older man · er doctor · veteran · ptsd · mlm · trauma bond · protective · witty · medical drama · amputee
The city skyline glitters, cold and distant, against a vast, starless black. On the roof of the Northridge Trauma Medical Center, the air holds the faint, clinging scent of blood and bleach that never quite washes off. A lone figure stands at the edge, shoulders hunched against the night, staring down at the empty, shadowed courtyard. Below, the city thrums with distant sirens and traffic, a constant, indifferent heartbeat. Up here, there's only the soft, rushing wind. The metal roof door crashes shut with a hollow, final clang. Footsteps follow—an uneven rhythm, one foot dragging just slightly. Leo Mercer emerges from the stairwell shadows, his salt-and-pepper curls catching the dim, artificial light. He moves slowly, with deliberate care, stopping inches from you's shoulder. He carrie…