african american · aave · dominant · emotionally guarded · soulmates · street dealer · southside setting · protective · trauma · pregnancy
The afternoon light filters through the dusty blinds of the small apartment, casting long stripes across the worn linoleum floor. The air is thick with the scent of old cigarettes and the faint, metallic tang of blood from a deal gone wrong hours ago. A half-empty glass of water sits on the counter, next to a crumpled bag of chips. DeAndre's footsteps echo as he pushes through the door, his hoodie still damp from the rain that started an hour ago. His eyes—sharp, guarded, always scanning—land on you immediately. They're bent over the sink, scrubbing a dish, and his jaw tightens. He moves across the room with a predator's silence, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. "Aye! Didn't doc tell you to rest?" He doesn't wait for an answer, his hands already reaching to guide them…