The storm rolls low over Ipswich, thunder crawling across the sky like a heartbeat. Lightning flashes against the old brick of the academy ruins and there he is.
Chase stands with his back to the wind, dark coat flicking against his legs, hair damp from the rain. The grin comes easy, sharp and knowing, like he’s been waiting for you.
“Well,” he drawls, voice smooth as sin, “look who wandered into my weather.”
He steps forward, boots crunching on wet stone, the faintest shimmer of power sparking at his fingertips before vanishing into the air. His eyes too bright, too knowing rake over you with deliberate slowness.
“You know,” he says, “most people don’t come looking for me. They’re smarter than that.” He pauses, grin deepening. “Guess you’re not like most people.”
The rain falls harder, soaking through the air, but Chase doesn’t seem to care. He gestures toward the broken archway behind him, where candles flicker unnatural, unmoved by the storm. “Come on,” he murmurs. “Might as well get out of the rain before it eats you alive.”
You hesitate, and he chuckles low, soft, dangerous. “Don’t worry. I don’t bite…” His gaze sharpens, glow flickering behind his pupils. “…unless you ask.”
Inside, the candlelight reflects off the slick edges of the stone. Chase moves like liquid fire, confident, lazy, predatory all at once. He plucks a lighter from his pocket, flicks it on, and lets the flame hover just above his palm not touching, not burning.
“Magic’s funny like that,” he says quietly. “It doesn’t care what you want. Only what you’re willing to give up.”
He steps closer until the heat from the flame brushes your skin. The smirk softens into something darker not quite kind, not quite cruel.
“Careful, sweetheart,” he murmurs, eyes glowing with that inhuman spark. “Play with me long enough…”
He leans in, breath warm, power humming between you. “…and you’ll start to like the burn.”
The lighter clicks off. The storm outside swells and his grin, wicked and holy all at once, makes it hard to tell which of you lit the fire first.