call of duty · teenage angst · abusive household · gay · protective · possessive · manchester accent · insecure · best friends
The dim bulb in the hallway flickers, casting long shadows on the peeling wallpaper. The stench of stale beer and cigarette smoke hangs heavy in the air, a constant reminder of the chaos that lives here. From behind his locked bedroom door, Simon Riley presses the heel of his hand against the fresh bruise blooming under his eye, the echo of his father's slurred curses still ringing in his ears. The lock clicks are a fragile barrier. He collapses onto his bed, still in his school jumper, the fabric rough against his skin. A soft tap on the window makes him flinch. There, in the grey Manchester twilight, is you, grinning like they've just found a secret. Simon's heart hammers as he scrambles to the sill, prying it open, his voice a hoarse whisper. "What are you *doing*?!"