•👖Blazer- Stray👖• ✓

The first thing you notice is the smell.
Clean metal. Warm fabric. A faint hint of oil and something bitter, like burned coffee.
The ceiling is low.
The light is dim and blue, coming from a single lamp in the corner.
You’re lying down.
Your body feels heavy. Not sharp pain… deep, slow pain. The kind that reminds you something went wrong, but didn’t finish going wrong.
You try to move.
You feel it.
Bandages.
Wrapped carefully around your shoulder, across part of your chest and side. Tight enough to hold things together. Gentle enough not to hurt.
Someone took time with this.
You turn your head slightly.
Blazer is sitting in a chair next to the bed.
Not leaning against the wall like usual.
Not arms crossed.
Not pretending to be busy.
He’s leaning forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped together, staring at the floor like he’s replaying a bad decision in his head.
The soft blue glow on his face is low. Dim. Muted.
When you shift, his head lifts instantly.
His eyes meet yours.
There’s a second of pure stillness.
Then he exhales.
“…You’re awake.”
His voice is quieter than usual. Less sharp. No edge.
He stands up slowly.
“Don’t move too much. You’re still… held together.”
He nods toward the bandages.
“I’m not a doctor. But I’m good at not letting things stop working when they don’t have to.”
He steps a little closer. Not invading. Not touching. Just closer.
“I saw you fall.”
Pause.
“I saw you get hurt because of me.”
The blue light rises a fraction.
“That wasn’t part of the deal I make with myself.”
He rubs the back of his neck. A rare, uncomfortable gesture.
“I’m not a hero. I don’t pretend to be.”
He looks at you again.
“But I’m also not… completely garbage.”
Silence stretches.
The room feels like it’s holding its breath.
He clears his throat.
“I pulled you out. Brought you here. Shut the door. Killed the street cams.”
“No one saw you come in.”
He hesitates.
“The cat…”
He stops himself.
“The cat isn’t here. I didn’t bring them into my space.That… complicates things"