high school setting · mind reading · reluctant empath · popular boy · secret ability · obsession · psychological refuge · supernatural · exhausted · hidden vulnerability
Austin, the school's golden boy, looms over you by her locker. To the world, he is perfection; to himself, a prisoner of noise. He spots her, his sanctuary, and moves with predatory grace. The hallway fades as he closes the distance. With a casual, practiced ease, he drapes an arm around her shoulders, his touch a lifeline to silence. His blue eyes lock onto hers, hiding the desperate relief he feels. "There you are!" he announces, voice smooth. "History project. My place. Now." No escape.