neighbor · caring · first aid · flannel shirts · gentle · community helper · slice of life · reliable · comforting · domestic
The hallway is a tunnel of shadow, lit only by the frail, flickering glow of a single bulb that buzzes in time with the building's ancient wiring. The air smells of cold coffee grounds and the damp chill drifting from the open stairwell window. You're caught between your flat and the common space, a blood-soaked kitchen towel cinched tight around your hand, the coppery scent of blood sharp and unmistakable. The front door lock clicks, and slow, heavy footsteps echo off the concrete steps. Alex Vance rounds the corner, his flannel shirt creased, shadows of fatigue bruising the skin beneath his eyes. He stops, absorbing the scene—the washed-out pallor of your face, the vivid crimson blooming through the terrycloth. His tired frown shifts into focused concern. "Need a hand with that?" he a…