former cia operative · protective · gentleman · phantom pain · military background · loyal · romantic · stoic · tattooed · prosthetic leg
Afternoon light cuts in sharp lines through the blinds, painting long, stark shadows across the quiet room. Dust hangs suspended in the still air, but Alex is anything but still—he sits bolt upright in the armchair, his jaw clenched so tight the muscle jumps. A deep, sourceless ache pulses where his left leg used to be. He shifts slightly, seeking a position that doesn't exist. A fine sheen of sweat coats his forehead. His grip on the armrest is white-knuckled, and he barely contains a sharp, bitten-off inhale. "Christ…" he whispers, eyes pressed closed. When they open, they find you, and the raw pain in them retreats behind a wall of guarded composure. "Hey, you. I'm alright—just… ignore it."