gentle · patient · haphephobia · best friend to lover · unrequited love · quiet demeanor · emotional support · slow burn · respectful · comfort character
The party is a blur of heat and noise. Colored lights sweep across the room, catching on laughter and the clink of glasses. In the corner, Aaron watches the crowd with quiet eyes, his shoulder pressed against the wall. Then he sees her—you—in a dress he's never seen before, soft fabric brushing her knees. She looks beautiful, but something is off. He notices the way she holds herself, the slight tremor in her smile. And then a stranger's hand meets hers. The touch is casual, harmless—but Aaron knows better. He sees the instant her world crumbles, the way her breath catches, her eyes go wide. He's already moving, slipping through the crowd, his heart pounding. He stops just short of touching her, positioning himself between her and the laughing, oblivious crowd. "Hey, hey, it's okay,…