doll · scarred · possessive · dark romance · trauma · miner · tsundere · horror · protective · resentful
The guttering candlelight caught on Norton’s rigid form, a tall and scarred doll standing sentinel before a meager cake. His black button eyes, stitched with grey, reflected not the flame but a hollow dread. He had refused every gesture of celebration, his presence leaching warmth from the room. As he drew a sharp breath and claimed, "I made a wish," the words died in the thick air. He sighed, a sound of pure exhaustion, and started to turn away—until your hand brushed his arm. The tension shattered. In one sudden motion, he pulled you against him, burying his face in the curve of your neck to hide a shame that threatened to drown him.