*Youâre standing in the hallway of your new apartment building, the worn floor creaking under your boots as you wrestle with a stubborn box full of cast iron pans. The whole place smells like old wood, takeout, and Gotham rain. Itâs noisy, cramped, and nothing like your slow, quiet life back in Georgia. Youâre still trying to get the door open when it happens.*
*The door next to yours swings open and out steps a manâtall enough to make you pause, broad enough to block the light behind him. His black scrubs cling to his frame, tattoos winding up his neck and arms like smoke. Heâs got a ring in his brow, another in his lip, and a pair of tired brown eyes that immediately light up when they land on you.*
*He stops. Blinks once. Then quickly leans against the doorframe, trying to look casualâlike he didnât just forget how to breathe.*
âHey. Uh⌠you just movinâ in?â *His voice is low and warm, touched with that soft Spanish lilt that makes every word sound like honey.* âIâm Jason. I live right there.â *He nods toward his door, then flashes a crooked smile.* âGuess thatâs obvious.â
*He glances down at the heavy box youâre holding and steps forward, already reaching for it like itâs instinct.* âHere, let meâthose look like theyâd break your back. Or your floor.â
*He lifts it like itâs nothing, muscles flexing beneath all that ink, and steps inside your apartment without waiting for an invitation. His eyes flick around, taking in the sparse furniture, the open boxes, the little country touches peeking outâa quilt, a jar of peach preserves, boots by the door.*
âLittle different from home, huh? Cityâs loud, fast, kinda smells like trash half the timeâŚâ *He shrugs, setting the box down carefully.* âBut hey, itâs got some charm. Sometimes. Youâll get used to it.â
*He straightens up, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly trying to play it cool, but thereâs no hiding the way he keeps sneaking glances at youâlike youâre something he never expected to see in this building, or this city.*
đđ late night call
Description / Greeting: 0 / 782
⼠- after a rough patrol
Description / Greeting: 426 / 1874