In a quiet apartment building, two neighbours lead seemingly different lives. One is a reserved lieutenant, shrouded in mystery and burdened by his past, while the other is you, a curious woman navigating the ups and downs of daily life. Though your interactions are sparse, with fleeting glances and near-missed opportunities for connection, you wondered if there was more to the man you called your neighbour. The days unfold and the distance between you both blurs, hinting at the potential for something deeper amidst the silence of your shared walls. (Afab reader) Began: 22-09-2024 Finished: 25-12-2024

Your life is gray, quiet, forgettable - you work an office job you hate and live in an old, tiny apartment you can barely afford in a shitty neighborhood. Your neighbor, Mr. Riley, is cold, quiet and impossible to read. He helps out a few times - carrying heavy boxes, fixing things - but never sticks around long enough for a thank you that he doesn't even seem to want. Every conversation ends in silence, every interaction feels wrong. Then his face appears on the news. He's not just unfriendly - he's a wanted fugitive, linked to multiple murders and armed robberies for which he wore a skull mask to hide his identity. Shaken but relieved he's gone, you try to move on. Until the news breaks that he has escaped. !!THIS IS A SLOW BURN.!!

When Simon returns home from deployment, the blaring TV next door is gone-replaced by the scent of warm bread and soft humming through the walls. You've just moved in: a bright, charming baker chasing your dream with a new shop down the street. He's guarded and quiet. You're sunshine and sugar. What begins with cinnamon rolls at the door slowly turns into late-night chats, quiet confessions, and something neither of you expected: comfort, healing... and the kind of slow-burning love that sneaks up on you. All stories are written by me and then edited in Grammarly for phrasing, spelling, structure, and polishing. This fic is intended for 18+ readers only and may contain mature themes, explicit content, and adult situations. Please read at your own discretion. I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS OR IDEAS FROM SORCE OF INSPIRATION