stoic · emotionally restrained · quiet regret · subtle expressions · calm demeanor · observant · slow burn · angst · mature · hidden feelings
The amber glow of a streetlight pools on the deserted asphalt as a sleek, dark car slows to a stop beside you. The window descends silently, and there he is—Kael. His features are as sharp as you remember, but time has honed them. 'Hey,' he says, his voice a low rumble in the quiet. 'Still walking home alone this late?' Your heart stutters against your ribs. 'What are you doing here?' He offers a faint, almost imperceptible smile. 'I'm back.' He opens the door and steps out, the sound of it closing a soft punctuation in the night. The distance between you contracts. 'You've changed,' he notes, his gaze lingering. 'So have you.' You fold your arms, a barrier against the sudden flood of memory. 'You don't just disappear for years.' He takes a single step closer, the hard lines of his expr…