Stormy Confessions in Diner

In a nearly abandoned diner during a thunderstorm, Calliope, a young, world-weary hacker, confronts Dr. Thomas Mulvaney. She reveals her son, Dimitri, is a child with psychopathic tendencies, much like Mulvaney's own infamous adopted sons. Calliope's plea is not for money or to give up her son, but for guidance—she wants to raise Dimitri to be a functioning, non-monstrous adult. Her knowledge of Mulvaney's secret research and her hacking skills make her both a threat and an ally. The encounter is tense, laced with mutual wariness, but ultimately, it's a mother's desperate act of love and fear for her child's future.

Raising a Young Psychopath

Calliope recounts Dimitri's disturbing childhood: his lack of empathy, violent outbursts, and a chilling incident where he set a neighbor's bed on fire to protect a friend from abuse. Despite therapists' reluctance to diagnose children as psychopaths, Calliope knows what she's dealing with. She's exhausted, isolated, and terrified of what Dimitri might become without intervention. Mulvaney, recognizing the signs and the mother's resolve, is torn between his own controversial methods and the ethical dilemma of helping another child like his own. The chapter is a raw exploration of parental fear, societal failure, and the hope that nurture can redirect nature.

Coffee Shop Obsessions

Now a young adult, Dimitri works at a campus coffee shop, his life orbiting around Arlo, a beautiful, fragile coworker he's loved since childhood. Dimitri's social circle is shallow; his true focus is Arlo, who is trapped in an abusive relationship with Holden, a privileged, violent athlete. The coffee shop is both a stage for their daily interactions and a battleground for Dimitri's protective instincts. The tension is palpable—Dimitri's obsession is both romantic and unsettling, and Arlo's vulnerability is a constant trigger for Dimitri's darker impulses.

Bruises and Unspoken Truths

Dimitri notices fresh bruises on Arlo, evidence of Holden's abuse. Their silent understanding is heavy with history—Dimitri once set a fire to protect Arlo as a child, leading to years of separation. Now reunited, Dimitri is torn between acting on his violent urges and respecting Arlo's autonomy. The emotional stakes are high: Arlo's self-worth is battered, and Dimitri's love is both a comfort and a potential danger. Their connection is deep, but fraught with the scars of past and present trauma.

The Threat Returns

Holden storms into the coffee shop, his jealousy and rage barely contained. He threatens Arlo, leveraging his father's power and Arlo's mental health history to intimidate him. Dimitri intervenes, violence simmering beneath his calm exterior, and a tense standoff ensues. The scene is electric with danger—Holden's entitlement and cruelty are met with Dimitri's cold, protective fury. Arlo is caught in the crossfire, his fear and shame palpable, while Dimitri's willingness to escalate the situation foreshadows the violence to come.

Violence Behind the Counter

The confrontation escalates as Dimitri physically restrains Holden, threatening him with a knife. The coffee shop becomes a crucible for their tangled emotions—rage, fear, love, and desperation. Holden leaves, vowing revenge, and Arlo is left shaken, his sense of safety shattered. Dimitri's actions are both heroic and terrifying, blurring the line between protector and potential predator. The aftermath is a mix of adrenaline, guilt, and the unspoken acknowledgment that something irrevocable has shifted between them.

Aftermath in the Bathroom

Arlo retreats to the bathroom, overwhelmed by panic and shame. Dimitri's gentle attempts to comfort him—offering water, words, and presence—highlight the depth of his care. Arlo's internal monologue reveals his lifelong pattern of seeking love from those who hurt him, and his fear that Dimitri, too, could become another source of pain. Yet, Dimitri's unwavering support begins to crack Arlo's defenses, planting the seeds of trust and hope.

Permission to Protect

As they close the shop, Arlo asks Dimitri if he truly meant his promise to protect him. Their conversation is raw and honest—Dimitri admits his psychopathy, and Arlo confesses his own brokenness. They share a first, tentative kiss, both terrified and exhilarated by the intensity of their feelings. The moment is a turning point: Arlo gives Dimitri permission to be his protector, and Dimitri, in turn, promises never to hurt him. Their mutual vulnerability is both healing and dangerous, setting the stage for the night's coming violence.

Secrets and First Kisses

Alone together, Arlo and Dimitri finally confront their shared past—Dimitri's childhood arson, Arlo's memories of abuse, and the years lost between them. Their conversation is laced with dark humor and longing, culminating in a passionate, affirming kiss. The honesty between them is both cathartic and unsettling; they acknowledge their flaws and the unconventional nature of their bond. The chapter is a celebration of survival, resilience, and the possibility of love even in the most damaged hearts.

Blood on the Gravel

As Dimitri takes out the trash, Holden ambushes him with a baseball bat, intent on murder. A brutal struggle ensues, with Dimitri nearly killed. Arlo, witnessing the attack, intervenes and kills Holden with a brick. The violence is sudden, messy, and traumatic—Arlo's actions are both self-defense and a culmination of years of victimization. The aftermath is chaos: panic, blood, and the realization that they have crossed a line from which there is no return.

