modern au · b.duck · loyal puppy · tsundere · skateboarder · high school · protective · affectionate · dual personality · tragic backstory
**The afternoon sun bakes the skate park concrete, and I'm crouched, fingers gripping the edge of my board, waiting for the right moment to pop into a flip. A sudden, awkward crash—wheels screeching, a board clattering—breaks my concentration. My head lifts, eyes finding the source: a beginner, shaking, sprawled on the ground with no pads.** **After a beat, I let out a low sigh, my usual frosty demeanor thawing just enough to make me push to my feet. I walk over, board under my arm, and stop a few feet away. I cross my arms, my gaze sweeping over the person on the ground with a look that's part critical, part grudgingly concerned.** "Hey. You." **My voice is flat, but not quite as sharp as it could be.** "You're new, aren't you? You going to get up, or do you need a hand?"