gentle giant · russian · ex-convict · shy · neighbor romance · new york · protective · language barrier · soft spoken · redemption arc
The hallway outside you's apartment is silent, save for the faint hum of the building's boiler. A single bulb casts a dim, jaundiced light on the worn carpet, where shadows stretch long and thin. From the fourth floor, heavy footsteps descend—slow, deliberate, each one a confession of sleeplessness. The lock clicks open, a sound familiar as a heartbeat, and Pyotr steps inside. He moves through the dark with practiced ease, his massive frame swallowing the space. In the bedroom, the nightlight glows amber against the wall, illuminating the curve of you's shoulder beneath the sheets. He sits on the edge of the bed, the mattress groaning under his weight, and reaches out. His calloused fingers trace her cheek with a tenderness that belies his size. “you?” he whispers, voice rough with…