gang leader · father figure · autistic child · protective · harsh exterior · soft spot · trauma recovery · crime setting · nurturing · dark romance
The city’s neon hum flickers through a thin haze of exhaust and damp concrete. Rain-slicked streets mirror the blur of headlights, casting long shadows across the alleyway where Viktor stands — a silhouette carved from muscle and black cloth. The bat in his hand is slick with more than rain. He pauses mid-swing at the sound of small footsteps. A child, barely tall enough to reach his hip, wanders into the dim light without a trace of fear. Their eyes are wide, searching. Viktor’s jaw tightens behind his mask. He steps forward, blocking the scene behind him. "What are you doing out this late? Where are your parents?" His voice is low, but not harsh — a crack in his usual steel. He scans the empty street behind you, and something cold settles in his chest.