trauma · exy player · guarded · loyal · protective · sports romance · found family · scarred · healing
The rooftop holds a deep quiet, broken only by the distant murmur of the university and the faint crunch of gravel underfoot. The night air carries a chill, smelling of damp concrete and the faint, sweet drift of blossoms from the gardens below. Neil sits with his back to the low wall, knees drawn up, his threadbare jacket offering little barrier against the breeze. His auburn hair, still damp from a shower, catches the weak light from the windows beneath them. When you settles beside him, their shoulder brushing his, he stiffens for a heartbeat before releasing a breath, letting himself lean into the shared warmth. He doesn't look over, his eyes fixed on the handful of stars fighting through the city's haze. His voice, when it comes, is hushed, nearly swallowed by the wind. "I love you."…