A Mother's Cleanup Plan

Dimitri calls his mother, Calliope, for help. She takes charge with chilling efficiency, guiding them through the logistics of disposing of the body, erasing evidence, and creating alibis. The plan is intricate, relying on hacking, misdirection, and the help of the Mulvaney network. The chapter is a tense procedural, blending dark humor with the grim reality of their situation. Calliope's love is fierce and pragmatic—she will do anything to protect her son and, by extension, Arlo.

The Mulvaney Intervention

At the warehouse where they stash Holden's body, Dimitri and Arlo encounter the Mulvaney brothers—a group of charming, dangerous men raised by Dr. Mulvaney to be vigilante psychopaths. The Mulvaneys offer assistance, camaraderie, and a glimpse of a found family built on shared darkness. Their presence is both reassuring and intimidating, underscoring the scale of the world Dimitri and Arlo have entered. The encounter is a rite of passage, marking their acceptance into a secretive, morally ambiguous fraternity.

Showered in Trust

In the warehouse, Dimitri and Arlo share a shower, their physical intimacy a balm for the night's trauma. Dimitri is gentle, attentive, and reverent, countering Arlo's shame and insecurity with unconditional desire. Their lovemaking is both an act of reclamation and a declaration of love—two broken people finding solace in each other's arms. The chapter is tender, erotic, and suffused with hope, even as the specter of their crime looms.

Alibi at the Frat House

To solidify their alibi, Dimitri takes Arlo to a raucous fraternity party, making a public spectacle of their relationship. The experience is both humiliating and empowering—Arlo faces down old bullies, asserts his worth, and is finally seen as Dimitri's equal. The party is a microcosm of their journey: chaos, confrontation, and, ultimately, acceptance. Their public display of affection cements their bond and provides the plausible deniability they need to survive.

Panic and Promises

The adrenaline fades, leaving Arlo wracked with panic and self-doubt. Dimitri comforts him, reaffirming his love and commitment. Their conversation is honest and raw—Dimitri admits his lack of guilt, Arlo confesses his fear of being a burden. They promise to face whatever comes together, their partnership forged in crisis. The chapter is a meditation on trauma, trust, and the power of being truly seen and chosen.

The Body Disappears

When they return to the warehouse, Holden's car and body are gone. A pregnant stranger delivers a cryptic message, sending them to a remote salvage yard. The disappearance of the evidence introduces a new layer of uncertainty—are they being blackmailed, protected, or set up? The journey is fraught with dread, but also a strange sense of liberation. The unknown future is terrifying, but they face it together.

The Salvage Yard Solution

At the salvage yard, August Mulvaney reveals he has destroyed all evidence of Holden's existence, protecting Dimitri and Arlo from prosecution. He explains the logic of "no body, no crime," and the lengths to which the Mulvaneys will go to protect their own. The judge, Holden's father, is manipulated into believing his son fled the country, erasing any suspicion from Dimitri and Arlo. The chapter is a masterclass in criminal strategy, but also a commentary on the power of found family and the moral ambiguity of vigilante justice.

Love After Survival

Months later, Dimitri and Arlo have built a life together, free from fear and abuse. Arlo flourishes with therapy and the support of Calliope, while Dimitri learns to channel his darkness into love and protection. Their relationship is playful, passionate, and deeply supportive—a testament to the possibility of happiness after trauma. The past lingers, but no longer defines them. Together, they face the future, ready for whatever comes next.

Characters

Dimitri

Dimitri is the son of Calliope, raised with the knowledge of his psychopathy but guided by a mother determined to teach him empathy and self-control. His fixation on Arlo is both romantic and possessive, rooted in a childhood bond forged through violence and separation. Dimitri's psychological landscape is complex—he lacks guilt and traditional empathy, but his love for Arlo is genuine, expressed through acts of protection and devotion. Over the course of the story, Dimitri evolves from a dangerous loner to a partner capable of intimacy, trust, and self-restraint. His journey is one of learning to channel his darkness into something redemptive, finding purpose in love rather than destruction.

Arlo

Arlo is a beautiful, sensitive young man scarred by years of abuse—first from his family, then from a series of toxic relationships, culminating in the violence of Holden. His self-worth is fragile, shaped by a lifetime of being a "dirty little secret." Arlo's psychological struggle is one of internalized shame, learned helplessness, and a desperate need for validation. Through his relationship with Dimitri, he begins to reclaim agency, assert boundaries, and believe in his own worth. Arlo's arc is a testament to resilience—the slow, painful process of healing and learning to accept love without fear.

Calliope

Calliope is Dimitri's mother, a brilliant hacker with a pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to survival. Her love for Dimitri is unconditional but tough—she will do anything to protect him, including blackmail, hacking, and orchestrating elaborate cover-ups. Calliope's relationship with Arlo is maternal and nurturing, offering him the support and care he never received from his own family. Psychologically, she is both a survivor and a strategist, using her skills to navigate a world that refuses to accommodate her son's differences. Her development is subtle but profound—she learns to trust others, delegate responsibility, and accept that love sometimes means letting go.

