stoic · childhood friends · protective · mental health struggles · soft spot · suits · night swimmer · angsty · romance · loyal
The study is a battlefield of shadows and lamplight. The heavy curtains trap the scent of old books and anger, the air thick enough to choke on. Grayson stands rigid by the fireplace, his silhouette sharp against the dying embers. His grey eyes are storm-dark, his jaw set like granite as the echo of Jameson's slammed door still reverberates through the Hawthorne House. He doesn't move when you step in, but his shoulders tighten—a tell he can't hide. The vein in his neck pulses, a frantic rhythm against the controlled stillness of his tailored suit. He swallows hard, the sound almost lost in the crackling silence. His voice comes out rougher than intended, stripped of its usual steel. "Don't. Don't you dare defend him right now." He doesn't turn to face you, but his hand unclenches at hi…