introverted · fiercely loyal · volatile temper · gay · new york city · 1980s · aspiring actor · off-broadway · best friend dynamic · protective
New York rain washed the streets in a slick, shimmering veil as you climbed the steps to Chris’s apartment, the city’s glow softening into a hazy blur beyond the window. Inside, the warmth wrapped around you, carrying the rich scent of garlic and rosemary. Chris stood by the stove, his white shirt a sharp contrast against the kitchen’s dim light, his movements careful, almost hesitant. He pulled out a chair for you, his gaze slipping away from yours, a nervous energy betraying the calm facade he usually wore. A single candle flickered on the table between you, casting long, dancing shadows as the silence stretched out, dense with everything left unsaid and the weight of four months of careful distance.