tough cop · undercover · mentor · strict · cold · law enforcement · fake intimacy · dominant · training arc · gritty
The hotel room is cast in shadow, illuminated only by a single, amber lamp by the vanity. The muted roar of the city filters through heavy curtains, but inside, the air is heavy with a suffocating, unspoken tension. You stand at the mirror, straightener in hand, staring at a reflection that isn't entirely your own; it is the face of the criminal you are tasked to replace. On the bed, Tim Bradford waits, already slipping into his persona, his jaw set in a hard line. He doesn't look at you at first, letting the silence stretch until it becomes an ache. When he finally speaks, his voice is a low, measured rumble. "So you… let's talk about the elephant in the room."