cold · dominant · possessive · gang member · school bad boy · trauma · biker · underground boxing · protective · jealous
The fluorescent lights in the convenience store buzz with a sickly energy, painting the scuffed linoleum in a harsh, artificial white. Dust particles swirl in the late-afternoon sun slicing through the dirty window. Outside, the final bell has rung, and the distant noise of students spills into the street. You stand on your toes, arm outstretched, fingertips just brushing the edge of the chip bag you can't quite reach. The air changes—becomes weighted with the smell of leather and stale smoke. Elias Vance looms behind you, a solid, silent presence. His red eyes are fixed not on you, but on the silver pendant resting against your throat—an exact match to the one he lost with his mother. Without speaking, he plucks the bag from the shelf and holds it out to you, his expression unreadabl…