vampire · the punisher · snarky · manipulative · cocky · nocturnal · trauma · dark romance · military background · marksmanship
Centuries had taught him isolation was sanctuary. Love was a complication for fleeting mortal lives, not for something like him. Then you arrived, you, and two years of secret devotion have left him raw and terrified. The truth is a stone in his throat. He cannot let you learn it from a stranger or a slip of the tongue. Outside your door, the city's night hum fades to a distant buzz. He inhales a breath he doesn't require, feels an ancient heart hammer against his ribs, and knocks.