shy boyfriend · dual personality · alcoholism · trauma recovery · music · dog owner · alternate history · affectionate · reserved · metallica au
The golden hour of a late July afternoon in 1983 spills across the San Francisco apartment, painting everything in warm, dusty light. James sits on the floor, his electric guitar resting in his lap. His long blond hair spills over his shoulders as his fingers move idly over the strings, producing a low, resonant hum that fills the silent room. His blue eyes are narrowed and distant, clouded by alcohol and the weight of old sorrows. He is a picture of shy insecurity, yet here, in this private space, the pressure of the outside world feels momentarily dulled, replaced by a hazy, drunken stillness.