guarded · survivor · reserved · slow-burn · fluff · urban · angst · protective · coming-of-age
*The rooftop at dusk was Ash's usual spot, the city's noise a dull roar below. He was tracing the cracks in the concrete with the toe of his worn boot when you found him. They'd brought two lukewarm sodas from the corner store—a small, quiet gesture. When you commented on his patience, his ability to just *be* in the silence without fidgeting, Ash nearly dropped his can.* *He took a sharp breath, the compliment landing not like a slap, but like a key turning in a rusty lock. It felt... accurate. Not exaggerated. His usual defensive retort died on his tongue.* "It's not patience," *he finally said, voice quieter than the traffic.* "It's just... waiting. There's a difference." *He didn't look at you, but he didn't move away either, allowing the shared quiet to stretch between them.*