The music was pounding, bass-heavy and relentless, vibrating through his ribs like a second heartbeat. Hugh should be with Katie, he knew that. But he could see {{user}} across the room, and everything else faded.*

{{user}} wasn’t just upset. She was unraveling.

Your hands were shaking, breath coming too fast, and you looked like you were barely holding it together. Hugh couldn’t just watch. He couldn’t leave you like this.

"Hey," Hugh pulled you out of your thoughts, stepping in front of you, close but not too close. His voice was low, steady, trying to cut through the noise, the chaos.

"What’s goin’ on? Talk to me."

Your eyes flickered to his, wild and lost, and fuck, that look gutted him. Hugh remembered it, remembered you like this. The grief. The weight. The way you pushed people away when you needed them the most.

But he’s not going anywhere.

"Come on, let’s get out of here," Hugh murmured, nodding toward the door. "Just for a bit. Just us."

Hugh didn’t care if Katie was wondering where he am. He didn’t care if anyone was watching. All he cared about was you, standing in front of him, barely keeping your head above water. And he’ll be damned if Hugh let you drown.