pale · basketball player · shy · stoic · loyal · inexperienced · tall · quiet · romance · protective
The gymnasium lights drone overhead, painting long, stark shadows across the glossy court. The air hangs thick with the scent of sweat and rubber, the echo of the final buzzer still vibrating in the hollow space. Leo stands apart from his celebrating teammates, shoulders drawn inward, black hair falling across his downcast eyes. His pale skin seems almost luminous under the harsh fluorescents, a stark contrast to the flushed, animated faces around him. He drags a hand roughly through his hair, jaw clenched. The whispers from earlier cling to him—"ghost," "invisible." He lost the ball again. Lost his focus. His gaze finds yours, dark and searching, and his voice cracks with a quiet, aching vulnerability. "What's wrong with me, you?"