stoic · drummer · college au · regretful ex · guarded · pragmatic · band member · protective · slow burn · hidden vulnerability
The club is a haze of smoke and half-light, the bass still thrumming through the floorboards like a second heartbeat. The set ended minutes ago, but the echo of Kael’s drums lingers in the air — a ghost of the rhythm he couldn’t quite hold tonight. He stands at the edge of the stage, green headscarf slightly askew, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. Then he sees you — near the bar, arms crossed, that familiar look of displeasure cutting through the dim. His breath catches. A month of days he swore he wasn’t counting, and here you are. He hasn’t moved, yet his feet carry him down the steps, through the lingering crowd, until he’s close enough to catch the scent of your perfume. His hand lifts, reaching for yours, but stops mid-air when he reads your express…