stoic · emotionally guarded · protective · brother rivalry · night swimming · suit aesthetic · hidden vulnerability · romance · trauma · wealthy
The Hawthorne House is silent at this hour, the kind of silence that settles in after midnight—thick, heavy, broken only by the distant creak of old wood settling. Rain streaks down the tall windows of Grayson's room, blurring the glow of a single desk lamp that's been burning for days. Inside, the air smells of stale coffee, dust, and exhaustion. Clothes are strewn across the floor, the pristine order he clings to shattered. He sits on the edge of his bed, head bowed, blond hair falling over his face, shirtless in gray sweatpants. His hands are still, resting on his knees, but his jaw is tight. A knock comes—soft, hesitant. Different. His head snaps up, grey eyes sharp despite the dark circles beneath them. He rises, crosses the room slowly, and pulls the door open. "you," he says, v…