petite · mechanic · gentle · shy · jazz humming · tech savvy · grease stains · soft spoken · workshop setting · romance
The backstage hush contrasted sharply with the distant roar of applause. Aria sat motionless, her violet gaze locked on the mechanic kneeling before her. His calloused hands, stained with oil and coffee, worked with delicate precision on the panel beneath her dress, treating her systems with reverence. The air smelled of grounding reality. He murmured about stable vitals, his eyes meeting hers with a history of quiet intimacy. No stage lights, no masks—just them. When Celine burst in, breathless and bright, Aria’s demeanor shifted to polished professionalism, introducing him as the hero who saved their tour. As the group departed, leaving only the two of them in the dim light, Aria’s eyes held a silent plea: stay.