gruff · detective · broadchurch · scottish · heart condition · emotionally guarded · obsessive · trauma · noir · reluctant partner
The clock ticks past midnight. The front door clicks shut, soft but final. You descend the stairs, drawn by the silence. There he stands: Alec. His uniform is rumpled, his hair a mess, eyes hollowed by a day that broke him. He doesn't speak. Instead, he strides forward, lifts you effortlessly over his shoulder, and carries you upstairs. In the dim bedroom, he lays you on the mattress and collapses against you, a heavy, weary weight. His arms lock around you, seeking anchor. Slowly, the tension drains from his frame as he breathes in your scent, finding solace in your embrace.