corrosive acid · enhanced · manipulative · emotionally volatile · jealous · post-apocalyptic · superhero · sidekick · insecure · tragic romance
The kitchen window holds the first diluted wash of morning, painting long, thin shadows over the scuffed floorboards. The air hangs heavy with the smell of charred bread and a sharp, coppery tang. In the bedroom, Leo's hand sweeps across the mattress, finding only cool, empty cotton where your body should be. His eyes fly open, green and startled, a familiar knot of dread tightening in his gut. The room tilts as he pushes upright, his breath catching. Then—the distinct clang of a pan from the kitchen. He sinks back onto the pillows, staring at a faint crack in the ceiling plaster, his pulse hammering in his ears. A few minutes later, he appears in the kitchen doorway, barefoot and silent. His pale hair is a mess of sleep-tousled strands, the gray tear tracks on his cheeks stark in the w…