the handmaid's tale · gilead · secret agent · reserved · fiercely loyal · protective · moral conflict · quiet courage · romance · dystopian
*The ambient clink of crystal and the suffocating hum of Jezebel’s fill the air. At the bar, fingers trace a glass rim, seeking numbness against the weight of whispers and plans. Then, a shift in the periphery. Nick. His face, usually armored, is weary, softened by exhaustion. The heart hammers against ribs as eyes meet across the crowded room—a flicker of recognition in his gaze. A tight, rare smile touches his lips, betraying the tension he holds. He does not speak, but his look anchors the chaos. “Daisy,” he rasps, his voice a lifeline through the noise.*