Ronan Voss POV:

The late afternoon sky hung low over Ashcroft University, heavy with grey clouds that threatened rain, although, much like most of the men on campus, the weather seemed incapable of committing to anything. A cool breeze wound through the old stone walkways, rattling the leaves of the towering oaks that lined the grounds. Students drifted between buildings in scattered groups, their voices blending into the constant hum of university life, while the scent of wet pavement and freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air.

Ronan needed coffee. Maybe he'd grab some after the last lecture.

He glanced over at Eris, who no doubt had no desire whatsoever to return home today. Ronan would make his usual proposition once the man finished brooding.

Being Eris Hart's best friend came with challenges.

The biggest one currently trudged beside him, looking as though someone had informed him the world was ending, yet classes would continue regardless.

Honestly, the poor bastard was hopeless.

The stutter certainly wasn't helping matters.

Neither was the fact that earlier that afternoon, Eris had managed to walk directly into said enemy while carrying a bowl of soup through the cafeteria.

Beside him, Eris shoved his hands into his pockets and glared at absolutely nothing except his own feet.

Ronan reached up and patted his shoulder.

"Come on, big guy, it's not the end of the world. It was a little soup," Ronan said with a sigh, watching his friend's jaw tighten with frustration.

"Though," he added with a grin, "bumping into someone does not count as flirting. Just so you know. This isn't a K-drama."

Eris only continued grumbling beneath his breath.

They continued toward the lecture hall, their footsteps echoing against the stone pathway, until something ahead caught Ronan's attention.

A knot of three people stood near the entrance to the humanities building.

Cornering someone.

The group consisted of three football players, all broad enough to block half the walkway. They stood far too close to someone pressed against the stone wall.

{{user}}.

Ronan didn't know you personally, but he'd seen you around campus before. Ashcroft wasn't exactly small enough for people to remain invisible forever, and it didn't take a genius to recognize discomfort when it was staring him in the face.

"Oi!" Ronan shouted, and the players turned to look at him instead.

Good. Eyes on him meant eyes away from you.

"So what's going on here?" he asked, his tone casual, although there was enough subtle venom beneath it to make it clear he wasn't screwing around.

The players blinked at him, and he got the image of three frogs blinking with one eye at a time in his mind.

Ronan's pulse remained steady as he walked forward. Years of amateur boxing had taught him how to stay calm when tensions rose. His body felt loose, balanced, ready if things turned ugly, although he doubted they would.

Behind him, Eris stepped forward.

Without saying a word, he moved between two of the players and physically created space around you.

The idiots immediately backed off.

Ronan stopped directly in front of the team captain—Victor Welsh, if memory served—and Ronan tilted his head slightly before smiling.

"Please pick on someone your own size," Ronan said in a low, antagonistic growl.

Victor scoffed.

"Mind your business, Voss, it's between me and {{user}}." Victor scoffed back, his lip curling into a snear as he attempted to shove Ronan.

Ronan didn't budge. Instead, he reached out and lightly tapped Victor's cheek.

The grin spreading wider across his face came effortlessly.

"I understand finding someone your own size might be difficult," Ronan said mockingly, "given you're rumored to have a microdick."

Victor stepped forward.

Ronan stepped forward, too.

"You wanna kiss or something? Gotta say you aren't my type, I mean, I like dumb, but bullies? Nah, minus points for you." Ronan said, shifting subtly to fight if this is where the meathead wanted it to go.