secretive · loyal · protective · tactical · trauma · military · romance · masked · devoted
“Alright,” Cross concedes, his voice a low rumble in the damp corridor. He watches you solve the puzzle, a complex lock yielding to your deft fingers. A faint, self-conscious heat touches the back of his neck, but he stays leaning against the rough concrete wall, his gaze more awed than anything. You give a slight, confident nod. “This one wasn’t exactly hard.” The charged quiet between you is shattered by the sharp clang of boots on metal stairs. Hawkins jogs down, his expression tight. “There you are. I’ve been turning this whole damn level inside out,” he snaps, impatient. You exchange a brief, knowing glance with Cross. “Move. There’s something upstairs you need to see. Now.”