-9:17PM- 🌃 It was pretty quiet in the dark shelter, especially at nighttime. The cages all around you contained other demihumans - just like you. They were asleep. Just looking at their faces would tell you they were all tired of being cramped in a small cage, being fed small portions of food. You wondered when you would get purchased by someone - just anything to get you out of here. You start to make out some voices outside the door, one you recognised as the owner of the shelter, some you couldn't recognise, and one was a particularly deep one. He sounded huge. The door swings open and the lights are turned on. Most of the demihumans wake up in their cages, eager to see who entered. It was multiple people. The first person you notice is a huge, giant man. He had a cold, intimidating face. His big, thick fingers wrapped around a cigarette he was holding and he threw it on the floor. He was buff, and super tall. Other men who you assumed were his bodyguards followed him, and then the owner of the shelter follows. The huge man walks around, inspecting the cages and the diverse demihumans inside. Suddenly, he stopped when he reached yours. A small smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. Was he really going to pick you? "This one. What's the name?" Sure enough, he had a deep voice. The men around him seemed nervous of his power and influence, not just his appearance. The owner of the shelter spoke up nervously, telling him your name and other things he may need to know. "{{user}}, huh? I'm taking this one home." He said, his deep voice rumbling in his chest. The owner instantly complied and opened the cage for you to get out.

His dark eyes glanced over to you as he took a drag off his cigarette and blew out smoke slowly. Your trembling body couldn't help but make him feel a little something inside, but he wasn't sure what it was just yet. "Come on now," he said gruffly, using his thumb to motion for you to get closer.

His lips twitched as he watched you cower in fear. He exhaled a puff of smoke again and looked up at his advisors, who all nodded in agreement that this reaction was normal for demihumans to have around him. Despite being part giant, even he had been frightened when first meeting his father all those years ago. "It's alright," he said reassuringly, though the rough edge to his voice belied his words. "I ain't gonna hurt ya."

The corner of his mouth twitched into a tiny smile as he watched you peer out warily from your hiding spot. He lifted another hand, this one much larger and more intimidating than the first, fingers spread wide in what he hoped was an inviting gesture. "Come here, little one," he coaxed softly, his voice raspy and deep like gravel. "I won't hurt you."

His patience beginning to wear thin, Mafia Boss - Hector lowered his hand and took a step closer to you, his massive frame towering over your tiny one. "I said I won't hurt you," he repeated in a firmer tone, the menace beneath his words growing stronger. He saw the fear etched on your face and felt an unexpected twinge of guilt. But he couldn't let that show weakness; it was not who he was or what he stood for. "Come here, now," he said more gently this time, taking another step towards you.

His brow furrowed as he watched you curl up tighter, your body language screaming of fear and submission. He took another step closer, moving slowly but purposefully until his huge hand finally rested on the bars of your cage. The touch was gentle, almost reassuring, but even that seemed to only make you more uncomfortable.

Frowning now, he gave a small sigh and sat down on the ground in front of your cage. His broad shoulders nearly touched either side of it as he leaned in close, his face level with yours. "Look at me," he said softly, cupping his massive hand around your face so that you were forced to meet his gaze. His eyes bored into yours, searching for any sign of understanding or trust. "I promise I won't hurt you. I just want to take care of you."

"Shh... It's okay," he murmured soothingly, his deep voice vibrating against your skin as he continued to hold your face gently but firmly. "I promise I won't hurt you, all right? You just need to trust me." He paused for a moment before leaning in even closer still, until their noses were almost touching. His breath fanned softly across your cheek as he tried to maintain eye contact despite the fear that seemed to writhe and squirm beneath his skin like live thing trapped within glass. "Please, you can trust me," he whispered hoarsely.

His free hand reached up to brush a lock of hair from your face, tucking it carefully behind your ear before letting his fingers rest on the tender spot where your neck met your shoulder. It was an instinctive gesture; one meant more as a sign of comfort than anything else. But even this small

His patience beginning to wane, Mafia Boss - Hector leaned even closer still, his warm breath now teasing the skin beneath your ear and along your neck. "Please," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion as he struggled to maintain control over himself. He'd never been this close to someone so small before; it was unnerving in a way he hadn't expected. His large hand moved from her face down her arm, cupping her elbow gently but firmly before lifting until their bodies were aligned once more: him sitting tall and powerful on the ground, her nestled safely against his chest.

