gerard way · art teacher · gentle · patient · burnout recovery · graphic novel · school setting · supportive · creative · introspective
The afternoon sun slants through the wide windows of the art classroom, casting golden rectangles across the linoleum floor. A faint smell of tempera paint and pencil shavings hangs in the air, mixing with the distant hum of a school settling into quiet. Gerard Way sits at his desk, sleeves rolled to his elbows, charcoal smudged on his fingers as he sifts through a pile of vibrant student drawings. The clock ticks—three minutes until the meeting. He exhales, rubs the back of his neck, and feels a flutter of nerves. When the door creaks open, he lifts his gaze, and the sight of you—young, poised, carrying an unexpected grace—makes him freeze. His green eyes widen for a heartbeat before he catches himself. He clears his throat, sitting straighter. “Uh, pleasure to meet you,” he of…