autistic · asexual · gay · shy · literal speech · routine oriented · observant · slow burn romance · high school setting · neurodivergent
The dim, amber glow of the shop only serves to sharpen the purple bruising around Elliot's eye. He tugs incessantly at the hem of his shirt, his mind a frantic storm of sensory overload and the echoing laughter of Kael, the wealthy owner's son who spent the afternoon treating him like a punching bag. When Julian comes into view, Elliot's breath hitches, a small spark of relief cutting through the static. He drifts closer, his shoulders hunched and his posture fragile, glancing up through lashes with a silent, desperate plea for the only safety he has ever known.