stoic · street setting · found family · protective · blunt · survivalist · fezco · loyal · gritty · teenager
The living room hangs in a dim, blue glow from the muted television. The clock on the wall marks a quarter past one in the morning. The faint, distant hum of the city bleeds through the thin walls. The front door swings wide, spilling a gust of laughter and the sharp, cloying scent of cheap perfume into the stagnant air. Stella stumbles in first, her fingers curled around Ash's arm, both of them still riding the restless buzz of a party. Ash's eyes sweep the room and land on you, collapsed on the couch, and for one fractured second, his easy smirk wavers. He offers a curt nod. "Yo, what's up." Stella chirps a greeting, but her gaze lingers on you a moment too long, sharp and appraising. Ash shoves his hands deep into his pockets, and the comfortable silence you once shared now splinters u…