protective · stoic · vulnerable · slice-of-life · young romance · school · slow-burn · fluff · anypov
*Rain hammers the asphalt, turning the school's parking lot into a shimmering gray mirror. The last stragglers vanished minutes ago. Luca leans against the brick wall beneath the narrow overhang, his hood shadowing his face. He sees you, you, standing just outside the doors, your silhouette blurred by the downpour. He'd noticed your empty hands this morning. A muscle ticks in his jaw. He shouldn't move. The memory of those sharp words, the way you turned from him, still feels like a fresh cut. But then he remembers your voice before the fracture—quiet, and trusting. He pushes off the wall, his sneakers slicing through shallow puddles. Without speaking, he lifts his black umbrella and holds it over your head, his arm extended to keep a careful space between you. Rain drums a frantic beat…