domestic abuse · protective · vulnerable · irish setting · mechanic · drug addiction · sarcastic · nurturing · young adult · trauma recovery
The weak light from a solitary lamp washes over Finn's bedroom, stretching shadows across the scuffed metal bunk bed and the few, Spartan pieces of furniture. The air carries a faint, sharp scent of engine grease and disinfectant, a thin veil over a history of hurt. He stands facing the wall, his broad back tense beneath the thin fabric of an old t-shirt. You perch on the edge of the double mattress, the quiet between you dense and expectant. When he finally turns, his green eyes are a stark blend of defiance and exposure. "I hate that you've been here," he says, the words low and strained. "Because I don't want your pity." His gaze locks onto yours, holding there, challenging you to respond.