Chapter Text
“Frank, dear,” Linda called into the back room. Frank looked up, the rabbits he was feeding nibbling happily at their food. “I’ve closed up the front. Now remember, I’ll be away until early tomorrow afternoon, so make sure the shop is opened on time.”
“Okay, ma,” Frank said. Linda smiled at him, patting his long hair and heading back to the front room. Frank rubbed one of the rabbits behind its ears, smiling softly. He stood and walked into the front room, listening to the two other shop workers talk about the infamous wizard Gerard. Frank caught one of them saying something about him hiding from the cops and Frank shook his head.
The two young women left the shop and Frank followed them, exiting and locking the door behind him. He wanted to talk a walk before heading back home.
He looked up at the bright blue sky, smiling at the warm breeze. The streets were busy, people getting there last minute shopping done before the stores closed.
Frank hopped on the tram, riding it through the town, before hopping off and making his way towards a wide alley.
“Hey there, cutie,” a voice cooed and Frank jumped. He saw two police officers leaning against a wall, both leering at him. Frank cringed, shuddering slightly. “You look lost,” the tall blonde one said. “Maybe we could help you out.”
“Eh, no thanks,” Frank replied. He tried to weave his way around them but the darker haired man blocked him.
“Aww, c’mon now. We won’t bite,” he smirked and Frank took step back.
A hand gripped his shoulder gently, a warm body pressing up beside him as a soft voice spoke. “I’ve been looking for you,” it said and Frank looked up. The man was handsome, skin smooth and pale, his bright blonde hair just above his shoulders. His nose was small and upturned and he glanced down, smiling at Frank.
Frank blushed lightly, looking down at his feet.
“Don’t you two gentlemen have somewhere to be?” the stranger asked. He waved a hand, a light flourish to the movement. Frank watched with amazement at the cops straightened up instantly, turned and marched off. He blinked and the stranger squeezed his shoulder gently. “C’mon,” he said, ushering Frank down the alley.
“Wh-where are we going?” he asked. He didn’t know if he should trust this beautiful stranger even if he wasn’t threatening in appearance.
“We’re being followed,” the man said softly. Frank flinched, glancing over his shoulder.
Strange looking men were behind them, seeming to slink more than walk.
“Stay calm,” the man said and Frank looked up to him. He grabbed Frank’s left hand across his chest, his right hand sliding down Frank’s arm and gripping his other hand.
Frank tensed as they moved faster, almost running down the alley and around a corner. The men were closing in, Frank could practically feel them reaching for their clothes.
The end of the alley came into view and Frank saw it was a dead end. “Shi-what?!” he shouted, watching the wall slip down and away. Down and down it went and Frank felt his body starting to fall with it, only the man’s hands holding him up.
“Don’t worry,” he said, “you’re doing fine. Just walk.”
Frank gulped and his body shook as he mocked walking through the air. The ground, buildings and people shrinking below him. “How-?” He blinked up at the man, eyes wide and mouth open. The man simply smiled softly.
The ground started getting closer and Frank felt his feet tap off the shingles of a roof. A balcony loomed closer and Frank’s feet tapped down on the railing. He hopped down to the porch and the man released his hands. Frank turned, seeing him standing on the railing.
“I’ll lead them away. Wait a few minutes before leaving here,” he said.
Frank nodded and the man leaped from the balcony. “Don’t!” he shouted, rushing to the edge. The man was nowhere to be seen. “Who was that?” he hummed, looking down at the still busy streets.
He looked at the building he had landed at. It was his friend’s family’s sweet shop.
Convenient, he thought, making his way to the door with one final glance over his shoulder. He slipped inside, passing by one of the shop workers who smiled brightly.
Poking his head into the main room from the store room door, he smiled at his friend, Jamia, hard at work. She noticed him and grinned, shrieking lightly. “Frankie!” He watched her turn to the other worker, whispering something and getting a nod before rushing over to him and pulling him into a tight hug. “I haven’t seen you in weeks! How did you get here? I didn’t see you come in through the front door,” she enquired and Frank shrugged. She led Frank back into the store room and they sat on the wooden crates.
“Some-some guy brought me,” he said, rubbing his neck. “He flew me, I guess? Like, just lifted me into the air. No hover craft or anything.”
Jamia’s eyes widened. “Oh, I wonder if it was Gerard!” she giggled. “Better be careful, Frankie. I hear he goes after pretty little things hearts, like yours.”
“No, he goes after pretty young ladies hearts,” Frank retorted. “I’m a guy and certainly not even remotely attractive.” Jamia pouted out her lip at him and he continued. “He was just some weird guy.”
“If you say so,” she huffed.
“Jams, we need you back up front,” her sister called out and Jamia stood.
Frank followed her, being engulfed in another tight hug. “You stay safe,” she said and Frank nodded. “And I don’t care what you say, you’d be a damn fine catch for any man, woman or wizard. Well, maybe not a wizard. You wouldn’t wanna be caught by one of them,” she smiled and Frank laughed.
“Thanks Jamia. I’ll see you soon?”
“You’d better, Frank Iero. I know where you live,” Jamia scolded, smiling seconds later and rushing back out front.
Frank followed her, stepping out the front door and into the slowly fading light. The evening was warm and Frank started his journey back home, oblivious to the man sitting in the red car watching his movements.
The man grinned, opening the car door and placing a small glass vial on the cobblestones. Thick oil slicks wormed their way over and filled the vial before he picked it back up, shutting the door and the car driving down the street.
It was dark by the time Frank made it back to the shop, the street lights illuminating the outside of the buildings. He unlocked the door, walked through and locked it back. The shop was quiet save for the sound of the hamster wheels turning and the soft crunching of food. He walked towards the store room when the door jingled. Turning, he saw a figure draped in a dark red cloak, a wide grin on his scruffy face.
“T-the shop’s closed, please come back in the morning,” Frank said. He could have sworn he locked the door.
“What a pathetic shop this is,” the man said, walking forward. “I wouldn’t want to come back at any time, let alone in the daylight.”
Frank bristled, tensing his shoulders.
“I’d even hate to see you in the daylight, such a homely looking thing,” the man sneered and Frank felt something snap inside him.
“Please leave,” he ordered, keeping his temper in check. He walked past the man and opened the front door, waiting for him to go.
The man snickered, “You’re very brave to take on the Wizard of the Wastes. Brave and fucking stupid.”
Frank flinched and two men walked up the steps behind him. The man in the shop flew at Frank and he screamed, crossing his arms over his face. His body felt weak, so much more exhausted than it had been minutes before.
“You’ll never be able to tell anyone about that little curse,” the man laughed. “Send my regards to Gerard. Ta!”
The door closed behind him and Frank heard the animals whining, some scratching at their enclosures. He groaned, moving his arms away from his face and froze. “What-?” He blinked repeatedly, staring at his hands. But, they were old and wrinkly. He rushed over to the counter, grabbing the small compact he knew was underneath and flipping it open. The face in the mirror was his but also not his.
“Oh,” he gulped, turning his head and looking at all the angles. “Oh shit. I’m old!” Frank felt like crying. He was freaking out and his breathing started to increase. “Calm down, Frank,” he told himself, setting the mirror down and pacing to the back of the shop. “Just, stay calm. Deep breaths.”
He whined and walked back to the counter, picking up the mirror again. He was still old in the reflection, probably almost sixty if he had to guess.
“Fuck,” he whined again, finally exiting out the back of the shop. He locked the back door and crossed the small courtyard to the main house. His body moved on autopilot to his room, locking the door and curling up on his bed, the blankets covering him completely.