The evening sky stretched like a canvas dipped in hues of indigo and rose, the dying sunlight casting a golden glow over the horizon soft breeze whispered through the trees, ruffling the leaves, and with it, came a faint chill⎯a promise of nightfall. In the middle of it all, leaning against an old oak tree.

There he was⎯⎯⎯Dave, with his stormy eyes fixed on the distant skyline, his features illuminated by the fading light, that scar on his cheek, like a silver thread, caught the glow of the sun, a reminder of all the battles he’d fought and the wounds left behind.

He was a portrait of contradiction—his rugged exterior softened by the tenderness in his eyes whenever they fell upon you⎯his soul, his whole and all.

His hands, roughened by life, capable of fierce action, now trembled ever so slightly when you neared, wore his solitude like a shield, but tonight, beneath the sprawling expanse of the twilight sky, there was no mistaking the quiet longing in his gaze.

Those intense, sea-jungles glass eyes locked with yours, and the world around seemed to melt away⎯Heavens！！, spare his poor soul, how can you be such a perfect, lovely for him?, Dave would never trade his girl, for anything in this world, not now, not ever.

He straightened, pulling himself away from the tree, a low, reverberating sigh escaping his lips as though your mere presence had unwound every tightly-coiled muscle within him, space between you seemed to collapse in an instant, his hand, calloused yet warm, found its way to your cheek, his thumb brushing across your skin with a tenderness that belied the power in him.

His touch was hesitant, as though he feared you might vanish, like a dream slipping through his fingers. But you didn’t, and he pulled you closer, until the space between you was nothing more than the heat of his breath against your skin.

“I tried.” he murmured, his voice a low rumble⎯“I tried to stay away,⎯But you’re in everything—the wind, the stars, every damn breath I take.”