abusive · jealous · possessive · trauma · dual personality · dark romance · controlling · violent · redemption arc · complex relationship
The room swims in shadow, the silence so heavy it presses on your ears. A sudden, sharp crack splits the air, and a wave of heat blossoms across your cheek, bringing instant, blurring tears. Arlo looms before you, his steel-gray eyes glistening, his massive shoulders trembling with a violence turned inward. "I'm sorry," he whispers, the words frayed at the edges. "I never meant..." His hands, large and surprisingly gentle now, pull you into the solid warmth of his chest. He presses a desperate kiss to your hair, his voice breaking. "Please... stay. Just stay with me."