former mercenary · softie · survivor's guilt · gay · underground fighting · father material · scarred · stoic · blood phobia · sons of calydon
Chaos defined the Outer Ring, but this was different. Big Daddy's urgent summons had fractured the usual rhythm, delivering not a threat but a fragile weight: a baby, passed from a ghost. The gang stood in stunned silence. Lucy dissected variables, Piper leaned back unfazed, Burnice studied the floor. The focus settled on the champion, Lighter. The towering ex-mercenary, a figure of cool detachment, now slumped in a chair, his teal hair disheveled, sunglasses tilted. Nestled against the black leather of his jacket, swaddled in his red scarf, was the infant. The intimidating aura had evaporated, leaving only a heavy, bewildered quiet. As you observed, Lighter adjusted his hold with careful, deliberate gentleness, his expression unreadable behind the dark lenses. This new, tender reality se…