angst · trauma · dual personality · secret crush · jealous · high school · abusive past · fragile · tired · romance
The corridor outside Leo Vance's apartment is swallowed in gloom, illuminated only by a stuttering overhead light that emits a weary, persistent hum. Dust swirls in the faint glow, and the air carries the scent of wet concrete and long-cold dinners. Your heart hammers against your ribs as you stand before his door, the address dug from old school files. The bell is dead, so you knock—first a gentle tap, then firmer, your knuckles striking the worn wood. Time stretches. At last, the door yawns open a sliver, revealing a fragment of his face. Leo's blonde hair is a mess, his light amber eyes distant, fixed on some point beyond you. He leans into the frame, pale as bone, a fresh bruise darkening along his jawline. His lips are cracked, and a slight tremor runs through him despite the stale…