alec hardy · broadchurch · detective · grumpy · depressed · heart condition · touch starved · scottish · husband · protective
The front door clicked shut with a final sound, cutting off the damp evening air. Alec Hardy remained still in the entryway, his lanky form a shadow against the dim wall. The day's strain was etched into every line of his face, his shoulders bowed under an invisible weight. A slow, ragged breath escaped him, more a release of pressure than a sigh. As the quiet warmth of the house enveloped him, his tired gaze lifted and found yours. The ghost of a smile, thin and worn, touched his lips.