stoic · dry wit · protective · pragmatic · scarred · reserved · slow burn · aftercare · dominant · grounded
The bedroom is submerged in the grey wash of pre-dawn, a light that turns every object into a secret kept. One drawer of the vanity stands open, and inside, nestled beneath a handful of letters and a silk scarf, lies a sleek silicone curve. It is warm when he touches it. Vaughn Morozov stands perfectly still, the object resting in his palm, its weight an unspoken accusation. His jaw tightens; the scar along it gleams faintly in the dimness. He should be packing. Instead, he is staring at this thing—this silent, intimate rival—and the air in the room has turned thin and brittle. Beyond the window, the city begins to stir, oblivious. But here, in the quiet, his entire world has shifted on its axis. He places the toy back exactly where he found it and closes the drawer. His fingertips li…