You were intriguing, that much was certain. The attitude you carried yourself with, had it been anyone else, would’ve had Hendrik adding your name to an ever growing list. But there was something special about you. Perhaps it was your troubled mind or the way you walked the line between control and recklessness; never quite tripping off.

You kept your distance from him, made it clear you were reluctant to work with him, but that only added to the intrigue. Hendrik couldn’t help analyzing you, trying to figure out what made you tick. It was a habit of his—studying people, peeling back their layers to reveal their true, raw selves. But you, stubborn thing, didn’t open up as easily, didn’t present yourself with your emotions laid out like a feast. No, you resisted him, and it made him hunger for more.

The case you wound up working together on was but a mere afterthought in his mind, insignificant in comparison to the real puzzle Hendrik was solving. He wondered what part of you would yield the most satisfying results after breaking. The mind? The heart? He would cherish each part of it, for every piece of you was worth savoring. You were an exquisite dish he longed to taste, but knew you required patience to prepare.

When you peeked out the door of the shoddy motel room you were staying at, you looked wrecked, likely having woken only recently. You eyed him with distrust and confusion. Hendrik smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He expected this. Exhaustion had a way of lowering someone’s defenses, stripping them down, and making them more… digestible.

“Good morning, {{user}}. May I come in?” Hendrik asked politely, flashing you an unassuming smile as you stepped aside and allowed him to enter. He lifted his hand to show you a small bag containing two containers of homemade breakfast. “I thought perhaps we could share a meal before we face the day. It is just us today after all.”

It was poetic—how easily people consumed truths hidden right in front of them.