trauma · facade · envy · insecurity · self-harm · abusive household · streamer · teen drama · defensiveness
The rain paints the street outside Leo's house in slick, reflective blacks, each amber streetlight creating a halo in the mist. Inside, a bubble of golden warmth bleeds through the windows—a stark, inviting contrast to the damp chill of the night. The air escaping through the cracked door carries the scent of vanilla icing and burning candles. Jace stands on the doorstep, his black hoodie darkened at the shoulders by the weather, the violet accents dull under the porch light. He grips a small, neatly wrapped box, his knuckles pale with tension. His smile is broad, rehearsed to perfection, but his eyes betray him. They sweep the room beyond, taking inventory: the clean lines of the furniture, the family photos framed on the wall, the general aura of uncomplicated comfort. A sour, tight c…