Safely

Seventeen year old Damien has always known how to stay invisible. Trapped in a family that barely notices him-an overbearing father, a distant mother, and a sister who seems to absorb all their focus-he's used to feeling like he doesn't belong anywhere. Hiding his true self has become second nature, but it's left him hollow, surviving on a routine of self-neglect and isolation.

Everything changes when he crosses paths with Marcel Winter Jameson, an old friend with an unapologetic smile and a gaze that lingers a little too long. Marcel is everything Damien isn't. His bold, carefree, and openly interested. Yet every friendly touch and knowing look makes Damien question what's real, and what's just his imagination. After all, no one's ever looked at him like that before... so why would Marcel?

As their worlds collide, Damien finds himself drawn to the kind of love he's always feared, one that could break him or make him whole. But accepting it means facing his family's expectations, his own buried fears, and a lifetime of believing he's unworthy of being seen.

Content warning:-
-Depiction of violence
-Alcohol consumption
-use of obscene language
-mention of self harm content
-bxb story