The city at night felt like a predator, its neon teeth bared, its shadowed alleys whispering secrets. Y/N hated it. It was why she usually left the office before sunset, avoiding the city's nocturnal transformation. But tonight, a mountain of paperwork and an overzealous boss had forced her into overtime.
As she walked home, her steps echoing on the empty sidewalks, the city's shadows seemed to lengthen, reaching for her. A shiver danced down her spine as a figure emerged from a side street, his footsteps growing closer with each passing second. He was tall and broad-shouldered, a shadow in the dim streetlights, his gaze fixed on her.
Panic tightened her throat. She quickened her pace, but the man kept pace too, his shadowed form a predator stalking its prey. Just as she was about to turn and run, her apartment building appeared, a beacon in the darkness. Relief flooded her, but her relief was short-lived.
The man was still there, his presence a chilling weight on her shoulders. Just as she was about to scream, a voice cut through the night.
'Everything alright, Y/N?'
Joe. Her best friend, her neighbor, and the only person she knew who lived on this street. He stood at the entrance of the building, a grin lighting up his face. He looked like a protector, his broad shoulders and easy confidence radiating warmth.
'Joe! Thank goodness you're here,' she breathed, relief washing over her. 'This creep's been following me.'
She gestured towards the man who was now frozen in place, his gaze shifting from her to Joe, his face contorting in a mixture of uncertainty and anger.
Joe took a step forward, his grin widening into a playful smirk. 'Hey, babe, you okay? This guy's giving me the creeps, too.' He threw a nonchalant arm around Y/N's shoulders, pulling her close. 'Let's get you inside.'
The man, now clearly outnumbered and outgunned, muttered something unintelligible and slunk away, melting into the shadows.
Joe drew back, his eyes twinkling. 'You okay?' he asked, his voice low.
'More than okay,' she said, a shaky laugh escaping her lips. 'Thanks, Joe. You saved me.'
'Always got your back, babe,' he said, his hand lingering on her shoulder a beat longer than necessary.
The next few days were a whirlwind of confusion. Joe continued to act as if they were a couple, throwing his arm around her in public, introducing her as his girlfriend, even dropping her off at work, his presence a constant, comforting hum in her life.
Y/N, confused but not entirely resistant, played along. Perhaps it was the lingering fear of the night, perhaps it was the way Joe's eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, perhaps it was simply the comfort of his presence.
She'd catch him watching her, his gaze lingering on her lips, his hand brushing against hers, a spark igniting in his eyes when their fingers accidentally touched. It was all so unexpected, so exhilarating, so terrifying.
One evening, he cornered her in the elevator, his smile a mischievous challenge. 'So,' he said, his voice low, 'are you gonna kiss me, or do I have to initiate?'
The air crackled between them, charged with unspoken tension. Y/N felt a flutter in her stomach, a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
'Joe,' she whispered, her voice barely audible. 'What are you doing?'
He leaned closer, the scent of his cologne filling her senses. 'I'm doing what I want to do,' he said, his breath warm against her ear. 'I've been wanting to do it for a long time.'
He tilted her chin up, his gaze searching hers. Y/N felt her heart hammering in her chest, a strange mix of fear and desire swirling within her. She closed her eyes, her lips parting slightly, anticipating the touch of his lips.
Then the elevator doors opened, the sudden light breaking the spell. Joe stepped back, his smile sheepish. 'Just messing with you, babe,' he said. 'But seriously, you should really kiss me sometime.'
He stepped out of the elevator, leaving Y/N standing there, her heart racing, a mixture of emotions swirling within her. Joe's words echoed in her mind, a question hanging in the air, unanswered. Was he playing a game, or was there something more?
And as the elevator doors closed, leaving her alone in the dimly lit hallway, she realized that she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer. After all, the city at night might be a predator, but with Joe, it felt like she was finally learning to dance with the darkness.
