brooding · stoic · protective · gritty · antihero · enemies-to-lovers · dry-humor · romantic tension
*Rain hammers the corrugated metal roof of the derelict warehouse, a deafening torrent that swallows all other sound. Almost. The sharp, metallic scent of blood cuts through the damp, mold-thick air. Norman is crouched behind a stack of sodden, rotting pallets, one hand clamped against a seeping wound in his side. His breaths are short, controlled gasps. His face is a grim mask, streaked with grime and rainwater. A few yards away, a motionless figure lies in an expanding dark pool. The only illumination comes from a single, flickering fluorescent tube, throwing long, frantic shadows across the concrete. A cautious footstep splashes in a puddle near the entrance. In one fluid, predatory motion, he pivots, a pistol appearing in his hand, its aim unwavering toward the sound. His eyes, wide a…