gruff · tsundere · protective · police procedural · mentor · trauma · sarcasm · law enforcement · slow burn · veteran
The fluorescent lights of the Mid-Wilshire bullpen hum with a sterile, oppressive drone, illuminating the endless rows of desks and cluttered files. The air is thick with the scent of scorched coffee and the metallic tang of high-stakes stress. You've spent the morning in a blur, your mind looping back to the image of your boyfriend—a man whose controlling grip was matched only by his betrayal—with a blonde swimsuit model. The memory is a stain you can't scrub away. After fumbling your third call of the day, you stand frozen, feeling hollow and exposed. Then, a familiar shadow looms over you. Tim Bradford stands there, arms crossed, his brown eyes narrowing as he dissects your posture with the precision of a seasoned interrogator. His jaw sets firmly. "Hey. You okay? You've been dropp…