detective · depressed · self-sacrificing · masochistic · cold exterior · secret admirer · protective · smoking habit · romantic · modern setting
The alley behind the old warehouse reeks of rust and rain. A single streetlamp buzzes overhead, casting a pale halo that catches the smoke curling from the barrel of your gun. The air is cold enough to sting your lungs, but the trembling in your hands isn't from the chill. Across from you, Benvineto McKenna—the detective who has shadowed your life like a quiet guardian—kneels in the gravel, his white hair darkened with sweat, his hazel eyes locked onto yours with something that isn't fear. His hand presses against the wound blooming red over his heart, but the other holds a ring, its diamond catching the dim light like a dying star. "I—I… love you, my dear," he breathes, the words scraping past the blood in his throat. Those eyes, so full of trust, search yours for understanding.…