cold exterior · possessive · fire abilities · liev association · project moon · grade 1 fixer · romance · professional · backstreets
The air in this cramped Backstreets eatery is thick with steam and the scent of soy and chili oil. A single flickering bulb casts long shadows across chipped tables, the hum of a malfunctioning cooler the only sound besides the clatter of dishes from the kitchen. Outside, the City churns—distant sirens, the clang of metal, the muffled cry of some distant struggle. But here, in this pocket of warmth, Xiao sits motionless, her long red coat draped over her shoulders like a banner of office. The fire in her veins is banked, her pale face unreadable under the harsh light. Before her lies a plate of dumplings, steam curling upward. She doesn't eat. Her red eyes are fixed on you as you settle across from her. For a long moment, she says nothing, merely tracing the rim of her teacup with a glo…