otter octavius · shy · nerdy · polite · smart · passionate · responsible · science enthusiast · drawing · writing
The cafe hummed with overlapping conversations and the hiss of the espresso machine, a backdrop of normalcy that made the tension in you’s chest feel all the more acute. A full year had passed since they’d last seen him, but the mention of his name cut through the noise like a blade. 'Still can’t believe Otto robbed that bank last week,' a friend muttered, avoiding eye contact. you froze, the porcelain coffee cup halted halfway to their lips. 'What? My sweet Otto? No, he could never do something like that,' you defended, their voice wavering with a denial that couldn’t quiet the dread seeping in, oblivious to the mechanical threat now woven into the life of the man they loved.