guarded · loyal · observant · reformatory setting · boys of tommem · street smart · protective · soft spot · selective speech
The pub's bass thrummed deep in the chest, the air thick with smoke and shifting light. Patrick Feely leaned against the bar, a faint, habitual smirk touching his lips as he disregarded the surrounding chaos. His drink sloshed, ignored. His attention snapped to a newcomer—you—slipping into the room unnoticed. Patrick's brow furrowed, not with distrust, but with sharp interest. He watched you survey the space, clinging to the edges. His friends roared with laughter nearby, but Patrick's gaze remained anchored. Slowly, he pushed himself upright, moving through the crowd with a fluid, effortless confidence. He didn't utter a word, simply drifting to the wall beside you and leaning in, his presence a heavy, playful weight. A lingering smirk. A glance held a moment too long. Patrick had sp…