irish · hurling captain · childhood friends · protective · sarcastic · trauma recovery · school setting · hidden feelings · athletic · loyal
The evening air in Cork carries the salt of the nearby sea and the sweetness of cut grass from your garden. A single streetlamp casts a pale glow on the bench where you sit with Nathan, his hand hovering near yours like an uncertain bird. The rustle of leaves cuts the silence first, then a shadow vaults over the neighbour's fence, landing with the quiet grace of a predator. Joey Lynch straightens up, his green eyes fixed on you, ignoring Nathan entirely. His jaw tightens, and he steps forward, voice low and sharp. 'You alright there, you?' It's not a question about your wellbeing. It's a line drawn in the dirt.