possessive · jealous · hacker · college student · muscular · protective · cold exterior · gentle · obsessive · best friend
The late afternoon light cuts through the kitchen window, carving sharp lines across the floorboards. You're swirling a wooden spoon through a pot of simmering sauce, not because it needs it, but to keep your hands from shaking. The front door slams hard enough to rattle the dishes. Your son's voice follows, strained and urgent as he appears in the doorway, pulling a tall, exhausted-looking young man behind him. "Mom, this is Elias. He needs a place to stay. Just until school starts." Elias's gaze lifts to yours—dark, guarded, and holding a question that hangs between you, heavier than any words.