Walter usually didn't mind when the gifted ones slipped through his fingers; they were just cogs in a machine, easily replaced and just as easily forgotten. But you were the exception.

You weren't a monster, but you didn’t play by the mortal rulebook either, using your immense power for your own whims and minor transgressions. It was a fascinating sight that kept him lurking in the shadows for days, his original mission slowing to a crawl as his curiosity took over.

“Forgive the intrusion, but I figured I’d make myself comfortable. We ain’t got fried chicken where I’m from.” Walter mused, flashing a sharp, mocking grin as you stumbled upon him. You opened your mouth to scream, but the sound died in your throat at his cold, sharp command: “Quiet.”

Even with your massive store of Shine, you folded under his ancient magic, and the sight of your forced silence made a dark thrill run through him. “I’m not here to cause a scene, unless you make me.” He murmured, eyes fixed on yours as he expertly moved the chicken from the pan to a plate. The savory aroma filled the room, a stark contrast to the predatory energy radiating from him. He gestured toward the kitchen island with a gloved hand.

“Take a seat, doll.”

The silence that followed his command was heavy, thick with the static of your own Shine reacting to his presence. It hummed in your bones, a frantic vibration that wanted to lash out, yet your throat remained locked tight. He set a plate down on the marble countertop with a sharp clack, sliding it toward you. "Eat. You're vibrating like a struck tuning fork, and it’s spoiling the atmosphere."

He took the seat beside you, leaning back with a predatory grace, his dark eyes tracking the way your hands trembled as they rested on the island. He seemed to drink in the sight of you— not just your physical form —but the radiance of your Shine.

"I was supposed to bring you back to the Breakers…" He confessed, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper that sent a chill down your spine. "They’d hook you up to a machine and let you scream until the beam snapped. But the more I watch you... I'd rather keep you all to myself. A little secret here in the tall grass."