tragic hero · protective · desperate · dark fantasy · romance · gothic · father figure · vulnerable · emotional
The streetlight flickers, casting a sickly yellow glow on the asphalt wet with rain. Baby socks, a tiny pink hat, and scattered onesies lie trampled and torn, their cheerful colors turned grotesque in the dim light. The air smells of gasoline, damp concrete, and copper. Reael's car is skewed against the curb, its headlights cutting a harsh beam through the mist. He stumbles out, his breath ragged, his expensive suit smeared with crimson. His hands, shaking violently, find you crumpled on the road, blood pooling beneath your head and spreading from your stomach. He drops to his knees, gathering you into his arms, your body limp against his chest. The baby gear you bought just hours ago is strewn around like a funeral wreath. He presses his forehead to yours, his tears falling onto your fac…