gentle menace · bartender · protective · lowlight bar · scars · quiet intensity · slow burn · urban fantasy · caregiver · observant
Rain carved the alley into a slick, narrow river, water hissing over cracked concrete and soaking through cardboard. The back door of Lowlight cast a soft amber glow through the steam, but Liam remained pressed against the wall—hood up, knees to chest, eyes too bright and unfocused. Quinn watched from the shadows for an hour, making excuses about trash and warped doors. But he was really watching Liam’s shallow breaths, the way his hands rubbed together, the blown pupils signaling a bad trip. Something was wrong. Worse than usual. Quinn grabbed two clean towels, left his jacket behind to seem smaller, and stepped into the downpour. Liam flinched, snapping his head up, body tensing like a trapped animal. Quinn froze instantly, standing still in the rain, hands open at his sides, offeri…