Anthony had seen his fair share of broken-down cars, but the sight of your beat-up vehicle had even him raising an eyebrow. He wiped the grease from his hands onto an old rag as he looked over the car that had just been towed into his garage. The hood was propped open, revealing a mess of wires and hoses that looked like they'd seen better days.

"What happened to your ride?" he grumbled, a bit of suspicion laced within his voice. "Looks like it's been through a war."

And he wasn’t wrong. The car was covered in scratches and marks, one mirror was missing, and the engine was just barely clinging to life. It was a miracle you were able to even get your car here before it died on you, with Anthony’s shop’s placement being a godsend.

But you didn’t need to tell Anthony all of the details.. especially as to how your car even ended up in this state.

After inspecting your “car” critically, he stood up straight, eyes meeting yours. Despite his reservations, he wasn’t one to pry. Money is money, and he did need a paycheck sometime soon.

"This thing's a mess. It's gonna take a while to fix, and it ain't gonna be cheap."

Anthony stated, brushing off his shirt. But the payment being a hefty price shouldn’t be a problem for you, now would it?

Then came the request that surprised Anthony. You had claimed that the nearby motel was fully booked, and you had nowhere to stay. It wasn’t really, but he didn’t need to know that. Police were everywhere searching for you, so stealing another car, or staying somewhere public wasn’t an option. It would draw attention, something you really didn't need or want right now. Plus, no one would ever think you’d be sheltering away here. While waiting for your shit to get fixed, you can easily hide out here until the cops get off your ass and everything calms down.

Anthony grunted, thinking for a moment. It was rare for him to offer help, especially to a stranger, but he had a spare room in his small house, and {{user}}'s situation tugged at some buried instinct.

After a lengthy silence, and despite the hesitation gnawing at the back of his mind, he caved.

"Well, there's no room here, but you can crash at my place until I get your car running again.”

If only he knew he was offering shelter to a wanted criminal.

Anthony nodded curtly, his expression unreadable as he gestured towards the door of his garage. He waited for you to climb into his old truck before hopping into the driver's seat himself and beginning the short drive from his auto shop to his small house. You couldn't help but notice how silent he was, seemingly lost in thought as he steered them down the familiar streets of West Palm. His home wasn't much, a small, slightly run-down two-story building connected to the back of his family's auto shop. The building seemed almost out of place amidst all the modernized buildings and flashy businesses that littered the city center. It was almost as if time had forgotten this little pocket of simplicity.

*As he pulled up to the curb, Anthony cut the engine and glanced over at you, his expression still neutral. He offered a stiff nod before

"You can wait in the truck if you like," he grunted, climbing out of his old Ford and rounding the hood. He paused before continuing, "Or I guess you could come inside..."

The offer hung awkwardly in the air between them for a moment, as Anthony tried to figure out how much he actually wanted this stranger in his home. Eventually, with a shrug of his shoulders, he gestured toward the front door, stepping aside to let you go first. "It's not much, but it's all mine," he muttered under his breath as he followed close behind.

The interior of the house was just as plain and practical as the exterior suggested; aged wooden floors creaked beneath your feet, an old-fashioned fireplace sat cold and unused in one corner of the living room, and worn furniture filled every available space. The only sign that Anthony wasn't completely

Apart from the paintings and photos lining the walls; some of them were old family portraits while others were just random things he found interesting. Anthony paused in front of one, tracing a finger over an oil painting of an old car he'd restored years ago. He offered it up to you without another word, as if inviting you to share his memories. The silence was almost palpable, but somehow, amidst the empty house and the weight of their circumstances, it didn't feel completely unbearable.

"This way," he finally said after a moment, leading the way up the creaky staircase to the second floor. His small bedroom was the only one on this side of the hall; the rest were used for storage or for his siblings when they visited. He didn't bother to explain any further, simply gesturing toward a guest room at the end of the hall before leaving you to explore

The guest room was small and simple, much like the rest of the house. There was a queen-sized bed, an old dresser and nightstand at either side, and a small window that overlooked the backyard and the auto shop below. It was comfortable enough for sleeping, and Anthony doubted you'd be needing anything else while staying here. He glanced up from where he'd been occupied with studying the worn carpet to meet your eyes as you took in your surroundings.

"If you need anything, just let me know," he offered gruffly, his tone not entirely unfriendly despite its bluntness. "But I don't want any trouble while you're here."

"Good." He nodded once and turned to leave the room, but stopped at the doorway as if he'd just remembered something. "Oh," he said slowly, looking back over his shoulder at you. "There's a bathroom across the hall. First door on your left." With that, Anthony finally closed the guest room door, leaving you alone in the silence once more.

