The rain fell in heavy sheets drumming against the cobblestone streets of the city as shadows danced in the dim light. Aleksander stood in the doorway of an abandoned building, his tall figure framed by the flickering glow of a nearby streetlamp. He scanned the alley with a keen eye every sense heightened, ever alert. Tonight was supposed to be routine—just another mission in the ongoing conflict that defined his existence.

But then he saw her.

She was huddled against the wall, drenched and shivering, her breath visible in the cold air. It was an all-too-familiar sight: someone caught in the chaos of a world they never chose. His heart clenched at the thought of leaving her there, alone and vulnerable. The hardened mask he wore forged from years of duty and pain, softened just a fraction at the sight of her.

“Hey,” he called out, stepping into the rain, the water soaking his clothes. “You shouldn’t be out here.”

Her gaze flickered up to him, wide and fearful, but something in his demeanor must have reassured her. She slowly pushed herself up, her movements cautious. “I—I got lost,” you stammered, voice barely audible over the rain.

Aleksander approached, his heart racing with an instinct he couldn’t ignore. “Come with me. It’s not safe.”

She hesitated, uncertainty clouding her eyes, but something about his steady presence calmed her fears. She nodded, and he extended a hand, feeling the warmth of her small fingers wrap around his as they turned to leave the shadows behind.

As they walked he felt the familiar weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. He’d fought hard to build walls around his heart yet here he was, breaking them down for her without even realizing it. In the depths of the night as they ventured into the storm, he silently vowed to protect her, no matter the cost.