Illumination of the End (Frerard)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23:

The two were awoken by a high pitched beeping noise coming from Gerard's watch. They'd chosen to sleep in the alley next to the Cartoon Network building again that night in order to be prepared for Gerard's first day of work. After fumbling with his watch for a few seconds, trying to find the button to shut the alarm off, Gerard finally got the thing to shut up.

Frank dramatically groanded at the sudden wake up call, his head still leaned on Gerard's shoulder. Gerard managed stand up and pick up his bag. He smiled down to Frank as he sat against the brick wall, returning his smile. 

"Well... It's my first day..." Gerard's said awkwardly, letting the fact that he really had a job now sink in as he scoffed his shoes against the concrete.

Frank squinted his eyes to look up at Gerard. The morning sun was rising behind where he stood, making Gerard seem like some sort of angel appearing out of the haze to save Frank; to pick him up out of all the deep trenches he'd dug with his own mistakes. In a way, that is exactly what Gerard was to him. His angel that was there to save him. This job was going to fix everything for the two.

"You're gonna do great." Frank stated as he rose up to meet Gerard. "Good luck, Gee."

A grin spread across Gerard's face as he leaned in to kiss Frank goodbye. Having someone to give him motivation was exactly what he needed in that moment, for he was nervous. The kind of nervous where the butterflies in your stomach seemed to have formed an army and are out to get you. 

"Thanks Frankie. What are you going to do all day without me?" 

"Oh. Damn... I didn't realize that I would have to be bored and alone all day..." The smile across Frank's face evened out into a little pout.

Gerard sighed and closed his eyes for a moment to try and figure something out.

"We could go together on my lunch break and get something to eat?" Gerard suggested.

Frank seemed to be okay with the idea, and he nodded his head, appearing to be bit happier. "Alright." He agreed. "See you then."

They hugged one last time, then Gerard departed into the building for his first day at his first real job. His first time away from home. His first time for just about everything. No need to be nervous, right?

Gerard made it into the bathroom to change into the same dress shirt he had worn yesterday to his interview. He stared at himself in the mirror for a long minute. Just taking in the image of his wearing dress clothes to get ready for his dream job. Dream job. This is what he had been waiting for. This was his dream, and he was determined to do as best as he could. 

Dave found Gerard right outside the hallway and greeted him with a big smile.

"Ahh, there's the new guy! How are you today, Gerard?"

"I-I'm doing pretty good." Gerard replied, startled by the man's enthusiasm. Gerard wasn't much of a morning person. He needed coffee if he was expected to be awake and functioning this early in the morning. 

"Well, good to hear. Why don't I give you a tour around the office, and I'll show you your desk." Dave said over his shoulder as he lead Gerard down the hallway. "This." He said pointing to the large open room packed with cubicles. "Is our writers department. And over here." Dave pointed to a glass wall. The other side of the wall was lined with drawing desks, markers, paint, canvas, and every other art supplies Gerard had ever dreamed of. "Is where our illustrators such as yourself spend their time." His nervousness was replaced with excitement to get started at what he did best. 

"I-I get to use all of that?" Gerard was astonished at the sight. It was like an entire art supply store at his disposal. 

"Oh yes, of course!" Dave smiled. "Let me just show you the break room, and get you some coffee."

"Sounds good." Gerard said, still drooling over the set up of his new job. 

They walked down a wide hallway and into a room off the right, opening up to a brightly lit kitchen area. Dave poured two cups of coffee and handed on to Gerard who quickly brought it to his lips, and he let the hot liquid steadily flow down his throat in hopes of some much needed energy.

"Oh. I almost forgot." Dave stated as he brought the cup away form his lips. "I need to introduce you to the president. He's a real cool guy, so don't worry too much about it."

"The- The president of Cartoon Network?" Questioned Gerard.

"Mhmm. His office is just around the corner. C'mon."

They walked together to wide double doors. Gerard couldn't help but wonder what Frank was up to right about then. Probably bored out of his mind by then. 

Dave knocked once on the doors, and a voice from inside the office called for them to enter. 

"Ah, Dave, how are things out there?" The man from behind the desk asked as he stood up from his chair. His black hair was thinning, and the sides were turning grey, giving him a distinguished look. The suit his was wearing topped off his "in charge" look.

"Quite well, Sir. This is Gerard. He's the new illustrator we hired yesterday." Dave said as he motioned to Gerard. 

A hand stuck out, so Gerard upon instinct, quickly shook the hand of the president of his new job, who introduced him self swiftly.

"Nice to meet you, Gerard. I'm Anthony. Anthony Iero." The man stated as he smiled at Gerard. 

Iero?

Did he just say Iero?

.... uh

Lots of people had that last name right? Iero... That's common? Right?

Gerard's eyes then focused on the man's, and that's when he knew it. The pair of hazel eyes staring back at him reminded him of someone. Someone who also happened to have the last name Iero...

~~~~~~~

ooohoooo cliffhanger and its really short whoops. I've been working on another frerard story recently, so if you want to check it out, i'd be forever grateful. ^_^ its called faces of the in-between if you want to read it :3 Anyways, as always, thank you so much for reading and HOLY SHIT this almost has ten thousand reads akjsdgflaksjdgdsj thank you so much ;~;