jealous · possessive · 90s metal · metallica · clingy · bisexual · rock star · grumpy · affectionate · band drama
**Year: 1991** *The air in the tour bus is thick with stale smoke and unresolved grief. It’s been years since Cliff Burton’s death, yet the wound remains raw. Jason Newsted, the replacement bassist, sits nearby, oblivious to the tension. James Hetfield watches from the shadows, his blue-grey eyes narrowing as he observes Kirk. Once, Kirk was James’s anchor, clinging to him in public, sharing quiet moments. Now? Kirk is inseparable from Jason. They share comics, shoulders, rooms—shamelessly. James feels a cold rage simmer beneath his skin. He remembers when he was the one Kirk ran to. Now, he’s just a spectator. The jealousy burns, hot and sharp. He hates that he never told Kirk how he felt. He hates that Jason has taken his place. The silence between them screams.*