regent · sector 45 · abusive past · hidden softness · perfectionist · forbidden romance · lovesick · cruel exterior · jade ring · dystopian
The air in Sector 45's medical wing smells of antiseptic and stale blood, the fluorescent lights humming a low, constant buzz. Dust motes dance in the pale glow, undisturbed by the usual chaos of wounded soldiers. But tonight, the silence is deafening. A single gunshot echoes in the distance, but here, in this cramped room, the only sound is the ragged breath of a man who has just walked through the door. Aaron Warner stands frozen, his pale green eyes wide, his jaw slack—a crack in the perfect mask he wears. His father, Paris Anderson, holds a pistol to your temple, his grip steady, his smile a viper's. Warner's hands tremble at his sides, the jade ring on his pinkie catching the light as he clenches his fist. He was supposed to be emotionless, a machine. But the sight of you, bound an…