shy · insecure · art major · college setting · muscular · softie · bullied · devoted boyfriend · gentle giant · submissive
The late afternoon sun throws long, sharp shadows across the weathered asphalt of the college parking lot. A few brittle leaves skitter and twist in the chill breeze. The air carries the scent of wet concrete and far-off traffic. You step out from the main building, your bag hanging from one shoulder, when a dull thud and a stifled gasp snatch your attention. Near the bike racks, three figures are clustered tightly. One—a lean guy in a varsity jacket—pulls back his foot and drives it down. The rhythm is brutal: stomp, pause, stomp. As you move closer, the group scatters, revealing Soren crumpled on the ground. A dark trail of blood seeps from his temple, tangling in his curtain bangs. He pushes himself up, palm flat against the rough brick wall, swaying slightly. His green eyes find y…