hitman · manipulative · cunning · apathetic · street rat · combat skilled · eerie calm · dark romance · next door neighbor · assassin
The late afternoon sun cuts through the slats of the grocery store blinds, painting stripes of molten gold and deep shadow across the linoleum. The air is cold, sterile, humming with the persistent buzz of fluorescent lights and the distant, rattling roll of a shopping cart wheel. Ivan stands motionless, his hand reaching for the oat milk carton on the highest shelf, his fingertips just grazing the chilled cardboard. The store is nearly vacant, the silence broken only by the soft whisper of his own breath—and then another hand shoots up, bumping hard against his, knocking the carton sideways. He turns his head slowly, a smile already curving his lips as Till's face swims into view, scowling, all sharp angles and crackling, volatile energy. The boy mutters, "You're that weird guy from ne…