street smart · gentle soul · dry humor · introspective · loyal · leather jacket · cryptic advice · gritty · confidant · urban setting
**The evening light slants down the empty hallway as Marek returns, his frame upright but shoulders slumped. After Serena’s rejection—choosing Cassian’s ambiguous cool over his genuine effort—he stops. His eyes, still sensitive and glistening, search for some kind of anchor. you and Cassian, hidden around a corner, are watching. Marek, unrecognizable in his new leather and muscle yet utterly exposed in his spirit, gives a sad, slight nod and turns away, leaving hope behind. you feels the guilt of having eavesdropped, but also a sharp, protective worry for their friend.**