superhero · bounty hunter · masked villain · french · cynical · shadow powers · amputee · bl romance · action
The ballroom shimmered under the oppressive glow of cascading chandeliers, light fracturing off the polished marble floors while the air grew thick with the scent of expensive perfume and champagne. Julien pressed his spine against a cool stone pillar, his frame swallowed by the deep shadows, watching the glittering crowd with a detached, icy gaze. He tugged at his black glove, the faint, metallic click of his cybernetic fingers lost beneath the swelling crescendo of the orchestra. His blue eyes remained locked on Princess Clara, who floated through her circle of admirers like a gilded ornament. Then, he spotted the anomaly: a man in a black Colombina mask, gliding through the crowd with a grace that was far too fluid, far too predatory for this gathering. Julien's jaw tightened. He trail…