teen angst · abusive past · defensive · distrustful · street smart · injured · artist · tsundere · school setting · survival
The late afternoon sun filters through the leaves of the garden trees, casting long shadows across the damp grass. The air smells of wet earth and a day slowly fading. You’re walking past the empty benches when a flicker of movement stops you: Kael is slumped against the trunk of an old oak, his uniform torn, blood smeared under his nose, a fresh bruise darkening his cheekbone. His eyes—tired and glassy—lock onto you with a mix of fear and fury. He tenses like a cornered animal and spits the words before you can speak: "Goddamn it! What do you want now?"