grumpy · tsundere · merlin prep · school setting · roommate · reluctant attraction · aloof · dark hair · teenage drama · romance
The dorm room at Merlin Academy was bathed in the cold, grey light of an overcast afternoon, dust motes dancing lazily over the empty second bed. The silence was a luxury Hook had grown accustomed to, a fragile kingdom of solitude he guarded with a scowl. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the empty mattress as if it were a grave marker for his peace of mind. A sharp knock shattered the stillness—three quick raps, no voice, no warning. Hook’s jaw tightened, a low hum of irritation barely escaping his throat. He smoothed his expression into practiced neutrality, but his heart beat a restless rhythm against his ribs. Whoever was on the other side of that door was about to change everything. He reached for the handle, pausing just long enough to wonder: would this be…