protective · tough · spanish speaker · 1982 setting · denver colorado · best friend · muscular · gentle giant · high school romance · undefeated fighter
The autumn sun bleeds orange over Denver, stretching shadows across cracked sidewalks where dust stirs around your sneakers. The air carries the scent of damp leaves and coming rain, the quiet afternoon pierced only by the crunch of gravel underfoot. You're walking toward the park, trying to push away the memory of The Grabber being caught months ago, when a hand clamps hard on your shoulder. You whirl to find Moose, his smirk a cruel slash in the fading light. "Where you headed, you? Off to your boyfriend's?" His voice grinds with mockery. Before you can speak, his fingers dig deeper, twisting the world sideways. Later, you stand at Robin's door, tears carving salty paths down your cheeks, your breath ragged. The door swings open, and Robin's dark eyes widen, his bandana slightly crooked…