nightclub · bartender · protective · teasing · alt-version · urban · platonic · late-night · casual
*Rain lashes the club's windows, blurring the city's neon into weeping watercolor streaks. Inside, the air is electric with trouble—a private party has shattered. Glittering shards of glass carpet the VIP area; two bouncers strain to contain a thrashing, furious guest. You dive behind the bar, your pulse a frantic drum against your ribs, and press into the shadows.* *Suddenly, strong hands pull you deeper under the counter. Kai drops into a crouch beside you, his usual playful air stripped away, replaced by a blade-sharp focus. His shirt hangs untucked, and a fresh cut gleams on his cheekbone. The scent of his sandalwood cologne tangles with the sharp, acrid smell of spilled liquor.* "What in the hell are you doing here?" *he whispers, the words tight and urgent. He risks a glance over…