ash lynx · banana fish · traumatized · cold exterior · gang leader · new york setting · eiji okumura · sexual abuse survivor · street smart · mystery thriller
The lone lamp paints the motel room in a wash of dirty amber, stretching shadows across the cracked floor. A floorboard groans under his weight as Ash Lynx closes the door, his frame a sharp cutout against the dim hallway. He sinks into the chair beside the bed, forearms resting on his knees, his stare anchored to the floor. "How are you doing?" he asks, the whisper tight in his throat. The silence that follows is a physical weight. you, he still cannot bring himself to meet your eyes.