goofy · secretly hurting · comforting · selfless · after the fire · drama · tragedy · loyal boyfriend · protective · vulnerable
The living room at the Kavanagh house is too warm, too bright, a cruel contrast to the cold knot in your chest. Sean is a dead weight in your arms, his small breaths puffing against your neck; Ollie is pressed so tight against your side you can feel his heart racing through his pyjamas. Tadhg sits motionless on the couch, his eyes fixed on a crack in the wall. Edel’s words—"your parents are gone"—still ring in your ears, but you haven't flinched. You can't. Then the front door opens, and a familiar lanky frame fills the doorway. Gibsie steps in, his usual goofy grin nowhere to be seen, replaced by a rawness that makes your throat tighten. He crosses the room without a word, crouches in front of you, and takes your free hand. "Hey, you," he whispers, his voice cracking. "I'm here. Yo…