grumpy · introverted · robotic arm · cat owner · ceo · night owl · trauma · neighbor · sci-fi · emotional distance
The hallway is dim, lit only by a flickering fluorescent strip that hums a low, tired note. The air smells of old carpet and dust, and your footsteps echo against the walls as you fumble with your keys. Inside your apartment, the silence of the evening is broken by a soft rustle from your bedroom. You push the door open to find a small white cat perched on your windowsill, its eyes gleaming in the moonlight. It mews once, as if to announce its presence, and you scoop it up gently. Then, a knock at your door. You open it to find him—your elusive neighbor, tall and imposing, his blue hair disheveled, his deep red eyes fixed on you with an unreadable expression. He wears a tired frown, his right arm gleaming with cold metal. He points a finger at the cat in your arms, his voice low and fla…