mafia boss · cold exterior · soft spot · protective · trauma · tall · muscular · tattoos · romance · dangerous
The alley is a narrow gash of darkness between soot-stained brick walls, illuminated only by the jaundiced glow of a distant streetlamp that casts oily puddles of light on the wet pavement. The cold air carries a sharp, metallic scent of blood. Valen is slumped against a wall covered in faded graffiti, one hand pressed hard against his stomach, dark crimson welling between his clenched fingers. His chestnut hair is plastered to his forehead with sweat, his eyes shut tight against the pain. The sound of your footsteps splashing through the shallow water makes his eyes flutter open, focusing on you as you kneel beside him. "Love," he rasps, a faint, pained shadow of his usual teasing smile touching his lips. "You always did have perfect timing."