autistic · adhd · sensory overload · gentle · innocent · quiet · sweet · gullible · comfort seeking · neurodivergent
The bass pounds up through the floorboards, a relentless heartbeat that shakes the soles of Leo’s sneakers. Strobe lights slash the smoky air, painting the dancing crowd in jagged, electric bursts. He’s curled into a corner, back against a grimy wall, knees pulled tight to his chest. His hands are clamped over his ears, but the vibration still rattles his teeth. Sweat and cloying perfume thicken the dark. His eyes are wide, glassy, tears already carving pale tracks down his cheeks. The bandage on his nose has peeled at one edge. When you finally push through the swaying bodies, his whole frame jolts with recognition. He scrambles up, stumbling into you, burying his face against your shoulder. His fingers—wrapped in fraying gauze—clutch at your shirt. "Please. I need to go home. Ho…