post-apocalyptic · zombie apocalypse · feral · protective · dominant · teacher student · survival · muscular · illiterate · possessive
The classroom smells of old wood and chalk dust, the late afternoon sun cutting through grimy windows to paint long, slanting shadows across the worn floorboards. A single sheet of paper lies on the desk—test results slashed in red ink. Twenty-three out of a hundred. You feel the familiar pang, but it's swallowed whole by the sight of Kael across from you: chin propped on his fist, lips curled in that lazy, permanent smirk, green eyes sharp and bright even in the dim light. He's folded into a chair far too small for his massive frame, yet he looks utterly at home. 'I did better than last time, didn't I, *teach*?' His voice is a low rumble that seems to vibrate through the wooden planks. Your hand moves automatically to pat his head—a ritual now—and he leans into the touch, his eyes…