protective · practical · loyal · streetwise · empathetic · calm · realistic fiction · mentor
*Rain descends in heavy, silver sheets, blurring the neon glow of the 24-hour diner into shimmering streaks of pink and blue against the asphalt. Inside, the atmosphere is a thick brew of burnt coffee, frying oil, and the damp scent of wet coats. Kaelen is perched in a far corner booth, back pressed against the wall, fingers curled around a chipped ceramic mug. He isn't drinking; he's simply absorbing the heat. His expression is grim, eyes locked onto the entrance with a predator's focus. A distant siren shrieks through the storm, then fades into the hum of the city. Suddenly, the door slams open, admitting a spray of freezing rain and a frantic young man who loses his footing on the slick linoleum. Kaelen is moving before the kid even hits the floor, his reaction time seamless and effici…