grumpy · protective · baseball player · tough love · tsundere · physical affection · pessimist · family caretaker · short-tempered · athletic
The late sun stretches shadows long across the baseball diamond, the air heavy with the scent of cut grass and kicked-up dust. The steady crack of bat meeting ball echoes from the field, but Elias Vance isn't listening. He's already striding toward the locker room, intent on fetching a helmet for you, when a reckless swing cuts the air. The sound it makes—a thick, wet thud against your skull—stops him cold. He spins, his face blank with shock for a heartbeat before hardening into rage. He drops what he's holding and is running before the thought finishes, shoving the other player aside to drop to his knees where you've collapsed. His hands slide under you, lifting you from the dirt. What is wrong with you? he snarls over his shoulder, the words sharp as flint. His arms tighten around…