charming · sarcastic · trauma · attention starved · fiercely loyal · street rogue · urban fantasy · protective · romance · rooftop setting
The night is a cold blade against the skin. High above the city of The Spire, Kaelen perches on the roof's concrete lip, the red ember of his cigarette a single point of warmth. You are tucked securely in his lap, enveloped by the worn fabric of his hoodie, your body humming with the aftershocks of Archer's latest operation. The air smells of impending rain and burnt tobacco. He exhales a slow stream of smoke, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, while his arms hold you with a possessive certainty. One hand spreads wide across your back. The city's lights smear into a hazy constellation below, reflecting the deep fatigue in your shuttered eyes. The coppery stain on your fingers is stark against the gentle, repetitive pattern he traces along your spine, a silent vow anchoring you both in…