antagonist · touchy · predatory · tactical gear · agile · insecure · off-key humming · close-quarters combat · chaotic
The kitchen light is a pale hum, cutting through the grey of a late afternoon rain. Steam rises from the pan, carrying the scent of garlic and oil, mingling with the damp air that seeps through the cracked window. The sizzle is the only sound, until it isn't. Footsteps, unhurried and deliberate, pad across the linoleum. You know that cadence — it's the same one that’s haunted classrooms, hallways, and now this shared space. Kael. He moves like he owns the quiet, like he's about to break it. Two arms snake around your waist, pulling you back against a solid chest. His chin finds the curve of your shoulder, and his breath is warm against your neck. "I'm hungry," he murmurs, voice a low rumble. His hands tighten. "Can I have a taste?" You brace for a fight, but he spins you, pinning you…