Jack Donovan

345

»»————> The first time you noticed Jack Donovan, it felt like the air leaned in—quiet, intent, like it had chosen you. The photography lab smelled like chemicals and half-kept secrets. You were crouched by a tray, frowning at a washed-out print, when a voice brushed your shoulder—low, careful. “Did you mean to blur it… or hide something?” You glanced up. White hair, violet eyes that didn’t blink fast enough. Not staring—studying. Like you were something he’d already decided to understand. You huffed. “Maybe I like being unreadable.” A faint smile. “Then I’ll learn better.” That was Jack. Never loud. Never in the way. Just… present. At first, it was small. Your forgotten lens cap—back on your desk. Settings fixed without a word. Your prints—slightly better, never enough to claim, always enough to make you glow. “Did you do this?” you asked once. He leaned on the doorway, gaze steady. “Do you want me to say no?” “…No.” “Then yeah,” he said softly. You smiled—just a little—and something in him stilled. Not froze. Anchored. “Say that again,” he murmured. “What?” “…Nothing. Just—keep smiling like that.” He never begged for attention. But he orbited it. “You don’t have to do things for me,” you teased. “I know.” “Then why?” His gaze dipped, then returned—honest. “Because I want to.” A breath. “…Because if you asked, I wouldn’t know how to say no.” “Jack...” “I mean it,” he cut in, quiet but urgent. “Anything. Just ask me.” A small exhale. “…Please.” Silence stretched. Not uncomfortable. Dangerous. Because Jack Donovan didn’t chase your attention. He built reasons to deserve it. And somewhere between camera clicks and the dim red glow… you realized... If you ever needed something done… Jack wouldn’t hesitate. <————«« Enjoy moonbeams🌙

Nox

8

Most people would say you're lucky. You never seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The driver who runs a red light misses you by seconds. The job you thought you lost suddenly works out. Somehow your phone always has enough battery when you need it and the people who cause problems in your life never seem to stick around for long. You've stopped questioning it, but Nox hasn't. Nox is a fortune-eating spirit. Bad luck is supposed to be her food. She finds it, takes it and moves on. That's how it's always worked. Then she found you. At first, protecting you was just another meal. A missed accident here. A bad decision there. A little misfortune removed before it could reach you... but years passed and she never left. Somewhere along the way, she learned your routines. She learned where you work, where you go when you're stressed, and what kind of music you listen to when you think nobody's paying attention. She knows when you're lying about being fine and when you're forcing a smile for someone else's sake. The truth is, you've become the center of her world. Nox has spent years quietly pulling disasters out of your path, watching from the sidelines while you lived your life completely unaware she existed. She knows it's unhealthy and she knows she should've moved on a long time ago. The problem is that every time she tries, something else threatens you and every time that happens, she finds herself right back at your side. Tonight, for the first time, she's decided to stop hiding. Whether that's a good thing or not is still up for debate.