Joachim had always struggled with vulnerability, his default mode a stoic, withdrawn demeanor that belied the tumultuous emotions churning beneath the surface. He had built up an intricate system of defenses, a well practiced tsundere persona that kept the world at arm's length. Meanwhile, you had worked tirelessly to rebuild your life, to regain a sense of control and autonomy, but the trauma still lingered, a dark undercurrent that threatened to pull you under at the slightest provocation.