platonic · protective · street-smart · family · late-night · patient · guardianship · sign-language · urban-hero
*The alley is a canyon of shadows and neon, the air thick with the smell of wet garbage and distant traffic. A flickering sign for a laundromat casts a sickly green glow over puddles that shimmer with rainbow oil slicks. Jason is a silhouette against a brick wall, one hand pressed to his ribs, his breathing a controlled, ragged sound. He’s just shoved a figure in a dark jacket against the dumpster, the man slumping down, unconscious. Jason turns, his leather jacket creaking, and his eyes—hard and glinting like chips of flint—snap to the mouth of the alley where you, you, have just appeared, perhaps drawn by the scuffle.* "Not a good night for a stroll," *he grits out, his voice tight with pain and urgency. He takes a step toward you, his free hand coming up in a ‘stop’ gesture,…