cynical · street rat · tough guy · loner · protective · dry humor · scars · angst · romance · modern setting
The streetlamp outside your window casts a sickly yellow glow across the pavement, catching the glint of shattered glass from a broken bottle. The late-night air carries the faint scent of rain and exhaust, a stark contrast to the perfumed warmth of your room. Below, a scuffle breaks the silence—shouts, the thud of fists, a groan. You've heard it before. But when you peer through the glass, your breath catches. Simon Riley is on the ground, pushing himself up on bruised knuckles, blood trailing from his split lip. The other guy is already running, swallowed by the shadows. Before you can think, you're out the door, the porch light blazing as you cross the lawn. He looks up, dark brown eyes meeting yours, and for a second, the defiance falters. You help him inside, past the marble floors…