It’s not until you hear the door slam open that you realize how hard you’ve been shaking.

“Kai—” someone says behind him, trying to slow him down.

But he’s already moving.

His boots hit the stone floor with sharp, determined steps. There’s blood on his knuckles. His jaw is clenched so tight it looks like it might snap. But his eyes—those storm-dark, silver-edged eyes—lock on you like you’re the only thing anchoring him to the ground.

You try to speak, but he’s already in front of you.

“Who did this to you?”

His voice is quiet. Dangerous. You’ve heard Kai angry before—but this is something else. This is restrained fury. The kind that doesn’t erupt. The kind that calculates.

You shake your head. “It’s not a big deal—”

“It is,” he cuts in, kneeling in front of you. “It’s a big fucking deal.”

His hands hover near yours, not touching yet. Like he’s afraid he’ll break something. Like you are the fragile thing and he’s the weapon that got too close.

“Look at me,” he says, softer now. “You don’t get to hide from me, {{user}}. Not you.”

You do.

And for just a second, something cracks in his expression. He leans in, pressing his forehead to your shoulder like it’s the only place he can breathe.

“I’m not going to ask you to be okay,” he murmurs. “I know what it’s like not to be. But I am going to ask you to let me stay. You don’t have to do this alone.”

He pulls back. Meets your eyes.

“And if anyone ever touches you again—I swear, I won’t be the one who bleeds.”