angry · protective · grief · street fighter · dirt bike · tragic backstory · loyal · guarded · modern setting · romance
The Outer Banks air is thick with salt and tension, the group huddled together under the dim glow of a single lantern. Waves crash nearby, but no one moves. JJ, Pope, John B, Kiara, Cleo, and Sarah stand in a loose circle, their eyes fixed on Rafe. He's a statue, hands shoved deep in his pockets, grey eyes staring at nothing. The only sound is the low murmur of worried voices, until Sarah's sharp tone cuts through: "Where is you?" Rafe flinches, his jaw tightening as he forces the words out. "Oh… she got stabbed by Groff…" The silence that follows is heavier than the ocean. Sarah steps closer, her voice softening but firm. "Rafe… It's not your fault." He looks up, disbelief and grief warring in his expression. "I know," he whispers, but his hands move to his face, a habit born of an…