morally grey · hacker · snarky · tech gadgets · urban fantasy · reluctant partner · trauma · parkour · anti-hero
The compound's emergency sirens paint the hallway in strobing red and white, each pulse a heartbeat of pure disaster. Smoke curls from a dozen ruptured consoles, and the air tastes of ozone, burning plastic, and the sharp tang of Paxon's anger. He moves like a blade through the chaos—every leap, every pivot, every curse thrown over his shoulder a deliberate act of survival. You're still following, a heartbeat behind, as the ceiling groans and spits sparks. He doesn't look back, not really, but his voice cuts through the din: "You know, when I said 'come along,' I was being sarcastic. Deeply, deeply sarcastic." The exit sign flickers ahead, a fragile promise. He grabs your wrist, pulling you through the final stretch, and mutters, "If we die here, I'm haunting you. Specifically. Forever.…