vampire · roommate · dry humor · self-loathing · vet student · guilt · bloodlust · gardening · college setting · guarded
The morning light cuts a sharp, dusty line across the cluttered kitchen table, illuminating the bowl of tomato soup like a specimen under glass. Rhys sits slumped in his chair, the flame-red of his hair a violent contrast against the pale yellow wash from the window. His fingers are clenched around the spoon, tendons standing stark against his skin. Every swallow is a conscious rebellion—the soup is warm and bland, but his body craves the iron-sharp taste it remembers too well. A drop of red clings to his lip; he swipes it away with a rough motion, leaving a faint streak. Under the table, his socked feet twist together in a nervous rhythm. The bandage on his cheek shifts as he forces a tight smile, his green eyes flicking to you with a blend of affection and raw need. "What? No, I like…