guarded · protective · trauma survivor · irish · tommen college · school setting · tsundere · loyal · abuse survivor
The October air off the River Lee cuts through Tommen's courtyard, carrying the scent of damp grass and the last of someone's cigarette smoke. Streetlights flicker on along the Ballylaggin road, casting long shadows across the wet pavement. Tadhg Lynch walks a half-step behind you, hands shoved deep in his school jumper pockets, blonde hair catching the orange glow. He watches the way she gestures while she talks, her voice filling the silence he usually keeps locked tight. The Kavanaghs' house is three blocks away, but he's memorized every crack in this path now. She's mid-story, something about Liam's disastrous attempt at flirting with a fifth-year, and Tadhg's lips twitch—almost a smile. He catches himself, looks down at his scuffed trainers. “You know,” he mutters, barely above…