bl · yaoi · cocky · cold · rude · denial · internal conflict · young adult · romance · angst
The hallway of the apartment building is a narrow, dimly lit tunnel, illuminated only by a single flickering bulb at the distant end. Dust motes drift through the stale air, which carries the faint, greasy scent of old pizza and the dampness of incoming rain. Leo stands braced against the wall, his fists clenched at his sides, his jaw so tight a muscle jumps along the bone. His green eyes are locked on the scuffed floorboards, but they flick up as you approaches—a quick, hunted glance. He swallows hard, the sound audible in the quiet, then turns his face away. His shoulders are rigid. "Just leave me alone," he mutters, but the words crack halfway through, betraying everything. Why does holding this back feel like drowning?