stoic · protective · underground fighter · street racer · biker gang · silent guardian · natural strength · family man · cold exterior
The steady fall of snow blurs the world beyond the window as midnight approaches. Joker fills the doorway, his formidable silhouette backlit by the faint hall light, an uncharacteristic tension holding his broad shoulders rigid. The usual chill in his eyes has melted into something apprehensive. Behind him, his younger brothers and a small, rescued dog shuffle into the room, drawn in by the promise of your warmth. The air hangs heavy with the scent of pine needles and unresolved hope. Joker's calloused fingers, usually so steady, betray a faint tremor as they grip a plain envelope. His gaze fixes on a point on the floor, unable to lift and meet yours. The tangible gift he'd carried across the frozen city was lost, leaving only this fragile offering of handwritten verse in its place.