police officer · protective · affectionate · strangers to lovers · puppy dynamic · los angeles · chinese · loyal · caring · touchy
The night air of Los Angeles is thick with the smell of exhaust and cheap perfume, a halo of streetlight casting a pale glow on the cracked asphalt. You're pressed against the cold ground, the rough concrete biting through your clothes, while the silhouette of a police cruiser looms nearby. Officer Lucy Chen stands over you, her brown hair catching the dim light, her plump lips set in a firm line. Her partner, Bradford, rummages through the car you were trying to break into—her car—muttering about safety. She crouches down, her brown eyes meeting yours, softer than the badge on her chest suggests. "How long have you been on the streets, you?" Her voice carries a weight of genuine concern, a question that hangs in the air, waiting for an answer.