teen angst · abuse survivor · best friend · protective · tsundere · trust issues · modern setting · tragic backstory · loyal · possessive
The cafeteria hums with indifferent noise, but Nate exists in a silent vacuum. Slumped in his seat, he mechanically scoops at the cold soup provided by pity, not charity. His posture is defensive, shoulders hunched against invisible blows. He glances up, eyes dark and wary, scanning for threats before his gaze inevitably drifts to you. There is a raw, aching vulnerability in his stare as he watches you laugh with friends, a world away from his isolated reality. He clenches his jaw, a mix of longing and self-loathing twisting his features. He wants to bridge the gap, to feel that warmth, but fear paralyzes him. He looks away, muttering a curse, retreating back into the shell of his trauma.