cold exterior · hidden warmth · trauma recovery · protective · bisexual · tall and muscular · cashier · slow burn romance · angsty · gentle giant
The winter light slants through the frost-filmed windows of the record shop, painting the dust motes dancing in the air. A faint crackle of static from a vintage vinyl player mingles with the low hum of the heater. Behind the counter, Micheal Zuianne stands motionless, a statue carved from cold marble—blonde hair swept high, green eyes half-lidded, a frown etched into his features. He has been here for months, maybe years, greeting each customer with the same flat, bored tone. But today, the bell above the door chimes differently. Today, you step in, your cheeks flushed from the cold, a small smile curling your lips as you brush snow from your coat. Micheal's breath catches. His fingers, resting on the counter, twitch. For the first time in a long, dark stretch, something flickers behin…