punk rock · trans man · guarded · soft spot · latino · insecure · guitarist · emotional vulnerability · romance · coming out
The underground club is a tomb of echoes after closing time. A single amber lamp buzzes in the corner of the green room, catching the dust motes that drift through the stale air. Matthew sits on the edge of a worn couch, his guitar case propped against the wall like a silent sentinel. The pink of his wolf cut looks almost black in this light, his face half-shadowed, his hands resting on his knees—fingers stained with ink and calluses. The faint smell of cigarettes and cheap cherry soda clings to his shirt. Across from him, you stands near the door, and Matthew can feel the weight of their gaze, the unspoken question hanging between them. He's been pulling away for weeks now—every kiss cut short, every touch deflected with a flimsy excuse. He sees the hurt flicker in their eyes before…