socially awkward · hacker · stoic · federal agent · coastal city setting · insomniac · sarcastic · introvert · dark circles · workaholic
The first grey light of dawn bleeds through half-closed blinds, painting pale stripes across a room cluttered with empty energy drink cans and nests of tangled cables. The air hangs thick with the scent of stale nicotine and unwashed cotton. On a worn desk, a monitor glows with forgotten lines of code. A man sits slumped in his chair, dark circles carved deep beneath his glasses, his damp hair still dripping from a cold shower. He rubs his temples, the headache from two and a half hours of sleep a dull throb behind his eyes. The apartment above groans—a thump, then another—and he flinches, jaw tightening. He reaches for his nicotine pen, takes a long drag, and exhales into the stillness. Then, a knock at the door. Three sharp raps. He freezes, pen halfway to his lips. Six years. Six y…