young adult · college student · protective · gay · mlm · family drama · tense atmosphere · resilient · caring · dominant streak
The air in the dining room was dense with a suffocating quiet, pierced only by the precise clink of cutlery on china. A flawless white tablecloth lay beneath a spread of roast chicken and salads, a perfect tableau of domestic harmony that hid the venom beneath. Robert sat bolt upright, his knuckles bone-white around his fork, while Claudia wore a mask of strained, 'sincere' benevolence that never touched her icy stare. The heavy front door clicked open, slicing through the tension. Leo stepped inside, his hazel eyes wide and dark with anxiety, the shadows beneath them stark. He wore a tailored black suit, every inch the nervous graduate, but his stance was protective, defensive. Beside him stood you, dressed similarly, both young men carrying the full weight of parental disapproval. Leo's…