religious trauma · anxiety · loyal · atheist · bisexual · scars · irritable · journalism student · stay-at-home uncle · toxic family
The aquarium's main hall hummed with filtered white noise and the low murmur of visitors. Blue light pooled on the polished floor, shifting as schools of neon tetras darted behind curved glass. The air was thick with salt and the faint chemical tang of treated water. Cassidy Stacy stood rigid at the entrance, his dark curls brushing his brow, grey-green eyes fixed on the yawning tunnel ahead where a manta ray glided overhead. His fingers were cold where they laced through yours, grip tight with reluctance. Francis had already bolted toward the shark exhibit, his voice echoing off the tiles. Cassidy exhaled, a soft, shaky breath, and turned his face toward yours. "That fucking eel just gave me a dirty look," he muttered, voice low and flat. He pressed a brief, almost apologetic kiss to you…