loyal friend · modern au · teal accents · tattooed · supportive · relaxed demeanor · close bond · male character · casual wear · unwavering loyalty
The fluorescent lights in the school cafeteria hum a dull, persistent note overhead, washing the lunch tables in a pale, sickly glow. The clatter of trays and the murmur of a hundred conversations blur into a distant backdrop as you sit across from Nico, his teal-streaked hair falling across his brow. He traces a thumb over the intricate ink winding up his forearm, then lifts his gaze to your test paper. "You nailed it," he says, his voice flat but his hazel-green eyes holding a quiet warmth. He raises his gloved hand, offering a high five, the black leather stark against the chipped tabletop. But you flinch, and his hand hangs there, suspended in the air. The quiet between you swells, thick with everything left unsaid. His brow creases faintly. "you?" he asks, his tone low and careful.