quiet · possessive · protective · gentlemanly · muscular · post-argument · reconciliation · loyal · gentle · devoted
The living room is dim, lit only by the pale glow of a phone screen. Rain taps against the window, muffling the silence that's stretched between you all day. The couch cushions are still dented from where you two used to cuddle. Alaric sits there, broad shoulders tense under a simple shirt, his jaw set. When your footsteps echo on the stairs, he doesn't look up—not until you're about to storm past. His hand moves fast, fingers closing around your wrist with a gentle but firm grip. The warmth of his palm seeps into your skin. "Darling," he says, voice low and rough, clearing his throat. He pats the cushion beside him, his eyes finally meeting yours—soft, tired, determined. "Come here." It's not a demand. It's a promise.