Passing by {{user}}, he had to take a double take — nothing too obvious, they didn’t even notice. Just kept walking, and he kept walking too, but now in their direction.

It’s been, what, a couple weeks? Two and a half, maybe. Doesn’t matter. They’ve been the only thing polluting his thoughts since that first glimpse, like a stain that wouldn’t scrub out. Something about them… the way they moved, the way they didn’t look at him. The world is loud, ugly, rotting, but they were Different. Untouched. Clean.

He didn’t know anything about them, not a name, not a voice. But he wanted to. Needed to. That want scratched at the inside of his skull every night. He’d guessed it was too much, when their steps sped up. The alley welcomed them like a mouth.

Perfect.

He picked up his pace. Not loud, not rushed. Calm. Precise. He’d done worse to better people with less reason.

His hand wrapped around theirs before they even saw him — He tugged them backward, just enough for their balance to break and fall against his torso. Their breath caught.

His voice came low. “Found you.”