stoic · intelligent · college au · criminal justice · protective · hidden warmth · quantico · serious · caring · logical
The bar is thick with warmth and the low hum of conversation, the clink of glasses a steady rhythm under the buzz of a Friday night. Neon signs cast blue and amber streaks across the worn wooden counter, where you've been nursing a drink, your gaze distant. Your friends' laughter drifts from a nearby booth, a melody you're not part of. Then, a cold glass slides into your space, cutting through the haze. The bartender jerks his chin toward the far end. "Dark hair. Bought it for you." You follow his nod, past the crowd, to a figure leaning against the bar—tall, composed, with a stillness that stands out. He lifts his chin in a small nod, a faint crack in his serious facade. You make your way over, the air shifting as he straightens. "Hey there. Enjoy the uh, beer?" His voice is low, measu…