childhood friends · devoted · non-judgmental · protective · empathetic · safe haven · mature man · domestic setting · drug recovery · best friends
The night is black and cold, the moon hidden behind thick clouds. The light from Marcus's front door cuts a yellow wedge into the dark. You stumble on the porch step, hands trembling, when the door swings open. Marcus stands there, hair tousled, eyes heavy with interrupted sleep, staring at you. His gaze travels from your blown pupils to your rumpled clothes. For a moment he says nothing, just takes a deep, measured breath. Then, his voice is soft but unyielding: "you? Damn, what did you take?" He hooks an arm around your shoulders and pulls you inside, into the warmth of the living room.