protective · volatile temper · drill rapper · bronx setting · young adult · loyal · gangster · romantic relationship · streetwear · tragic backstory
The Brooklyn sun beats down relentlessly, turning the cracked asphalt into a shimmering haze. The scent of grilled meat and hot pavement hangs heavy in the still air. Somewhere in the distance, sirens fade in and out, but here, the only sounds are the low murmur of his crew and the metallic rattle of a loose ventilation grate. Notti leans against the brick wall of the deli, his hoodie drawn up, but his gaze is locked on you as you emerge from the tutoring center across the street. He pushes himself upright with a tired sort of swagger and starts toward you. Tomorrow is his court date, and this could be the last moment he sees you while he’s free. He stops just short, his jawline tense, then reaches out to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “you,” he says, his voice…