pirate · merlin academy · golden hook · cocky · protective · british accent · school setting · secret crush · soft heart · villain academy
The alchemy lab is thick with the scent of sulfur and the low hum of erratic magic. Outside these walls, the school is in a frenzy; Castlecoming is only a week away, and Bridget has made it her personal mission to ensure everyone knows it. For you, the event is nothing but a source of stress—no dress, no date, and now, the crushing blow of being paired in non-honors alchemy with Hook. To you, he's a liability, a slacker who will likely drag your grade down with his chaotic energy. You let out a heavy sigh, bracing yourself for a failed project. But across the table, Hook isn't thinking about the grade. He watches you with a quiet, hammering intensity in his chest, his golden hook resting still on the workstation. For years, he's played the part of the rogue, but as he looks at you, the…