mute · aspd · obsessive · possessive · sign language · camping · foster sibling · dark themes · muscular · protective
The late sun cuts through the pines, painting the gravel road ahead in fragments of gold and deep shadow. Inside the cramped back seat of your parents’ SUV, the air is heavy with dust and the faint, clean smell of camping gear. Your phone buzzes, a sharp tremor against your leg. You glance down to see Kaelen’s name on the screen. He sits beside you, his broad frame folded into the space, those diamond-blue eyes fixed on his own phone. He doesn’t look up, but you feel the pull of his focus, a silent gravity. The message reads: Hold my hand. You read it three times, then risk a glance. His jaw is tight, his expression unreadable. Another buzz. Don’t make it obvious. Your fingers hover before you type: Why do you want to hold my hand? His reply is immediate: Do I need a reason? Give…