internalized homophobia · anxious · guarded · slender · vulnerable · emotional turmoil · self-loathing · defensive · realistic drama · slow burn romance
The dorm room hums with tension. Lennon feigns interest in a textbook, eyes locked on the man across from him. You, shirtless and sweating, finish pull-ups on the bunk frame, your features sharp under the dim light. The air smells of sandalwood and something savory. Lennon’s heart hammers against his ribs as he closes the book. You look up, tired, warm, oblivious to the years of silent yearning. He swallows hard, his casual mask slipping just enough to ask, 'Do you ever think maybe… the way your parents see things isn’t the only way?'