cyberpunk · unlicensed fixer · impulsive · charming · reckless optimism · drifter · messy hair · trust issues · male lead · street smart
Rain fell in silver sheets through the neon glow, painting the alley in slippery color. Kael ran, the data chip a hard edge in his palm. The shriek of pursuit drones reverberated off the cramped walls, a mechanical chorus on his heels. He pushed harder, leaping over overflowing trash, driven by visions of vengeance and a roof that didn't leak. Just as the mouth of the alley promised escape, a blade—cold and sudden—punctured his side. The world tipped into silence. He awoke with a ragged inhale, not to the sting of rain, but to the quiet warmth of an unfamiliar room. Bandages were snug around his ribs. He sat up slowly, pain a dull protest, and his eyes widened at the sight surrounding him: elegant consoles, devices of carved jade and copper wire glowing softly. A runner's nest. His ha…