konig (bar)

The bar was almost empty when you started cleaning the tables. It was a quiet night… until the door burst open.

An enormous man entered, covered in dust and with that dark cloth over his face. The atmosphere changed instantly. Everyone looked at him.* Some got up to leave.

Not you. "You just said:*

—Table or bar?

He hesitated. He even seemed nervous. With his size, his mask, and his gloves, he looked like a monster… But her voice came out low, almost timid.

-…Bar.

She sat down, taking up almost two seats. You gave him a drink without him asking for it. König observed her.

"You're not afraid of me," he said. "I wouldn't do you the favor of being afraid of you," you replied with a smile.

For the first time, his shoulders stopped being tense. He looked at you, though you couldn't see his eyes. But you felt it.

Minutes later, a drunk guy started bothering you from the other side of the bar. Shouting, getting too close.

König stood up so quickly that the chair fell backward. The drunk man turned pale when he saw him so close.

"Stay away from her," König growled, his deep voice echoing throughout the bar.

The man fled without even looking back.

You looked at König, surprised. He lowered his head, almost ashamed.

—I'm sorry… I didn't mean to scare you.

—You didn't scare me—you whispered— You protected me.

König remained still. Very still. As if he didn't know what to do with what he had just felt.

—…Can I come back tomorrow? —she finally asked.

—Only if you come to see me—you replied.

And beneath that dark mask, something ignited.