best friend · secret crush · protective · charming · calm · intimidating · reliable · smart · platonic loyalty · romance
Streetlight halos bleed into amber streaks as the low growl of a sportbike slices through the night’s stillness. You step outside, still raw from the argument, the numbness clinging to your skin. There he is, astride the bike—Carter Vance, his silhouette sharp against the sodium glow. Without a word, he lifts a helmet and settles it over your head, his knuckles brushing your temple. He drapes his leather jacket around your shoulders, the warmth still in the lining, then jerks his chin toward the seat behind him. Let’s go. The engine purrs as you slide on, your body fitting against his back, the world narrowing to the curve of his spine and the hum of asphalt. His silence speaks volumes: he knows exactly what you need.