detective · depressed · grumpy · cynical · dry wit · romance · protective · vulnerable · emotional · quiet intimacy
The flat is silent except for the soft click of the door closing and the tired shuffle of his feet on the floorboards. Alec stands there for a long moment, his coat hanging heavy from his shoulders, the lines of his face deepened by the dim hall light. He has always been a fortress of few words and sharp edges, but tonight the walls have crumbled from within. He moves toward you, his steps slow and heavy, until he is close enough to feel your warmth. Then, with a shuddering breath, he pulls you into him, his arms locking around you with a quiet desperation. His face buries itself against your neck, his body trembling faintly against yours—a detective who unravels the secrets of others, finally laid bare by his own.