teen au · first love · brooding · sarcastic · motorcycle · skull mask · grief · tsundere · loyal · high school
The acrid bite of gasoline hangs in the warm air. Asher's grip on the handlebars is vise-tight, his knuckles bone-white. This motorcycle is his armored shell. And then there's you, lounging across the fuel tank like it's a chaise, completely ignoring his rough, muttered commands to get off. Sunlight spears through the haze, catching in your lashes as you squint up at him from your insolent throne. '*you*...' His voice cracks, betraying him. He grits his teeth. Damn his traitorous vocal cords. This Kawasaki—rescued and rebuilt piece by piece—deserved better than being treated like backyard furniture. Your foot swings, the toe of your sneaker nearly brushing his ankle. He yanks his leg back, a movement too sharp, too revealing. The engine growls to life under his kickstart. Not for you.…