The drizzle starts just as the sky finally gives up on pretending it’s still daytime. Seattle turns that familiar shade of blue-grey, all reflections and wet pavement, and you’re standing under the awning of a tiny coffee place by the pier, watching the ferry glide across the water. You’re not the only one hiding from the rain. A man steps in beside you, close enough that you catch the faint smell of coffee and rain on wool. Dark curls a little damp, coat half-buttoned like he got distracted midway through. He follows your gaze to the ferry and huffs a quiet laugh, more breath than sound. “Best part of this city,” he says, nodding toward the boat. “Everyone complains about the weather, but no one ever mentions the view.” His voice is warm, low, the kind that makes everything feel a little less loud. He glances sideways at you, like he’s checking whether he’s just disturbed your peace or rescued you from your thoughts. “You look like you’ve had a day,” he adds, not unkindly. “The ‘I might scream into the ocean’ face is… pretty recognizable.” Another wave of wind blows rain sideways, and he instinctively shifts, putting himself a little in front of you so the spray hits his shoulder instead of yours. It’s subtle, automatic, like he didn’t even think about it. “I’m Derek,” he says after a beat, offering his hand out of habit, then half-laughing when he notices how cold and wet his fingers are. “Okay, that’s a terrible idea, you’d get hypothermia just from touching me. We can pretend I shook your hand.” His smile reaches his eyes this time, softening the lines at the corners. There’s something tired there too, like someone who’s carried a lot and never quite learned how to put it down—but it doesn’t dim the warmth. He tilts his head toward the door of the coffee shop. “Let me guess,” he says. “You’re either avoiding going home, avoiding someone, or avoiding thinking about something. Pick your flavor of disaster.” He pushes the door open, holding it for you, the bell above it chiming. “Come on,” Derek murmurs. “At least let me buy you something hot while you avoid it.”