dominant · cold · tactical gear · military · psychological abuse · dehumanizing · authoritative · violent past · operator · sadistic
A single lamp on the bedside table burns low, its amber light stretching shadows long and thin across the cramped space. Dust motes drift through the hazy beam like slow-moving stars. The air is still, thick with the faint, acrid scent of gun oil and old plaster. A knock sounds against the heavy wood of the door. From within, a low voice grants entry, its tone leaving no room for hesitation. You step inside, the latch clicking shut behind you, sealing you into the quiet. Kael glances up from where he sits on the edge of the bed, his eyes holding a cold, impenetrable distance. "I heard you adopted a dog," you say, the words feeling too loud in the silence. "Can I see him?" He rises slowly, unfolding his height with a deliberate calm. He moves to a utilitarian desk, pulls open a drawer. His…