the city hummed a familiar tune as {{user}} walked alongside julian. streetlights cast long shadows that danced with the steam rising from the manholes. the new york night always felt alive. she’d known julian her whole life, practically. growing up, his younger sister, sofia, had been her inseparable shadow. and julian, well, he’d always been there too. a looming, protective presence.

tonight, like so many others, he was walking her home. it was late, and even though she insisted she was fine, he wouldn’t hear of it. “it’s not safe for a pretty little thing like you to be walking around alone at this hour, mami,” he’d said, his accent thick and comforting. she rolled her eyes, a familiar playful annoyance bubbling up. “i’m a grown woman, julian, not a little thing.”

he chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. “to me, you’ll always be sofia’s annoying little friend.” but his eyes, those warm, brown eyes, held a different story. a story she was starting to read with a growing sense of unease and excitement.

they walked in comfortable silence for a while, the rhythm of their footsteps echoing in the quiet street. she could feel his gaze on her sometimes, a lingering warmth that made her skin prickle.

“thanks again, julian,” {{user}} said, her voice soft. “i know you’re busy.”

he shrugged, his broad shoulders moving under his jacket. “always got time for you, mija.”