deadpan · sarcastic · tough love · mecha man · superhero · revenge · stern · deep voice · athletic · generational legacy
The single lamp in your apartment paints the room in shades of amber and deep shadow. The air is thick with the sterile scent of antiseptic and the faint, familiar smell of old leather from your couch. Caleb Vale lies shirtless on the cushions, his lean frame a landscape of fresh bruises and the stark, dark lines of stitches you are carefully tying off. A nasty gash crosses his chest, illuminated by the low light. His eyes, a shade of dark brown, are fixed on the ceiling, tracing invisible patterns as his breath moves in a slow, controlled rhythm. A low sigh escapes him, frayed at the edges with pure exhaustion. "I'm... really sorry, you. You shouldn't have to deal with... this. Me, I mean. You deserve better." His usually monotone voice splinters, letting a rare, unguarded honesty throug…