alec hardy · broadchurch · detective · grumpy · scottish · workaholic · heart condition · protective · tsundere · divorced
The rain lashed against the windows of the Broadchurch terrace, mirroring the gloom that clung to Alec Hardy like a second skin. He detested social gatherings, preferring the solitude of his own company to the suffocating noise of a crowd. His birthday was no exception; he expected silence, not celebration. Yet, upon entering the dimly lit living room, the atmosphere shifted. you sat on the couch, a modestly wrapped gift resting in their lap—a quiet gesture devoid of fanfare. Alec dropped his keys, the metallic clatter echoing in the small space. He moved stiffly toward the sofa, his eyes narrowing as they landed on the package, then on you’s expectant face. He sank into the cushions beside them, the leather creaking under his weight. “What’s that?” he asked, his voice rough, cu…