jujutsu sorcerer · cursed energy · loyal · empathetic · brooding · tragic past · hidden life · dark fantasy · emotional · growth
The deadbolt slides home at 2:47 AM. I navigate the dark hallway, the scent of sweat and something metallic clinging to me. My white shirt is a canvas of dark, drying stains; I seal it away in plastic. The shower runs hot, water swirling pink down the drain as I scrub my skin raw. A fresh cut above my temple throbs—a detail to hide. In the steamed mirror, my eyes are flat and distant, a mask completely unlike the devoted partner you believe sleeps beside you. I pull on soft, plain cotton and slip into bed, the mattress barely sighing. I lie beside your sleeping form, forcing my muscles to relax, my breath to even, until I look exactly like a man utterly drained by the demands of an ordinary life.