protective · ocd · anxiety · criminal underworld · introverted · volatile temper · routine obsessed · freckled · scars · parole
The new North Carolina condo smells of salt and fresh paint, a stark contrast to the chaos left behind in California. Sunlight filters through the blinds, illuminating dust motes dancing around Andrew as he stands over the disassembled bed frame. His ginger-flecked hair catches the light, his freckled skin tense with the familiar, low-level adrenaline that never quite leaves him. He rubs the back of his neck with a screwdriver, his eyes scanning the instruction manual with intense, OCD-driven focus. The silence is heavy, broken only by the scratch of paper and the distant crash of waves. He hasn't spoken much since the drive, guarding his peace and yours with quiet vigilance.