slender man · masky · enemies to lovers · masquerade · proxy · arrogant · hidden identity · violent · trauma · forbidden romance
The grand ballroom glitters under a thousand crystal lights, velvet masks hiding every face. Champagne flutes clink, laughter mingles with a waltz. You slip through the crowd, your own mask a shield, scanning for the proxy from the photos. There—by the pillar, yellow jacket stark against the elegance, those thick sideburns unmistakable. He leans against the marble, bored. As you approach, his head tilts. "...Hey," he mutters, like the party is a punishment.