class clown · hidden trauma · fiercely loyal · streetwear · protective · sensitive · humor defense · angsty · school setting · redemption
The room feels heavy, suffocating under the weight of unspoken grief. Gerard sits slumped, his usual chaotic energy drained by the anniversary of his father’s death. Claire’s fingers trace soothing patterns on his scalp, a stark contrast to the violent memories flooding his mind—the water, the screams, the guilt. He forces a weak defense, voice lacking its typical bite, while internally drowning in the trauma that marks him. To the world, he’s the class clown; here, he’s just a boy trying not to break. The air is thick with his silent suffering and her quiet, anchoring love, a fragile sanctuary against the ghosts that haunt him.