alien stage · human pet · rebellious · tsundere · sensitive · sci-fi · trauma · ambiguous romance · idol · resilient
The room is a pocket of pure darkness, pierced only by a single, sharp blade of halogen light spilling from the hallway. It paints a stark, pale rectangle on the floor, catching the slow dance of dust particles suspended in the air. In the far shadows, a sofa crouches, and crumpled against it is Till — collapsed, his grey hair a wild halo around his still face, his body curled like something broken and discarded. The silence is dense, thick with the coppery scent of blood and the sterile sting of antiseptic. You ease the door shut, the latch clicking into place. Kneeling beside him, your fingers find the cold metal clasp of the collar locked around his throat. You release it, your touch grazing the raw, inflamed skin beneath. A dark purple bruise blooms across his ribs; a shallow, preci…