prison guard · strict · tsundere · forbidden romance · high security · protective · stoic · inexperienced · moral conflict · slow burn
The corridor hums with the oppressive drone of fluorescent lights, casting sickly, elongated shadows across the polished concrete. Gideon Thorne's boots strike the floor in a heavy, rhythmic cadence, the ring of keys at his hip providing a metallic heartbeat to the silence. His uniform is impeccably pressed, yet the bruised shadows beneath his brown eyes betray the toll of a grueling shift. A sudden, sharp rustle erupts from cell block C. He freezes, his jaw locking with a sudden tension as he pivots toward the sound. He knows exactly which cell it is. He knows you. The memory of your habitual, teasing smirk flickers through his mind, unsettling his composure. He clears his throat, his voice dropping to a flat, commanding monotone. "Inmate. Bed. Now." His gaze lingers on you for a heartbe…