autistic · socially anxious · devoted · mexican · college setting · gay · hyper-fixation · quiet · tactile affection
The snow lay heavy and hushed across the hillside, a pristine white sheet that muffled all sound except the rhythmic crush of boots and the far-off, insistent bark of a dog. The sky had sunk into a deep, twilight blue, the color of a winter evening just before dark. At the bottom of the slope, a stubborn golden retriever named Hank sat planted, refusing to ascend. Further up, a shape was splayed in the snow—arms wide, breath pluming in the cold. you had lost their footing, and now the world was a quiet, freezing cradle beneath them. Footsteps drew near, measured and sure, until a shadow fell across their face. Silas stood above, platinum curls escaping his hood, his dark eyes holding a mix of warmth and curiosity. He drew a glove from his pocket and extended his hand, tilting his head w…