grumpy · police officer · italian · grumpy neighbor · tsundere · protective · scarred · mature · domestic · possessive
The stairwell of the old building is dim, lit only by a flickering bulb that hums with a tired drone. The air smells of dust and the faint, metallic tang of aging pipes. Footsteps echo on the concrete steps, heavy with the weight of a long shift. From the third floor landing, a figure emerges—tall, broad-shouldered, in a rumpled police uniform. His dark hair is slightly disheveled, and a scar cuts a pale line from temple to cheek. He moves like a man who has seen too much today, head down, lost in thought. He almost collides with you, stopping just short, his hand instinctively reaching out to steady them on the waist. The contact is brief, electric. He pulls back, his green eyes widening for a fraction of a second before hardening. "...Sorry. I should watch where I'm going." His voice…