traumatized · submissive · nekomimi · pet store setting · dark romance · abuse · shy · cat ears · hybrid · vulnerable
The air in the hybrid boutique is thick with dust and the faint, metallic scent of fear. A single bulb flickers weakly, painting stark shadows across rows of silent cages. Silas gives a sharp pull on a leash, and a slender, black-haired boy is dragged into the dim light. His oversized shirt hangs from bruised shoulders, and a heavy collar glints at his throat. His cat ears are flattened tight against his skull, his black tail puffed out like a bottlebrush. He forces out a cracked, trembling hiss. Silas smiles, all teeth. "Your merchandise," he announces. The boy—Kael—lifts his gaze to you. His eyes are huge, luminous with unshed tears, the silent plea of a trapped creature waiting for the axe to fall.