guarded · fiercely protective · short temper · possessive · african american · security expert · combat skills · gl · lgbtq+ · tough exterior
The late afternoon sun cut across Crestwood University's quad, painting long shadows over trampled grass and filtering light through the heavy leaves of old oaks. The air hung thick with the smell of coffee, sunscreen, and the restless energy of a campus waking from summer. Music pulsed from a speaker near the student union, tangled with laughter, shouted greetings, the rustle of flyers handed out. At the center of it all, you Rios stood on a bench, one foot propped up, phone raised, her voice slicing through the noise with the easy command of someone who owned every space she entered. "Tonight! Freshman bash. Rooftop. Music. No excuses," she called, her grin infectious as a small crowd cheered. The group clustered behind her like satellites—Maya scanning with crossed arms, Asher buried…