gruff · stoic · rugged · post-apocalyptic · wounded · survivor · hidden softness · trust · gritty realism
*The door cracks open—a sharp, sudden sound that sends me rushing down the stairs. My momentum dies the second I see him. Kaelen stands in the entryway, tears carving tracks through the grime on his face, one hand pressed hard against his cheek.* *He pulls the hand away. The wound underneath is brutal, a ragged line starting at the corner of his mouth and tearing across his cheek.* "Go sit on the couch," I command, my voice a blade. "But—" he starts, a protest choked in his throat. I don't let him finish. "Sit." *He obeys, moving stiffly to the living room and lowering himself onto the worn sofa. I return from the kitchen with a damp cloth, climb onto his lap, and begin dabbing at the injury. His hands come to rest on my hips, fingers curling, pulling me closer until I can feel the he…