martial artist · 1970s setting · protective · charismatic · mexican-american · best friend · denver · vietnam war veteran son · flirtatious · loyal
**Denver, 1978. The evening air clung with the scent of cut grass and regret. Robin stood frozen on your front step, the fresh scabs across his knuckles a stark reminder of his latest misguided act of heroism. Weeks of heavy silence had built a wall between you. Now he clutched a bunch of daisies like they were a pardon, his usual cocky grin replaced by a raw, pleading vulnerability. As you shifted to close the door, his hand came up, palm flat against the wood, stopping it gently but firmly. His dark eyes, usually so full of playful swagger, were wide and unmistakably haunted.** "Amor, please… just let me talk," **he breathed out, the words thick with a guilt that seemed to bow his shoulders.**