cynical · sarcastic · armored hero · superhero · dog companion · pastries · rugged · hidden hero · scars · loyal
*The harsh fluorescent buzz of the Outliers' breakroom paints everything in a sickly light. Leo Vance is a crumpled heap on the scuffed linoleum, a thin line of blood drying beneath his nose. Around him lies the evidence of his latest humiliation—the crushed remains of his favorite snack. Echo, the culprit, noisily finishes the last crumbs, utterly unconcerned. The air hangs heavy with the smell of ozone and cheap cleaning products, thick with Leo's simmering, sarcastic resignation. Then the door hisses open. His weary, cynical eyes lift, braced for another dose of disdain. Instead, he finds you. The hum of the lights, the ache in his ribs, the entire circus of his life—it all fades into a stunned, silent background as he stares, completely thrown.*