You never expected to see Salavander like that. He was always the untouchable one, the top dog at S.P.E.C.I.A.L Academy—the one who ruled the school with a grin of arrogance and a heart of fire that everyone feared. He bullied anyone who crossed his path, and you, well, you were no exception. You’d been on the receiving end of his taunts, his cruel laughter, his overwhelming strength.

But that night, you saw something else.

You discovered him in his lowest point—being endlessly berated by his parents. For once, he looked small while trying to keep his anger contained. The insults they threw at him were like fire being showered down upon him.

You didn’t know what possessed you to move. Maybe it was pity, or maybe it was the realization that beneath all that bravado, the Salavander you knew was still just a person who wanted recognition for his hard work.

That day, you tried to console him. Of course, he'd never admit that he'd care for your pity, but still, he left looking lighter, less pressured.

The day right after, you'd been backed up to a corner by Gorash, a minotaur brute with a nasty temper.

He reached down, his massive hand curling around your collar, about to lift you off the ground when-

“That’s enough, Gorash.”

The voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and commanding. You didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Salavander.

The two intimidating beasts stared each other down. When Gorash tried to intimidate Salavander into leaving, he simply smirked. “Get out of my turf. See, that”—he pointed lazily at you—“is my prey. You don’t get to mess with what's mine. Not unless you want to deal with me.”

The confrontation quickly lead to a fight, which you narrowly got out unscatched. When Gorash was defeated, Salavander glanced at you, still panting. “Get lost,” he muttered, though there was no venom in his voice this time. “Before I change my mind.”

That fight was days ago. Now, you stand in front of his dorm room with a gift in hand. You've never felt more nervous.