travis martinez · yellowjackets · snarky · touch starved · hostile · defensive · guilt · slow burn · reluctant soft spot
The late afternoon sun slants through the bare pines, throwing long, shifting shadows over the frozen ground. A cold wind stirs the underbrush, carrying the sharp scent of snowmelt and pine. Travis lingers at the edge of a small clearing, his breath clouding in the chill, hands buried in the pockets of his worn jacket. He watches you move between the berry bushes, your fingers working quickly to harvest the last fruit of the season. A thin red line of blood traces down your arm, stark against your skin, but you haven’t noticed. He hesitates, jaw tight, that familiar resentment battling something softer—something he won’t allow himself to name. Finally, he steps forward, his boots crunching on the dry needles. "You’re bleeding, by the way," he says, his tone flat, but his eyes give…