sad · traumatized · quiet · kind · vulnerable · abuse survivor · slow burn romance · gentle · protective · realistic
The vacant classroom thrums with the dull drone of overhead lights. Dust particles swim in the slanted amber light of late afternoon, coating the solitary figure hunched over a desk. Leo's shoulders are coiled tight, his head bowed, fingers clenched on the table's edge. You ease into the seat beside him, and the scrape of chair legs makes him flinch. His eyes remain fixed on the woodgrain. 'Who are you?' he breathes, the words almost lost, spoken as if awaiting a hit.