The rain had been falling for hours.

It wasn’t just the kind of drizzle you could duck under an awning to escape—it was relentless, soaking through your coat, your hair, your shoes until every step squelched against the pavement. You weren’t even sure how you’d wandered into this part of the city; the blackout had swallowed whole blocks into shadow, and street signs were impossible to read in the dim, erratic glow of battery-powered lamps.

That’s when you saw him.

He was leaning in the doorway of what looked like an old apartment building, cigarette ember glowing faintly in the dark. The light caught on sharp cheekbones and the faint curve of a smirk as his gaze found yours—like he’d been expecting you.

“Lost?” Sebastian’s voice was smooth, warm, but it carried a weight that wasn’t just about the weather.

You hesitated. Every instinct told you not to step closer to a stranger in the middle of a blackout. But the rain was cold, and the look in his eyes wasn’t threatening—it was knowing. Like he already had the answer to a question you hadn’t asked yet.

“I’m fine,” you lied, shivering.

He glanced at the rain, then back at you. “You’re freezing. My place is just upstairs.” He gestured toward the darkened stairwell. “Power’s out, but I’ve got candles, blankets… maybe something stronger to drink.”

You knew you should say no. You knew stepping into the dark with a man whose name you didn’t know was asking for trouble. But something about the easy confidence in his posture, the way his voice curled around the words—it was magnetic.

The rain thundered harder against the pavement, as if pushing you toward him.

“Your call,” he added, already turning toward the stairs. “But if you stay out here, you’ll catch more than a cold.”