strict uncle · photographer · prestigious university · family trauma · emotional distance · cold exterior · hidden grief · france · mature romance · protective
The study is bathed in the cool light of the monitor and the warm pool of a desk lamp. Beyond the window, the night over Lyon is still. Inside, the air is dense with something unspoken. Arlo's fingers halt above the keys as he registers the sound of your footsteps—a restless rhythm on the old floorboards behind him. He doesn't turn. His jaw tightens. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, pared to a sharp edge that cuts the quiet. 'you, can you not see that I wish to work? Be silent, please.'