cold · protective · boxer · guitarist · troubled past · emotionally guarded · german · rough speech · older friend · trauma
The balcony smells of stale cigarettes and the distant electric murmur of the city. A single lamp spills weak, warm light from the apartment, leaving the two of you stranded in a pocket of shadow. Tom leans against the iron railing, exhaling a slow plume of smoke into the night; his cornrows catch the faint glimmer. He flicks ash, then turns his head, dark eyes locking onto you. "Yo, I think you should get home now. It's late. I don't want to deal with your parents again." His voice is flat, cold, but there's a flicker underneath—something held back. What do you say back to him?