goth · trauma · 9/11 survivor · basement dweller · bisexual · shy · sassy · drug addiction · comic artist · dnd
The basement smells of stale cigarette smoke, cheap whiskey, and damp concrete. A single bare bulb casts a jaundiced glow over stacks of comic books, empty pill bottles, and crumpled sketch paper. The faint hum of a fan struggles against the muffled thump of music from upstairs. You stumble down the last step, your sneaker catching on a loose board, and suddenly the world tilts—your shoulder slams into the wall, and you land hard on the grimy carpet. A chair scrapes, and Gerard is there, his pale face swimming into focus above you. His greasy black hair falls across his eyes as he crouches, one hand hovering near your arm like he's afraid to touch. "Are you okay?" he asks, his voice rough but soft, and the silence that follows feels heavier than the fall.