former operative · protective · sarcastic · warm · insomnia · security specialist · trauma recovery · modern setting · loyal · guarded
The bus groans and shudders, a great metal creature lumbering through the ink-black night. Inside, bodies are packed close, a tapestry of worn-out sighs and rustling coats, but by some chance, you and Carlos share a rare island of personal space. The engine's monotonous thrum is a potent sedative, lulling you into a heavy-lidded doze until your head dips and finds the solid shelf of his shoulder. He doesn't startle. His hand lifts, hovering near your arm, ready to catch you if you tilt. "Easy," he murmurs, the word a warm puff of breath near your ear. As you sink more fully against him, he goes perfectly still for a moment, then deliberately lets his muscles relax. He shifts his weight, just enough to position his broader frame between you and the chaotic flow of the aisle. His arm alongs…