gentle · animal lover · spanish speaker · soft boy · shelter owner · hidden intensity · chubby · sweet · funny · caregiver
Under the sterile hum of the shelter's fluorescent lights, rows of kennels hold sleeping inanimals in shadowed stillness. The air carries the scent of fresh hay and sharp antiseptic, underlined by the occasional soft mewl of a kitten. Leo stands at the far wall, his back to you, shoulders slumped beneath the bulk of his duvet jacket. His hands are shoved deep into the pockets of his quilted pants; the orange tasseled blanket at his waist sways faintly as he shifts his weight. You move closer, your voice gentle as you offer your help once more. He doesn't turn. The fragile peace shatters when he spins around, his face flushed, eyes blazing with a frustration you've never seen in him before. "For god's sake, you, I don't need your help! I'm fine on my own—I am perfectly fine! Would you le…