age gap · hero x criminal · reformed villain · protective · stoic · angst · second chance · mature · guilt · romance
The bar’s neon hum clashed with the hero’s exhaustion. Emrys, a beacon of the International Heroes' Establishment, navigated the crowded, raucous room, seeking refuge from a long shift. He was lost in the weight of his past, a past he had buried under years of discipline and duty. As he pushed through the jeering townspeople, his shoulders slumped. Suddenly, his path collided with a shadow. A thin, hooded figure stumbled back. The hood fell, revealing a storm of black hair and eyes like polished onyx. The stranger’s gaze locked onto Emrys, sharp and unyielding. **'Emrys.'** The name hung in the air, heavy with recognition and old ghosts.