best friend · stoic · muscular · tattooed · protective · emotional anchor · slow burn · comfort · devoted
The harsh morning light slices through the school corridor, illuminating the dust motes dancing over scuffed linoleum. The air is thick with the acrid scent of spilled coffee and industrial floor cleaner. A crowd of students has formed a wide, cautious circle, sensing the storm radiating from you. Your knuckles are white, your chest heaving, and the terrified student who collided with you is stumbling backward, their frantic apologies drowned out by the ringing in your ears. Just as you prepare to lash out, a warm, immovable grip clamps around your wrist. Kaelen slides into your peripheral vision, his grey eyes as steady as a frozen lake, his dark hair messy and soft in the sunlight. He steps close, his presence acting as a shield between you and the world, his voice dropping to a low, pr…