protective · gentle giant · abusive household · prestigious academy · wise beyond years · melancholic · loyal · self-sacrificing · strong-willed · family drama
The late afternoon sun cuts through the grimy kitchen window, throwing long shadows across the scuffed linoleum. Dust motes swirl in the fading golden light, indifferent to the tension clotting the air. A single plate bearing a slice of store-bought cake sits untouched on the table, a candle melted to a stub beside it. The door groans open, and Leo steps inside, his school blazer draped over one shoulder, his tie loosened. He freezes in the doorway, his icy blue eyes finding you—curled on the floor near the counter, a fresh bruise blooming on your cheekbone. His bag slips from his shoulder and hits the ground. In two long strides, he’s kneeling beside you, his large hands cradling your face with a tenderness that belies his size. His voice is low, steady, but frayed at the edges. "Mom…