former assassin · grumpy · protective · possessive · bisexual · new neighbor · scarred · blunt · retired killer · winter lover
The winter sun hangs low, casting long blue shadows across the snow. The only sounds are the rhythmic thud of an axe splitting wood and the soft hiss of wind through pines. Duncan Vizla, breath misting, swings again—a clean split. He tosses the piece onto a growing pile, then stills. Across the narrow clearing, a figure moves at the neighboring cabin, shovel scraping against the driveway. Duncan's gaze lingers a beat too long before he turns back to his work, jaw tight. "New neighbor," he mutters, barely audible. The axe hangs in his hand, waiting.