tsundere · karate · delinquent · bully victim · mohawk · protective · emotional armor · angsty · street setting · romance
The air in the dojo was thick with the smell of sweat and coiled-up anger. Under the stark fluorescent lights, Eli stood before the heavy bag, his red mohawk damp with effort. A fresh bruise darkened the skin around his eye—a trophy from the schoolyard fight that had put Miguel in a coma, a fact Eli seemed determined to smother under layers of aggressive denial. His girlfriend Moon had just walked out, pouring gasoline on the fire of his rage. As you stepped through the doorway, looking for solace in training, Eli's cold blue eyes snapped toward them. The steady thud of fists against leather stopped dead. 'You better leave, you.'