whatever you do. We need to get out of here." Frank nodded quickly, clambering onto the seat behind Gerard and wrapping his arms gingerly around Gerard's waist. Gerard revved the bike and opened up the throttle, shooting forward and away from the Exterminators.

They went back through town, zigzagging through debris and bones. Frank closed his eyes tightly and squeezed Gerard, resting his head between the older boy's shoulders. All around Gerard, the world was a strange shade of gray; ashes were floating down through the air serenely, and what few buildings that were still standing were covered in the stuff or charred to crisp. The streets were eerily quiet aside from the sounds of the motorbike and the Exterminators. It was a miracle Frank survived, he thought to himself, surveying the damage as he maneuvered around an old car. By the way almost everything was incinerated, the heat must have been immense.

As they rode, the Exterminators began to shoot laser beams at them. Gerard unholstered his own gun, handing it back to Frank. He had to nudge him a few times to get him to open his eyes, but eventually Frank understood and began to fire back.

The town was small, and they reached the other end in no time at all. Gerard swerved around the last corner before they were back on the Getaway Mile and almost slammed on the breaks. In front of them, a large beam from one of the buildings had fallen and was blocking the road completely. Gerard threw a quick glance back at the Exterminators, who had blocked the way they had come. He yelled a quick, "Hold on!" to Frank before putting his head down and gritting his teeth, and they used a charred chair that had been blasted out into the middle of the street as a ramp. As they soared narrowly over the beam, Gerard whooped and started laughing, bracing himself as they bounced back down and rode on.

Ten miles later, running dangerously low on gas, Gerard and Frank rolled up to the base. As soon as Gerard parked the bike, Frank slumped sideways off of it. Gerard rushed around to make sure he was alright, and was glad to see that the battered boy was still breathing. He yelled for Mikey and Ray, and then began to drag the newcomer towards the base.

Mikey ran out first, eyebrows knitting together in a frown of confusion before he hurried over to help Gerard. Ray came out as they reached the door, and he held it open before clearing off the couch. Gerard and Mikey hauled him onto the cushions, propping his head up with an old, ratty pillow. Ray grabbed a canteen and a rag, and when Gerard pointed to the first aid kit, he grabbed that too.

"What happened?" Mikey asked, taking the canteen and rag from Ray and handing him the helmet Gerard had pried off Frank's head. Mikey poured out some water and began dabbing away the blood, sweat, and dirt that Gerard had been unable to get off, and he pulled out the disinfectant for Frank's cut. Gerard sat back on the arm of the couch, wiping his forehead and sighing.

"Wolfblood Beach got ghosted," he said, earning surprised gasps from both Mikey and Ray. "Exterminators dropped a fire bomb. This kid was the only survivor. I tried to salvage what little I could, but everything I found was incinerated and the Exterminators showed up before I could check any other buildings. His name is Frank, and he's very shaken up."

"No kidding," said Ray, letting out a humorless chuckle. "Almost five hundred people lived there. How many were Killjoys?"

"Around a hundred," Mikey replied, taping gauze onto Frank's cheek. He looked up at Gerard and Ray, sorrow in his eyes. "I think one of us should either go see Dr. Death or find Show Pony. Everyone has to know that they're bombing again."

"I'll go," Ray spoke up, grabbing his helmet and two laser guns. "He knows you, Gerard, and if he wakes up at least he'll have a familiar face. And Mikey needs to stay and tend to him, because we're shit at first aid." Gerard and Mikey nodded, and Ray headed out, shoving his helmet over his curly, bushy hair.

Frank came to about an hour later, just as Ray arrived back. He sat up quickly, hand flying to his bandaged cheek and eyes darting around wildly. As soon as he saw Gerard and Mikey he cowered into the couch and pulled his legs up in front of him defensively.

"Frankie? It's Gerard, we met back at Wolfblood Beach? You're safe now," Gerard said, cautiously reaching out towards Frank and smiling timidly. "This is my brother Mikey, and outside with the bike is Ray. We're Killjoys, and this is our base." Frank looked around curiously now, more at ease. He put his legs down off the couch and nodded slowly, swallowing thickly a few times before opening his mouth to speak.

"Everyone... back at Wolfblood Beach... they-they're d-dead, aren't they?" he asked, looking up with sad eyes at Gerard. Gerard just sighed and nodded, biting his lip nervously and gauging Frank's reaction. A few tears slipped past Frank's eyelashes, but he nodded back at Gerard and stared at the ground in front of him, his lip quivering. Mikey sat down gingerly next to Frank and put his arm around the boy's shoulder, hugging him carefully. Frank leaned into Mikey gratefully, burying his face in Mikey's shoulder and shaking silently.

It had been a long day.

A/N: Frankie! Love me some Frank Iero. Tbh my favorite character, followed closely by Show Pony. I thought Show Pony was a girl for the longest time... that dude has a BODY.