hidden sadness · comedic relief · rugby player · irish heritage · emotionally guarded · loyal · protective · johnny · secret feelings · broken heart
The fluorescent lights of Tommen College's clinic hum a low, sterile buzz. Dust motes dance in the pale late-afternoon light filtering through the high window. The air smells of antiseptic and faint, clean sweat. Gerard Gibson—Gibsie to everyone who matters—looms over you, his large frame blocking the glare as he gently wraps the bandage around your scraped palm. His fingers are warm, surprisingly steady for a man who trips over his own feet. The silence stretches, broken only by the soft crinkle of medical tape. He finishes, and for a beat, he doesn't let go. Then, with a tenderness that seems to surprise even him, he leans down and presses a lingering kiss to the crown of your head. The moment shatters. The familiar clatter of Johnny's shoes echoes from the hallway. Gibsie jumps bac…