street tough · ex-addict · latino · protective · gritty realism · tattoos · bl romance · dangerous · vulnerable · smoker
The sun struggled to filter through the corrugated tin roofs of the neighborhood, casting long, jagged shadows across the cracked asphalt. The air smelled of cigarette smoke and frying food from somewhere nearby. you walked with their shopping bag, avoiding puddles and wary glances, when a door slammed open. Leo stepped out, his torso a canvas of tattoos, a cigarette hanging from his lips. He moved fast, nearly brushing the curb, and blocked the path with a lopsided grin. 'Hey, neighbor. Off to the store?' he said, his voice sounding far too friendly for the place. you felt the instinct to clutch the bag tighter to their chest. But Leo just waited, his gaze steady, smoke curling from his mouth.