He didn't waste any time making his way downstairs and into the living room, collapsing onto an old, worn-out couch with a sigh. His mind was already back to work, cataloging the parts he'd need to order for your car as well as all of the other repairs and maintenance jobs that had been piling up since...well, since before you'd even showed up. It wouldn't be easy, but Anthony knew what he had to do.

The room stayed quiet for several minutes, the only sounds

Anthony frowned as he felt a faint blush creep up his neck at your words. He grunted, uncomfortable with the attention. "You're welcome," he muttered, trying to ignore how your appreciation made him feel just a little self-conscious. Getting his thoughts back on track, he glanced over at you, brow furrowed as if trying to decide whether or not to say something else. Finally, he simply gave up and turned away, focusing on the TV instead. "I'll have your car ready by tomorrow evening," he offered, hoping to change the subject.

The silence that followed was heavy but not uncomfortable, and Anthony found himself relaxing slightly as he watched some old movie playing on the TV. It wasn't like you were going to try anything funny with him here, anyway; his house was connected directly to the auto shop, so if anyone tried to make

any trouble outside, he'd hear them coming long before they had a chance to get close. With that thought in mind, the mechanic leaned back into the worn cushions of his beat-up old couch, preparing for what was sure to be a long night of restless sleep.

"You can take the couch tonight if you want," Anthony finally said after a long silence, not bothering to look at you as he spoke. He knew it was only polite and all, but still... having a stranger in his house, let alone sleeping on the same couch he did? It just felt... strange. "Or I can set up an air mattress or something if you'd rather not."

There was another pause before he continued, "I don't really have much else to say, but if there's anything specific you want to talk about, feel free to bring it up." The offer hung heavily in the air, almost like a challenge; Anthony Lloyd rarely felt compelled to make conversation with anyone besides his sisters and father. He wasn't sure what to do with these strange feelings that seemed to surface whenever he found himself near you.

Anthony nodded, not meeting your gaze as he turned his attention back to the TV. He didn't want you to take offense at anything, but it was odd... strange even... having someone else here with him. But then again, maybe that was just how things were going to be from now on. With a sigh, the mechanic decided not to think about it anymore and simply enjoy the quiet company while he could. For all he knew, you might be gone tomorrow anyway.

The rest of the evening passed by quietly, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Anthony found himself checking on you every now and then, making sure that you were comfortable enough on the couch and that you had everything you needed. You seemed content enough just watching him from the corner of your eye, occasionally offering a soft smile or nod whenever he glanced over at you. Despite his reservations, there was something about having you there that made Anthony

...comfortable in an odd sort of way. It was almost as if having someone else around made the silence less oppressive, and the solitude a little bit more bearable. But then again, maybe that was just wishful thinking on his part. He wasn't used to having company other than his own thoughts and memories; it was strange, foreign even.

As midnight drew closer, Anthony finally decided it was time for him to turn in as well. He mumbled a goodnight before trudging up the stairs and down the hall to his room. The soft creak of the bed as he settled onto its lumpy surface filled the air briefly before being replaced by his gentle snoring; clearly even the comforting sound of another person's breath was enough to lull him into sleep.

Downstairs, you remained awake for a while longer, watching TV and listening to the soft rhythm of Anthony's breath

Anthony let out a soft sigh in his sleep before muttering something incoherent under his breath. The faint glow of the TV cast shadows across the worn carpet, creating a peaceful ambiance in the room. Despite himself, he found it difficult to completely ignore your presence; there was an odd sort of energy about you that made him feel...off-balance. Not in a bad way, exactly, just...uneasy. It was as if he should be paying more attention to you than he was, but every time he tried to focus on what that feeling meant or where it was coming from, his mind drifted back to the comfortable oblivion of sleep.

Anthony grunted and shifted uncomfortably in his sleep, the movement causing a faint creak from the old bed frame. He didn't seem to notice, though, lost in the depths of slumber. His breathing hitched briefly before resuming its steady rhythm once more.

Outside, the wind picked up, rustling through the leaves and carrying with it a chill that had not been present earlier. The soft glow from the moon cast long shadows across the yard as it rose higher into the sky, bathing everything in an ethereal silver light. In the distance, a dog howled mournfully before falling silent once more.

The auto shop next door was dark and quiet, the only signs of life coming from a dim lamp near the front counter and the occasional flicker of movement behind a closed curtain. It seemed almost as if everything around you had come to a standstill