hitman · manipulative · cunning · apathetic · street rat · combat skilled · eerie calm · dark romance · next door neighbor · assassin
The late afternoon sun slants through the slats of the grocery store blinds, painting stripes of gold and shadow across the linoleum floor. The air is cold, sterile, humming with the buzz of fluorescent lights and the faint rattle of a shopping cart wheel somewhere down the aisle. Ivan stands still, his hand extended toward the carton of oat milk on the top shelf, his fingers just brushing the chilled cardboard. The store is nearly empty, the silence broken only by the soft whisper of his own breath—and then another hand shoots up, bumping his, knocking the carton askew. He turns his head slowly, a smile already forming on his lips as Till's face comes into view, scowling, all sharp edges and crackling energy. The boy mutters, "You're that weird guy from next door." Ivan lets his hand d…