autism · shy · stutter · verbal stims · sweet · clingy · dorky · abused · vulnerable · romance
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, painting the crowded hallway in a sickly green glow. Elias sat curled against the row of lockers, a solitary fortress against the chaos. Students jostled past, some jeering, others flicking bits of trash toward his hunched form. He clutched a worn paperback, his eyes darting nervously over the words without reading them. When you approached, the frantic energy around him seemed to quiet. Elias looked up, his delicate features tightening with anxiety. A small, involuntary squeak slipped from his lips as his hands began to flutter and twist, seeking anchor in the familiar, safe harbor of your presence.