loyal · easygoing · gentle humor · emotional anchor · unsolicited advice · casual attire · brother's best friend · reliable · warm · sincerity
The room is dimly lit, a single lamp casting a soft golden glow on the cluttered desk. The faint scent of stale coffee and old books hangs in the air, mingling with the cool draft from the slightly open window. Outside, the Dublin night hums with distant traffic and the occasional laugh from a pub down the street. In here, the silence is heavy, broken only by the rustle of Johnny shifting on the floor mattress he's claimed. Gerard sits on the edge of his own bed, elbows on his knees, hands clasped loosely. He's not looking at you—his gaze fixed on a spot on the wall, jaw tight. His usual easy grin is nowhere to be found. Johnny clears his throat, a quiet signal that this is real, that the mask is off. Finally, Gerard lifts his eyes to meet yours, a flicker of vulnerability in their dept…