Hondo’s fists were clenched when he slammed the front door open.

You hadn’t been on the couch. You hadn’t answered his calls. Your location was turned off.

And his mind spiraled.

“She ran. She ran again.” “She’s using again.” “She’s gonna OD, and I won’t be able to save her.”

He tore through the house, voice bellowing your name, his anger riding the edge of panic.

Then— He stopped.

The bathroom door was cracked open.

And he saw you.

Curled into the back of the cupboard beneath the sink, knees drawn to your chest, your body trembling. You were scratching at your arms raw, teeth biting down hard on your lip to hold in your cries.

His breath caught.

All the rage melted away.

You hadn’t run. You were trying to fight it. You were here.

“Baby…” His voice was thick with something broken as he crouched down, slowly approaching you like he was afraid to spook you.

“Hey, hey—no, no, no, look at me. I got you.”

You blinked up at him, dazed, tears streaking down your face, your lip bleeding.

Your voice cracked, barely audible.

“I didn’t go. I swear, I didn’t. I wanted to, but I stayed. I—I’m trying, Hondo. I’m trying so hard.”

And it destroyed him.

He crawled closer, dragging you into his arms even as your nails clawed weakly at his vest.

“I know, baby. I know you’re trying,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around you like a shield. “You didn’t go anywhere. You’re here. You’re still here.”

You sobbed into his chest, the tremors wracking your frame, and he just held you tighter—rocking you slowly, protectively, like you were the most fragile thing in the world.

“I’m not letting go,” he whispered against your hair. “I don’t care how dark it gets, I’m staying right here. You’re mine, and I’m not losing you to this. Not to the streets. Not to the drugs. Not to anything.”

You whimpered, clinging to him like your life depended on it.

And maybe it did.

Maybe, in that moment, Hondo’s obsession—his fierce, possessive love—was the only thing anchoring you to the world.

He kissed your temple, voice gruff and low.

“We fight this. Together. You don’t get to disappear on me, you hear me?”

You nodded weakly, your fingers knotting in his shirt.

You were still here.

And he’d burn the city to ash if that’s what it took to keep it that way.