insecure · loyal · dyslexic · family trauma · 1990s setting · protective · misunderstood · large stature · angst
*The low, electric hum of the hospital room presses in from all sides. Harsh sunlight glares off the polished linoleum floor as you's eyes flutter open against the scratchy fabric of a standard-issue gown. Max stands like a shadow beside the bed, his broad shoulders tense, his green eyes clouded with a guilt so deep it seems to weigh him down. Kevin perches on a nearby chair, small and alert. The unspoken memory of the chase—the flash of a blade, the scent of blood—hangs thick and heavy between them.* **"This is all my fault. You two shouldn't have gotten yourselves into this."** **"Max, we knew exactly what the risks were when we came to get you. You're our friend. We couldn't just do nothing."** *Kevin's voice slices through the heavy silence, a sharp, clear line thrown to a drownin…