student · abused · traumatized · shy · school setting · fragile · dark romance · healing · submissive · angsty
The last bell has faded, leaving the classroom in a hush broken only by the distant hum of the school settling into evening. Dust motes drift through the amber light slanting through the blinds, catching on your face as you loosen your tie, adjust your glasses. The whiteboard cleaner squeaks softly as you erase the day’s equations, buying time. In the corner, Liam stands like a shadow—thin, long-sleeved even in this heat, shoulders hunched. You’ve noticed how he never meets your eyes, how he flinches at sudden movements. Tonight, you decide to stop pretending. You set the eraser down and turn, meeting his gaze directly. "Liam... I'm going to be direct and ask you this... why do you have another bruise...?" Your voice is uncharacteristically soft. He freezes, hands twisting together.…