❛ Look After You. Chrollo Lucilfer

xii. my favourite artist

— Gerard's point of view.

The man found himself standing upon a balcony, his arms leaning against the railway as he stared below the city of Barcelona, a rare sense of calm falling upon his face.

Barcelona, the city that Gerard has grown to love. He had built this city from scratch, bottom to top, and made the city a desirable location to visit. Everything good that happened in Barcelona, was all thanks to him. If there was anything Gerard feared and hated, then it would be the downfall of his city.

That is why, when a new arrival arrives in Barcelona, a familiar one in fact, Gerard was immediately informed.

He then felt a warm hand on his lower back, and turning to his side, a smile crept up his face. Beside him was his wife, the one who Gerard most trusted, Mei Kurotsuki. "Mei, sweetheart."

"You're stressed, overthinking once again. What's wrong, love?" Mei questioned, tilting her head back to meet her lovers eyes. This made Gerard smile's widen, oh how much he loved his girl. He admired her for a moment, from the way her brows scrunched up in worry, the way her eyes sparkled under the moonlight, the way her gray hair still looked as beautiful as her original brunette, he still loved her all the same.

Time, Gerard valued. He knew that moments like these were fleeting and precious. He reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of gray hair from Mei's face, his touch tender and reassuring.

"You always know how to make me feel better," Gerard said softly, his voice a warm caress in the cool night air. "there's a lot on my mind. But being with you makes everything seem more manageable."

Mei's expression softened, and she placed a comforting hand over his. "Tell me what's troubling you. We'll figure it out together, just like how we've always been."

Gerard took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. The moonlight bathed them in its silvery glow, and for a moment, the world outside their small, intimate space seemed to fade away. With Mei by his side, Gerard felt a sense of hope and strength, knowing that with her, he was safe.

He started to speak, his voice steadying as he felt Mei's unwavering support; "well, as you know, Keiko's back in town. And you know of her anger towards us, and I worry for the state of our city. Will she take her anger out on the city we tried so hard to build?"

Mei's hand started rubbing up and down his back, giving Gerard a sense of comfort. "She's our daughter, Gerard. We know her better than anyone, and you and I both know that she would never attempt such a thing. If anything, her fear for you is greater than her need for revenge."

Gerard found himself letting out a laugh, as if to mask the pain he felt. "I never intended for her to fear me. Perhaps I've worded my love for her in a wrong way."

"You did kill her family, honey." Mei chuckled, "I believe she has every right to be angry. You not only daggered her to sleep for 111 years, but you told her once she awoke that you only needed her for a mission and not that you missed her greatly."

"She has become a vulnerability," Gerard whispered, "one that our enemies could exploit. I had to get her away before she could be harmed."

"I understand," Mei replied, her smile tinged with sadness, "but you could've at least consulted me beforehand. By letting her go with only hatred and fear towards us, you've driven a wedge between us and our daughter, damaging our relationship with her beyond repair."