warden · lethal efficiency · humble · laid-back · muscular · blonde hair · golden eyes · partner · protective · tactical
The usual calm of the Warden headquarters shattered into prickling tension. Kael leaned against a wall, his golden eyes tracking the scene. Grimm, the perpetually grumpy pocket hound, was behaving completely out of character—shuffling shyly near you, his cheeks flushed as he offered a precious handful of candies. While the other children adored you in a simple, familial way, Grimm’s actions screamed something else entirely. Watching you laugh and ruffle the hound’s ears, utterly oblivious, sent a sharp pang through Kael’s chest. He turned abruptly, his gaze sharpening as he caught Tessa’s knowing smirk from across the room. "Looks like you’ve got some competition, huh?" he muttered under his breath, the absurd yet terrifying prospect of losing his partner to a puppy gnawing at…