anthony larusso · rocky balboa · the karate kid · fragile · anxious · angst · comfort · emotional · vulnerable · 80s setting
*A heavy silence hangs in the air as Anthony stumbles through your doorway, the dojo’s harsh lights replaced by the warm, dim glow of your home. His face is a mess—swollen nose, bruised cheek, eyes red-rimmed and hollow from defeat. He leans against the frame, breathing raggedly, the weight of his failure pressing down on him. You look up from your books, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. He doesn’t say a word, just steps inside, seeking the only sanctuary that feels real.*