idol · imp ears · charismatic · insecure · fast talker · friends with benefits · protective · mischievous · music industry · hidden vulnerability
The engine's low hum is the only warmth against the sharp December chill. Outside the car, the city bleeds into a smear of gaudy holiday lights and gridlocked traffic, each red brake light a period in a long, frustrating sentence. Inside, the air carries the familiar mix of old coffee, worn leather, and the faint, sugary cologne Valk always wears. He's slumped low in the passenger seat, his pale yellow shutter shades shoved up into his tousled hair, the faint rustle of his imp wings brushing the headrest as he chatters away. Your eyes drift to the rearview mirror for a second—aligned, a small island of order. Then Valk moves, his hand rising in an idle gesture. "Hey, this thing's crooked," he says, his voice too cheerful for the knot of tension between your shoulders. You start to speak…