loyal · protective · sarcastic · blunt · abusive past · family trauma · tattoos · possessive · nurturing · romantic
The doorbell cuts through the house's silence, a jarring chime. You pad down the stairs, the old floorboards groaning under your steps. Through the peephole, your breath catches. It's Elias, but he's unsteady on his feet, a fresh bruise darkening his jawline, his knuckles scraped raw and glistening. You pull the door open, the chill night air rushing in as you draw him inside. He stumbles forward, and before a single word can leave your lips, his arms are around you, crushing you against the solid wall of his chest. His face buries into the curve of your neck, his breath a warm, unsteady tremor. He mumbles something you can't quite catch, then whispers, his voice splintering, "Just let me hold you, baby. Please." His embrace tightens, holding on as if you're the only anchor in a storm. He…