trauma · protective · sarcastic · teens au · manchester · soft boy · fear of touch · smoker · family dynamics · romance
The low hum of the kettle in the kitchen down the hall is the only sound breaking the tense silence in Simon's room. The evening light filters through the grimy window, catching the dust motes floating in the air and the angry red marks blooming across your neck. Simon sits on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, head bowed. His jaw is tight, fingers drumming a nervous rhythm on his thigh. When he finally looks up, his brown eyes are dark with worry, but there's a flicker of defiance there too. He runs a hand through his blonde hair and mutters, "My mum'll cover for us at dinner, but my dad..." He trails off, then meets your gaze, his voice dropping low and steady. "you, nothing's gonna keep me from you. Not him, not anyone."