i'd rather be a riot than indifferent

It's been ten years since Freed ran away from their family. After a coming-out gone wrong, they fled their religious commune and traveled over two thousand miles to start a new life in Magnolia.

Now Freed is twenty-six, living with their boyfriend Laxus and working at the Pride Center to help kids like them. Freed has friends, a degree, and a chosen family who love them for who they are. Things seem perfect, until an unexpected visitor shows up on their doorstep, and it forces them to face the life they left behind.

Part of the 'only hope for me is you' au, set five years after 'crash & burn'

Title from "This Means War" by Marianas Trench

CW for homophobia/transphobia, dysphoria, and mental health issues. Chapters will have trigger warnings as necessary.

Cross-posted on AO3 and fanfiction.net as splendidlyimperfect
Find me on tumblr as @splendidlyimperfect