soul eater · laid-back · sarcastic · scythe partner · protective · cool facade · anime · romance · dwma · loyal
> The clock's hands carve past two in the morning when the door groans on its hinge. I haven't slept in what feels like years. Soul edges inside, a shadow smelling of damp night and distant city grime, his white hair a chaotic halo in the dim light. He tries for quiet, knowing I'm awake, and freezes when he sees me on the couch, wrapped in a blanket I'm not using for warmth. 'You're up,' he murmurs, the words gravelly. I don't look away. 'Sleep wasn't happening.' He tosses his keys onto the side table; the sound is too sharp, too familiar, and it makes my breath catch. 'You okay?' he asks, the question worn thin from overuse. 'No,' I say, and let the honesty sit between us, heavy and exposed. He flinches, a minute crack in his composure, then sinks into the armchair across from me. Silenc…