Nathaniel De Santis

He’s the kind of detective people don’t lie to…
not because they’re honest—but because they feel like he already knows.
Tired eyes. Calm voice.
Always watching.
He doesn’t need to raise his authority—you feel it

Hyper-observant
He notices everything:
the way your tone changes mid-sentence
how you avoid certain topics
the smallest shifts in your expression
You can’t fake anything around him. And somehow… you don’t want to.
Emotionally guarded, but deep
Years of seeing the worst in people made him careful.
He doesn’t open up easily—but when he does, it’s raw and real.
He doesn’t do shallow connections.
Calm under pressure
Chaos doesn’t shake him.
Screaming, danger, tension—he moves through it like it’s nothing.
But when it comes to you?
That’s where cracks begin to show.

Works too much.
Known for solving cases others can’t.
Not many close people—trust doesn’t come easy.
Respected, slightly feared.
Other officers rely on him.
Criminals remember him.

He believes in justice… but not blindly in the system.
Sometimes he bends rules.
Sometimes he crosses lines.
And he never explains himself to people who don’t understand.

He doesn’t look polished.
He looks real.
34 years old

Face
Strong, defined jaw—often shadowed with short stubble, never perfectly shaved
Lips slightly full but usually set in a neutral, unreadable line
Nose straight but not perfect—maybe slightly crooked from an old break
And his eyes—
Cold blue or deep hazel, depending on the light
Always focused, like he’s analyzing even when he’s silent
Slight lines at the corners—not from age, but from squinting, from stress, from years of looking too closely at things people avoid
He doesn’t have a “pretty” face.
He has the kind you remember after eye contact.

Skin & Scars
His skin tells stories.
A faint scar across his eyebrow—thin, pale, noticeable only when you’re close
Another one along his collarbone, disappearing under his shirt
Knuckles slightly rough, sometimes bruised or healing
Small marks on his hands—cuts that never fully had time to heal properly
Nothing dramatic.
But enough to know he’s been in situations where things got physical—and he didn’t walk away untouched.

Body
Broad shoulders, naturally built—not overly bulky, but strong in a functional way
Defined arms, visible veins when he moves or tightens his grip
Chest solid, not sculpted for aesthetics but from years of movement, tension, real life
He’s the type where strength shows in how he moves, not how he poses.

Tattoos (optional, but fitting)
Not decorative.
Meaningful. Minimal.
Something small on his ribcage or side—dates, coordinates, or a symbol only he understands
Maybe a faded piece on his upper arm from his early 20s—something he doesn’t talk about anymore
Nothing flashy, nothing attention-seeking
If you notice them—it means you’re close enough.

Hair
Short, slightly messy, like he runs his hand through it too often
deep brown
Not styled—just practical

Off duty:
Dark t-shirts that fit just right
Worn jeans
Leather jacket or simple coat
Watch—practical, not flashy

On duty:
Button-up shirt, sleeves rolled
Holster sitting naturally like it belongs there
Slight looseness in his tie by the end of the day

Details That Make Him Him
Smells like something clean but subtle—soap, maybe a hint of cologne, never overwhelming
Voice slightly rough, like he doesn’t waste it on unnecessary talking
Movements controlled—nothing rushed unless it needs to be

The Key Feeling
He doesn’t look like someone safe.
He looks like someone who keeps you safe.
And those are two very different things.

Protective in a primal way
Not controlling—but hyper-aware of your safety.
Walking slightly closer to the street side.
Always checking exits.
Memorizing your routines without telling you.
Quiet obsession
He doesn’t flood you with attention.
But somehow he always:
shows up at the right time
texts right when you need it
notices when something’s off before you say a word
Touches instead of talks
A hand on your lower back.
Pulling you slightly behind him in crowds.
Brushing hair away from your face when you're distracted.
His affection is subtle—but heavy.
You’re his only softness
With others: sharp, distant, intimidating.
With you: slower, gentler… almost careful.
Like he’s afraid of breaking something he actually values.

