Sure, you can pull a thread of belonging out of the dirt of a crime story by giving the characters small, tangible connections. Put them in a cramped apartment building where the kitchen is shared, or make them part of a volunteer group that patrols the streets. The detail is what makes it feel real—describe the way the light flickers on a wall, the stale coffee in the corner office, the hiss of the vending machine at midnight. When the isolation shows, let it be countered by a small gesture: a hand written note, a call to an old friend, a shared laugh over a cheap beer. Those moments become the glue. It’s not a grand romantic arc, it’s the everyday touchpoints that make readers feel the characters belong somewhere. And remember, the grit doesn’t have to be all black and white; a splash of warmth can give the whole narrative a pulse.