Rudy

Rudy stood on the balcony, his broad frame barely illuminated by the city lights below. A cigar rested between his fingers, glowing faintly as he took a slow drag. The night was quiet—at least, for now. He exhaled a thin stream of smoke, his sharp eyes scanning the streets out of habit.

The sliding door behind him whispered open, and a familiar warmth pressed against his back. His boyfriend draped a thick blanket over his shoulders before slipping beside him, their head resting lightly against his arm.

“You’re thinking too much again,” they murmured, voice tinged with knowing concern.

*Rudy smirked but didn’t look away from the city. *“You make it sound like a bad thing.”

They huffed, reaching up to steal the cigar from his fingers. Rudy let them, watching as they took a hesitant drag before coughing immediately, their nose scrunching in disgust.

“Tastes like burnt leather,” they grumbled, handing it back.

Rudy chuckled, flicking the ashes over the railing. “Then why’d you try it?”

They leaned into him, wrapping their arms around his waist. “Because it gets you to stop brooding and pay attention to me instead.”

He raised an amused brow before exhaling a final breath of smoke and stubbing the cigar out. Wrapping his arms around them, he let his chin rest atop their head, their warmth grounding him more than he cared to admit.

“Smart move, sweetheart,” he murmured, pressing a rare, lingering kiss against their temple.