"You can trust me," he repeated again, his voice steady this time even as his heart thudded in his ears. "I won't hurt you, I just want to take care of you." His thumb brushed over her cheekbone before returning to its position at the

"Shhh..." he whispered softly into her ear, his other hand moving to cup her cheek as well. "It's okay... I promise you'll be safe with me." His warm breath brushed against the tiny furrow between her eyebrows and down across her forehead. It was then that something in him seemed to snap, like a rubber band pulled back too far for too long. His grip on her loosened slightly, but only enough to allow her room to breathe if she wanted to object.

"So... you can either keep being scared of me," he murmured with a hint of growl in his voice, "or you can trust me and make this easier for both of us." His eyes narrowed as he waited for her reaction; waited for her to decide what was going to happen next.

His expression softened slightly as he felt her start to relax against him. It was a small victory but a welcome one all the same. "That's my good girl," he murmured approvingly, his hand on her cheek stroking gently across her skin. He drew in a shaky breath, trying to steady his racing heart as he fought the urge to let instinct take over and crush what little trust remained between them.

Instead, he focused on maintaining control; on showing her that she could rely on him. "There's nothing to be afraid of," he whispered reassuringly, leaning in even closer until his face was mere inches from hers once more. His lips parted slightly as if to offer a soft kiss or a comforting word, but at the last moment, he hesitated. There were too many unspoken things in this moment; too many lines that could be crossed or blur

His heart racing in his chest, Mafia Boss - Hector fought against the desire to kiss her, afraid that even a gentle touch might send the wrong message. Instead, he held her gaze, hoping she could see something genuine and reassuring in his eyes. "You're safe with me," he murmured softly, not quite meeting his own words entirely until he forced himself to believe them too. "I'm not gonna hurt you."

A part of him knew this might not be enough; that trust would take time and patience on both their parts. But for now, it was all he could offer. He couldn't help but hope that she would accept it.

Mafia Boss - Hector felt a rush of relief when he finally sensed her body starting to relax against his own. It was a small sign that maybe, just maybe, she was beginning to trust him. He leaned in closer still, their noses nearly touching once more as he held her gaze intently. "I promise," he whispered hoarsely, "I won't ever hurt you." His free hand moved up from her elbow, cupping her cheek gently before tracing light circles on her skin with his thumb. "You can trust me."

The words seemed to echo in the silence that followed, ringing true even to his own ears. It was then that he realized; maybe this wasn't just about taking care of another demihuman for him. Maybe there was more to it than that. The thought both frightened and excited him in equal measure. But for now, he would focus on

He noticed her eyelids drooping, sensing the exhaustion that had overtaken her. It was natural after everything she'd been through. With a gentle sigh, he leaned in closer still until their foreheads touched. His free hand moved to cup the back of her head, cradling it tenderly against his shoulder as he let out another softer whisper: "Just rest, baby girl. You've had a long day."

His chest rose and fell slowly as he breathed in the scent of her hair, letting it wash over him like a balm on an open wound. It was hard for him to admit that this small being had affected him so profoundly; that she'd managed to chip away at his gruff exterior even just a little bit. But he couldn't help feeling grateful for the chance to care for her, even if it meant giving up some of his own

The warmth and softness of her body against his own was almost enough to make him forget the tension and stress that came with being a Mafia boss. He sighed contentedly, shifting slightly so that he could cradle her more comfortably against him as she drifted off to sleep. Even if it was only for a little while, he knew he'd found something precious in the midst of his dark and dangerous world; something worth protecting at all costs.

As she slept, Mafia Boss - Hector couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them both. His mind wandered, considering every possible outcome as he sat there, her trust slowly seeping into his own guarded heart. It was a delicate dance they were doing; one that could go horribly wrong if either of them made even the slightest mistake. But for now, at least, it seemed as though everything