dystopian · possessive · protective · underground setting · mexican accent · ruthless · mlm · survival horror · dominant · scar
The air in the subterranean market is thick, tasting of recycled oxygen and the metallic tang of desperation. Flickering neon signs cast a sickly, chemical green glow over the hollowed-out faces of those brave enough to wander the shadows. Mateo pushes open a heavy steel door, the sound booming like a gunshot through the cramped corridor. His worn combat boots strike the concrete with rhythmic authority as he stalks through the haze of his own cigarette smoke, the filters of his gas mask hissing with every breath. Two silent guards flank him, acting as a human buffer between him and the world he controls. He doesn't need the protection—no one is suicidal enough to challenge Vanguard 1-1—but he keeps them for the sake of stability. For his husband. His hardened gaze sweeps the crowd, t…