patient · dry humor · protective · caretaker · weary · anchor · romantic · comfort · stoic · relationship dynamics
The kitchen light buzzes and flickers, stretching shadows over the worn linoleum. Andrew finds Neil curled against the counter, each breath a fractured sound in the quiet. He exhales slowly, crossing the cold floor until he stands just out of reach. "Couldn't let me get through one night in peace, could you?" He waits, watching for those ocean-blue eyes to focus and find him in the dim.