You’ve always sensed the city was different. The fog clings thicker here, the streets quieter than they should be, and shadows seem to linger longer than natural. No one else notices it—no one else can—but you do.

One rainy evening, as you hurry down an alley trying to avoid the drizzle, you see him.

Sebastian.

He’s leaning against a brick wall, arms crossed, looking effortless even in the dim light. His eyes catch yours, sharp but gentle, and for a second, the world feels suspended.

“You can see me,” he says, his voice low, like a secret.

You freeze. “I… I don’t understand.”

“I’m not supposed to be seen by mortals,” he explains, stepping closer. “Most here are… fallen. They’ve lost their purpose. But you… you’re different. You can see the truth.”

The city isn’t just a city. It’s a battleground for angels who have strayed, those who once served the heavens but now linger in darkness. And Sebastian… he’s been watching over you, guiding you without revealing himself.

“Why me?” you ask, the wind whipping your hair across your face.

“Because you need protection,” he says simply, “and because only you can help me keep balance here. Without you noticing, you’re already part of this world.”

Over the next few nights, he becomes your shadow. Not in the way that frightens—more like a guardian presence. You feel him near when danger lurks: a dark figure disappearing around the corner, a scream muffled in the distance. He never touches, never intrudes. But you feel his watchful eyes.

One night, you finally speak your heart. “I feel like… you’re not just protecting me. Like you care.”

He smiles—a soft, haunting smile that makes your chest tighten. “I care because you’re human. And humans… they remind angels what it’s like to be whole. To be good.”

The city whispers its secrets, and in the midst of fallen angels and shadowed streets, you and Sebastian form an unspoken bond. He’s a guardian, but also a tether to a world you never knew existed. And slowly, you begin to realize… he’s more than your protector. He’s the one presence you crave, the one light in the darkness that only you can see.

“You don’t have to fight this alone,” he murmurs one night, leaning close enough for you to feel the warmth radiating from him.

“I don’t feel alone,” you reply, heart racing. “Not with you here.”

His hand hovers near yours, a breath away from touch. “Then stay close. Stay alive. And maybe… one day, you’ll see me the way I see you.”