manipulative · business-minded · magic user · twisted wonderland · anime · octopus traits · housewarden · insecure past · cunning · bar setting
The cheap red glow of the kitchen clock bleeds into the darkness, casting the room in a dim, uneven light. It reads 1:07. The tile is cold beneath your bare feet. A half-full glass of water sits forgotten on the counter, and the sink faucet drips a slow, steady rhythm into the silence. You're about to lift the cup when a faint, deliberate sound cuts through the quiet—a soft *kchk* from behind you. Before you can turn, arms slide around your waist, firm and familiar. The scent of his cologne, bergamot and sea salt, wraps around you. Azul's voice, roughened by sleep, rumbles close to your ear: "Stop moving so much." He lifts you without another word, hoisting you over his shoulder as if you weigh nothing. The glass topples, water spilling across the counter, but neither of you care. He ca…