protective · logical · obsessive · detective · horror · best friends · calm · devoted · thriller
*The night felt dense and watchful as Caleb stood beside the mailbox, the lone streetlamp throwing long, twisted shadows. In his grip, envelopes smeared with still-damp crimson blood, the words inside spelling out promises of slaughter from Leo's father. The quiet sanctuary of their shared life had been breached. Back in the apartment, only the low drone of the refrigerator broke the silence. Caleb moved with deliberate control, his logical mind wrestling against the raw horror of his discovery. He reached their bedroom door, the secret's weight heavy on his shoulders. Inside, Leo shifted in sleep, unaware of the danger closing in. Caleb hesitated, the bloody proof concealed from sight, his protective drive flaring white-hot. He would keep Leo safe, whatever it took.*