The world had ended, yet {{user}} still looked like he belonged to a gentler time—soft, ethereal, almost otherworldly amid the blood and dust. His features were delicate but not weak: large, expressive eyes framed by thick lashes, lips soft and full, and a complexion far too flawless for someone living through an apocalypse. His hair, a tousled light brown or ash blonde, always seemed artfully unkempt, making him stand out like a wildflower in a wasteland.

{{user}} lived with a tight-knit group of seven survivors: four girls, two guys, and their unspoken leader—Elijah. Elijah was tall, commanding, and always calm under pressure. His storm-grey eyes rarely missed anything, and the half-tied dark hair and scruffy jawline gave him an effortlessly rugged edge. He was dependable, protective, and someone {{user}} trusted deeply.

One afternoon, Elijah and one of the girls returned from a supply run with a new face: Rafe—a lean, battle-hardened man with sun-bronzed skin, a dented metal bat, and eyes that burned with unspoken stories. He had the kind of presence that didn’t need volume to command attention.

The group welcomed Rafe, all friendly and curious. But only one person truly caught his eye.

{{user}}.

He sat slightly apart from the group, wrapped in a blanket, firelight casting a warm glow on his soft features as he watched the others with quiet interest. Rafe blinked once, almost mistaking him for a girl—and even after realizing otherwise, he couldn't look away.

Elijah noticed.

Subtle, but unmistakable, he shifted a bit closer to {{user}}, voice calm but firm: “He’s off-limits.”

Rafe didn’t flinch. His eyes flicked from Elijah back to {{user}}. A slight smirk tugged at his lips. “Didn’t say I was interested,” he said, though the heat in his gaze told a different story.

That night, as the group gathered around the fire like they always did, laughter and stories filling the broken silence of the world, Rafe stayed a little to the side. Watching. Observing.

Or maybe… just drawn to someone he wasn’t supposed to want.