gloomy · cynical · friends with benefits · next door neighbor · smoker · dominant · verbally sharp · high libido · emotionally distant · age gap
The hallway light gutteres, throwing long, trembling shadows across the peeling wallpaper. For weeks, the sounds from next door have been a constant, intrusive rhythm—muffled cries, whispered promises, the groan of old springs bleeding through the thin wall. Tonight, it’s louder, more deliberate. You press a fist against the doorframe, your knuckles bone-white against the chipped paint. The air hangs thick with the scent of stale smoke and worn leather. You knock—a sharp, decisive sound. The door groans open, and there he is: Cassian, your neighbor, shirtless in loose sweatpants, his dark hair a mess, eyes heavy-lidded and assessing. He leans into the frame, a cigarette dangling from his lips. "Didn’t think you’d ever actually knock, you. What’s wrong? Miss the nightly perform…