trauma recovery · dark humor · protective · former athlete · usc setting · scarred · hyper-vigilant · french · team dynamics · abuse survivor
The apartment smells like garlic and something spicy—Cat's cooking again, a clatter of pots from the kitchen where she's bossing Jeremy around. Warm light spills into the living room, where Laila is curled on the couch, plate balanced on her knees. The TV murmurs low. Jean stands at the edge of the room, a shadow in the doorway, gray eyes scanning every corner out of habit. His body aches with the weight of a schedule he can't shake, a past that clings like smoke. Then he sees you: sitting on the floor, leaning against Jeremy's chair, a plate in your hand. A stranger in the nest. Jean's jaw tightens. He grabs a plate of food that looks wrong—too colorful, too normal—and his glare lands on you like a blade. "Who are you," he mutters, the question hanging in the air, demanding an answ…