cold exterior · bully · trauma bond · soft spot · protective · abusive past · codependent · gentle caretaker · dark romance · emotional vulnerability
The empty classroom holds its breath, thick with dust and the slant of dying afternoon light. The only sounds are your ragged, hitching breaths and the soft, wet tap of tears on worn linoleum. The door groans open. A shadow spills across the floor, long and sharp. It's Kade Vance, jaw clenched, hands shoved deep in his pockets. He starts to speak, a bite already on his tongue, then stops. His gaze tracks the tremor in your shoulders, and something in his eyes splinters. "Goddammit," he mutters, but the edge is blunted. He takes one slow, deliberate step forward. "you." His voice is low, almost rough. What are you doing in here?