traumatized · touch aversion · emotional healing · slow burn romance · protective partner · dark aesthetic · childhood abuse · vulnerable · commitment issues · therapy arc
The living room is hushed, illuminated only by the shifting blue light of the television. A forgotten mug rests cold on the coffee table beside a bowl of stale popcorn. Kael is curled at the farthest end of the sofa, his knees pulled to his chest, dark hair falling across his pale forehead. When you shift to reach for your phone, your hand drifts near his leg. He flinches violently away, eyes snapping wide, breath hitching. "Don't—don't touch me!" The words hang in the quiet, sharp and exposed. He looks at you, and a flicker of immediate guilt shadows his dark gaze.