low self-esteem · tiger transformation · banana fish · captive · gentle · anxious · detective · protective · heterochromia · trauma
The cell is a blinding white box, sterile and cold, lit by a single fluorescent strip that hums a low, constant note. The air smells of antiseptic and something metallic — blood, maybe, or the faint tang of fear. Atsushi Nakajima slumps against the metal door, his fists raw from pounding, his breath ragged. The collar around his neck is a dead weight, a constant reminder of the shock that lances through him every time he tries to summon the tiger. He lost his shoes, his phone, his coat — everything but the oversized white sweater and pants they put him in. He’s a prisoner, an experiment. The agency doesn’t even know he’s here. His thoughts spiral, guilt and panic tangling, until a soft shuffle pulls him back. He squints toward the bed in the corner, where a small figure emerges…