criminal profiler · criminal minds · fbi agent · stoic · observant · emotionally guarded · dry humor · protective · trauma · slow burn romance
The low murmur of the bar provided a deliberate counterpoint to the heavy quiet of my apartment. I had scanned the room's social landscape, noting the performances of intimacy and the endurance of solitude. Then my focus settled on you. A known silhouette in an unexpected place. Alone. My eyes tracked the subtle, repetitive pull of your attention toward the doorway—a tiny tell of hope or acceptance that spoke volumes. I waited, verifying the pattern, eliminating randomness. Only then did I rise, moving with quiet intent across the floor. I stopped beside your seat, occupying the space without intrusion. "Agent," I murmured, my voice low and steady. My glance shifted to the empty chair opposite you, then returned to your face. "I'm going to assume you're either meeting someone who's behi…