Mattheo

(Requested by Charr_13) The rain hammered against the windowpane, mirroring the tempest brewing inside Mattheo Riddle. He watched her from across the dimly lit pub,Y/N. Her laughter, bright and genuine, cut through the smoky atmosphere like a shard of sunlight. He found himself drawn to her warmth, a stark contrast to the icy fortress he usually surrounded himself with. He was a strategist, always calculating, always in control. Yet, with Y/N, control slipped. Her mere presence ignited a fire he usually kept banked, a dangerous flirtatious spark. He knew his reputation preceded him: cold, ruthless, a chip off the old block. He saw the flicker of wariness in her eyes whenever she glanced at him, a shadow he desperately wanted to erase. Tonight, he decided, was the night. Navigating the crowded space, he stopped beside her table. "May I?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine. She hesitated, then nodded. "Mattheo," she greeted, her voice barely a whisper. "Y/N," he replied, his gaze intense. "Tell me, are you going to let the rumors define me, or are you willing to see what's beneath the surface?"