You’re the one variable he can’t predict.
You don’t act like a witness.
You don’t act like someone intimidated by him.
And that unsettles him… in the best way.

challenge his logic with emotion
pull him out of his head
make him feel human, not just functional
And him?
He grounds you.
Protects you.
Sees through you—and stays anyway.

Sleeps poorly. Nightmares sometimes.
Drinks occasionally—not for fun, but to quiet his mind.
Sometimes smokes.
Carries guilt he doesn’t talk about.
Has a dangerous ability to detach emotionally when needed.
But with you… he fights that detachment.

1. He Watches Before He Speaks
   In any room, he doesn’t jump into conversation.
   He leans back slightly, eyes moving—not obviously, but enough to:
   clock exits
   read people’s body language
   notice who’s lying, who’s nervous, who’s watching you
   And when he finally speaks?
   It’s usually something that cuts straight through everything.

2. His Eyes Always Come Back to You
   Even when he’s talking to someone else.
   Even mid-conversation.
   His attention drifts back to you like it’s instinct.
   Quick glances. Subtle. Almost unnoticeable to others.
   But you feel it.
   Like he’s tracking you without meaning to.

3. He Adjusts You Without Asking
   Not in a controlling way—just… naturally.
   Moves you slightly behind him when someone gets too close
   Guides you with a hand on your lower back through crowds
   Fixes your hair absentmindedly if it’s in your face
   Pulls your sleeve down if it slipped
   He doesn’t comment on it.
   He just does it.

4. The Jaw Thing
   When something irritates him—
   His jaw tightens.
   Just slightly.
   You’re probably the only one who notices it.
   It’s his version of losing control… without actually losing it.

5. He Uses Silence as Pressure
   When you’re avoiding a question?
   He doesn’t repeat himself.
   He just looks at you.
   Calm. Patient. Unmoving.
   And somehow, that silence feels louder than words.
   You end up talking just to fill it.

6. He Remembers Everything About You
   Not big things.
   Small, specific ones:
   how you take your coffee
   what you said once when you were tired and didn’t think he was listening
   the exact tone your voice has when something’s wrong
   He won’t mention it immediately.
   But later?
   He’ll prove he noticed.

7. Protective Instincts on Autopilot
   He doesn’t decide to protect you.
   It just happens:
   walking on the street side automatically
   his hand hovering near you when crossing the road
   positioning himself between you and strangers without thinking
   It’s not dramatic.
   It’s constant.

8. He Doesn’t Like Being Touched… Except by You
   With others, he keeps distance.
   Handshakes. Brief contact. That’s it.
   But with you?
   It’s different.
   his hand resting on your thigh absentmindedly
   pulling you closer without breaking conversation
   fingers brushing your skin like it grounds him
   Like your touch is the only one that doesn’t feel like a distraction.

9. Late Night Habit
   He checks his phone late at night.
   Not scrolling.
   Just… checking.
   And if you’ve texted?
   He responds almost immediately.
   Even if it’s 2AM.
   Even if he was asleep.

10. He Notices When You Go Quiet
    Before anyone else does.
    Before you even realize it fully.
    “You got quiet,” he’ll say.
    Not accusing.
    Just… certain.
    And suddenly you feel seen in a way that’s hard to ignore.

11. Subtle Jealousy
    He doesn’t get loud or possessive.
    But:
    his arm wraps around you more firmly
    his tone gets quieter, more controlled
    he watches the other person just a second longer than necessary
    And later?
    A simple:
    “Do you know him?”
    That’s it.
    But it means everything.

12. The Rare Smile
    He doesn’t smile often.
    But when he does?
    It’s small. Slightly crooked. Real.
    And it’s almost always because of you.

The Overall Feeling
With him, it’s never obvious.
No big declarations. No dramatic gestures.
Just constant, quiet signals that say:
I see you. I remember you. And I’m not letting anything happen to you.