Dr. Thomas Mulvaney

Dr. Mulvaney is a psychologist who has adopted and raised a group of psychopathic children, molding them into vigilante killers. His role in the story is that of a mentor and cautionary figure—he represents both the potential and the peril of trying to "fix" psychopathy through nurture. His interactions with Calliope are marked by mutual respect and ethical tension. Psychologically, he is driven by a desire to prove that even the most damaged can be redeemed, but he is haunted by the consequences of his experiment.

Holden

Holden is Arlo's ex-boyfriend, a privileged, closeted athlete who uses his power and connections to control and terrorize Arlo. He embodies toxic masculinity, entitlement, and the dangers of unchecked privilege. Holden's violence is both physical and psychological, leaving Arlo traumatized and desperate. His death is both a tragedy and a liberation, forcing Arlo and Dimitri to confront the limits of justice and the cost of survival.

The Mulvaney Brothers (Adam, Noah, Atticus, Jericho, Asa, Avi, August, Lucas)

The Mulvaney brothers are a group of adopted psychopaths raised by Dr. Mulvaney to use their tendencies for good. Each has a distinct personality—Adam is the charming model, Noah the empathic partner, Atticus the doctor, Jericho the enforcer, Asa and Avi the mischievous twins, August the calculating strategist, and Lucas the loyal husband. Together, they represent the possibility of channeling darkness into purpose. Their interactions with Dimitri and Arlo are both intimidating and welcoming, offering a blueprint for found family and acceptance.

Mandy

Mandy is a coworker infatuated with Dimitri, oblivious to his sexuality and Arlo's feelings. She represents societal expectations, superficiality, and the casual cruelty of those who cannot see beyond their own desires. Her antagonism towards Arlo is rooted in jealousy and insecurity, but she ultimately serves as a catalyst for Arlo's self-assertion.

Jason

Jason is a coworker and friend, providing levity and support amidst the darkness. His acceptance of Dimitri and Arlo's relationship is a small but significant act of allyship, challenging the toxic masculinity embodied by Holden and the fraternity culture.

August Mulvaney

August is the Mulvaney brother who orchestrates the final erasure of Holden's existence. He is calm, calculating, and deeply loyal to his family. August's actions are driven by a clear-eyed understanding of the stakes—protecting the family means protecting its secrets, even if it means bending or breaking the law. Psychologically, he is the embodiment of controlled darkness, using his skills for the greater good as he defines it.

Cricket

Cricket is August's assistant, a pregnant woman who delivers the cryptic message that leads Dimitri and Arlo to safety. Her role is brief but pivotal, representing the vast, hidden network that supports the Mulvaney family's operations.

Plot Devices

Dual Protagonist Perspective

The narrative alternates between Dimitri and Arlo's perspectives, allowing readers to experience the story's events through both the protector and the protected. This structure creates a layered emotional arc, revealing the internal struggles, desires, and fears of each character. The dual perspective also highlights the ways trauma and love are experienced differently, fostering empathy and understanding.

Found Family and Vigilante Justice

The Mulvaney family and Calliope's alliance provide a model of found family—outsiders who create their own moral code and support system. The theme of vigilante justice runs throughout, questioning the boundaries of right and wrong, and exploring the ethics of using violence to protect the vulnerable. The story uses these devices to challenge traditional notions of family, justice, and redemption.

Foreshadowing and Chekhov's Gun

The narrative is laced with foreshadowing—Dimitri's childhood violence, Arlo's history of abuse, Calliope's hacking skills—all of which become crucial as the plot escalates. The principle of Chekhov's Gun is employed: every detail introduced (the coffee shop, the Mulvaneys, the hacking) is later used to resolve the central conflict, creating a sense of inevitability and narrative cohesion.

Trauma and Healing as Narrative Engine

The story's emotional core is the characters' journey through trauma—Arlo's abuse, Dimitri's psychopathy, Calliope's isolation. Healing is depicted as nonlinear, messy, and deeply personal. The narrative structure mirrors this process, with moments of crisis followed by intimacy, setbacks, and small victories. The plot is less about external events than the internal transformation of its protagonists.

Moral Ambiguity and Gray Ethics

The story refuses to offer simple moral judgments. Violence is both condemned and justified; love is both redemptive and possessive. The characters' choices are shaped by necessity, survival, and the desire for connection. The plot devices reinforce the theme that in a broken world, sometimes the only way to survive is to break the rules.

Analysis

"Damaged" is a dark, romantic exploration of trauma, survival, and the redemptive power of love among society's outsiders. Onley James crafts a narrative that refuses to sanitize the realities of abuse, psychopathy, and moral ambiguity, instead offering a nuanced portrait of two young men who find solace and strength in each other. The story interrogates the limits of nurture versus nature, the ethics of vigilante justice, and the complexities of healing from deep psychological wounds. Through its dual perspectives, the novella immerses readers in the emotional landscapes of both victim and protector, challenging stereotypes about mental illness and queerness. The found family motif—embodied by the Mulvaneys and Calliope—offers hope that even the most damaged can find belonging and purpose. Ultimately, "Damaged" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the necessity of chosen family, and the transformative potential of being truly seen and loved, flaws and all.

Last updated: January 14, 2026