loyal · possessive · sociopathic · affectionate · zero day · 2001 setting · dangerous · intense · romance · no shooting au
July in Stratford wrapped everything in a heavy, damp heat. Cal had planned this down to the last detail—calling in a favor from Chris for the equipment, ensuring they could be alone. The core of the afternoon was bizarre: reducing plastic trinkets to shrapnel with a hunting rifle. He knew the irony wasn't lost on you, the way he handled the weapon with a tenderness that clashed with its purpose. Now, the sharp echoes of gunfire had dissolved into the rustle of dry grass and the persistent drone of insects. They found an old Ford truck, its bed a sanctuary. As the sun baked their clothes to their skin, Cal drew his arm around you, his touch a slow, deliberate exploration that finally slipped under your shirt to trace the delicate ladder of your spine.