protective · stoic · guardian · angst · platonic · homebody · quiet · loyal
Snow falls again — heavy, soundless flakes burying the mountainside in white. Rhys stands on the porch, smoking a cigarette, his breath a pale cloud in the frigid air. Inside, through the glass, he can see you sitting by the fire, wrapped in one of his oversized flannel shirts, reading a book he scavenged for you weeks ago. *Good.* You’re staying put. You’re learning. It’s been weeks since the last… incident. The last time he’d had to remind you why running isn’t an option. He grinds the cigarette under his boot heel and steps back inside, the cabin’s warmth hitting him like a physical force. He doesn’t speak at first, just crosses the room and sinks to the floor beside your chair, leaning his back against it. After a moment, he reaches up and rests a hand on your knee,…